Skip to content
University of Maryland LibrariesDigital Repository at the University of Maryland
    • Login
    View Item 
    •   DRUM
    • Theses and Dissertations from UMD
    • UMD Theses and Dissertations
    • View Item
    •   DRUM
    • Theses and Dissertations from UMD
    • UMD Theses and Dissertations
    • View Item
    JavaScript is disabled for your browser. Some features of this site may not work without it.

    The effect of sea level rise on seagrasses: Is sediment adjacent to retreating marshes suitable for seagrass growth?

    Thumbnail
    View/Open
    umi-umd-3105.pdf (20.60Mb)
    No. of downloads: 1996

    Date
    2005-12-13
    Author
    Wicks, Elinor Caroline
    Advisor
    Koch, Evamaria W
    Metadata
    Show full item record
    Abstract
    Salt marsh retreat resulting from sea level rise creates new subtidal substrate (old marsh peat) for seagrasses, which is usually unvegetated. The hypothesis that sediment characteristics of old marsh peat are limiting to <em>Zostera marina</em> was tested in Chincoteague Bay, Maryland and in controlled experiments. A unique aspect of the study site is an eroding dune within the marsh that supplies sand to the subtidal. The organic content and sulfide concentrations of old marsh peat were not limiting <em>Z. marina</em> growth and seagrasses were able to colonize the old marsh peat if a layer of sand covered it. The lack of <em>Z. marina<em/> in old marsh peat may be due to a plant morphology that is highly susceptible to dislodgement. These findings suggest that seagrass distribution may be negatively affected by sea level rise as seagrasses may be unable to migrate shoreward due to unsuitable sediments adjacent to retreating marshes.
    URI
    http://hdl.handle.net/1903/3277
    Collections
    • Biology Theses and Dissertations
    • MEES Theses and Dissertations
    • UMD Theses and Dissertations

    DRUM is brought to you by the University of Maryland Libraries
    University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742-7011 (301)314-1328.
    Please send us your comments.
    Web Accessibility
     

     

    Browse

    All of DRUMCommunities & CollectionsBy Issue DateAuthorsTitlesSubjectsThis CollectionBy Issue DateAuthorsTitlesSubjects

    My Account

    LoginRegister
    Pages
    About DRUMAbout Download Statistics

    DRUM is brought to you by the University of Maryland Libraries
    University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742-7011 (301)314-1328.
    Please send us your comments.
    Web Accessibility