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Rinehart S, Dybiec JM, Mortazavi B, Cherry JA. Stratified vertical sediment profiles increase burrowing crab effects on salt marsh edaphic conditions. Ecosphere 2023. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.4431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/16/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- S. Rinehart
- Department of Biological Sciences University of Alabama Tuscaloosa Alabama USA
| | - J. M. Dybiec
- Department of Biological Sciences University of Alabama Tuscaloosa Alabama USA
| | - B. Mortazavi
- Department of Biological Sciences University of Alabama Tuscaloosa Alabama USA
| | - J. A. Cherry
- Department of Biological Sciences University of Alabama Tuscaloosa Alabama USA
- New College University of Alabama Tuscaloosa Alabama USA
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Amato J, Alberti J, Martin S, Temple N, Sparks E, Cebrian J. Do small-scale saltmarsh planting living shoreline projects enhance coastal functionality? A case study in the Northern Gulf of Mexico. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2022; 321:116025. [PMID: 36029632 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.116025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2021] [Revised: 06/16/2022] [Accepted: 08/13/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Human coastal occupation often leads to the degradation of the structural properties and environmental functions of natural coastlines. . Much research has been done on the cost-effectiveness of various living shorelines designs, however more work is needed for simple, small-scale designs that are typically adopted in waterfront residential or recreational properties. To contribute to this gap, we planted small-scale plots of black needlerush (Juncus roemerianus) in two sites, one in a residential property and another one in a recreational property in the Northern Gulf of Mexico that experienced significant wave energy. Plots were planted at two different densities (50% or 100% initial cover) or left unplanted (controls) and, along with monitoring the evolution of the planted salt marsh, we measured a number of functional metrics including soil slope, abundance of nekton within and in front of the plots, and cover of submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) in front of the plots monthly over two years. In one of the sites plant cover decreased precipitously, and in the other site we did not observe any significant changes in plant cover over time (i.e. the initial 50% and 100% plantings remained at that level throughout the experiment) despite protecting the planted salt marsh with coir logs. We did not find any changes in soil slope or nekton abundance between planted and control plots. SAV growth was restrained in front of planted plots in relation to control plots, possibly due to deleterious impacts by the coir logs. Overall, the results suggest the protection against wave energy attained in this experiment is insufficient for adequate saltmarsh establishment and growth, thereby encountering decreasing or stationary plant density and no significant differences in soil slope or nekton abundance between planted and non-planted plots. Our results indicate the adoption of small-scale saltmarsh planting to reduce erosion and enhance coastal functionality needs to ensure that wave energy is sufficiently dampened for adequate saltmarsh growth and, concomitantly, the conceived saltmarsh protection mechanism does not negatively impact adjacent SAV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jamie Amato
- Department of Marine Sciences, University of South Alabama, LSCB 25, Mobile, AL, 36688, USA; Dauphin Island Sea Lab, 101 Bienville Boulevard, Dauphin Island, AL, 36528, USA
| | - Juan Alberti
- Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras (IIMyC). FCEyN. Universidad Nacional de Mar Del Plata-CONICET. CC 1260, Funes 3250, 7600, Mar Del Plata, Argentina
| | - Sara Martin
- Coastal Research and Extension Center, Mississippi State University, 1815 Popps Ferry Road, Biloxi, MS, 39532, USA; Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium, 703 East Beach Drive, Ocean Springs, MS, 39564, USA
| | - Nigel Temple
- WSP USA, 11 N Water Street, Mobile, AL, 36602, USA
| | - Eric Sparks
- Coastal Research and Extension Center, Mississippi State University, 1815 Popps Ferry Road, Biloxi, MS, 39532, USA; Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium, 703 East Beach Drive, Ocean Springs, MS, 39564, USA; Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Aquaculture, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS, 39762, USA
| | - Just Cebrian
- Northern Gulf Institute, Mississippi State University, 1021 Balch Blvd, Stennis Space Center, MS, 39529, USA.
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Osland MJ, Hughes AR, Armitage AR, Scyphers SB, Cebrian J, Swinea SH, Shepard CC, Allen MS, Feher LC, Nelson JA, O'Brien CL, Sanspree CR, Smee DL, Snyder CM, Stetter AP, Stevens PW, Swanson KM, Williams LH, Brush JM, Marchionno J, Bardou R. The impacts of mangrove range expansion on wetland ecosystem services in the southeastern United States: Current understanding, knowledge gaps, and emerging research needs. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2022; 28:3163-3187. [PMID: 35100489 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.16111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2021] [Accepted: 01/17/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Climate change is transforming ecosystems and affecting ecosystem goods and services. Along the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic coasts of the southeastern United States, the frequency and intensity of extreme freeze events greatly influence whether coastal wetlands are dominated by freeze-sensitive woody plants (mangrove forests) or freeze-tolerant grass-like plants (salt marshes). In response to warming winters, mangroves have been expanding and displacing salt marshes at varying degrees of severity in parts of north Florida, Louisiana, and Texas. As winter warming accelerates, mangrove range expansion is expected to increasingly modify wetland ecosystem structure and function. Because there are differences in the ecological and societal benefits that salt marshes and mangroves provide, coastal environmental managers are challenged to anticipate the effects of mangrove expansion on critical wetland ecosystem services, including those related to carbon sequestration, wildlife habitat, storm protection, erosion reduction, water purification, fisheries support, and recreation. Mangrove range expansion may also affect wetland stability in the face of extreme climatic events and rising sea levels. Here, we review the current understanding of the effects of mangrove range expansion and displacement of salt marshes on wetland ecosystem services in the southeastern United States. We also identify critical knowledge gaps and emerging research needs regarding the ecological and societal implications of salt marsh displacement by expanding mangrove forests. One consistent theme throughout our review is that there are ecological trade-offs for consideration by coastal managers. Mangrove expansion and marsh displacement can produce beneficial changes in some ecosystem services, while simultaneously producing detrimental changes in other services. Thus, there can be local-scale differences in perceptions of the impacts of mangrove expansion into salt marshes. For very specific local reasons, some individuals may see mangrove expansion as a positive change to be embraced, while others may see mangrove expansion as a negative change to be constrained.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael J Osland
- Wetland and Aquatic Research Center, U.S. Geological Survey, Lafayette, Louisiana, USA
| | - A Randall Hughes
- Northeastern University Marine Science Center, Nahant, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Anna R Armitage
- Department of Marine Biology, Texas A&M University at Galveston, Galveston, Texas, USA
| | - Steven B Scyphers
- Northeastern University Marine Science Center, Nahant, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Just Cebrian
- Northern Gulf Institute, Mississippi State University, Stennis Space Center, Mississippi, USA
| | - Savannah H Swinea
- Northeastern University Marine Science Center, Nahant, Massachusetts, USA
| | | | | | - Laura C Feher
- Wetland and Aquatic Research Center, U.S. Geological Survey, Lafayette, Louisiana, USA
| | - James A Nelson
- University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Lafayette, Louisiana, USA
| | | | | | | | - Caitlin M Snyder
- Apalachicola National Estuarine Research Reserve, Eastpoint, Florida, USA
| | | | - Philip W Stevens
- Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, St. Petersburg, Florida, USA
| | - Kathleen M Swanson
- Mission-Aransas National Estuarine Research Reserve, Port Aransas, Texas, USA
| | | | - Janell M Brush
- Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Joseph Marchionno
- Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Rémi Bardou
- Northeastern University Marine Science Center, Nahant, Massachusetts, USA
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