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Effects of inundation stress on salt marsh halophytes

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Ecological responses to environmental stresses

Part of the book series: Tasks for vegetation science ((TAVS,volume 22))

Abstract

In this contribution the effects of inundation on plant growth in the salt marsh habitat are discussed in relation to the experimental results of a Ph.D study on the ecophysiology of salt marsh halophytes.

In a study on the effects of flooding on 4 salt marsh species grown on clay or sand soil, it was found that all species grew better on clay soil. Flooding stimulated the growth of Spartina anglica and Salicornia dolichostachya and it inhibited growth of Puccinellia maritima and Salicornia brachystachya, which is in agreement with the distribution of these species in the field. Effects of high ferrous iron and sulphide concentrations, which may occur in reduced permanently flooded soils, were studied in nutrient solution experiments. In general, species responded to these potentially toxic substances as could be expected from their field distribution. The response of iron tolerant and sulphide tolerant species is discussed in relation to radial oxygen loss and sulphur metabolism, respectively.

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Author notes

  1. J. Van Diggelen

    Present address: , Van Limburgstirumstraat 5, 4286 BG, Almkerk, The Netherlands

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ecology and Ecotoxicology, Biological Laboratory, Free University of Amsterdam, P.O. Box 7161, 1007 MC, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    J. Van Diggelen

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  1. J. Van Diggelen
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ecology and Ecotoxicology, Vrije Universiteit, De Boelelaan 1087, 1081 HV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    J. Rozema  & J. A. C. Verkleij  & 

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© 1991 Kluwer Academic Publishers

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Van Diggelen, J. (1991). Effects of inundation stress on salt marsh halophytes. In: Rozema, J., Verkleij, J.A.C. (eds) Ecological responses to environmental stresses. Tasks for vegetation science, vol 22. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-0599-3_7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-0599-3_7

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-010-6757-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-009-0599-3

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