GCRC Project Summary |
Effects of Anthropogenic Eutrophication on Salt Marsh Community Structure
PIs: Steven C. Pennings* and Steven Y. Newell (Marine Institute, Sapelo Island, Georgia, USA) *currently -- Dept of Biology and Biochemistry, Univ. of Houston, TX.
Support: Georgia Sea Grant College Program (R/HAB-6-PD)
Timeframe: 3/1/00 - 2/28/02 (complete)
Project
Overview:
This project was motivated by a previous Georgia Sea Grant project (R/HAB-6)
that examined nutrient effects on several plant mixtures in GA, AL and MS salt
marshes. The earlier project demonstrated that nutrients alter plant community
composition, and suggested the hypothesis that these effects might differ across
a salinity gradient. This project was designed to test the hypothesis that plant,
fungal, herbivore and detritivore community responses to nutrient supply differ
across a gradient of salinity.
Findings:
Publications:
Pennings, S. C., L. E. Stanton, J. S. Brewer. Nutrient effects on the composition
of salt marsh plant communities along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of the United
States. Estuaries, in press.