Seedling growth dynamic of Haloxylon ammodendron and its adaptation strategy to habitat condition in hinterland of desert

Through measuring the above/below-ground growth data of Haloxylon ammodendron seedlings at different stages in hinterland of the desert the results show that the H. ammodendron seedling growth has demonstrated different adaptation characteristics in the continued arid environment with time and space. In May, July, September and October, the growth speed of vertical root is 0.607 cm/d, 0.809 cm/d, 0.155 cm/d and 0.394 cm/d, respectively; the growth speed of height is 0.093 cm/d, 0.076 cm/d, 0.408 cm/d and 136 cm/d, respectively. It is explained that seedlings root system has the growth superiority in space. The maximum growth speed of below-ground (vertical root and horizontal root) of seedling is earlier than that of above-ground (height and horizontal of shoot). In the different periods, the vertical growth speed and the horizontal growth speed of below-ground is 2–10 times and 3–5 times than the height increase speed and the shoot growth speed, respectively. In the whole season, the growth speed of above/below-ground of seedlings shows the alternation growth tendency. At the different periods, the root/shoot ratio of H. ammodendron seedlings is 0.41, 0.3, 0.39 and 0.88. All these characteristics are the comprehensive performance of seedlings’ strategy selection to adapt to the continued arid environment.

     

Seedling growth dynamic of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Haloxylon ammodendron</Emphasis> and its adaptation strategy to habitat condition in hinterland of desert

Through measuring the above/below-ground growth data of Haloxylon ammodendron seedlings at different stages in hinterland of the desert the results show that the H. ammodendron seedling growth has demonstrated different adaptation characteristics in the continued arid environment with time and space. In May, July, September and October, the growth speed of vertical root is 0.607 cm/d, 0.809 cm/d, 0.155 cm/d and 0.394 cm/d, respectively; the growth speed of height is 0.093 cm/d, 0.076 cm/d, 0.408 cm/d and 136 cm/d, respectively. It is explained that seedlings root system has the growth superiority in space. The maximum growth speed of below-ground (vertical root and horizontal root) of seedling is earlier than that of above-ground (height and horizontal of shoot). In the different periods, the vertical growth speed and the horizontal growth speed of below-ground is 2–10 times and 3–5 times than the height increase speed and the shoot growth speed, respectively. In the whole season, the growth speed of above/below-ground of seedlings shows the alternation growth tendency. At the different periods, the root/shoot ratio of H. ammodendron seedlings is 0.41, 0.3, 0.39 and 0.88. All these characteristics are the comprehensive performance of seedlings’ strategy selection to adapt to the continued arid environment.     

不同时期菰(Zizania latifolia)幼苗对短期淹没的形态学响应

菰(Zizania latifolia)是长江中下游流域常见的挺水植物.为了解菰在野外的扩张和退化机制,本研究通过模拟实验分析了不同时期菰幼苗对短期淹没的形态学响应.实验共选择株高36和70 cm两种幼苗,设计不淹没、50%淹没和100%淹没3个处理.研究结果表明:两组菰幼苗地上部分的形态学响应有一定差异.在100%淹没处理下,36 cm幼苗组株高最低,茎粗和最大叶宽均显著低于其他两个处理;而70 cm幼苗组在不淹没处理下株高最低,茎粗和最大叶宽在50%和100%淹没处理下均无显著差异.两组菰幼苗根系的形态学响应也不一致.36 cm幼苗组,100%淹没处理组的所有6个根系指标均与其他两种处理有显著差异;70 cm幼苗组,不淹没处理组的6个根系指标均与其他两种处理有显著差异.随着淹没深度的增加,两组菰幼苗总生物量和根茎比均逐渐下降;但36 cm幼苗组在100%淹没处理下总生物量和根茎比均显著低于其他两个处理,而70 cm幼苗组在50%和100%淹没处理下却无显著差异.综合以上分析,本研究结果表明随着菰幼苗的生长,其对淹没的形态学响应能力增强.本研究结果对长江中下游湖泊菰的生态调控具有重要意义.     

