Salt Marsh Establishment and Development.

Abstract

The establishment and development of seedling transplants for shoreline erosion abatement are reported for Spartina alterniflora within the intertidal zones and for Spartina patens, Spartina cynosuroides, Distichlis spicata, and Ammophila breviligulata within the supratidal zones, of a dredged-material site and three sandy shore sites in the mid-Chesapeake Bay region. No limitations were found for plant establishment above mean high water (MHW) at the experimental sites. The net production of Spartina alterniflora transplants in moderate to low-energy sandy areas was increased between 135% and 860% by periodic applications of fertilizer. Macrobenthic invertebrate invasion and colonization of the sterile dredged-material area was slow, but after 11 months the number of individuals per square meter between MHW and 15 centimeters below mean low water (MLW) was statistically greater than those at nearby natural and manmade tidal sandflat areas.

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jun 01, 1975
Accession Number
ADA014136

Entities

People

  • E. W. Garbishch Jr.
  • P. B. Woller
  • R. J. Mccallum

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Anatomy
  • Bays
  • Biological Sciences
  • Chesapeake Bay
  • Fertilizers
  • Intertidal Zones
  • Invertebrates
  • Materials
  • Plant Structures
  • Production
  • Transplants

Fields of Study

  • Environmental science

Readers

  • Aquatic Ecology
  • Coastal and Marine Engineering/Sediment Transport/Hydraulic Engineering

Technology Areas

  • Biotechnology
  • Biotechnology - Bioremediation