Abstract/Description/Artist Statement
A series of six cores at varying depths were taken from two intertidal salt marshes, Dog Marsh, and Cockle Cove Marsh in Cape Cod, MA. Here we study how much organic carbon is stored in these marsh soils using Bulk density (BD) and loss on ignition (LOI). When looking at the bulk density and LOI of a marsh core we can also see how much inorganic sediment is deposited. Each core was sectioned into three cm sections, were dried and ignited measuring the weights of each section. Then using bulk density and LOI we can see if the organic carbon content increases or decreases. For bulk density rising, this means that there is less organic carbon in the deeper core sections. This also means that the LOI lowering confirms that there is less organic carbon in these lower sections. These results can show how the marsh interacts with the environment, show possible retreatment, or possible growth. Marshes are important to the environment because they can help mitigate storm surges, provide nutrients to organisms, and can help store and trap carbon.
Faculty Advisor/Mentor
Joe Tamborski
Faculty Advisor/Mentor Email
jtambors@odu.edu
Faculty Advisor/Mentor Department
Ocean and Earth sciences
College/School Affiliation
Other
Student Level Group
Undergraduate
Presentation Type
Poster
Organic Carbon Content of New England Intertidal Salt Marshes
A series of six cores at varying depths were taken from two intertidal salt marshes, Dog Marsh, and Cockle Cove Marsh in Cape Cod, MA. Here we study how much organic carbon is stored in these marsh soils using Bulk density (BD) and loss on ignition (LOI). When looking at the bulk density and LOI of a marsh core we can also see how much inorganic sediment is deposited. Each core was sectioned into three cm sections, were dried and ignited measuring the weights of each section. Then using bulk density and LOI we can see if the organic carbon content increases or decreases. For bulk density rising, this means that there is less organic carbon in the deeper core sections. This also means that the LOI lowering confirms that there is less organic carbon in these lower sections. These results can show how the marsh interacts with the environment, show possible retreatment, or possible growth. Marshes are important to the environment because they can help mitigate storm surges, provide nutrients to organisms, and can help store and trap carbon.