I-B-5 



Eleuterius, L.N. 1971. Marshes of the northern Gulf of Mexico. Page 

 266 in^ D.S. Gorsline, ed., Second national coastal and shallow water 

 research conference; abstract vol. University of Southern California, 

 Los Angeles. (Abstr.) 



Although there is increasing evidence to indicate that the coastal 

 marshes are indispensable areas of primary productivity and habitats 

 for myriads of animals, destruction of these marshes continues. 

 Recent legislation has retarded large-scale destruction somewhat, 

 but small increments are slowly being lost. This piecemeal destruction 

 appears to be the most common form in the north Gulf of Mexico marshes 

 at present where little or no work has been done on the re-establishment 

 of plant habitats destroyed in engineering operations. Marshes have 

 become the catch basins for upland pollutants and the effect on the 

 vegetation has been largely ignored by researchers. The most obvious 

 effects are the reduction in number of vascular species and the drastic 

 change in the algal species. 



Most of the tidal marsh in North America occurs in the northern 

 Gulf of Mexico. However, more studies on marsh vegetation have been 

 conducted on the Atlantic Coast. Very little is known about the plant 

 ecology of the marshes found in the northern Gulf, and care should be 

 taken in extrapolation of Atlantic Coast data. 



A thorough knowledge of the ecology of the major marsh species is 

 essential before any successful attempt can be made to manage undisturbed 

 marshes and rehabilitate areas adversely affected by man. 



Some important marsh plants that are being studied are Juncus 

 roemerianus , Spartina alterniflora , Scirpus olneyi , Spartina patens , 

 Spartina cynosuroides , Scirpus validus , Cladium jamai cense , Phragmites 

 communis , and Distich! is spicata . Detailed studies on the growth 

 patterns and productivity for each species are being conducted and 

 correlated to ecological data collected throughout the year. Successional 

 variation in the marsh composition is being obtained throughout the 

 growing season, and seasonal changes are being recorded. The leaves, 

 rhizomes, and roots of plants from various habitats are being measured 

 to obtain meristic data for comparison. Studies on seed germination, 

 seedling development as well as some genetic, physiological and 

 anatomical work are in progress. All of these studies will lead to 

 a better understanding of the vegetation of the undisturbed marsh and 

 assist in the rehabilitation of disturbed areas. (A. A.) 



Keywords: coastal marshes, environmental change, vascular plants, algae, 

 tidal marsh, U.S. Gulf coast 



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