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Jackson CA, Hernandez CL, Yee SH, Nash MS, Diefenderfer HL, Borde AB, Harwell MC, DeWitt TH. Identifying priority ecosystem services in tidal wetland restoration. Front Ecol Evol 2024; 12:1-22. [PMID: 39381718 PMCID: PMC11457110 DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2024.1260447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Classification systems can be an important tool for identifying and quantifying the importance of relationships, assessing spatial patterns in a standardized way, and forecasting alternative decision scenarios to characterize the potential benefits (e.g., ecosystem services) from ecosystem restoration that improve human health and well-being. We present a top-down approach that systematically leverages ecosystem services classification systems to identify potential services relevant for ecosystem restoration decisions. We demonstrate this approach using the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's National Ecosystem Service Classification System Plus (NESCS Plus) to identify those ecosystem services that are relevant to restoration of tidal wetlands. We selected tidal wetland management documents from federal agencies, state agencies, wetland conservation organizations, and land stewards across three regions of the continental United States (northern Gulf of Mexico, Mid-Atlantic, and Pacific Northwest) to examine regional and organizational differences in identified potential benefits of tidal wetland restoration activities and the potential user groups who may benefit. We used an automated document analysis to quantify the frequencies at which different wetland types were mentioned in the management documents along with their associated beneficiary groups and the ecological end products (EEPs) those beneficiaries care about, as defined by NESCS Plus. Results showed that a top combination across all three regions, all four organizations, and all four tidal wetland types was the EEP naturalness paired with the beneficiary people who care (existence). Overall, the Mid-Atlantic region and the land steward organizations mentioned ecosystem services more than the others, and EEPs were mentioned in combination with tidal wetlands as a high-level, more general category than the other more specific tidal wetland types. Certain regional and organizations differences were statistically significant. Those results may be useful in identifying ecosystem services-related goals for tidal wetland restoration. This approach for identifying and comparing ecosystem service priorities is broadly transferrable to other ecosystems or decision-making contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chloe A. Jackson
- Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, Newport, OR, United States
| | | | - Susan H. Yee
- Gulf Ecosystem Measurement and Modeling Division, Office of Research and Development, Center for Environmental Measurement and Modeling, US Environmental Protection Agency, Gulf Breeze, FL, United States
| | - Maliha S. Nash
- Pacific Coastal Ecology Branch, Pacific Ecological Systems Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Newport, OR, United States
| | - Heida L. Diefenderfer
- Coastal Ecosystems Team, Coastal Research Group, Coastal Sciences Division, Energy and Environment Directorate, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Sequim, WA, United States
| | - Amy B. Borde
- Coastal Ecosystems Team, Coastal Research Group, Coastal Sciences Division, Energy and Environment Directorate, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Sequim, WA, United States
| | - Matthew C. Harwell
- Pacific Coastal Ecology Branch, Pacific Ecological Systems Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Newport, OR, United States
| | - Theodore H. DeWitt
- Pacific Coastal Ecology Branch, Pacific Ecological Systems Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Newport, OR, United States
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Jamion NA, Rafaai NH, Lee KE, Mokhtar M, Goh TL. Sustaining ex-mining lake-converted constructed wetlands as nature-based solutions: A comprehensive assessment of the carbon-water nexus in Paya Indah Wetlands, Malaysia. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2024; 364:121449. [PMID: 38889647 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.121449] [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: 04/11/2024] [Revised: 05/27/2024] [Accepted: 06/08/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024]
Abstract
