1
|
Cremin E, Ladd CJT, Balke T, Banerjee S, Bui LH, Ghosh T, Large A, Thi Van Le H, Nguyen KV, Nguyen LX, Nguyen TTN, Nguyen V, Pal I, Szabo S, Tran H, Sebesvari Z, Khan SA, Renaud FG. Causes and consequences of tipping points in river delta social-ecological systems. AMBIO 2024; 53:1015-1036. [PMID: 38613747 PMCID: PMC11101396 DOI: 10.1007/s13280-023-01978-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2023] [Revised: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 12/26/2023] [Indexed: 04/15/2024]
Abstract
The sustainability of social-ecological systems within river deltas globally is in question as rapid development and environmental change trigger "negative" or "positive" tipping points depending on actors' perspectives, e.g. regime shift from abundant sediment deposition to sediment shortage, agricultural sustainability to agricultural collapse or shift from rural to urban land use. Using a systematic review of the literature, we show how cascading effects across anthropogenic, ecological, and geophysical processes have triggered numerous tipping points in the governance, hydrological, and land-use management of the world's river deltas. Crossing tipping points had both positive and negative effects that generally enhanced economic development to the detriment of the environment. Assessment of deltas that featured prominently in the review revealed how outcomes of tipping points can inform the long-term trajectory of deltas towards sustainability or collapse. Management of key drivers at the delta scale can trigger positive tipping points to place social-ecological systems on a pathway towards sustainable development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Emilie Cremin
- School of Social and Environmental Studies, The University of Glasgow, Dumfries Campus, Rutherford/McCowan Building, Crichton University Campus, Dumfries, DG1 4ZL, Scotland, UK.
| | - Cai J T Ladd
- School of Geography and Earth Science, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
- University of Swansea, Swansea, UK
| | - Thorsten Balke
- School of Geography and Earth Science, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Sumana Banerjee
- School of Oceanographic Studies, Jadavpur University, Kolkata, India
| | - Ly H Bui
- VNU-Central Institute for Natural Resources and Environmental Studies (VNU-CRES), Vietnam National University (VNU), Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Tuhin Ghosh
- School of Oceanographic Studies, Jadavpur University, Kolkata, India
| | - Andy Large
- School of Geography, Politics and Sociology, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Hue Thi Van Le
- VNU-Central Institute for Natural Resources and Environmental Studies (VNU-CRES), Vietnam National University (VNU), Hanoi, Vietnam
| | | | - Lan X Nguyen
- Research Center for Rural Development, An Giang University, An Giang, Vietnam
| | - Tanh T N Nguyen
- Research Center for Rural Development, An Giang University, An Giang, Vietnam
| | - Vinh Nguyen
- VNU-Central Institute for Natural Resources and Environmental Studies (VNU-CRES), Vietnam National University (VNU), Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Indrajit Pal
- Disaster Preparedness, Mitigation and Management, Asian Institute of Technology, Pathum Thani, Thailand
| | - Sylvia Szabo
- Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, Dhaka, Bangladesh
- Department of Development and Sustainability, Dongguk University, Seoul, South Korea
- Ostrom Center for the Advanced Study in Natural-Resource-Governance, Pathum Thani, Thailand
| | - Ha Tran
- Can Tho University, Can Tho, Vietnam
| | - Zita Sebesvari
- United Nations University, Institute for Environment and Human Security, Bonn, Germany
| | - Shah Alam Khan
- Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Fabrice G Renaud
- School of Social and Environmental Studies, The University of Glasgow, Dumfries Campus, Rutherford/McCowan Building, Crichton University Campus, Dumfries, DG1 4ZL, Scotland, UK
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Accelerated marsh erosion following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill confirmed, ameliorated by planting. Sci Rep 2022; 12:13802. [PMID: 35963962 PMCID: PMC9376092 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-18102-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2022] [Accepted: 08/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Multiple studies have examined the effects of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill on coastal marsh shoreline erosion. Most studies have concluded that the spill increased shoreline erosion (linear retreat) in oiled marshes by ~ 100–200% for at least 2–3 years. However, two studies have called much of this prior research into question, due to potential study design flaws and confounding factors, primarily tropical cyclone influences and differential wave exposure between oiled (impact) and unoiled (reference) sites. Here we confirm that marsh erosion in our field experiment was substantially increased (112–233%) for 2 years in heavily oiled marsh after the spill, likely due to vegetation impacts and reduced soil shear strength attributed to the spill, rather than the influences of hurricanes or wave exposure variation. We discuss how our findings reinforce prior studies, including a wider-scale remote sensing analysis with similar study approach. We also show differences in the degree of erosion among oil spill cleanup treatments. Most importantly, we show that marsh restoration planting can drastically reduce oiled marsh erosion, and that the positive influences of planting can extend beyond the immediate impact of the spill.