Impact of salt stress on the features and activities of root system for three desert halophyte species in their seedling stage

Linkage between belowground and aboveground sections of ecological system is mainly depending on root system. But root system is the parts of plant that people less understand. The absorption function of root system is closely related to their morphology and activity. Moreover root system can interact with the environmental stress under the adverse situation, and adjust its system to take adaptation responses in morphology and physiology to strengthen its survival chance. This research is focused on three desert halophyte species of H. ammodendron (C.A.Mey.) Bge., S. physophora Pall., and S. nitraria Pall. under solution culture, to study the differences of their root system morphology and activity in the seedling stage under varying salt concentration conditions. The study results show that: A certain salt concentration can promote development of these three halophytes; but rather high salt concentration will restrain their growth, in particular inhibit the root system development. Under the same salt concentration condition, S. nitraria Pall. grows fast and accumulates the largest amount of biomass. Under relatively low salt concentration, the length of axial root and the total length of root system of these three halophyte species are all increased; and compared to the checking samples, S. physophora Pall. occupies the top place of root system growth, but the high salt concentration will restrain the increase of total root length; among them, the impact intensity on S. physophora Pall. is lighter than to H. ammodendron (C.A.Mey.) Bge. and S. nitraria Pall. is lighter; the salinity does not bring distinct influence on the average diameter of root system of these three plant species, but trends to reducing the size; under the solution culture conditions, the middle and lower parts of the axial root of H. ammodendron (C.A.Mey.) Bge. and S. physophora Pall. are rather equally distributed, but the central zone of S. nitraria Pall. root system is more significantly increased than the upper and lower zones; salt concentration does not bring significant impact on the root system spatial distribution of each species. The root activity of the three plants is increased along with the increase of the salt concentration. When the salt concentration is low, the root activity is not significantly increased; but when the salt concentration is high, the root activity is increased significantly. The experimental results show that the saline tolerance capacity of H. ammodendron (C.A.Mey.) Bge. is lower than the other two species, and the capacity of S. physophora Pall. ranks the top place.     

Effects of ulvoid (Ulva spp.) accumulation on the structure and function of eelgrass (Zostera marina L.) bed

The objective of this study is to clarify the effect of ulvoid (Ulva spp.) accumulation on the structure and function of an eelgrass bed by the coast of Iwakuni, Seto Inland Sea, Japan. We monitored eelgrass shoot density and volume of ulvoid accumulation in the study site and evaluated effects of the accumulated ulvoid canopy on the percent survival, seedling density, growth rates, photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) and carbon contents of eelgrass. Eelgrass shoot density decreased by the accumulation of ulvoid. Also, seedling density decreased by the increase in the ulvoid volumes. Shoot density, seedling density and leaf elongation were negatively correlated with ulvoid volume. Carbon contents in eelgrass decreased by the accumulation of ulvoid (canopy height: 25cm). These results suggest that accumulation of ulvoid bloom has significant negative impacts on the structure and function of eelgrass bed, i.e. decreases in vegetative shoot density, seedling density, shoot height and growth rate.     

Case studies of the propagation characteristics of auroral TIDS with EISCAT CP2 data using maximum entropy cross-spectral analysis

In this paper case studies of propagation characteristics of two TIDs are presented which are induced by atmospheric gravity waves in the auroral F-region on a magnetic quiet day. By means of maximum entropy cross-spectral analysis of EISCAT CP2 data, apparent full wave-number vectors of the TIDs are obtained as a function of height. The analysis results show that the two events considered can be classified as moderately large-scale TID and medium-scale TID, respectively. One exhibits a dominant period of about 72 min, a mean horizontal phase speed of about 180 m/s (corresponding to a horizontal wavelength of about 780 km) directed south-eastwards and a vertical phase speed of 55 m/s for a height of about 300 km. The other example shows a dominant period of 44 min, a mean horizontal phase velocity of about 160 m/s (corresponding to a horizontal wavelength of about 420 km) directed southwestwards, and a vertical phase velocity of about 50 m/s at 250 km altitude.Max-Planck-Institut für Aeronomie, Germany. On leave from Department of Space Physics, Wuhan University, China     

Influence of root characteristics and soil variables on the uprooting mechanics of Avena sativa and Medicago sativa seedlings

