Spartina is systematically attacked by a selective mycota throughout 

 its development and decomposition. Fungi include, among others, species 

 of Fusarium and Cephalosporium as well as representatives of the marine 

 taxa Lulworthia and Leptosphaeria . Molds colonizing external plant 

 surfaces differ from those isolated within the culm. Fungal attack is 

 correlated with seasonal development and subsequent decomposition of 

 the plant. A large yeast biomass, notably sporogenous taxa Pichia 

 spartinae and Kluyveromyces drosophilarum , is prevalent in the oxidized 

 portions of the Spartina rhizosphere and within the peripheral 

 tissue and intercellular spaces of the culm. These species, with 

 strong B-glucosidase activity, reach maximal populations during dieback 

 of Spartina . A mutual istic yeast/mold association in turnover of 

 plant substrates is suggested. (A. A.) 



Keywords: detritus, Spartina , biodegradation, fungi 



III-C-3 



May, M.S. 1974. Probable agents for the formation of detritus from the 

 halophyte, Spartina alterni flora . Pages 429-440 jn^ R.J. Reimold and 

 W.H. Queen, eds., Ecology of halophytes. Academic Press, New York. 



Microbial decomposition has been generally accepted as the major cause 

 of the degradation of dead plants to detritus, and recently, several 

 invertebrates have been shown to play a role. The purpose of this work 

 was to investigate probable agents of detritus formation from smooth 

 cordgrass ( Spartina alterniflora ) , the dominant grass of the intertidal 

 marshes of Georgia. The study found that microbial decomposition of 

 dead Spartina does occur and is probably due to fungi and that macro- 

 invertebrates, especially Cleantis planicauda , are major degraders of 

 dead Spartina to detritus, (J.B.) 



Keywords: detritus, Spartina alterniflora , decomposition, intertidal marshes 



nr-c-4 



Burkholder, P.R. 1959. Some microbiological aspects of marine productivity 

 in shallow waters. Pages 70-75 2!I Proceedings of the salt marsh conference, 

 Sapelo Island, Georgia. University of Georgia, Athens. 



Salt marshes of the eastern coast of North America and the Caribbean 

 vary greatly in kind of substrate and floristic composition. Dominant 

 plants with submerged roots and rhizomes and aerial shoots frequently 

 occur in the tidal areas of these marshes, Spartina is abundant in the 

 temperate regions, and species of mangrove are characteristic of tropical 

 areas. Submerged plants such as eel grass, manatee grass and turtle 

 grass are abundant primary producers in their respective areas. 

 Oftentimes associated with shallow water communities of mangrove and 

 turtle grass, such as occur in Puerto Rico, are the coral reefs. 



103 



