Date of Award
Fall 1990
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department
Biological Sciences
Program/Concentration
Biology
Committee Director
Frank P. Day, Jr.
Committee Member
Robert K. Rose
Committee Member
Gerald F. Levy
Call Number for Print
Special Collections LD4331.B46 P695
Abstract
A biomass difference approach was used to measure biomass and production over eleven months in four different communities within the Great Dismal Swamp. On all sites, fine roots were the moat dynamic root component. Both biomass and production were highest on the mixed hardwood site, the least flooded site, and second highest on the cedar site, the site with the longest duration of saturation. The maple-gum and cypress sites had lower amounts of biomass and rates of production. Environmental parameters that influenced production included frequency and duration of flooding, density of the stand, and soil type.
A second method, an implanted bag technique, was also used to measure production. Although values for production were consistently lower using this technique, the trends did not differ greatly from the biomass difference approach.
When compared to values in the literature, estimates of production using the biomass difference approach (ranging from 3158 to 6443 g·m-2·343 day-1) appear high, whereas, the estimates for the implanted bag technique seem low (ranging from 54 to 185 g·m-2·343 day-1). Estimates of production of large roots were unreliable for both techniques. Refinements in both methodologies are needed.
The contribution of roots to total net primary production ranged from 73 to 89 percent. This would indicate that more carbon is allocated to roots than to aboveground parts. Results of this and other studies support a continuum of increasing belowground carbon allocation from continuously flooded to rarely flooded but moist sites.
Rights
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DOI
10.25777/jmvg-cm22
Recommended Citation
Powell, Susan W..
"Root Biomass and Production in Four Communities Within the Great Dismal Swamp"
(1990). Master of Science (MS), Thesis, Biological Sciences, Old Dominion University, DOI: 10.25777/jmvg-cm22
https://digitalcommons.odu.edu/biology_etds/251