Effects of Black Mangrove (Avicennia germinans) Expansion on Saltmarsh (Spartina alterniflora) Benthic Communities of the South Texas Coast

Lunt, Jessica; McGlaun, Kimberly A.; Robinson, Elizabeth

doi:10.18785/gcr.2501.11

Cited by 7 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 12 publications

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“…Only one study, Moussalli and Connolly (1998), compares mangrove and salt marsh at similar flooding depth, finding that mangrove species richness is higher. Comparative studies in the Gulf of Mexico (Lunt, Mcglaun, & Robinson, 2013;Smee, Sanchez, Diskin, & Trettin, 2017) suggest lower abundance of infauna in mangrove compared to…”

Section: Fisheries Habitat and Productionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Review of the ecosystem service implications of mangrove encroachment into salt marshes

Kelleway

Cavanaugh

Rogers

et al. 2017

Global Change Biology

221

133

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Salt marsh and mangrove have been recognized as being among the most valuable ecosystem types globally in terms of their supply of ecosystem services and support for human livelihoods. These coastal ecosystems are also susceptible to the impacts of climate change and rising sea levels, with evidence of global shifts in the distribution of mangroves, including encroachment into salt marshes. The encroachment of woody mangrove shrubs and trees into herbaceous salt marshes may represent a substantial change in ecosystem structure, although resulting impacts on ecosystem functions and service provisions are largely unknown. In this review, we assess changes in ecosystem services associated with mangrove encroachment. While there is quantitative evidence to suggest that mangrove encroachment may enhance carbon storage and the capacity of a wetland to increase surface elevation in response to sea-level rise, for most services there has been no direct assessment of encroachment impact. On the basis of current understanding of ecosystem structure and function, we theorize that mangrove encroachment may increase nutrient storage and improve storm protection, but cause declines in habitat availability for fauna requiring open vegetation structure (such as migratory birds and foraging bats) as well as the recreational and cultural activities associated with this fauna (e.g., birdwatching and/or hunting). Changes to provisional services such as fisheries productivity and cultural services are likely to be site specific and dependent on the species involved. We discuss the need for explicit experimental testing of the effects of encroachment on ecosystem services in order to address key knowledge gaps, and present an overview of the options available to coastal resource managers during a time of environmental change.

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Section: Fisheries Habitat and Productionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Review of the ecosystem service implications of mangrove encroachment into salt marshes

Kelleway

Cavanaugh

Rogers

et al. 2017

Global Change Biology

221

133

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…For example, the significant aboveground structure created by Avicennia canopies increases shading relative to Spartina, leading to decreased sediment chlorophyll a levels and decreased food availability for some epifaunal invertebrates (R. Smith, unpubl.). Recent work examining the relative abundance of nekton and infaunal communities in salt marsh, mixed salt marsh-mangrove, and mangrove habitats has shown mixed but distinct preferences for these different habitats by different species (Caudill 2005, Lunt et al 2013, Johnston and Caretti 2017, Scheffel et al 2017, Smee et al 2017. However, no previous work has compared epifaunal invertebrate communities among these habitats or across a latitudinal mangrove expansion gradient.…”

Section: Research System and Questionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Detrital traits affect substitutability of a range‐expanding foundation species across latitude

Smith

Osborne

Feller

et al. 2019

Oikos

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Climate‐driven range shifts of foundation species could alter ecosystem processes and community composition by providing different resources than resident foundation species. Along the US Atlantic coast, the northward expanding foundation species, black mangrove Avicennia germinans, is replacing the dominant salt marsh foundation species, marsh cordgrass Spartina alterniflora. These species have distinct detrital attributes that ostensibly provide different resources to epifauna. We experimentally examined how detritus of these species affects decomposition and community composition in different habitat contexts at regional and local scales. First, we manipulated detritus identity (Avicennia, Spartina) at 13 sites across a 5° latitudinal gradient spanning mangrove, mixed marsh‐mangrove and salt marsh habitats. Across latitude, we found that Avicennia detritus decomposed 2–4 times faster than Spartina detritus, suggesting that detrital turnover will increase with mangrove expansion. Epifaunal abundance and richness increased 2–7 times from south to north (mangrove to salt marsh) and were equivalent between Avicennia and Spartina detritus except for crabs, a dominant taxonomic group that preferred Spartina detritus. Second, to examine the whether changing habitat context affected regional patterns, we manipulated detritus identity and surrounding habitat type (mangrove, salt marsh) at a single mixed site, also including inert mimics to separate structural and nutritional roles of detritus. Epifaunal richness was similar between the two detrital types, but crabs were 2–7 times more abundant in Spartina detritus due to its structural attributes. Surrounding habitat type did not influence decomposition rate or community patterns, which suggests that latitudinal influences, not surrounding habitat, drove the regional community patterns in the first experiment. Overall, mangrove expansion could alter epifaunal communities due to the lower structural value and faster turnover of mangrove detritus. As species shift with changing climate, understanding foundation species substitutability is critical to predict community change, but we must account for concomitant environmental changes that also modify communities.

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“…Although saltmarsh and seagrass habitats are often examined independently, understanding the effects of heterogeneity at a landscape scale are important for generating accurate estimates of faunal abundance (Irlandi and Crawford 1997) and this should be included in an ecosystem approach to fisheries management. Comparisons of the occurrence of focal species among different vegetation communities are needed to inform management of areas that are experiencing shifts in the distribution and abundance of plant species (Green et al 2012; Lunt et al 2013; Armitage et al 2015). Along the Texas coast, which is experiencing mangrove expansion and salt marsh loss, our results demonstrated greater numbers of grass shrimp, brown shrimp, and blue crab in saltmarsh‐dominated versus mangrove‐dominated sites, in support of previous findings (Smee et al 2017).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Characterizing Fish–Habitat Associations through Paired Fisheries‐Independent and In Situ Habitat Assessments

Clarkson

Pollack

2021

N American J Fish Manag

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Estuarine habitat has a significant influence on the growth, recruitment, and survival of fish and invertebrate species, and understanding habitat dynamics can improve fisheries management. However, the cost and effort associated with habitat monitoring can be limiting, and many large‐scale fisheries‐independent monitoring programs do not capture habitat and biological data concurrently. Consequently, fisheries and their associated habitats are often managed separately. We designed a pilot study to assess the utility and effectiveness of incorporating rapid in situ habitat characterization into a statewide fisheries management program. The occurrence of six focal species (Red Drum Sciaenops ocellatus, Spotted Seatrout Cynoscion nebulosus, blue crab Callinectes sapidus, Atlantic Croaker Micropogonias undulatus, brown shrimp Farfantepenaeus aztecus, and white shrimp Litopenaeus setiferus) and the overall faunal community composition were compared across estuarine habitats to assess the ability of this method to accurately depict fish–habitat associations. Focal species’ occurrence and community composition was significantly correlated with shoreline vegetation, seagrass presence, presence of mangroves, substrate type, and heterogeneity in vegetated habitat. This study demonstrates an effective approach to integrating habitat into fisheries‐independent monitoring in pursuit of an ecosystem‐based approach to fisheries management.

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Effects of Black Mangrove (Avicennia germinans) Expansion on Saltmarsh (Spartina alterniflora) Benthic Communities of the South Texas Coast

Cited by 7 publications

References 12 publications

Review of the ecosystem service implications of mangrove encroachment into salt marshes

Review of the ecosystem service implications of mangrove encroachment into salt marshes

Detrital traits affect substitutability of a range‐expanding foundation species across latitude

Characterizing Fish–Habitat Associations through Paired Fisheries‐Independent and In Situ Habitat Assessments

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