The success of seedlings and rejuvenated woody debris growing on river bedforms depends on the resistance to uprooting by flow provided by their simple root architecture. Avena sativa and Medicago sativa seedlings were used in flume experiments as prototypes for juvenile riparian plants. Very little is known about the magnitude of root anchoring forces and the role of secondary roots of such simple root systems. We performed 1550 vertical uprooting experiments on Avena sativa and Medicago sativa seedlings grown in quartz sand. Seedlings were pulled up by direct traction using a wheel driven by a computer‐controlled motor and the force was recorded. Roots were scanned and architectural parameters (root length and number of roots) determined. Uprooting force and work (the integral of the applied force times the distance over which it is applied) were then related to root architecture and soil variables. Resistance to uprooting increased with decreasing sediment size and sediment moisture content. The initial response of the root–soil system to uprooting showed linear elastic behaviour with modulus increasing with plant age. While the maximum uprooting force was found to increase linearly with total root length and be mainly dependent on the length of the main root, uprooting work followed a power law and has to be related to the whole root system. Thus, for the young plants we considered, secondary roots are responsible for the ability to withstand environmental disturbances in terms of duration rather than magnitude. This distinction between primary and secondary roots can be of crucial importance for seedlings of riparian species germinating on river bars and islands where inundation is a main cause of mortality. Beyond clarifying the biomechanical role of soil and root variables, the uprooting statistics obtained are useful in interpreting and designing ecomorphodynamic flume experiments. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

风垂直切变对中尺度地形对流降水影响的研究

针对长江中下游中尺度地形特点以及暴雨过程发生发展期间风垂直切变的主要观测特征,设计了一系列中尺度地形的三维理想数值试验,分析了干大气地形流和重力波特征,探讨了条件不稳定湿大气地形对流降水的模态分布,在此基础上研究了圆形、直线风垂直切变和切变厚度对中尺度地形对流降水强度和模态分布的影响.结果发现:在 F_r≈1的干大气条件下,气流遇到地形后分支、绕流和爬升现象同时存在,地形激发的重力波在水平和垂直方向上传播,其在迎风坡、背风坡、地形上游和下游的振幅不同,并组织出不同强度的垂直上升运动.在F_r > 1的条件不稳定湿大气下,地形对流降水主要存在三种模态,即迎风坡和背风坡准静止对流降水以及地形下游移动性对流降水,地形对流降水的形成与重力波在低层组织的上升运动密切相关.风垂直切变对地形对流降水的强度和模态分布有重要作用,其中圆形风垂直切变(风随高度旋转)不仅影响地形下游对流降水系统的移动方向,而且影响迎风坡和背风坡山脚处对流降水中心的分布和强度;直线风垂直切变(风随高度无旋转)主要影响地形对流降水的移动速度和强度.风随高度自下而上顺(逆)时针旋转,地形对流系统向下游传播时向右(左)偏移.风垂直切变主要通过影响地形重力波的结构和传播以及对流系统的形成、移动方向和速度,来影响地形对流降水的模态分布,其中对流层中低层的风垂直切变对地形对流降水强度和模态分布有重要影响.     

EXPERIMENTAL STUDY ON WHOLE TREE VERTICAL TENSILE STRENGTH

This paper studies the vertical tensile strength of whole tree roots under the same soil and landform conditions. The experiments show that the shape of a root system‘s distribution affects the vertical tensile strength of roots. Rhododendron trees have horizontal root systems, so the whole roots were pulled out in the experiment process. Populous purdornii has vertical roots, so the experiment continued quite a long time. Abies fabric has both vertical and horizontal main roots, so the P-S curve shows a multi-peak shape.     

Tree root mounds and their role in transporting soil on forested landscapes

The growth and decay of tree roots can stir and transport soil. This is one process that contributes to the mass‐movement of soil on hillslope. To explore the efficiency of this process, we document the mounding of soil beside Ponderosa and Lodgepole pine trees in the forests that dominate the mid‐elevations of Colorado's Boulder Creek watershed. Mounds are best expressed around Ponderosa pines, reaching vertical displacements above the far‐field slopes of order 10–20 cm, fading into the slope by roughly 100 cm distance from the trunks with common diameters of 30 cm. Positive mounding occurs on all sides of trees on slopes, indicating that the mounding is not attributable to deflection of a creeping flow of soil around the tree, but rather to the insertion of root volume on all sides in the subsurface. Mounding is commonly asymmetric even on cross‐slope profiles. Significant variation in the mound sizes results in no clear relationship between tree diameter and root volume displaced. These observations motivated the development of a discrete element model of tree root growth using the LIGGGHTS model, in which grains we specified to be ‘root cells’ were allowed to enlarge within the simulated granular matrix. Mounding could be reproduced, with the majority of the vertical displacement of the surface being attributable to reduction of the bulk density due to dilation of the granular matrix during root enlargement. Finally, we develop a previous analysis of the role of roots in transporting soil during growth and decay cycles. We find that even in shallow soils, the root‐cycle can drive significant soil transport down forested montane slopes. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Interactive influence of water level,sediment heterogeneity,and plant density on the growth performance and root characteristics of Carex brevicuspis

