Biomass and aboveground production of four angiosperms in Cantabrian (N. Spain) salt marshes

Abstract

New data of aboveground biomass and production of four angiosperms over a 12 month period for the Cantabrian Sea salt marshes (Bay of Biscay, N. Spain) are presented. Based on harvest methods, maximum aboveground total biomass values for Spartina maritima (Curtis) Fernald, Spartina alterniflora Loisel, Salicornia ramosissima J. Woods and Halimioneportulacoides (L.) AeUen were 628, 1109, 480 and 1267 gm-2, respectively. We conclude that although a slight latitudinal gradient in biomass is revealed in the data compiled with reference to some of the species studied, more work is neccesary in order to assess the potential productivity of these ecosystems on the coasts of Europe and/or to make comparisons with salt marshes of the American coasts. Annual net aerial primary production estimates using Smalley's method were: 296, 1160, 486 and 952 grn-2yr-l, for Spartina maritima, Spartina alterniflora, Salicornia ramosissima and Halimione portulacoides, respectively. These results together with turnover rate estimates point to the lack of vigour of the native S. maritima, while the exotic S. alterniflora, which seems to be spreading along the Cantabrian estuaries, behaves like a veritable pionner throughout the low marshes in this region.

Plant zonation at salt marshes of the endangered cordgrass Spartina maritima invaded by Spartina densiflora

“…Above-ground matter for Spartina maritima ranged between 97 ± 46 and 1,452 ± 176 g m -2 , being similar to those recorded for low marshes of Spartina alterniflora Loisel in North America (Craft et al, 1999(Craft et al, , 2002(Craft et al, , 2003 and for S. maritima at European marshes (Benito & Onaindia, 1991;Castellanos et al, 1994;Figueroa et al, 2003;Lillebo et al, 2006). AGB and alive shoot densities for S. densiflora varied from 373 ± 48 to 2,423 ± 175 g m -2 and 715 ± 132 and 1,700 ± 328 shoot m -2 , respectively.…”

Cordgrass Biomass in Salt Marshes

“…1000 g DW m -2 in low European salt marshes, however it can vary very much depending on the abiotic environment, increasing to ca. 1500 g DW m -2 (Benito & Onaindia, 1991;Castellanos et al, 1994;Figueroa et al, 2003;Lillebo et al, 2006;Castillo et al, 2008a,b) (Table 1). As we have shown above cordgrass above-ground biomass accumulation depends on clone architecture and shoot morphology.…”

The Effect of Zostera noltii, Spartina maritima and Scirpus maritimus on Sediment Pore-water Profiles in a Temperate Intertidal Estuary

“…Further on, denitrification may be stimulated by high quality dissolved organic carbon released by the roots (Kamp-Nielsen & Flindt, 1993;Flindt et al, 1999). On the other hand, Scirpus is a C3 photosynthetic mechanism type (Boschker et al, 1999), while Spartina is an alternative (C4) type (Carter, 1988), or just a C4 type (Benito & Onaindia, 1991). It has been suggested that plants with a C4 photosynthetic pathway have, at least theoretically, a number of competitive advantages over C3 species (Adam, 1990), namely a higher potential productivity, higher water-use efficiency and also a more efficient use of available nitrogen (Adam, 1990).…”