The effects of deer trampling in a salt marsh / by Mark Keusenkothen.
| Author/creator | Keusenkothen, Mark author. |
| Other author | Christian, Robert R. (Robert Raymond), 1947- degree supervisor. |
| Other author | East Carolina University. Department of Biology. |
| Format | Theses and dissertations |
| Production | 2002. |
| Description | xiii, 207 leaves : illustrations ; 28 cm |
| Supplemental Content | Access via ScholarShip |
| Subjects |
| Summary | The goals of the study were to determine (1) the extent of deer trails in a salt marsh, (2) the effects of trampling within the trails on four different salt marsh communities, (3) differences in effects from community to community, and (4) the role trampling may play in facilitating ecosystem state change in a salt marsh. The study was done in a mainland marsh on the Delmarva Peninsula of Virginia in the Juncus roemerianus, Distichlis spicata/Spartina patens, low marsh, and creek bank communities. Nearly 24 km of deer trails covered approximately 6876 m2, or 0.23%, of the total study site area. Live above ground plant biomass was significantly reduced in on-trail areas relative to off-trail areas in all four communities. Reductions in the plant canopy allowed significantly more light to reach the marsh surface in on-trail areas of all communities relative to off-trail areas. Significant differences were found between on- and off-trail soil characteristics in the four marsh communities. The relative elevations of on-trail areas were significantly lower than that of off-trail areas in all marsh communities except the D. spicata/S. patens community. These changes in the ecosystem altered primary producer community composition. Further, significantly more Uyanassa obsoleta were found in on-trail areas of the low marsh and creek bank communities than in off-trail areas. Trampling may facilitate ecosystem state change differently in the various communities, but the effects tend to be localized. |
| General note | Presented to the faculty of the Department of Biology. |
| General note | Advisor: Robert R. Christian |
| Dissertation note | M.S. East Carolina University 2002 |
| Bibliography note | Includes bibliographical references (leaves 154-168). |
| 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 |