Shade and salinity responses of two dominant coastal wetland grasses: implications for light competition at the transition zone.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Coastal wetlands are threatened by the increased salinity that may result from sea level rise. Salinity stress alters species zonation patterns through changes in competitive outcome between species differing in salinity tolerance. This study therefore aimed to understand how salinity and light affect two dominant and competing coastal wetland grasses that differ in salt tolerance, height and photosynthetic metabolism.

Methods

The C4 species Spartina anglica and the C3 species Phragmites australis were grown at five salinity levels (0, 7, 14, 21 and 28 ppt) and two light fluxes (100 % and 50 % of natural daylight) in an outdoor experimental setup for 102 d with full access to nutrients.

Key results

Salinity reduced the biomass, height and shoot density of P

SUBMITTER: Jespersen E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8414928 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature