Effects of Tidewater and Crab Burrowing on H2S Emission and Sulfur Storage in Spartina alterniflora Marsh

摘要

Aiming to uncover the effects of tidewater and crab burrowing on sulfur cycling of Spartina alterniflora marsh, a field experiment was carried out at Jiangsu Yancheng Wetland National Nature Reserve. H2S flux, plant sulfur storage and total sulfur of sediments in S. alterniflora marsh were measured under different tidewater and crab burrows treatments. Results showed that crab burrows significantly increased H2S emission from S. alterniflora marsh, while no significant effect on H2S emission by tidewater was detected. Both tidewater and crab burrows had no significant effects on plant sulfur storage except that the crab burrows significantly decreased it in the seeding season. Tidewater only significantly impacted total sulfur in sediments of 0– 30cm depth, while those in soil of 0–20 and 40–50cm depths were significantly affected by crab burrows. Total sulfur in sediments affected by tidewater and crab burrows exhibited a seasonal variation. The findings of this study indicated that both tidewater and crab burrowing were key disturbing factors affecting sulfur cycling in S. alterniflora marsh but in different aspects.