Information from the wrack : viability of halophytic vegetation within tidal wetland wrack mats

Abstract

Nova Scotia’s coastal wetlands are under various anthropogenic pressures that can cause destruction or degradation to these ecosystems. Many of these valuable systems have not been protected in the past and have been lost. An important stage in the overall knowledge of coastal wetlands is figuring out how these systems can recolonize without planting. Wrack is understudied in the Minas Basin, Bay of Fundy and determining if there is viable halophytic plant material within the wrack in this area could be a clue to understanding how these systems function. In order to gain a better understanding of the role of wrack mats, 18 samples were analyzed from 6 study areas (3 sample locations per study area). A characterization of the wrack mat was completed and seed material was determined viable. Target species Spartina patens and Spartina alterniflora did not germinate at all, while target species Plantago maritima and Juncus gerardii did germinate from seed and rhizome material found within the wrack. This information complements ongoing studies within the Minas Basin, Bay of Fundy, and increases the overall knowledge of relationships between wrack and colonization within coastal wetlands.