Comparison of natural and man-made salt marshes in Galveston Bay Complex, Texas

Vegetation characteristics of three natural marshes and one marsh that was experimentally establised on dredged material in 1976 and 1977 were compared in the Galveston Bay Complex, Texas. During fall 1978, six replicate samples of below-ground and above-ground measurements were taken at each of three elevations. Five elevations were sampled in 1979. Greater quantities of live above-ground biomass per m super(2) were collected at the man-made marsh than at natural marsh areas. The broad range of values for each of the vegetation parameters measured in each marsh, and the variation by elevation indicated that differences probably were not related to experimental establishment. Differences probably reflected environmental conditions at each area