Water and carbon, essential for Earth's well-being, face imminent threats from human activities that fuel climate change. This study investigates nature-based solutions, focusing on the carbon-water nexus of ex-mining lake-converted constructed wetlands, specifically in Malaysia's Paya Indah Wetlands (PIW). Addressing research gaps, it assesses the ecosystem services of these wetlands, emphasising integrated evaluations for informed land management and employing a top-down conservation approach. Methodologically, spatial assessments, soil and water sampling, carbon quantification, water quality index calculations, land cover classification and stakeholder surveys were conducted. Results underscore the significant carbon sequestration and water quality improvement potential of constructed wetlands, with soil and sediment carbon accumulation reaching 1553.11 Mg C ha-1 (equivalent to 5700 Mg CO2 ha-1), translating to an annual sequestration capacity of 67.5 Mg C ha-1 year-1. Water quality index values ranged from 58 to 81 (Classes II to III). PIW's establishment led to a reduction of over 90% in barren land, with increases in water bodies (36%) and vegetation-covered land (38%), boosting wildlife populations by 30%. Spatial variations in organic carbon density and water quality underscore the complexity of the carbon-water nexus and its impacts on ecosystem health and water security. Despite land use changes, PIW demonstrates resilience, contributing to climate change mitigation. Stakeholder perceptions vary, emphasising the need for adaptive strategies. The study proposes transdisciplinary conservation initiatives and adaptive plans, stressing the pivotal role of ex-mining lake-converted constructed wetlands in enhancing climate resilience.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nurul' Ain Jamion
- Institute for Environment and Development (LESTARI), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Malaysia; Universiti Teknologi MARA, Cawangan Negeri Sembilan, Kampus Kuala Pilah, Malaysia
| | - Nur Hairunnisa Rafaai
- Institute for Environment and Development (LESTARI), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Malaysia
| | - Khai Ern Lee
- Institute for Environment and Development (LESTARI), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Malaysia; Integrated Water Research Synergy Consortium (IWaReS), Institute for Environment and Development (LESTARI), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Malaysia.
| | - Mazlin Mokhtar
- Sustainable Development Solutions Network Asia (SDSN Asia), Sunway University, Malaysia
| | - Thian Lai Goh
- Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Malaysia
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Xu YJ, Xu Z, Potter L. Connectivity of floodplain influences riverine carbon outgassing and dissolved carbon transport. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 924:171604. [PMID: 38461978 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.171604] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2024] [Revised: 03/06/2024] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/12/2024]
Abstract
Rivers not only function as a conduit for the delivery of terrestrial constituents to oceans, but they also serve as an essential medium for biogeochemical processing of the constituents. While extensive research has been conducted on carbon transport in many rivers, little is known about carbon transformation in engineered rivers reconnected with their floodplain network. Being the largest distributary of the levee-confined Mississippi River (MR), the Atchafalaya River (AR) carries 25 % of the MR water, flowing through North America's largest freshwater swamp basin and emptying into the Gulf of Mexico. Previous studies reported that this 200-km long, 5-30-km wide river basin can remove a substantial amount of riverine nutrients and organic carbon. This study aimed to test the hypothesis that the AR emits significantly higher CO2 into the atmosphere as it flows through its extensive floodplain network than the levee-confined MR does. From January 2019 to December 2021, we conducted biweekly - monthly in-situ measurements in the lower AR at Morgan City and in the lower Mississippi River at Baton Rouge. Field measurements included partial pressure of dissolved CO2 (pCO2), water temperature, chlorophyll a, colored dissolved organic matter, dissolved oxygen, pH, and turbidity. During each field sampling, water samples were collected and analyzed for concentrations of dissolved organic and inorganic carbon (DOC and DIC). Mass transport of DOC and DIC and outgassing of CO2 were quantified for the two rivers. We found that pCO2 levels were significantly higher in the AR (mean: 3563 μatm; min-max: 1130-8650 μatm) than those in the MR (1931 μatm, 836-3501 μatm), resulting in a doubled CO2 outgassing rate in the AR (486 mmol m2 d-1) than in the MR (241 mmol m2 d-1). The AR had higher DOC (8.5 mg L-1) but lower chlorophyll a (153.9 AFU) when compared with the MR (7.5 mg L-1 and 164.0 AFU). Water temperature was constantly higher in the AR than in the MR, especially during the wintertime. Since the Mississippi-Atchafalaya River system is among the world's largest and most engineered river systems, our assessment offers a field case study to inform on the potential implications of reconnecting rivers with their floodplains networks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y Jun Xu
- School of Renewable Natural Resources, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA; Coastal Studies Institute, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA.
| | - Zhen Xu
- School of Renewable Natural Resources, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA; Department of Watershed Sciences, Utah State University, Logan, UT 84322, USA
| | - Lee Potter
- School of Renewable Natural Resources, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA
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