Mortality and Seedling Survival of Three Salt Marshes Species as Influenced by Timing of Precipitation

The potential of mortality and seedling survival of three salt marshes species (Atriplex farinose, Aeleuropus brevifolius, and Juncus rigidus) as affected by timing of precipitation were measured. Three separate (14)-day experiments were conducted using (1), (2), (3), (4) and (5) days dry. The number of emerging seedlings growing from (100) seeds placed in sand media in small plastic pots were counted daily. A total of (50%) to (70%) of Juncus seeds emerged in the initial wet period, but over (50%) of the seedlings died in the following (5) days dry period, resulting in less than a (35%) survival rate. The Atriplex was slower to germinate and seedling survival rate resulted (40%)-(60%) in Aeluropus brevifolius. The (1) and (2) days wet sequences the maximum until the final rewet period. The information offers the possibility of incorporating the probabilistic aspects of timing precipitation and soil water relations into a description of the seedling environment. (author)