Four marshes, two impounded (managed) next to two unmanaged marshes, in coastal Louisiana (29°35’N, 90° 05’W) were used to evaluate the effects of water management and Nutria herbivory on above ground biomass of Spartina patens and Schoenoplectus americanus. Water flow in the impounded marshes was regulated by flap-gated culvert. The typical cycle of water management in this type of marsh was followed by impounding drainage in the spring, a drawdown period in the summer, and flooding during fall and winter. Within each marsh (managed and unmagaged) five unfenced and five fenced nine meter squared plots were constructed to test the effects of Nutria (Myocastor coypus) herbivory (grazed or ungrazed) on aboveground biomass. Aboveground biomass was measured by tagged-stem counts and calibrating stem height measurements with stem mass for both Spartina patens and Schoenoplectus americanus in 1991, before impoundment, and for three years following.
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