Collapse
|
3
|
Zengel S, Weaver J, Mendelssohn IA, Graham SA, Lin Q, Hester MW, Willis JM, Silliman BR, Fleeger JW, McClenachan G, Rabalais NN, Turner RE, Hughes AR, Cebrian J, Deis DR, Rutherford N, Roberts BJ. Meta-analysis of salt marsh vegetation impacts and recovery: a synthesis following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS : A PUBLICATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2022; 32:e02489. [PMID: 34741358 PMCID: PMC9285535 DOI: 10.1002/eap.2489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2020] [Revised: 08/13/2021] [Accepted: 09/09/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Marine oil spills continue to be a global issue, heightened by spill events such as the 2010 Deepwater Horizon spill in the Gulf of Mexico, the largest marine oil spill in US waters and among the largest worldwide, affecting over 1,000 km of sensitive wetland shorelines, primarily salt marshes supporting numerous ecosystem functions. To synthesize the effects of the oil spill on foundational vegetation species in the salt marsh ecosystem, Spartina alterniflora and Juncus roemerianus, we performed a meta-analysis using data from 10 studies and 255 sampling sites over seven years post-spill. We examined the hypotheses that the oil spill reduced plant cover, stem density, vegetation height, aboveground biomass, and belowground biomass, and tracked the degree of effects temporally to estimate recovery time frames. All plant metrics indicated impacts from oiling, with 20-100% maximum reductions depending on oiling level and marsh zone. Peak reductions of ~70-90% in total plant cover, total aboveground biomass, and belowground biomass were observed for heavily oiled sites at the marsh edge. Both Spartina and Juncus were impacted, with Juncus affected to a greater degree. Most plant metrics had recovery time frames of three years or longer, including multiple metrics with incomplete recovery over the duration of our data, at least seven years post-spill. Belowground biomass was particularly concerning, because it declined over time in contrast with recovery trends in most aboveground metrics, serving as a strong indicator of ongoing impact, limited recovery, and impaired resilience. We conclude that the Deepwater Horizon spill had multiyear impacts on salt marsh vegetation, with full recovery likely to exceed 10 years, particularly in heavily oiled marshes, where erosion may preclude full recovery. Vegetation impacts and delayed recovery is likely to have exerted substantial influences on ecosystem processes and associated species, especially along heavily oiled shorelines. Our synthesis affords a greater understanding of ecosystem impacts and recovery following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, and informs environmental impact analysis, contingency planning, emergency response, damage assessment, and restoration efforts related to oil spills.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Scott Zengel
- Research Planning, Inc. (RPI)TallahasseeFlorida32303USA
| | | | | | - Sean A. Graham
- Gulf South Research CorporationBaton RougeLouisiana70820USA
| | - Qianxin Lin
- Louisiana State UniversityBaton RougeLouisiana70803USA
| | - Mark W. Hester
- University of Louisiana at LafayetteLafayetteLouisiana70504USA
| | | | | | | | | | - Nancy N. Rabalais
- Louisiana State UniversityBaton RougeLouisiana70803USA
- Louisiana Universities Marine ConsortiumChauvinLouisiana70344USA
| | | | - A. Randall Hughes
- Northeastern University Marine Science CenterNahantMassachusetts01908USA
| | - Just Cebrian
- Northern Gulf InstituteStennis Space CenterMississippi State UniversityStarkvilleMississippi39529USA
| | | | - Nicolle Rutherford
- National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)SeattleWashington98115USA
| | - Brian J. Roberts
- Louisiana Universities Marine ConsortiumChauvinLouisiana70344USA
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Challenger GE, Gmur S, Taylor E. A review of Gulf of Mexico coastal marsh erosion studies following the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill and comparison to over 4 years of shoreline loss data from Fall 2010 to Summer 2015. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2021; 164:111983. [PMID: 33513545 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.111983] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2020] [Revised: 12/17/2020] [Accepted: 12/22/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The 2010 Deepwater Horizon (DWH) oil spill affected nearly 1105 km of coastal marsh. Long-term shoreline loss in the northern Gulf of Mexico is an important question with far-reaching ecological and human-use implications. Numerous studies have examined potential exacerbated marsh shoreline retreat after the DWH using ground-level sampling and/or aerial/satellite imagery interpretation. This paper reviews previous DWH erosion studies, discusses their limitations and sometimes conflicting results, and provides a comprehensive analysis of a larger data set. Shoreline retreat measurements from multiple studies following the DWH incident were combined for 131 herbaceous marsh sample sites for the period from Fall 2010 to Summer 2015. Significant increases in shoreline loss were found only in the period from Fall 2010 to Fall 2011 for heavily oiled shorelines relative to other periods. The evidence does not suggest widespread long-term coastal marsh erosion from the DWH.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Stephan Gmur
- Polaris Applied Sciences, Inc., United States of America.
