Seasonal differences in Spartina recoverable underground reserves in the Great Sippewissett marsh in Massachusetts

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Abstract

Recoverable underground reserves (RUR) were collected from cores taken from stands of three growth forms of Spartina alterniflora and one of Spartina patens in a Massachusetts salt marsh. Collections were timed to sample reserves before spring growth, following the flush of early season growth, and following senescence in the fall. In the spring, streamside Spartina alterniflora had more RUR than did the short plants further back from the streams. When compared to reserves of Spartina alterniflora in back marsh stands in Delaware and Georgia, those at the higher latitude were greater. Reserves were very low during summer, but were restored by fall. Unlike Spartina alterniflora, Spartina patens RUR remained high during the summer.

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