Abstract
Tidal marshes accumulate large quantities of biogenic silica which accumulates in sediments, in plants and in porewaters. Higher salinity tidal marshes lower in the estuary contain higher levels of biogenic silica than those in the upper portion. Vascular plants, Spartina alterniflora and Juncus roemerianus, contain approximately 0.5% (by weight) biogenic silica, which does not vary along the estuarine gradient. The tidal marsh is an efficient biogenic silica trap, concentrating biogenic silica and dissolved silicate above levels found in nearby estuarine waters. High dissolved silicate levels provide ample silicon for benthic diatoms. We hypothesize that diatoms sequester silicate from surface waters supplied by tides and freshwater runoff. These benthic diatoms are eventually consumed and deposited into marsh sediments by macrofauna where their tests are dissolved into the marsh porewater. Vascular plants remove silicate from porewater and deposit amorphous silica into cell walls where it remains until liberated by decomposition into surface water where it can again be taken up by diatoms. Drainage of porewater containing high concentrations of dissolved silicate from marsh sediments is very slow, so flux of dissolved silicate from marsh sediments is uncoupled from the flux of surface water. Most porewater is released when tides are near low or rising resulting in the retention of silicate in the marsh/creek system. High concentrations of biogenic silica in tidal marshes are necessary for maximum benthic diatom production which in turn is necessary for high secondary production of commercial fish and crustaceans. Created tidal wetlands may require many years to concentrate biogenic silica sufficient to maintain high secondary production via the benthic diatom grazing foodchain.
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Hackney, C.T., Cahoon, L.B., Preziosi, C., Norris, A. (2002). Silicon is the Link between Tidal Marshes and Estuarine Fisheries: A New Paradigm. In: Weinstein, M.P., Kreeger, D.A. (eds) Concepts and Controversies in Tidal Marsh Ecology. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/0-306-47534-0_24
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/0-306-47534-0_24
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