Production and decomposition of Spartina foliosa in Bahia San Quintin, B.C., Mexico
Main Article Content
Abstract
Net aerial primary production, total production, aboveground biomass, turnover time, decomposition and total detritus production were estimated in a Spartina foliosa area at Bahía San Quintín, B.C. The study took place during the period March-August, 1992. The net aerial primary production values were high (4.72 g/m2/day) and turnover time short (5.4 months) compared with other coastal lagoons in the area. Two distinct periods were observed in the aboveground biomass level, one during May with the minimum value (323 g/m2) and another during June-August with high values (mean = 1,017 g/m2). The observed decomposition rate value was high (63%/159 days) compared with those reported in studies that started in winter in other areas. Total detritus production was estimated (1,050 tons/222 ha/159 days). We conclude that the S. foliosa area at Bahía San Quintín is a highly productive system with a fast recovering capacity. Further research is recommended focusing particularly on the marsh’s total organic detritus contribution to the adjacent lagoon system.
Downloads
Article Details
This is an open access article distributed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License, which allows you to share and adapt the work, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made. Figures, tables and other elements in the article are included in the article’s CC BY 4.0 license, unless otherwise indicated. The journal title is protected by copyrights and not subject to this license. Full license deed can be viewed here.