Long-term (>10 yr) effects of thin-layer dredged material deposition on an irregularly flooded Juncus roemerianus-dominated brackish marsh / by Christine M. Voss.
| Author/creator | Voss, Christine M. author. |
| Other author | Luczkovich, Joseph J., degree supervisor. |
| Other author | East Carolina University. Department of Biology. |
| Format | Theses and dissertations |
| Production | 2006. |
| Description | 66 leaves : illustrations (some color), maps (some color) ; 28 + 1 CD-ROM (4 3/4 in.) |
| Supplemental Content | Access via ScholarShip |
| Subjects |
| Summary | The application of thin-layer dredged material onto marsh habitat was at first proposed as an economic and environmentally acceptable means of dredged material disposal; in recent years this technique has been under consideration as a management tool for the augmentation of eroding coastal marsh habitat. This study assessed the 12- year ecological impact of various thicknesses (0, 2, 4 and 10 cm) of thin-layer dredged material applied once to Juncus roemerianus-dominated marsh habitat near Wysocking Bay, North Carolina. My objectives were to experimentally determine the effects of thin layer treatments on specific physical parameters (water level, plot elevation and bulk density and percent organic matter of substrate) and biological parameters (biomass and density of flora and fauna) and to describe temporal changes in marsh habitat following a thin-layer dredged material depositional disturbance. At 12 years, marsh elevation (P< 0.001), substrate organic matter (P< 0.001) and fish (of which 89% were Fundulus heteroclitus) biomass (P=0.003) and density (P= 0.005) remained significantly altered by thin-layer treatments. At 12 years, J. roemerianus biomass and density remained depressed in 2-cm, 4-cm and 10-cm treatment groups and a greater abundance of senescent Juncus shoots and upland vegetative species were observed in the 10-cm treatment group. My results contrast with results of other studies in which thin-layer amendments of 2 cm -10 cm depth were applied to eroding Spartina alterniflora-dominated marsh habitats. At Wysocking Bay, the deposition of 4 cm and 10 cm thicknesses of thin-layer treatment altered marsh elevation significantly for 12 years and elevation appeared to prevent the recovery of marsh biota. |
| General note | Presented to the faculty of the Department of Biology. |
| General note | Advisor: Joseph J. Luczkovich |
| General note | Appendices on supplemental CD-ROM. |
| Dissertation note | M.S. East Carolina University 2006 |
| Bibliography note | Includes bibliographical references (leaves 59-66). |
| Genre/form | dissertations. |
| Genre/form | Academic theses. |
| Genre/form | Academic theses. |
| Genre/form | Thèses et écrits académiques. |
Availability
| Library | Location | Call Number | Status | Item Actions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joyner | University Archives | ASK AT SPECIAL COLLECTIONS DESK | ✔ Available | Request Material |
| Electronic Resources | Access Content Online | ✔ Available |