| | - Elliott Taylor
- Polaris Applied Sciences, Inc., United States of America.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Pennings SC, Glazner RM, Hughes ZJ, Kominoski JS, Armitage AR. Effects of mangrove cover on coastal erosion during a hurricane in Texas, USA. Ecology 2021; 102:e03309. [PMID: 33576002 DOI: 10.1002/ecy.3309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2020] [Revised: 11/24/2020] [Accepted: 02/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
We tested the hypothesis that mangroves provide better coastal protection than salt marsh vegetation using 10 1,008-m2 plots in which we manipulated mangrove cover from 0 to 100%. Hurricane Harvey passed over the plots in 2017. Data from erosion stakes indicated up to 26 cm of vertical and 970 cm of horizontal erosion over 70 months in the plot with 0% mangrove cover, but relatively little erosion in other plots. The hurricane did not increase erosion, and erosion decreased after the hurricane passed. Data from drone images indicated 196 m2 of erosion in the 0% mangrove plot, relatively little erosion in other plots, and little ongoing erosion after the hurricane. Transects through the plots indicated that the levee (near the front of the plot) and the bank (the front edge of the plot) retreated up to 9 m as a continuous function of decreasing mangrove cover. Soil strength was greater in areas vegetated with mangroves than in areas vegetated by marsh plants, or nonvegetated areas, and increased as a function of plot-level mangrove cover. Mangroves prevented erosion better than marsh plants did, but this service was nonlinear, with low mangrove cover providing most of the benefits.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Steven C Pennings
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, Houston, Texas, 77204, USA
| | - Rachael M Glazner
- Department of Marine Biology, Texas A&M University at Galveston, Galveston, Texas, 77553, USA
| | - Zoe J Hughes
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, Houston, Texas, 77204, USA
- Department of Earth Sciences, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, 02215, USA
| | - John S Kominoski
- Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, Miami, Florida, 33199, USA
| | - Anna R Armitage
- Department of Marine Biology, Texas A&M University at Galveston, Galveston, Texas, 77553, USA
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Rodrigue M, Elango V, Curtis D, Collins AW, Pardue JH. Biodegradation of MC252 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and alkanes in two coastal wetlands. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2020; 157:111319. [PMID: 32658684 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2020.111319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2018] [Revised: 05/21/2020] [Accepted: 05/24/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Complementary microbial and geochemical assessment techniques investigated the biodegradation of PAHs and alkanes in salt marshes impacted by crude oil following the Macondo spill. Contamination was observed in the top 10 cm of the marsh profile based on PAH analysis and measurement of the δ13C signature of impacted marsh soils. Measurement of evolution of 13C depleted CO2 indicated mineralization of crude oil ranging from 2.7-12.1 mg CO2-C/m2-hr. Changes in weathering ratios of alkylated phenanthrenes and dibenzothiophenes indicated loss of these 3-ring PAHs consistent with biodegradation. A diverse microbial population was observed at both locations dominated by Gammaproteobacteria and including known hydrocarbon degraders such as Marinobacter and Alcanivorax. There was shared richness between sites and across seasons but results suggested substantial turnover of phylotypes in space and time. Biodegradation of alkanes and alkylated PAHs occurred when oxygen was provided in laboratory reactors but not in the absence of oxygen.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Matthew Rodrigue
- Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, United States of America
| | - Vijaikrishnah Elango
- Hazardous Substance Research Center, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, United States of America
| | - David Curtis
- Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, United States of America
| | - Autumn W Collins
- Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, United States of America
| | - John H Pardue
- Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, United States of America; Hazardous Substance Research Center, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, United States of America.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Deis DR, Mendelssohn IA, Fleeger JW, Bourgoin SM, Lin Q. Legacy effects of Hurricane Katrina influenced marsh shoreline erosion following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2019; 672:456-467. [PMID: 30965260 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.04.