Theses and Dissertations

ORCID

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0475-0648

Advisor

Sparks, Eric

Committee Member

Woodrey, Mark S.

Committee Member

Biber, Patrick

Date of Degree

8-13-2024

Original embargo terms

Visible MSU Only 6 months

Document Type

Graduate Thesis - Campus Access Only

Major

Wildlife, Fisheries & Aquaculture

Degree Name

Master of Science (M.S.)

College

College of Forest Resources

Department

Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Aquaculture

Abstract

Recycled glass cullet is a potential alternative to fill substrate in salt marsh restoration projects, given its similarity to natural silica sands. However, the ability for common salt marsh plants to grow in glass cullet has not yet been tested. An outdoor mesocosm experiment assessed the ability of the dominant mid-marsh plant Juncus roemerianus and the upland marsh plant Spartina patens to grow in various mixtures of glass cullet versus fill soil. Results showed that J. roemerianus can survive in glass cullet, but growth declined as the proportion of cullet increased. However, S. patens grew comparably, if not better, in treatments up to 75% glass cullet. In the face of increased coastal land loss and a global sediment deficit, the use of glass cullet in upland salt marsh restoration projects can simultaneously divert glass from landfills and promote more sustainable coastal restoration strategies along the northern Gulf of Mexico.

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