Photosynthetic Performance of Tidally Flooded <i>Spartina Alterniflora</i> Salt Marshes

Mao, Lishen; Mishra, Deepak R.; Hawman, Peter A.; Narron, C. R.; O’Connell, Jessica L.; Cotten, David L.

doi:10.1029/2022jg007161

Cited by 5 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 61 publications

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“…Similarly, Kathileankal et al (2008) found S. alterniflora photosynthetic rates declined under submerged conditions (> 25 cm) due to limited light availability, decreasing net ecosystem exchange by 46 %. Likewise, Mao et al (2023) found that photosynthetic efficiency was related to the proportion of submerged S. alterniflora leaves, but that fully submerged leaves actively photosynthesize. While our short-term S. alterniflora net ecosystem exchange rates measured during the peak of the growing season were comparable to Cornell et al's (2007) estimates, S. patens has a longer photosynthetic period during the growing season resulting in potentially greater annual carbon uptake (Artigas et al 2015).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 98%

Carbon dynamics vary among tidal marsh plant species in a sea-level rise experiment

Barry¹,

Ooi²,

Helton³

et al. 2023

Preprint

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Tidal wetlands are important blue carbon reservoirs, but it is unclear how sea-level rise (SLR) may affect carbon cycling and soil microbial communities either by increased inundation frequency or via shifting plant species dominance. We used an in-situ marsh organ experiment to test how SLR-scenarios (0, +7.5, +15 cm) and vegetation treatments (Spartina alterniflora, Spartina patens, Phragmites australis, unvegetated controls) altered CO2 fluxes (net ecosystem exchange, ecosystem respiration), soil carbon mineralization rates, potential denitrification rates, and microbial community composition. Increasing inundation frequency with SLR treatments decreased the carbon sink strength and promoted carbon emissions with +15-cm SLR. However, SLR treatments did not alter soil chemistry, microbial process rates, or bacterial community structure. In contrast, our vegetation treatments affected all carbon flux measurements; S. alterniflora and S. patens had greater CO2 uptake and ecosystem respiration compared to P. australis. Soils associated with Spartina spp. had higher carbon mineralization rates than P. australis or unvegetated controls. Soil bacterial assemblages differed among vegetation treatments but shifted more dramatically over the three-month experiment. As marshes flood more frequently with projected SLR, marsh vegetation composition is predicted to shift towards more flood-tolerant S. alterniflora, which may lead to increased CO2 uptake, though tidal marsh carbon sink strength will likely be offset by increased abundance of unvegetated tidal flats and open water. Our findings suggest that plant species play a central role in ecosystem carbon dynamics in vegetated tidal marshes undergoing rapid SLR.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 98%

Carbon dynamics vary among tidal marsh plant species in a sea-level rise experiment

Barry¹,

Ooi²,

Helton³

et al. 2023

Preprint

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“…accumulation of 13 C (Lin and da SL Sternberg, 1993; Essemine et al, Mao et al, 2023). When nutrient resources are limited, larger plants typically require a significant amount of nutrients to sustain rapid growth, resulting in a dilution of 15 N and a decrease in its accumulation within the plant (Hill et al, 2018;Chen et al, 2022).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Spartina alterniflora, recognized as a typical invasive plant, is a perennial monocotyledonous plant belonging to the Poaceae family (Cheng et al, 2022;Jia et al, 2022). It possesses extensive roots and robust reproductive capabilities, commonly growing in the intertidal zones of estuaries, bays, coastal mudflats, and tidal-influenced beaches worldwide (Humphreys et al, 2021;Mao et al, 2023). S. alterniflora plays a significant role in ecological and economic benefits, including carbon and nitrogen fixation, wind and wave prevention, embankment and beach protection, soil improvement, and the expansion of animal and plant habitats (Lu et al, 2020;Meng et al, 2020).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Latitudinal patterns and their climate drivers of the δ13C, δ15N, δ34S isotope signatures of Spartina alterniflora across plant life-death status: a global analysis

Zhang,

Wang,

Liu

et al. 2024

Front. Plant Sci.

