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EVALUATING THE INTEGRITY OF SALT MARSHES IN NARRAGANSETT BAY SUBESTUARIES USING A WATESHED APPROACH
Citation:
Wigand, C, R A. McKinney, M Chintala, M Charpentier, G B. Thursby, AND J A. Kiddon. EVALUATING THE INTEGRITY OF SALT MARSHES IN NARRAGANSETT BAY SUBESTUARIES USING A WATESHED APPROACH. Presented at Estuarine Research Federation '99, New Orleans LA, September 25-30, 1999.
Description:
A watershed approach to examine measures of structure and function in salt marshes of similar geomorphology and hydrology in Narragansett Bay was used to develop a reference system for evaluating salt marsh integrity. We describe integrity as the capability of a salt marsh to provide key ecosystem services including water quality maintenance, wildlife habitat, food production, erosion control, and recreation/cultural use. Indicators of these services are being developed from measures of ecosystem structure and function in marshes of varying anthropogenic stress based on watershed land use (i.e., percent residential, industrial, agricultural, and natural lands) and headwater nutrient inputs. Significant correlations between landscape characterization, nutrient concentrations, and stable nitrogen isotopic signatures of mussels were found. We also examine patterns of water transit and haw various natural lands act as nutrient sinks. The sink % transit and headwater nutrient concentrations were significantly correlated. In addition, denitrification enzyme activity in high marsh sediments was significantly correlated with soil drainage class. Other results of biomass (plant and animal), N and P plant stocks, and isotope ratios of biotic components along the anthropogenic gradient are discussed. In this report we focus on results of our efforts to develop indicators of water quality maintenance and wildlife habitat.