Effects of vertebrate herbivores on soil processes, plant biomass, litter accumulation and soil elevation changes in a coastal marsh

Ford, Mark; Grace, James B.

doi:10.1046/j.1365-2745.1998.00314.x

Cited by 83 publications

(58 citation statements)

References 54 publications

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“…The RSET method has been useful not only for documenting trends in surface elevation change in specific wetlands 40 , but also for comparing rates of elevation change among hydrogeomorphic zones within a site (for example, a delta 41 ), differentiating between sites dominated by surface processes 40 versus subsurface processes 14 , documenting high variability in sediment deposition from singular storm events 44 , capturing rapid peat collapse from small-scale (for example, lightning strikes) and large-scale (for example, hurricanes) disturbances 45,46 , measuring the effects of elevated atmospheric CO 2 concentrations on surface elevation change 47 , and disentangling complex interactions among herbivory, biomass production and surface elevation change 48 . RSET data have also contributed to more applied research assessing the impacts of management practices on site-specific vulnerability to SLR, such as prescribed burning 49 , sedimentation from point-source coastal management interventions 50 , water diversion 51 , fence construction to enhance sediment deposition 52 and thin-layer deposition of dredged sediment 53 .…”

Section: Simple Affordable High-precision Datamentioning

confidence: 99%

A global standard for monitoring coastal wetland vulnerability to accelerated sea-level rise

et al. 2013

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Section: Simple Affordable High-precision Datamentioning

confidence: 99%

A global standard for monitoring coastal wetland vulnerability to accelerated sea-level rise

et al. 2013

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“…A negative value indicates shallow expansion; a positive value shallow subsidence. Processes in coastal wetlands driving shallow subsidence or expansion include root zone expansion from increased root volume (Cahoon et al 2004;Langley et al 2009;Cherry et al 2009;, root zone collapse from reduced root production, increased decomposition of plant roots, and loss of root volume (Ford and Grace 1998;Cahoon et al 2003Cahoon et al , 2004), shrink-swell related to changes in ground water level (Paquette et al 2004;Whelan et al 2005;Cahoon et al 2011a;Rogers and Saintilan 2008), and compaction (Cahoon et al 1995. Major storms can affect all these processes either directly or indirectly (Cahoon 2006).…”

Section: Subsurface Process Controls On Wetland Elevationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Estimating Relative Sea-Level Rise and Submergence Potential at a Coastal Wetland

Cahoon

2014

Estuaries and Coasts

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A tide gauge records a combined signal of the vertical change (positive or negative) in the level of both the sea and the land to which the gauge is affixed; or relative sealevel change, which is typically referred to as relative sea-level rise (RSLR). Complicating this situation, coastal wetlands exhibit dynamic surface elevation change (both positive and negative), as revealed by surface elevation table (SET) measurements, that is not recorded at tide gauges. Because the usefulness of RSLR is in the ability to tie the change in sea level to the local topography, it is important that RSLR be calculated at a wetland that reflects these local dynamic surface elevation changes in order to better estimate wetland submergence potential. A rationale is described for calculating wetland RSLR (RSLR wet ) by subtracting the SET wetland elevation change from the tide gauge RSLR. The calculation is possible because the SET and tide gauge independently measure vertical land motion in different portions of the substrate. For 89 wetlands where RSLR wet was evaluated, wetland elevation change differed significantly from zero for 80 % of them, indicating that RSLR wet at these wetlands differed from the local tide gauge RSLR. When compared to tide gauge RSLR, about 39 % of wetlands experienced an elevation rate surplus and 58 % an elevation rate deficit (i.e., sea level becoming lower and higher, respectively, relative to the wetland surface). These proportions were consistent across saltmarsh, mangrove, and freshwater wetland types. Comparison of wetland elevation change and RSLR is confounded by high levels of temporal and spatial variability, and would be improved by co-locating tide gauge and SET stations near each other and obtaining longterm records for both.

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“…Nutria, Myocaster coypus, introduced to the U.S. Gulf coast for fur farming, also contribute to marsh loss. The burrowing and foraging activities of this rodent depress soil accretion processes, ultimately leading to submergence of marshes with low sediment supply (Ford & Grace 1998).…”

Section: Species Introductions and Invasive Speciesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Centuries of Human-Driven Change in Salt Marsh Ecosystems

Gedan

Silliman

Bertness

2009

Annu. Rev. Mar. Sci.

776

436

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Salt marshes are among the most abundant, fertile, and accessible coastal habitats on earth, and they provide more ecosystem services to coastal populations than any other environment. Since the Middle Ages, humans have manipulated salt marshes at a grand scale, altering species composition, distribution, and ecosystem function. Here, we review historic and contemporary human activities in marsh ecosystems-exploitation of plant products; conversion to farmland, salt works, and urban land; introduction of non-native species; alteration of coastal hydrology; and metal and nutrient pollution. Unexpectedly, diverse types of impacts can have a similar consequence, turning salt marsh food webs upside down, dramatically increasing top down control. Of the various impacts, invasive species, runaway consumer effects, and sea level rise represent the greatest threats to salt marsh ecosystems. We conclude that the best way to protect salt marshes and the services they provide is through the integrated approach of ecosystem-based management.

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Effects of vertebrate herbivores on soil processes, plant biomass, litter accumulation and soil elevation changes in a coastal marsh

Cited by 83 publications

References 54 publications

A global standard for monitoring coastal wetland vulnerability to accelerated sea-level rise

A global standard for monitoring coastal wetland vulnerability to accelerated sea-level rise

Estimating Relative Sea-Level Rise and Submergence Potential at a Coastal Wetland

Centuries of Human-Driven Change in Salt Marsh Ecosystems

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