Publication
Title
The vegetation silica pool in a developing tidal freshwater marsh
Author
Abstract
Tidal marshes play an important role in the estuarine Si cycle. Dissolved silicon (DSi) is taken up by marsh diatom communities and by tidal marsh vegetation. Delivery of DSi back to the estuary after biogenic silica dissolution potentially increases the resilience of the estuary against harmful effects of DSi depletion events. Tidal freshwater marsh vegetation, often dominated by reed (Phragmites australis) has previously been hypothesized to contribute to the Si buffering function of tidal marshes, by dissolution of reed biogenic Si (BSi) into the soil pore water and consequent seepage of DSi to the estuary. In this study the Si pool in the vegetation of a restored tidal freshwater marsh was quantified using species-based cover-biomass relationships and Si analyses. The Si pool in the aboveground biomass increased from 1.2 to 6.5 t km−2 during the first 6 years of colonization by tidal freshwater marsh species. Our results indicate that young tidal freshwater marshes have a high potential to build up a large vegetation Si pool quickly, mostly due to colonization by species that have both high Si concentrations and high biomass production (e. g. P. australis). This Si pool in vegetation could act both as a long-term sink for Si along estuaries (should Si remain buried in the sediments) or as a short-term source for DSi (should Si be dissolved to DSi).
Language
English
Source (journal)
Silicon
Publication
2013
ISSN
1876-990X
DOI
10.1007/S12633-012-9136-9
Volume/pages
5 :1 (2013) , p. 91-100
ISI
000313969000009
Full text (Publisher's DOI)
Full text (publisher's version - intranet only)
UAntwerpen
Faculty/Department
Research group
Publication type
Subject
Affiliation
Publications with a UAntwerp address
External links
Web of Science
Record
Identifier
Creation 25.01.2013
Last edited 04.03.2024
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