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2019] [Revised: 03/30/2019] [Accepted: 04/02/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Disturbance interactions occur when one perturbation influences the severity and perhaps the baseline state of succeeding disturbances. Natural and anthropogenic disturbances are frequent in dynamic coastal ecosystems and can often be linked. We evaluated potential for disturbance interactions associated with the 2010 Deepwater Horizon (DWH) oil spill, which was preceded by disturbance from Hurricane Katrina in 2005, by quantifying marsh shoreline retreat across both events. Our goal was to determine the degree to which Hurricane Katrina altered baseline rates of erosion prior to the DWH spill. We quantified erosion rate and fetch from aerial images of northern Barataria Bay, Louisiana marsh shorelines classified as reference, moderately-oiled, and heavily-oiled over three pre-spill time periods (1998-2004, prior to Hurricane Katrina; 2004-2005, during Katrina; 2005-2010, post-Katrina but pre-oil spill) and a post-spill period from 2010 to 2013. Prior to Hurricane Katrina, marsh shoreline erosion rates were low (from 0.38 to 1.10 m yr-1). In contrast during Hurricane Katrina (2004-2005), erosion increased by 661% and 756%, respectively, for shorelines that would subsequently become moderately and heavily-oiled; reference shoreline erosion increased by 59%. These high erosion rates were associated with increased fetch and higher wave action due to loss of protective geomorphic features such as small islands and spits and persisted during the post-Katrina/pre-spill period of 2005-2010 (0.62, 1.38, and 2.07 m yr-1 for reference, moderately, and heavily-oiled shorelines, respectively). Erosion rates increased modestly after the DWH event (reference = 1.13 m yr-1, moderate oiling = 1.45 m yr-1; heavy oiling = 2.77 m yr-1), but not significantly, compared to the post-Katrina period. Consequently, we could not detect a post-spill increase in marsh shoreline erosion. Rather, we concluded that Hurricane Katrina reset the erosion baseline, thereby connecting the two disturbances, and was the major driver of marsh shoreline erosion at our research sites during the study period.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Irving A Mendelssohn
- Department of Oceanography and Coastal Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA
| | - John W Fleeger
- Department of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA
| | | | - Qianxin Lin
- Department of Oceanography and Coastal Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Silliman BR, He Q, Angelini C, Smith CS, Kirwan ML, Daleo P, Renzi JJ, Butler J, Osborne TZ, Nifong JC, van de Koppel J. Field Experiments and Meta-analysis Reveal Wetland Vegetation as a Crucial Element in the Coastal Protection Paradigm. Curr Biol 2019; 29:1800-1806.e3. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2019.05.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2019] [Revised: 04/06/2019] [Accepted: 05/03/2019] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
|
9
|
Renzi JJ, He Q, Silliman BR. Harnessing Positive Species Interactions to Enhance Coastal Wetland Restoration. Front Ecol Evol 2019. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2019.00131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
|
10
|
Tatariw C, Flournoy N, Kleinhuizen AA, Tollette D, Overton EB, Sobecky PA, Mortazavi B. Salt marsh denitrification is impacted by oiling intensity six years after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2018; 243:1606-1614. [PMID: 30296756 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2018.09.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2018] [Revised: 08/22/2018] [Accepted: 09/05/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Coastal salt marshes provide the valuable ecosystem service of removing anthropogenic nitrogen (N) via microbially-mediated denitrification. During the 2010 Deepwater Horizon (DWH) spill, oil exposure killed marsh plants in some regions and contributed to rapid compositional shifts in sediment microbial communities, which can impact ecosystem denitrification capacity. Within 3-5 years of the spill, plant biomass and microbial communities in some impacted marshes can recover to a new stable state. The objective of this study was to determine whether marsh recovery 6 years after the DWH oil spill results in subsequent recovery of denitrification capacity. We measured denitrification capacity (isotope pairing technique), microbial 16S rRNA gene composition, and denitrifier abundance (quantitative PCR) at sites subjected to light, moderate, and heavy oiling during the spill that were not targeted by any clean-up efforts. There were no differences in plant belowground biomass, sediment extractable NH4+, inorganic nitrogen flux, 16S rRNA composition, 16S rRNA diversity, or denitrifier functional gene (nirS, norB, and nosZ) abundances associated with oiling status, indicating that certain drivers of ecosystem denitrification capacity have recovered or achieved a new stable state six years after the spill. However, on average, denitrification capacities at the moderately and heavily oiled sites were less than 49% of that of the lightly oiled site (27.7 ± 14.7 and 37.2 ± 24.5 vs 71.8 ± 33.8 μmol N m-2 h-1, respectively). The presence of heavily weathered oiled residue (matched and non-matched for MC252) had no effect on process rates or microbial composition. The loss of function at the moderately and heavily oiled sites compared to the lightly oiled site despite the comparable microbial and environmental factors suggests that oiling intensity plays a role in the long-term recovery of marsh ecosystem services.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Corianne Tatariw
- University of Alabama, Department of Biological Sciences, Tuscaloosa, AL, 35487, United States; Dauphin Island Sea Lab, 101 Bienville Blvd Dauphin Island, Dauphin Island, AL, 36528, United States.
