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LaFond-Hudson S, Sulman B. Modeling strategies and data needs for representing coastal wetland vegetation in land surface models. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2023; 238:938-951. [PMID: 36683447 DOI: 10.1111/nph.18760] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2022] [Accepted: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Vegetated coastal ecosystems sequester carbon rapidly relative to terrestrial ecosystems. Coastal wetlands are poorly represented in land surface models, but work is underway to improve process-based, predictive modeling of these ecosystems. Here, we identify guiding questions, potential simulations, and data needs to make progress in improving representation of vegetation in terrestrial-aquatic interfaces, with a focus on coastal and estuarine ecosystems. We synthesize relevant plant traits and environmental controls on vegetation that influence carbon cycling in coastal ecosystems. We propose that models include separate plant functional types (PFTs) for mangroves, graminoid salt marshes, and succulent salt marshes to adequately represent the variation in aboveground and belowground productivity between common coastal wetland vegetation types. We also discuss the drivers and carbon storage consequences of shifts in dominant PFTs. We suggest several potential approaches to represent the diversity in vegetation tolerance and adaptations to fluctuations in salinity and water level, which drive key gradients in coastal wetland ecosystems. Finally, we discuss data needs for parameterizing and evaluating model implementations of coastal wetland vegetation types and function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophia LaFond-Hudson
- Environmental Sciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, 1 Bethel Valley Rd, Oak Ridge, TN, 37917, USA
| | - Benjamin Sulman
- Environmental Sciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, 1 Bethel Valley Rd, Oak Ridge, TN, 37917, USA
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Yuan L, Liu D, Tian B, Yuan X, Bo S, Ma Q, Wu W, Zhao Z, Zhang L, Keesing JK. A solution for restoration of critical wetlands and waterbird habitats in coastal deltaic systems. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2022; 302:113996. [PMID: 34717102 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.113996] [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: 03/21/2021] [Revised: 10/12/2021] [Accepted: 10/21/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Loss of coastal wetland habitats has been directly linked to a decline in waterbird populations including migratory species, leading to calls to reverse this trend in part by restoring these habitats. However, distinct "sediment scarcity" has hindered coastal habitat restoration. Here, taking the Yangtze River Delta, China as an example, we put forward a feasible solution to solve the sediment shortage in habitat restoration so necessary to restore migratory waterbird numbers. Four biological indices including total wetland area, wetland vegetation area and waterbird species richness and abundance, were used to compare and assess the restorative efforts. Three solutions were adopted for the rehabilitation sites, including promoting sediment deposition and settlement through engineering intervention in Chongming Dongtan (CD) and Eastern Nanhui (EN), and using dredged sediments to nourish and create new habitats in Hengsha Eastern Shoal (HES). The mean wetland area increased 19.66 km2/yr in EN, 8.78 km2/yr in HES and 3.83 km2/yr in CD after rehabilitation. Along with the increase of wetlands and habitats, the abundance of waterbirds increased 1.3 times, 121 times and 1.5 times in EN, HES and CD, respectively. In contrast, in the site of Fengxian and Jinshan (FJ) where no any rehabilitation measure was taken after reclamation, the habitats were lost almost completely and the waterbird abundance dropped drastically. The comparison and assessment results demonstrate that proper coastal silting structures and ecological utilization of nearby dredged sediments are the feasible and effective solutions to retain sediments, restore coastal habitats and increase waterbird diversity and abundance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, Institute of Eco-Chongming, East China Normal University, 200062, Shanghai, China; Yangtze Delta Estuarine Wetland Ecosystem Observation and Research Station, 202162, Shanghai, China
| | - Dongyan Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, Institute of Eco-Chongming, East China Normal University, 200062, Shanghai, China.
| | - Bo Tian
- State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, Institute of Eco-Chongming, East China Normal University, 200062, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiao Yuan
- Shanghai Landscaping and City Appearance Administrative Bureau, 200040, Shanghai, China
| | - Shunqi Bo
- Shanghai Landscaping and City Appearance Administrative Bureau, 200040, Shanghai, China
| | - Qiang Ma
- Shanghai Chongming Dongtan National Nature Reserve Administration Division, 202183, Shanghai, China
| | - Wei Wu
- Shanghai Chongming Dongtan National Nature Reserve Administration Division, 202183, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhiyuan Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, Institute of Eco-Chongming, East China Normal University, 200062, Shanghai, China
| | - Liquan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, Institute of Eco-Chongming, East China Normal University, 200062, Shanghai, China
| | - John K Keesing
- CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere Research and University of Western Australia Oceans Institute, Indian Ocean Marine Research Centre, Crawley, 6009, Australia.
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