On autochtonous organic production and its implication for the consolidation of temperate salt marshes
Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › peer-review
The organic production related to minerogene salt marsh deposits
represents a challenge to all attempts to model the development of these
areas, and evaluate their chances of survival under different sea level
scenarios. Salt marsh deposits on a typical temperate backbarrier
saltmarsh area at the Skallingen barrierspit (Denmark) were investigated
for autochthonous or below ground organic production, which was found
to have a mean value of 0.14 kg m− 2 y− 1 or about 0.1 mm y− 1.
This production is concentrated in the upper approximately 5 cm of the
salt marsh. Below this level the organic material decomposes with a
decreasing organic content until about 15 cm below the surface.
Hereunder the decomposition of organic material seems to stabilize at a
very low level. The constant rate of the below ground organic production
results in a larger concentration of this type of organic matter in the
slowest accreting salt marsh deposits. The root activity is the primary
reason for differences in the bulk dry density of salt marsh surface
layers, therefore the surface layers of slowly accreting salt marshes
have the lowest bulk dry density. During autocompaction, the bulk dry
density increases down core. This process is only to a small degree
(< 10%) directly affected by the space loss due to decomposition of
organic matter. The decay of organic matter, however, is most likely
indirectly part of the autocompaction process by weakening the internal
strength of the root fabric and thus the capability of resistance
against compaction from the overburden of depositing sediments.
Original language | English |
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Journal | Marine Geology |
Volume | 351 |
Pages (from-to) | 53-57 |
Number of pages | 5 |
ISSN | 0025-3227 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2014 |
ID: 129975594