| | - Nikaela Flournoy
- University of Alabama, Department of Biological Sciences, Tuscaloosa, AL, 35487, United States
| | - Alice A Kleinhuizen
- University of Alabama, Department of Biological Sciences, Tuscaloosa, AL, 35487, United States; Dauphin Island Sea Lab, 101 Bienville Blvd Dauphin Island, Dauphin Island, AL, 36528, United States
| | - Derek Tollette
- University of Alabama, Department of Biological Sciences, Tuscaloosa, AL, 35487, United States; Dauphin Island Sea Lab, 101 Bienville Blvd Dauphin Island, Dauphin Island, AL, 36528, United States
| | - Edward B Overton
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, 70803, United States
| | - Patricia A Sobecky
- University of Alabama, Department of Biological Sciences, Tuscaloosa, AL, 35487, United States
| | - Behzad Mortazavi
- University of Alabama, Department of Biological Sciences, Tuscaloosa, AL, 35487, United States; Dauphin Island Sea Lab, 101 Bienville Blvd Dauphin Island, Dauphin Island, AL, 36528, United States.
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Lo VB, Bouma TJ, van Belzen J, Van Colen C, Airoldi L. Interactive effects of vegetation and sediment properties on erosion of salt marshes in the Northern Adriatic Sea. MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2017; 131:32-42. [PMID: 28941644 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2017.09.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2017] [Revised: 09/08/2017] [Accepted: 09/09/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
We investigated how lateral erosion control, measured by novel photogrammetry techniques, is modified by the presence of Spartina spp. vegetation, sediment grain size, and the nutrient status of salt marshes across 230 km of the Italian Northern Adriatic coastline. Spartina spp. vegetation reduced erosion across our study sites. The effect was more pronounced in sandy soils, where erosion was reduced by 80% compared to 17% in silty soils. Erosion resistance was also enhanced by Spartina spp. root biomass. In the absence of vegetation, erosion resistance was enhanced by silt content, with mean erosion 72% lower in silty vs. sandy soils. We found no relevant relationships with nutrient status, likely due to overall high nutrient concentrations and low C:N ratios across all sites. Our results contribute to quantifying coastal protection ecosystem services provided by salt marshes in both sandy and silty sediments.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- V B Lo
- Alma Mater Studiorum - University of Bologna, Department of Biological, Geological, and Environmental Sciences (BIGEA) & Centro Interdipartimentale di Ricerca per le Scienze Ambientali (CIRSA), UO CoNISMa, Via S. Alberto 163, 48123, Ravenna, Italy; Marine Biology Research Group, Department of Biology, Ghent University, Campus Sterre S8, Krijgslaan 281, B-9000 Gent, Belgium.
| | - T J Bouma
- Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ), Department of Estuarine and Delta Systems, Korringaweg 7, 4401 NT Yerseke, Netherlands, and Utrecht University, P.O. Box 140, 4400 AC Yerseke, The Netherlands
| | - J van Belzen
- Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ), Department of Estuarine and Delta Systems, Korringaweg 7, 4401 NT Yerseke, Netherlands, and Utrecht University, P.O. Box 140, 4400 AC Yerseke, The Netherlands
| | - C Van Colen
- Marine Biology Research Group, Department of Biology, Ghent University, Campus Sterre S8, Krijgslaan 281, B-9000 Gent, Belgium
| | - L Airoldi
- Alma Mater Studiorum - University of Bologna, Department of Biological, Geological, and Environmental Sciences (BIGEA) & Centro Interdipartimentale di Ricerca per le Scienze Ambientali (CIRSA), UO CoNISMa, Via S. Alberto 163, 48123, Ravenna, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|