Response of the freshwater marsh species, Panicum hemitomon Schult., to increased salinity

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Abstract
SUMMARY. 1. Panicum hemitomon Schult. plants were colleeted from Louisiana's Mississippi River deltaic plain freshwater marsh and subjected to salinities of 5–12 ppt under controlled environment conditiotis.2. The condition was designed to simulate salt stress resulting from storm surges, brine spills associated with oil recovery operations and salt water intrusion due to rapid subsidence and parallel increases in apparent sea level in Louisiana's coastal areas.3. Plant stomatal conductance was reduced between 55 % and 80% and net photosynthesis declined between 20% and 67% in response to the different salinities within 1 day of salt application. Both responses lasted throughout the entire experiment.4. Salinities ranging between 10 and 12 ppt resulted in tissue death in the plants 4 days after salt exposure.5. In addition to the short‐term impact of salt water influx on gas exchange of P, hemitomon reported here, the potential long‐term effects on habitat change are discussed.