Metrics for evaluating inundation impacts on the decomposer communities in a Southern California coastal salt marsh.

454 Pyrosequencing of the bacterial 16s rRNA gene was used to assess changes in the sediment microbial community with respect to inundation treatments of soil collected from a coastal salt marsh in Southern California. The sediments were placed in a structure known as a marsh organ that was deployed in a channel of a neighboring salt marsh. The channel was connected to the Pacific Ocean, and had natural tidal cycles. The marsh organ was used to apply natural and increased levels of salt marsh water inundation. Initial samples were collected shortly after the mash organ was deployed, and then again 9 months later after inundation treatments had a chance to take effect.