Affiliations: Department of Environmental Science, Liaoning
University,shenyang 110036,china. E-mail:[email protected] | Department of Ocean Ecology, Freedom
University,Belgium 1050 | Department of Environmental
Sciences,University,Belgium | Institute of Applied Ecology,Chinese Academy of
Sciences
Abstract: Two dominant species of Willow (Salix triandra) and Reed(Phragmites
australis) along the Schelde estuary (in Belgium) were selected in this
research. The pigments of higher plant was used as biomarkers, the
decomposition process of the two species were studied after they fall into the
Schelde estuary. After statistical analysis (Spearman rank order correlation,
p<0.05), the results has shown the decomposition dynamics pattern of the
pigments, and the willow showed different pattern in comparing with the reed,
eg. Chlorophyll-a decomposition dynamics for willow is: y_1 = 12196x²
-175895x + 1E + 06 + k, R2 = 0.5706 while for reed is: y_2 = -37878x²+
229782x + 734282 + k, R² = 0.9065. The precise time of the leaf litter
spent in the water was also calculated as were less than 24 days, 24-37 days,
longer than 37 days (willow) and less than 24 days, longer than 24 days (reed),
the leaf litter fate of the two dominant species in the Schelde estuary was
also compared.
