CO2 Efflux from Salt Marsh Sediments, Mississippi, August thru December 2011.

We examined marsh ecosystem processes in nine different marshes along the Mississippi coast (6 oiled and 3 unoiled marshes). At each site, we measured 24 hr soil CO2 fluxes on three separate dates (September, October, December, 2011). Fluxes were measured with a LI-8100 automated Soil CO2 Flux system. We measured soil CO2 fluxes at four subplots (two each in Juncus roemerianus and Spartina alterniflora vegetative zones) every 30 minutes during each 24 hr period. We used a cellulose strip bioassay as proxy for measuring microbial-mediated decomposition processes in oiled vs non-oiled sites.