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Carbohydrate dynamics during decay of litter of Spartina alterniflora

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Abstract

Changes in absolute amounts of structural carbohydrates were followed over 23 mo (November 1979–September 1981) of decomposition of Spartina alterniflora litter in Great Sippewissett Marsh, Massachusetts, USA. Loss of structural carbohydrates was rapid during the first month, and temperature-dependent during the first year. In the second year, only 5 to 10% of the initial amounts of hemicelluloses and cellulose remained and little further loss occurred. Rates of decomposition were similar to each other and to that of the ash-free dry weight. Neither intraspecific differences in litter quality nor habitat differences within the salt marsh greatly altered the pattern of decomposition of structural carbohydrates among four types of litter of S. alterniflora. The persistence of structural carbohydrates after the first year of decay was apparently due to their close association with lignin. The proportion of lignin in the structural wall material (lignin +hemicelluloses+cellulose) increased throughout decay. Once the value of the ratio of lignin:structural wall material was greater than 0.3, little further loss of weight occurred. Concentrations of nitrogen were correlated with the proportion of lignin:structural wall material. This correlation presumably reflected the formation of refractory nitrogen-enriched complexes, and provided an indication of the increasing humification of the remaining material. The progressive lignification and humification of litter may play an important role in the storage and metabolism of organic carbon in salt marsh-estuarine ecosystems.

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Author notes

  1. J. O. Wilson

    Present address: M/S 483, Langley Research Center, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 23665, Hampton, Virginia, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Marine Biological Laboratory, Boston University Marine Program, 02543, Woods Hole, Massachusetts, USA

    J. O. Wilson & I. Valiela

  2. Department of Biology, Boston University, 2 Cummington Street, 02215, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

    T. Swain

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  1. J. O. Wilson
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  2. I. Valiela
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  3. T. Swain
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Communicated by J. M. Lawrence, Tampa

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Wilson, J.O., Valiela, I. & Swain, T. Carbohydrate dynamics during decay of litter of Spartina alterniflora . Marine Biology 92, 277–284 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00392845

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