Production of Dominant Emergent Vegetation and of Pool Algae on a Northern Massachusetts Salt Marsh

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Abstract
Cover frequency for the emergent vegetation of 3 representative sections of a salt marsh is presented. Annual production values are calculated using the ash-free dry weights of a series of harvests of standing live and dead crops and estimating export or decomposition losses from the standing crops from data on litterbag-losses. Production values are provided for tall and dwarf Spartina alterniflora, S. patens, Distichlis spicata, Juncus gerardi, Salicornia europaea, Typha angustifolia and Scripus olneyi, the last 2 being based on end-of-season harvests only. These species account for 88-96% of the emergent cover of these marsh sections. Salt marsh pool production and cover values are obtained and integrated for 8 mo. of the year. Such pools comprise from 0-26% of the sections studied. A baseline for studies of energy transfer in this marsh was provided.

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