| Abstract: | Spartina alterniflora (loisel) is critical to wetland structure, productivity, and vertical accretion in marshes worldwide. Previous studies along the Atlantic coast have addressed responses of carbon (C), nitrogen (N), sodium (Na), and phosphorous (P) concentrations and ratios in S. alterniflora tissue to variation in salinity and nutrient availability, but data are lacking from Louisiana wetlands. Spartina alterniflora were collected from sites with a range of freshwater and nutrient availability along Louisiana’s coast and measured chemical contents in leaf tissue. The C/N ratios in leaf tissue of S. alterniflora in Louisiana were unaffected by salinity, but the researchers also failed to detect a relationship between Na and salinity. There was no evidence found of P limitation. These results indicate that Spartina alterniflora responds similarly on both coasts, but that salinity and nutrient availability differ between coasts. |
