Proceedings of the Third International Conference on Invasive ...

Chapter 1: Spartina Biology<strong>Proceedings</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Third</strong> <strong>International</strong> <strong>Conference</strong> on Invasive Spartina1991). Spartina anglica can grow lower in <strong>the</strong> intertidalrange than S. alterniflora (Frenkel 1987, Sayce andMumford 1990), and <strong>the</strong>refore any o<strong>the</strong>r species in thisstudy. Low marsh species exhibited low aerobic respirationrates and CytOx activity, which when coupled to high rates<strong>of</strong> internal oxygen transport may pose a significantadvantage for survival in anoxic sediments. The ability tosupply oxygen to submerged tissue is crucial to survival in<strong>the</strong> low marsh, as no plant tissue can endure anoxiaindefinitely (Crawford 1982). Low marsh species must alsopossess an ability to respire anaerobically since demand foroxygen from highly reduced sediments may overwhelmtransport processes. ADH activities measured in Spartinaroots indicated a well-developed capacity for fermentation.However, increases in root ADH were not observed in <strong>the</strong>low marsh species S. anglica. High rates <strong>of</strong> oxygen transportin S. anglica may be adequate to supply oxygen to roots andexternal sinks, as suggested by its low root ADH activities.Low marsh species may be more resistant to sulfides whencompared to high marsh species. Lower aerobic respirationrates and lower CytOx activities may relax needs for intensesulfide oxidation requirements. Alternatively, higher rates <strong>of</strong>oxygen transport in some low marsh species may help tooxidize rhizosphere sulfides, resulting in reduced SOxactivity. However, <strong>the</strong> acute toxicity <strong>of</strong> dissolved sulfidesaround roots still necessitates moderate SOx activities in lowmarsh species.The results <strong>of</strong> this study suggest metabolic characteristicsrelated to respiration and sulfide tolerance may affect zonation<strong>of</strong> grasses in estuaries. While internal oxygen transport isimportant for survival in estuarine sediments, this study mayindicate that zonation within estuaries is dependent on morethan just oxygen transport. Aerobic respiration rates andsensitivity to sediment sulfides may play a large role ininfluencing estuarine zonation as well.ACKNOWLEDGMENTSThe authors thank Chuck Cody for greenhouse assistance;Kim Patten, Sally Hacker, Eric Hellquist, and M. Enrique Figueroafor providing plants; and <strong>the</strong> Washington State Department <strong>of</strong>Agriculture for a Spartina transport permit. This project waspartially funded from <strong>the</strong> Betty W. 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