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Isotopic signatures offer new methods, approaches, and perspectives for exploring the ecological adaptability and functions of plants. We examined pattern differences in the isotopic signatures (δ13C, δ15N, δ34S) of Spartina alterniflora across varying plant life-death status along geographic clines. We extracted 539 sets of isotopic data from 57 publications covering 267 sites across a latitude range of over 23.8° along coastal wetlands. Responses of isotopic signatures to climate drivers (MAT and MAP) and the internal relationships between isotopic signatures were also detected. Results showed that the δ13C, δ15N, and δ34S of S. alterniflora were -13.52 ± 0.83‰, 6.16 ± 0.14‰, and 4.01 ± 6.96‰, with a range of -17.44‰ to -11.00‰, -2.40‰ to 15.30‰, and -9.60‰ to 15.80‰, respectively. The latitudinal patterns of δ13C, δ15N, and δ34S in S. alterniflora were shaped as a convex curve, a concave curve, and an increasing straight line, respectively. A decreasing straight line for δ13C within the ranges of MAT was identified under plant life status. Plant life-death status shaped two nearly parallel decreasing straight lines for δ34S in response to MAT, resulting in a concave curve of δ34S for live S. alterniflora in response to MAP. The δ15N of S. alterniflora significantly decreased with increasing δ13C of S. alterniflora, except for plant death status. The δ13C, δ15N, and δ34S of S. alterniflora are consistent with plant height, stem diameter, leaf traits, etc, showing general latitudinal patterns closely related to MAT. Plant life-death status altered the δ15N (live: 6.55 ± 2.23‰; dead: -2.76 ± 2.72‰), latitudinal patterns of S. alterniflora and their responses to MAT, demonstrating strong ecological plasticity and adaptability across the geographic clines. The findings help in understanding the responses of latitudinal patterns of the δ13C, δ15N, and δ34S isotope signatures of S. alterniflora in response plant life-death status, and provide evidence of robust ecological plasticity and adaptability across geographic clines.

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“…Tidal marshes that are dominated by a single species, such as S. alterniflora in the Southeast US, have distinct zonation from tall dense canopies in low elevation areas along tidal creeks to short canopy interiors higher in the tidal frame (Pennings & Callaway, 1992). In these marshes, rates of photosynthesis can vary up to 2.6‐fold (Giurgevich & Dunn, 1979) across canopy height and significantly by inundation status (Kathilankal et al., 2008; Mao et al., 2023). Biomass and canopy leaf area vary by up to 5‐fold and 3‐fold, respectively (Hawman et al., 2023; Więski & Pennings, 2014), just a few meters apart.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Canopy Heterogeneity and Environmental Variability Drive Annual Budgets of Net Ecosystem Carbon Exchange in a Tidal Marsh

Hawman,

Cotten,

Mishra

2024

JGR Biogeosciences

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Tidal salt marshes are important ecosystems in the global carbon cycle. Understanding their net carbon exchange with the atmosphere is required to accurately estimate their net ecosystem carbon budget (NECB). In this study, we present the interannual net ecosystem exchange (NEE) of CO2 derived from eddy covariance (EC) for a Spartina alterniflora salt marsh. We found interannual NEE could vary up to 3‐fold and range from −58.5 ± 11.3 to −222.9 ± 12.4 g C m−2 year−1 in 2016 and 2020, respectively. Further, we found that atmospheric CO2 fluxes were spatially dependent and varied across short distances. High biomass regions along tidal creek and estuary edges had up to 2‐fold higher annual NEE than lower biomass marsh interiors. In addition to the spatial variation of NEE, regions of the marsh represented by distinct canopy zonation responded to environmental drivers differently. Low elevation edges (with taller canopies) had a higher correlation with river discharge (R2 = 0.61), the main freshwater input into the system, while marsh interiors (with short canopies) were better correlated with in situ precipitation (R2 = 0.53). Lastly, we extrapolated interannual NEE to the wider marsh system, demonstrating the potential underestimation of annual NEE when not considering spatially explicit rates of NEE. Our work provides a basis for further research to understand the temporal and spatial dynamics of productivity in coastal wetlands, ecosystems which are at the forefront of experiencing climate change induced variability in precipitation, temperature, and sea level rise that have the potential to alter ecosystem productivity.

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Photosynthetic Performance of Tidally Flooded Spartina Alterniflora Salt Marshes

Cited by 5 publications

References 61 publications

Carbon dynamics vary among tidal marsh plant species in a sea-level rise experiment

Carbon dynamics vary among tidal marsh plant species in a sea-level rise experiment

Latitudinal patterns and their climate drivers of the δ13C, δ15N, δ34S isotope signatures of Spartina alterniflora across plant life-death status: a global analysis

Canopy Heterogeneity and Environmental Variability Drive Annual Budgets of Net Ecosystem Carbon Exchange in a Tidal Marsh

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