ASSESSING THE IMPORTANCE OF

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ASSESSING THE IMPORTANCE OF PHOSPHORUS IN THE
STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION OF EVERGLADES WET
PRAIRIES AND SAWGRASS MARSHES
Robert J. Daoust
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Correlation Study
NitrogenPhosphorus
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Correlation Study
NitrogenPhosphorus
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P-limitation
Correlation Study
N-limitation
P-limitation
N-limitation
NitrogenPhosphorus
P-limitation
N-limitation
P-limitation
N-limitation
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Mesocosm deployed in Sawgrass Community
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Wet Prairie Community
Sawgrass Community
Direction of Water Flow
L
C
H
C
L
H
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Tissue CP Ratios
Wet Prairie Community
NS
Experimental Study

F5.53 P0.0436
NS
Sawgrass Community
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Belowground Biomass
Wet Prairie Community
High treatment

Experimental Study
F16.66 p0.0061
Control treatment
NS
Low treatment
Sawgrass Community
Year 1
High treatment

F17.44 p0.0056
Low treatment
HgtgtLC
NS
Control treatment
F18.02 p0.0052
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Periphyton CP Ratios
Wet Prairie Community
NS
Experimental Study

F23.16 P0.0001
Sawgrass Community
Control treatment
NS
Low treatment
High treatment
F32.14 P0.0001

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Sawgrass Community
After 2 yrs
Pre-experiment
After 1 yr
Experimental Study
H L C H L C H L C H L C H L C H L C
NAPP ALSC Belowground RootShoot LOI Bulk Density
H L C H L C H L C H L C H L C H L C
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Wet Prairie Community
Experimental Study
H L C H L C H L C H L C H L C H L C
H L C H L C H L C H L C H L C H L C H L C
NAPP ALSC Belowground RootShoot Turnover CP NP
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• Degradation of periphyton mat
• Decreased CP, NP ratios in periphyton
• Increased ASLC after 2 yrs in sawgrass community
• No increased belowground investment in sawgrass
• No change in NP ratios in Eleocharis spp.

Experimental Study
Craft Richardson (1995)
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• Degradation of periphyton mat
• Decreased CP, NP ratios in periphyton
• elevated NP ratios in Eleocharis spp.

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Walker et al. (1989)
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