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EFFECTS OF SALINITY AND BOTTOM SUBSTRATE COMPOSITION ON THE GROWTH AND PROLIFERATION OF WIDGEONGRASS (RUPPIA MARITIMA)
Impact/Purpose:
The growth and proliferation of widgeongrass is affected by various factors such as sunlight, temperature, and salinity. In the sulfur-rich, organic bottom substrate of Gulf of Mexico tidal marshes, widgeongrass growth and proliferation is hindered severely at salinities of 12-15 ppt. In the sandy soils of the coastal bend of Gulf bays, however, widgeongrass thrives at salinities of 25 ppt. This salinity- and bottom substrate-dependent growth has not been characterized fully. The differences in salt-tolerance likely are dependent on the soil reduction-oxidation potential of the two different types of bottom substrate. The objectives of this project are to determine the effects that salinity and bottom substrate composition contribute to widgeongrass growth. Also, we are attempting to conduct genetic analyses using specific genomic markers to determine if genetic drift has occurred between R. maritima stands that grow in different environments and in different states across the Gulf Coast.
Description:
The preliminary work for these experiments has been conducted, and the data will be collected during the next 6-8 months. We will collect R. maritima samples from different environments along the Gulf Coast and compare the genetic diversity using the ITRS regions mentioned above. In addition, we will begin to collect data to investigate the contribution of salinity and bottom substrate on the growth and proliferation of widgeongrass.