Distribution and Abundance of Salt Marsh Dodder (Cuscuta salina) at Elkhorn Slough Katie Alt...
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Transcript of Distribution and Abundance of Salt Marsh Dodder (Cuscuta salina) at Elkhorn Slough Katie Alt...
Distribution and Abundance of Salt Marsh Dodder (Cuscuta salina) at Elkhorn Slough
Katie Alt Griffith
Ocean Sciences Department
Salt Marsh Plant Zonation
• Abiotic Factors
• Biotic Factors
How would a parasitic plant be distributed in a salt marsh as a function of its host?
1. How does Cuscuta distribution correlate with abiotic factors in Elkhorn Slough?
• Elevation
WRACK
• Wrack
• Flow Regime
• Land Use
2. What are the mechanisms involved in distributional patterns?
WRACK
• Seed dispersal
• Germination
• Seedling survival
3. How does nitrogen supply affect this host-parasite interaction?
Testing the
Plant Vigor
Hypothesis
Fertilized Not Fertilized
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Cuscuta
Bio
mas
s (g
dry
wei
ght)
Salicornia
P = 0.001
n = 20
Is Cuscuta more abundant in marshes that receive inputs of synthetic fertilizers??
3. How does nitrogen supply affect this host-parasite interaction?
• How much nitrogen in tissues?
• Source of nitrogen?
• Level of infection / spread?