Brian L. Howes

TL;DR: In this article, a positive feedback loop was proposed to explain the sediment redox condition and S. aZterni$oru production in the tall form of Spurtina alterniflora.

TL;DR: In this article, surface oxygen uptake, sulfate reduction and total sediment metabolism were measured in sediments (0-30 cm) supporting stands of short Spartina alterniflora in a New England salt marsh.

TL;DR: The water balance of Spartina alterniflora appears to influence the internal morphology of its roots, potentially giving rise to a new mechanism for the mass flow of gas in plants.

Abstract: We examined the effect of three methods of porewater extraction on the measured concentrations of seven porewater constituents in vegetated salt marsh sediments. Porewater extraction by standard core sectioning followed by squeezing or centrifuging was compared with two less destructive methods of water collection. The core sectioning technique significantly increased the concentration of total dissolved organic carbon and dimethylsulfide presumably due to root damage by cutting. Sampling technique did not appear to influence interstitial salinity or concentrations of dissolved inorganic carbon, dissolved ammonium, soluble sulfides, and dissolved sulfate as long as proper precautions were taken to prevent the loss of reduced compounds.

TL;DR: Changes in concentrations of free sterols in decomposing Spartinn dternijloru indicate that this marsh grass may be a significant source of sterols, primarily sitosterol, to tidal waters.