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Nutrient fluxes within a small north temperate salt marsh

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Abstract

The water exchange between a small (4.1 hectare) salt marsh adjoining the Great Bay Estuary system of New Hampshire, USA was sampled during 16 tidal cycles between July, 1976 and November, 1977. Tidal amplitude, temperature, salinity, nutrient concentrations (ammonia-N, nitrate-N, nitrite-N, orthophosphate-P, total-P, silicates) and suspended particulates were measured. Conspicuous tidal hydrographic patterns were observed. Mean concentrations of nitrate-N and silicates varied with season. The tidal information, combined with volume determinations, was extrapolated to determine the net flux of hydrographic parameters on monthly and yearly bases. Ammonia-N showed a pronounced seasonality of net exchange by regression analyses. Ammonia-N and suspended particulates had a statistically significant import into the marsh. However, the net fluxes of the other materials were not statistically different from O.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, University of New Hampshire, NH 03824, Durham, USA

    M. A. Daly & A. C. Mathieson

  2. the Jackson Estuarine Laboratory, University of New Hampshire, NH 03824, Durham, USA

    M. A. Daly & A. C. Mathieson

Authors
  1. M. A. Daly
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  2. A. C. Mathieson
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Additional information

Communicated by I. Morris, West Boothbay Harbor

Published with the approval of the Director of the New Hampshire Agricultural Experiment Station as Scientific Contribution No. 930

Scientific Contribution No. 69 of the Jackson Estuarine Laboratory

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Daly, M.A., Mathieson, A.C. Nutrient fluxes within a small north temperate salt marsh. Mar. Biol. 61, 337–344 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00401573

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