Leaf litter ecological fate in the Schelde Estuary in Belgium.

Two dominant species of Willow(Salix triandra) and Reed (Phragmites australis) along the Schelde Estuary(in Belgium) were selected in this research. The pigments of higher plant was used as biomarkers, the decomposition process of the two species were studied after they fall into the Schelde Estuary. After statistical analysis (Spearman rank order correlation, P < 0.05), the results has shown the decomposition dynamics pattern of the pigments, and the willow showed different pattern in comparing with the reed, e.g. Chlorophyll-a decomposition dynamics for willow is: y1 = 12196x2 - 175895x + 1E + 06 + k, R2 = 0.5706 while for reed is: y2 = -37878x2 + 229782x + 734282 + k, R2 = 0.9065. The precise time of the leaf litter spent in the water was also calculated as were less than 24 days, 24-37 days, longer than 37 days(willow) and less than 24 days, longer than 24 days(reed), the leaf litter fate of the two dominant species in the Schelde Estuary was also compared.