Determining the Presence of Ferulic Acid in S. Alterniflora and its Biogeochemical Influences within Salt Marshes at Barnegat Bay, NJ

Overview

Ferulic acid is one of the most abundant salt marsh phenolic compounds found within the leaves of Spartina alterniflora . Ferulic acid is crucial in ensuring cell wall rigidity, defense against microbial invasions, and UV protection. Tidal wetlands in Barnegat Bay, NJ, have experienced intense development that led to extensive salt marsh fragmentation and loss. Nutrient loading due to stormwater runoff contributes to significant changes within the abiotic and biotic functions of the watershed. Ferulic acid c an induce the resilience of salt marsh plants; however, phenolics may interfere with the soil processes and advance the accumulation of harmful nutrients within the salt marshes. In this study, three salt marshes located in Barnegat Bay were tested for sand fractions, percent organic matter, percent moisture, and soil nitrogen and phosphorus contents. Plant leaf samples from S. alterniflora were extracted and tested for ferulic acid concentrations using spectrophotometry methods. In analysis, increased concentrations of ferulic acid stimulated the accumulation of nitrogen and phosphorus within the soil and reduced organic matter percentages. There was also an exhibited decrease in the presence of Melampus bidentatus with increasing concentrations of ferulic acid. The natural presence and accumulation of ferulic acid in salt marshes have a significant influence on the cycles of other chemical, physical, and biotic properties within the tidal ecosystem. Understanding t he interferences of phenolic compounds can continue to assist in the study and remediation of the increasing pollution within our tidal ecosystems.