Salt-spray was estimated along a gradient in a coastal beach and dune system on the Island of Schiermonnikoog by analyzing the chemical composition of rain. The annual airborne input of NaCl on the beach amounts to 1460 kg NaCl/ha.year, which decreases to 150 kg NaCI/ha.year at a distance of 2 km landinwards. Elytrigia junceiformis (foredunes), E. pungens (salt-marshes) and E. repens (inland sites) were compared in their response to varied levels of salinity in the rooting medium and of airborne salinity. E. pungens was most resistent, E. junceiformis intermediate and E. repens the most sensitive to high soil salinity, while E. junceiformis was most resistent to salt-spray, with E. repens being more sensitive. Resistence to salt-spray in these species seems to be based on exclusion of foliar ion uptake. The role of the leaf structure and the epicuticular wax layer is discussed.

Acta botanica neerlandica

CC BY 3.0 NL ("Naamsvermelding")

Koninklijke Nederlandse Botanische Vereniging

J. Rozema, Y. van Manen, H.F. Vugts, & A. Leusink. (1983). Airborne and soilborne salinity and the distribution of coastal and inland species of the genus Elytrigia. Acta botanica neerlandica, 32(5/6), 447–456.