Functional Importance Of Algal Productivity In Mississippi Salt Marshes

Mississippi's Gulf Coast encompasses slightly less than a twentieth (68.8 miles) of the total northern Gulf perimeter, yet is an extremely productive region. Commercial marine fisheries in Mississippi represent an average of 17.8% of all northern Gulf fisheries catches over the past ten years. However, very little is known about the ecosystems supporting this extremely valuable resource, particularly the 27,100 hectares of extensive marshland that is a dominant natural coastal habitat. This study was undertaken to initiate work towards an understanding of Mississippi's coastal marsh processes. Specifically, the primary productivity of edaphic algae (microscopic plants which may be the major component of the base of the food webs supporting organisms dependent on coastal wetlands) was studied. Preliminary assessment of the primary production patterns and rates for edaphic algae will help to develop an understanding of the structure and function of wetlands ecosystems at a basic level, as well as provide a reference point for further studies. Grant no. NA85AA-D-SG005