Water level, sediment heterogeneity, and plant density are important factors that determine plant growth, distribution, and community structure. In the present study, we investigated the effects of these factors on the growth and root characteristics of Carex brevicuspis. We conducted an outdoor experiment to monitor biomass accumulation and allocation, relative root distribution mass ratio, longest root length, and total N and P contents of C. brevicuspis plants. We used a factorial design with two water levels (0 cm and −15 cm relative to the soil surface, named high and low water level treatments, respectively), three sediment types (sand/clay sediment with 0–15 cm of sand and 15–30 cm of clay; mixed sediment with 0–30 cm mixture of sand and clay with 1:1 volumw ratio; and clay/sand sediment with 0–15 cm of clay and 15–30 cm of sand), and three plant densities (88 plants per m², 354 plants per m², and 708 plants per m²). Biomass accumulation decreased with increasing plant density and was significantly higher in the low water level and the clay/sand sediment than in the high water level and the other two sediment types. The shoot:root ratio was markedly higher in the high water level than in the low water level and decreased with increasing plant density; further, in the high water level, it was significantly lower in the sand/clay sediment than in the other two sediment types. The relative root distribution mass ratio was markedly higher in the high water level treatments than in the low water level treatments. Further, in the high water level treatments, the relative root distribution mass ratio increased with increasing plant density in the clay/sand sediment and was lower in the sand/clay sediment than in the other two sediment types. The longest root length was significantly lower in the high water level than in the low water level and increased with increasing plant density in the sand/clay sediment in the high water level. Total N content in the plants was influenced only by sediment type; on the other hand, total P content was markedly higher in the high water level than in the low water level. Our data indicate that growth of C. brevicuspis was limited by higher water level, higher density and sand/clay sediment. Plants can increase shoot:root ratio and develop shallow root system to acclimate to high water level and thus could adjust shoot:root ratio and root characteristics, e.g. decrease their shoot:root ratio and allocating more root and increasing root length to the nutrient rich layer to acclimate to conditions of higher density and sediment heterogeneity.     

Biodegradation by Co‐inoculated Bacteria and Fungi Alleviates Adverse Effects of Red‐S3B on Growth and Nitrogen Uptake of Wheat

Textile wastewater contains huge quantities of nitrogen (N)‐containing azo‐dyes. Irrigation of crops with such wastewater adds toxic dyes into our healthy soils. One of the ways to prevent their entry to soils could be these waters after the dyes' biodegradation. Therefore, the present study was conducted to evaluate the impact of textile dyes on wheat growth, dye degradation efficiency of bacteria‐fungi consortium, and alleviation of dye toxicity in wheat by treatment with microbial consortium. Among dyes, Red‐S3B (3.19% N) was found to be the most toxic to germination and growth of seven‐day‐old wheat seedlings. Shewanella sp. NIAB‐BM15 and Aspergillus terreus NIAB‐FM10 were found to be efficient degraders of Red‐S3B. Their consortium completely decolorized 500 mg L^?1 Red‐S3B within 4 h. Irrigation with Red‐S3B‐contaminated water after treatment with developed consortium increased root length, shoot length, root biomass, and shoot biomass of 30‐day‐old wheat seedlings by 47, 18, 6, and 25%, respectively, than untreated water. Moreover, irrigation after microbial treatment of dye‐contaminated water resulted in 20 and 51% increase in shoot N content and N uptake, respectively, than untreated water. Thus, co‐inoculation of bacteria and fungi could be a useful bioremediation strategy for the treatment of azo‐dye‐polluted water.     

