Date of Award
12-2009
Degree Name
Master of Science
Department
Geological and Environmental Sciences
First Advisor
Dr. Carla M. Koretsky
Second Advisor
Dr. Duane Hampton
Third Advisor
Dr. Daniel Cassidy
Access Setting
Masters Thesis-Campus Only
Abstract
Invasion of the exotic macrophyte, purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria), is of serious concern in Great Lakes basin wetland environments. In this study, the porewater chemistry of Kleinstuck Marsh, a minerotrophic peatland in Kalamazoo, Michigan, is investigated at three sites, one on the east side of the marsh, and two on the west side of the marsh. The east site is vegetated primarily by purple loosestrife. One site on the west side of the marsh has mostly cattails and the third site has a mixture of loosestrife and cattails. Sampling has been completed using porewater diffusion equilibrators to collect samples from the sediment surface to a depth of 50 cm, at ~ 1-2 cm intervals, in September and November 2006 and in March and June 2007. Pore waters have been analyzed for pH, dissolved inorganic carbon or alkalinity, dissolved ferrous iron, ferric iron, sulfate, sulfide, ammonium and phosphate. Some trace and major elements were also analyzed. The pore waters are always redox stratified, but there are considerable differences between the cattail and loosestrife dominated sites during the different sampling events. In general, the purple loosestrife dominated sites have more compressed redox stratifcation, although hydrology and soil organic content may also play a part. This study displays the multitude of variables that influence the near surface pore water chemistry in a minerotrophic peatland.
Recommended Citation
Haveman, Melanie J., "Influence of Vegetation on Seasonal Pore Water Chemistry in a Michigan Peatland" (2009). Masters Theses. 281.
https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/masters_theses/281