At The Straits, it was theorized that the high salinity spots were 

 related to the interlayering of very fine and coarse sediments that 

 occurred at that site. This theory was abandoned when similar phenomenon 

 appeared at Drum Inlet, a site containing almost no fine material. At 

 Drum Inlet, the toxic areas were confined to the higher intertidal ele- 

 vation within these plantings. This would be the zone left exposed most 

 often, and it was exposed for days at a time during the summer. This does 

 not account for the localized nature of the high salinity spots within 

 this zone. 



Station 8 at Drum Inlet is in the "high" elevation zone, but appears 

 very much out-of-place with salinities well below all other stations 

 (Tab. 19). This station is immediately adjacent to a part of the island 

 lying 1 meter or more above the intertidal zone. It is sandy and big 

 enough to develop a freshwater bubble, such as occurs under dunes 

 (Berenyi, 1966), and seepage from this elevated area into the vicinity of 

 Station 8 continually dilutes the soil solution at this location. 



Freshwater seepage from sandy spoil piles can significantly reduce 

 soil solution salinities in the intertidal zone. This could be important 

 for plant establishment and survival in this zone in regions having 

 substantial wind setup. On South Island the absence of any area high 

 enough to permit the retention of freshwater was a handicap to the 

 initial establishment of a seedling stand. 



IV. MARSH DEVELOPMENT 



The ultimate objective of planting S. alterniflova will usually be 

 the initiation of a marsh, which has as one of its functions stabilization 

 of the substrate material. Consequently, the rate at which a planting 

 is able to achieve this objective is of interest. An area at Snow's Cut 

 has been followed since planting 7 April 1971. Planting was by hand, one 

 stem (culm) per hill, 0.91-by 0.91-meter spacing, using transplants dug 

 from nearby natural stands. Their development has been monitored by 

 sampling, counts, and measurements made annually in September, near the 

 end of the period of major aboveground growth. A photographic record has 

 been maintained, and elevation cross sections have been surveyed. 



The developmental pattern of such a planting can probably be best seen, 

 through the early stages, in the pictorial record. The developmental 

 sequence over the first 12 months for this planting is shown in Figures 

 35 through 39. 



Following spring transplanting, there were a few weeks during which 

 the transplants developed new roots and new shoots emerged from the base 

 (Fig. 35) . This stage was followed by a period of rapid aboveground growth, 

 as seen by the proliferation of new stems (center culms) around the origi- 

 nal transplant, extension of rhizomes, and emergence of new stems from 

 rhizomes (rhizome culms) at various distances from the transplant (Fig. 

 36) . This stage lasted a little past midsummer after which flowering 

 began and the season's aboveground growth approached maturity (Fig. 37). 



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