To afforest the desert with the technology of peat composed of rotten mosses and the sustainable development of the oases

Only by providing the good conditions for the growth of plants can a favorable ecologicalenvironment on which human beings rely for existence be created. The upside-down-T dou-ble-layer water-conserving afforestation way is developed according to the situation of the short-age of water resources, low soil fertility and vast land in the arid areas. The characteristics of theafforestation way are to change the microenvironment in the root area of the plants, provide thefavorable conditions for the growth of plants, and reduce the necessary conditions for the growth ofplants in large areas in the arid regions. Meanwhile, the size of its water-conserving layer can bechanged according to the size of the planted trees. The different ways of the bottom wa-ter-conserving layer can be used according to the requirements. The afforestation way is suitablefor planting trees on a small scale and also for afforesting on a large scale under the adverse cir-cumstances in the arid areas, and has been effectively used in the afforestation in the hinterland ofTaklamakan Desert and the southern marginal zone of Gurbantonggut Desert. The prospects ofthe afforestation way are broad in afforestation and desertification control in the desert regions.     

广东省汤溪水库大坝抗震稳定性分析

汤溪水库始建于1959年,当时未对地震设防。为响应“国际减灾十年”号召,有关部门要求对该水库大坝的抗震能力进行复核。 在研究区的地震地质、地震活动性以及深部地球物理场等资料的基础上,划分出四个潜在震源区,并用概率地震危险性分析方法,给出复核大坝抗震能力的两个等级的地震动:取地震复发周期475年(相当于地震基本烈度)的峰加速度142.2cm/s~2,复发周期2474年(相当于“罕遇烈度”)的峰加速度229.6cm/s~2。 在上述地震动下,利用三种方法对大坝抗震能力进行复核:1.水工建筑物抗震设计规范SDJ10—78的拟静力法;2.有限元整体永久变形分析法;3.有限滑动永久变形分析法。根据上述三种方法的复核结果,主坝可以抗御地震基本烈度的作用;在罕遇烈度下,几种方法的结果稍有不同;拟静力法的最小安全系数K=1.08,稍小规范规定的1.1;整体永久变形算出的最大水平永久变形10.8cm,估计坝顶和坝坡会出现规模不大条数不多的纵、横向裂缝,因此是可以接受的,有限滑动分析的几种类似的方法给出的结果差别较大,尤其是Romo法,得出水平和垂直最大永久变形分别为66cm和21cm。综合来看,在罕遇烈度下,主坝的抗震能力处于临界状态。副坝抗震能力高,在罕遇烈度下也是令人放心的。     

苦草(Vallisneria natans)和黑藻(Hydrilla verticillata)对沉积物各形态磷垂直分布的影响

采用沉水植物苦草(V.natans)和黑藻(H.verticillata)作为研究对象,在其旺盛生长期测定群落内外上覆水及沉积物各形态磷的含量,以探究不同根系特点的沉水植物对沉积物中各形态磷垂直分布的影响.结果表明:实验进行30 d后苦草和黑藻组沉积物总磷(TP)、无机磷(IP)和氢氧化钠提取磷(NaOH-P)含量在垂直方向均呈现不同程度的降低.苦草和黑藻组沉积物TP的含量在4.5 cm深度处降低幅度最大,较对照组分别下降了58.91和36.46 mg/kg;IP含量分别在沉积物6.0和3.0 cm深度处降低幅度最大,较对照组分别降低了85.41和57.41 mg/kg.总体来看,沉水植物苦草对沉积物各形态磷含量降低的影响大于黑藻.     

Peak velocities and peak surface strains during Northridge, California, earthquake of 17 January 1994

We present contours of the largest horizontal and vertical recorded peak velocities of strong ground motion during the Northridge, California, earthquake. Above the fault, the horizontal peak velocities exceeded 100 cm/s. The vertical velocities were larger than 20 cm/s. We also present contours of peak horizontal and vertical strain factors. Through most of the San Fernando Valley and the Santa Susana Mountains, the horizontal surface strain factor was larger than 10⁻³. The largest horizontal strain factor computed was for the Rinaldi Receiving Station ∼10^−2·2. The corresponding vertical strains were >10^−3·25 and 10⁻¹³, respectively. Through most of the Los Angeles Basin the horizontal peak surface strain factors were between 10^−3·75 and 10⁻³.     

