Occurrence ofSpartina macrodetritus in Bay of Fundy waters

Suspended macrodetritus (>600 μm) from extensiveSpartina alterniflora marshes is widespread in the Cumberland Basin region of the macrotidal upper Bay of Fundy. The average concentration is about 5 mg C per m³ and most is found in the lower two-thirds of the water column. The total amount in the Basin at high tide is approximately 8 metric tonnes of organic carbon which is less than 1% of the annual net aerial primary production of the fringingS. alterniflora marshes. The high visibility ofSpartina detritus in Cumberland Basin is caused by the extreme tides (average tidal range about 11 m) which export marsh vegetation and distribute it widely about the estuary, and by the pronounced turbidity which has been shown to limit phytoplankton growth.