Seasonal Changes in Biomass of Two ComFreshwater Wetland plants: storage of nutrients

In this study, I quantified differences in above- and belowground biomass and storage of nutrients. I hypothesized that storage of phosphorous would be greater in belowground biomass in the non-growing season compared to the growing. I also hypothesized that the storage of phosphorous would be greater in aboveground biomass in the growing season compared to the non-growing season. Furthermore, I hypothesized that the total amount of nutrients in plant tissue would be greater in the growing season, than the non-growing season. Typha latifolia and Carex lurida were placed in mesocosms at the University of Mississippi Field Station (UMFS) and dosed with phosphorous. Each replicate experiment lasted one month and began with new plants and soil. At the end of the experiment, all plants were harvested and samples were collected for analyses of total inorganic phosphorous, and other macronutrients. The results show that plants store more nutrients than are necessary for growth. Increasing the amount of phosphorous available to plants also increases the storage of other nutrients, such as magnesium and potassium. The addition of phosphorous also had an effect on the location of nutrients in Typha latifolia. Specimens of T. latifolia. that were dosed with phosphorous contained larger amounts in roots than shoots, and the opposite was observed in the control specimens. Also, dosed specimens of T. latifolia contained higher amounts of potassium in roots compared to shoots/leaves, whereas the control specimens contained higher amounts of potassium in shoots/leaves than roots. Carex lurida results show an increase in the amounts of plant tissue nutrients in the non-growing season compared to the growing season. Conversely, T. latifolia contained more plant tissue nutrients in the growing season than the non-growing. Both species contained higher amounts of calcium, magnesium, and sulfur in shoots/leaves than roots.

Name thesis:degree_name

M.S. in Biological Science

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Biology

Year dc:date.available

2016

Author dc:creator

• McCann, Emily Kathryn

Contributors dc:contributor

• Marjorie M. Holland
• Sarah J. Liljegren
• Jason Hoeksema

• Carex lurida
• eutrophication
• nonpoint source pollution
• phosphorous
• Typha latifolia
• Biology

Repository record dc:identifier

https://egrove.olemiss.edu/etd/1270

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:egrove.olemiss.edu:etd-2269