ABSTRACT JERNIGAN, LEON STACY, JR. Factors Influencing The

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ABSTRACT JERNIGAN, LEON STACY, JR. Factors Influencing The ABSTRACT JERNIGAN, LEON STACY, JR. Factors Influencing the Distributional Patterns of Juncus roemerianus in Two North Carolina Salt Marshes. (Under the direction of ERNEST D. SENECA). Zonation of salt marsh vegetation as it relates to physical and edaphic factors was examined at two Juncus roemerianus marshes along the North Carolina coast. Other objectives were to determine leaf longevity and to compare leaf density, biomass, and regrowth of Juncus at the two marshes. Juncus was found to tolerate broad fluctuations of salinity, tidal inundation, and redox potential. Soil pH and salinity did not appear to influence vegetational zonation. Tidal and groundwater influence were important because of their effect on sediment saturation. Measurements of redox potentials indicated that Juncus sediments were generally less reduced (55 mY) than Spartina alterniflora (-112 mY) sediments. The upper I <km portion of the root zones of both species was also approximately 50 m V less reduced than the lower 3<km portion. Higher levels of phosphorus found in the Spartina zone sediments was related to duration of inundation. Other nutrient differences found between zones at each marsh can be attributed to the differences in tidal regime. Juncus sediments were found to be coarser than those of Spartina. The most important factor affecting vegetational zonation appeared to be sediment saturation and its influence on other factors. Clip plot data indicate that the two marshes were similar in productivity. Redipping data showed the marsh with the lower salinities produced twice as much Juncus biomass and density data showed that it had 12% more stems than that of the higher salinity marsh. Spartina was the only significant invader of the Juncus clip plots. Even though Juncus grows year round, the greatest period of growth occurred between March and July. Dieback in Juncus leaves occurs before maturity and during periods of active growth. Juncus leaf longevity appeared to be related to time of initiation and was estimated to be 1.75 to 2.25 years. FACTORS INFLUENCING THE DISTRIBUTIONAL PATIERNS OF JUNCUS ROEMERIANUS IN TWO NORTH CAROLINA SALT MARSHES by LEON STACY JERNIGAN, JR. A thesis submitted to the Graduate Faculty of North Carolina State University at Raleigh in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy DEPARTMENT OF BOTANY RALEIGH 1990 APPROVED BY: Chairman of Advisory Committee BIOGRAPHY Leon S. Jernigan, Jr. was born January 19, 1953, in Dunn, North Carolina. He received his elementary and secondary education in Buies Creek, North Carolina, graduating from Buies Creek High School in 1971. In 1975, he graduated Magna Cum Laude with the Bachelor of Science degree in biology from Campbell Univerisity at Buies Creek. In 1975, he entered the Zoology Department at North Carolina State University at Raleigh and received his master's degree in 1977. He taught introductory biology at Campbell University and Johnston Community College (East Carolina University - College Transfer Program) from 1977 - 1980. In 1980, he entered the Botany Department of North Carolina State University at Raleigh in pursuance of his doctoral degree. 11 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The author wishes to express his sincere appreciation to Dr. Ernest D. Seneca for his encouragement, guidance, and patience throughout this study and for critically reviewing this manuscript. Appreciation is also extended to the other members of the advisory committee, Drs. Udo Blum, Steve Broome, Rick Linthurst, and John Miller for their time and for correction of this manuscript. Special thanks is expressed to Larry Hobbs and Carlton Campbell for their creativity and physical assistance during data collection and Bertha Crabtree of the Soil Science Department for her assistance in laboratory analysis of the the soil samples. Finally, the author wishes to express his appreciation to Kay Parker for the many hours she spent helping to keypunch data. I am especially grateful for her support, encouragement, and faith in me throughout all phases of this study. w TABLE OF CONTENTS Page LIST OF TABLES ...................................................................................... VI LIST OF FIGURES .................................................................................... Vll INTRODUCTION AND REVIEW OF LITERATURE.......................... 1 MATERIALS AND METHODS................................................................ 3 Description and Location of Study Sites .............................................. 3 Study Site Analysis ............................................................................... 4 Abiotic factors .................................................................................. 4 Biotic factors .................................................................................... .. 7 Statistical Analyses .............................................................................. .. 8 RESULTS .................................................................................................... 9 Abiotic Factors ..................................................................................... 9 pH ..................................................................................................... 9 Salinity .............................................................................................. 9 Water table....................................................................................... 12 Tidal regime ............................................................................. ; ....... .. 14 Redox potentials ............................................................................... 14 Soil nutrients..................................................................................... 17 Soil car'bon and nitrogen .................................................................. 19 Soil texture ........................................................................................ 19 Biotic Factors ....................................................................................... 23 Biomass............................................................................................. 23 Density .............................................................................................. 27 Longevity ......................................... ,. ............................................... 27 S·pectes composItIon.. .......................................................................... 34 IV DISCUSSION ............................................................................................... 36 Abiotic Factors.... ............................................ ..................... ................. 36 Biotic Factors.... ............... .... .... ......... ...... .... ........... .......... ......... ...... ....... 44 SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS.......................................................... 48 LITERATURE CITED................................................................................ 50 APPEND IX. ... ............................. .... ...... ... .. ......................... ........ ....... ...... .... 57 v LIST OF TABLES Page Table I. Means (± I S.E.) of nutrient analysis of soil samples from different wgetation zones at two marshes........................... 18 Table 2. ComparilOn of the two manbes by zone with respect to mean concentrations (ma-,') ± 1 S.E. of soil carbon and nitrogeo...................................................................... 20 Table 3. ComparilOn of two depth cateaories by zone aDd location with respect to mean CODCeIItrations (IDI'''~ ± 1 S.E. of soil carbon aDd DitropD............................................................... 21 Table 4. ComparilOn of the two manbes with respect to soil texture (i ± I S.E.) witbiD a mae............................................................ 22 Table S. Mean biolDUl {J.m·~ ± 1 S.E. of J"'M'm rpcgwiapp at two Nonh CaroIiDa manb ... tabD cIuriDa the finI week of July 1984 (mitiaI) aod 19M (redippiDa)................................... 24 Table 6. StandiDa live aod dead dImitieI (1eaYel'ID'~ a"..pd owr aU plots for the eotire _lICIy periocI.............................................. 29 Table 7. Species composition at the Newpon and Soutbpon manbes baled OD preaeoce.......................................................................... 3' vi LIST OF FIGURES Page Figure 1. Design of the PVC pipe wells.................................................. ..... 5 Figure 2. Mean low and high tide pH of the transect wells at the Newport marsh............................................................................. 10 Figure 3. Mean low and high tide pH of the transect wells at the Sou'tb.port marsh.................... ....................................................... 10 Figure 4. Mean low and high tide salinities of the transect wells at the Newport marsh.............................................................. ......... 11 Figure 5. Mean low and high tide salinities of the transect wells at the Southport marsh................ ....................... .............................. 11 Figure 6. Mean low and high tide water levels in the transect wells relative to sediment surface at the Newport marsh............ .......... 13 Figure 7. Mean low and high tide water levels in the transect wells relative to sediment surface at the Southport marsh.................... 13 Figure 8. Monthly mean low and high tides at the Newport marsh........ ... 15 Figure 9. Monthly mean low and high tides at
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