Organic content and silt to sand ratio in correlation with porewater sulfide concentrations found in eel grass (Zostera marina)…

Eel grass, Zostera marina, beds are a vital habitat for both economically valuable species and nutrient cycling. Populations of Z. marina in Washington State have either stayed consistent or dwindled slightly. To increase the distribution of eel grass in Washington State knowing the organic content and silt to sand ratio is important for these plants survival. If this data correlates to sulfide concentrations, which can inhibit the abundance of eelgrass, department officials can locate viable places for new beds. Sediment samples were taken from four different eelgrass sites around Skagit County. Each sample was divided in two; one heated at 500⁰C to burn off all organic material within the sediment, and the other sieved through a 0.06 mm sieve to extract silt from sand. BV contained an average of 4.47% organic material and a silt to sand ratio of 0.581 to 1.000 grams, FB is 5.26% and 1.015 to 1.000, MP is 5.15% and 1.194 to 1.000, and NP is 0.80% and 0.004 to 1.000 ratio. Eel grass beds with a higher ratio of silt to sand also contained high concentrations of organic material, which is suitable for nutrient uptake by Z. marina. Sulfide concentrations provided by Dr. Sylvia Yang showed no outstanding correlation, further analysis is necessary for any conclusion.