PREDICTION OF VERTICAL RESPONSE SPECTRA IN EUROPE

Equations for the prediction of vertical peak and absolute acceleration spectral ordinates in terms of magnitude, source-distance and site geology are presented. Comparison to similarly derived horizontal equations shows vertical spectral values to be 1/2–1/4 of the horizontal. The influence of site geology on vertical ground motion is reduced with respect to the horizontal. Ratios of peak vertical to peak horizontal ground acceleration in the near-field of thrust faults are magnitude and distance dependent, reaching values in excess of one very near the fault of large magnitude events. For strike-slip faults the ratio exceeds one for moderate events, decreasing for larger events, and is distance independent. Spectral acceleration ratios exceed one at short periods but are less than one at intermediate and long periods, irrespective of the source mechanism.     

Changes in the saltation flux following a step‐change in macro‐roughness

The effect of a step change in macro‐roughness on the saltation process under sediment supply limited conditions was examined in the atmospheric boundary layer. For an array of roughness elements of roughness density λ = 0.045 (λ = total element frontal area/total surface area of the array) the horizontal saltation flux was reduced by 90% (±7%) at a distance of ≈150 roughness element heights into the array. This matches the value predicted using an empirical design model and provides confidence that it can be effectively used to engineer roughness arrays to meet sand flux reduction targets. Measurements of the saltation flux characteristics in the vertical dimension, including: saltation layer decay (e‐folding) height and particle size, revealed that with increasing distance into the array, the rate of mass flux change with increasing height decreased notably, and (geometric) mean particle diameter decreased. The distribution of the saltation mass flux in the vertical remains exponential in form with increasing distance into the roughness array, and the e‐folding height increases as well as increasing at a greater rate as particle diameter diminishes. The increase in e‐folding height suggests the height of saltating particles is increasing along with their mean speed. This apparent increase in mean speed is likely due to the preferential removal, or sequestration, of the slower moving particles across the size spectrum, as they travel through the roughness array. Copyright © 2018 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

沉水植物苦草根系功能性状对基质类型和种植密度的响应及其与个体表现关系

根系功能性状体现了植物细根的生长状况及其对外部环境的适应性,然而根系功能性状响应环境变化的时间稳定性如何仍不清楚。苦草(Vallisneria natans)是水体沉水植被修复的先锋种类,细根在其种群重建初期起着重要作用。该研究设计了草垫、草垫+沙子、草垫+黄泥及草垫+底泥4种生长基质和100株/m²以及200株/m²两种种植密度并将其两两组合,以模拟自然生境不同的基质和密度情况,并在不同时期对苦草功能性状指标进行取样测定,通过重复测量二元方差分析研究基质和密度对根系功能指标的影响,并通过线性拟合模型探讨个体水平的生长表现(生物量分配、营养吸收、个体定植)与具体的根系功能性状之间的关系对环境变化的响应。结果表明:所有测量指标均受到基质条件的显著影响,部分根系功能性状指标如根冠比(RSR)、根干重、比根长(SRL)、根比表面积(SRA)、根组织密度(RTD)、根系锚定力和根体积受密度的影响显著。苦草生物量的分配主要受基质条件的影响,对营养的吸收、运输及根系固着能力受基质和密度的共同影响。线性拟合模型表明SRA、RTD、根直径、根表面积以及根体积在个体水平上能一定程度地预测RSR对环境变化的响应,且RTD的预测效果最好;根冠比、SRA、生根数、总根长、根表面积以及根体积在个体水平上能一定程度地预测SRL对环境变化的响应,其中生根数的预测效果最好;SRA、根直径、根表面积以及根体积在个体水平上能一定程度地预测根系锚定力对环境变化的响应,并且SRA的预测效果最好。但是基质和密度在不同时期对苦草根系功能性状的影响方向会发生改变,当用根系功能性状预测植物个体表现时,需要考虑种群重建所处的时期。     

The effect of rates of sedimentation and tidal submersion regimes on the growth of salt marsh plants

A system of tidal mesocosms has been constructed in order to determine interactions between rates of accretion and duration of inundation. Plants are grown in three tanks in which different tidal regimes are simulated by a system of electronically controlled pumps. Sediment is added to give four different rates of accretion and the mesocosms are run under controlled greenhouse conditions. To date experiments have been conducted with seedlings of Salicornia europaea and Aster tripolium. The longest duration of immersion reduces the growth rate of root and shoot of Salicornia seedlings but Aster was unaffected by 5 h submersion daily. Both species, however, responded positively to all rates of sediment addition up to the equivalent of 60 mm per year. The implication of these findings are discussed in relation to salt marsh development.