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Impact of pedological conditions on the distribution of Salicornia species (Southern North Sea coast)

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Abstract

The zonation of different Salicornia species within saltmarshes has been described controversially in prior publications. The aim of this study is to detect substantial relations between pedological conditions and the distribution of different Salicornia species (Salicornia stricta Dumort. 1868, Salicornia europaea L. 1753, and Salicornia procumbens Sm 1813). 37 sites were investigated regarding vegetation pattern, soil morphology and physicochemical and chemical soil properties. A multivariate approach indicate a clear differentiation of the sites dominated by different Salicornia species in respect to sand content, redox potential and water content. However, results of a detailed statistical assessment indicate that redox potential and salinity are the most relevant parameters. Salicornia stricta sites are characterized by a variety of grain sizes, reduced conditions in the rhizosphere, highest water contents (median: 71.5 Vol-%) and lowest Eh values (median: −19.0 mV), indicating the best adaptation to anaerobic soil conditions. Salicornia procumbens occurs on aerated soils (median Eh: 455.6 mV) with high sand contents independent to position relative to mean high tide level. Exhibiting the lowest (11.5‰) and highest soil salinities (41.7‰), even developing in salt pans (136‰), Salicornia europaea feature a great ecological amplitude regarding temporal variations of salinity. These findings underline the ecotypic and phenotypic plasticity of Salicornia species and offer a promising approach for further experimental settings focussing on phenotypic adaptions and ecological amplitudes of Salicornia taxa and ecotypes.

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Acknowledgments

This work has been supported by funds of the Lower Saxon Wadden Sea National Park Authority.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Biology and Environmental Science, University of Oldenburg, 26111, Oldenburg, Germany

    Sarah Witte, Niklas Buhk, Kerstin Klement, Timo Schürmann & Luise Giani

  2. Institute for Biology and Chemistry of the Marine Environment, University of Oldenburg, 26111, Oldenburg, Germany

    Holger Freund

Authors
  1. Sarah Witte
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  2. Holger Freund
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  3. Niklas Buhk
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  4. Kerstin Klement
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  5. Timo Schürmann
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  6. Luise Giani
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Correspondence to Sarah Witte.

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Witte, S., Freund, H., Buhk, N. et al. Impact of pedological conditions on the distribution of Salicornia species (Southern North Sea coast). J Coast Conserv 22, 79–85 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11852-016-0487-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11852-016-0487-z

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