The Emergent Plant Primary Production Work Unit of the Columbia River Estuary Data Development Program (CREDDP) describes the species composition, standing crop, and primary production dynamics of the tidal marsh vegetation found within the estuary. An estuary-wide field reconnaissance conducted in October 1979 confirmed the floristic diversity of Columbia River Estuary tidal marshes and suggested that their species composition reflected: salinity changes from the marine estuary mouth to freshwater conditions upstream, and low marsh to high marsh elevation changes. Twenty-two broadly representative tidal marsh study sites located to examine these two environmental gradients were subsequently selected for intensive study.
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