Quantifying critical conditions for seaward expansion of tidal marshes: A transplantation experiment

Silinski, Alexandra; Belzen, Jim van; Fransen, Erik; Bouma, Tjeerd J.; Troch, Peter; Meire, Patrick; Temmerman, Stijn

doi:10.1016/j.ecss.2015.12.012

Cited by 33 publications

(43 citation statements)

References 37 publications

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“…Notwithstanding longer‐term controls on decadal marsh edge position changes, daily bed level change, driven by the combination of a number of ecological and physical processes (Corenblit et al, ; Deegan et al, ; Friedrichs, ; Green & Coco, ; Mariotti & Fagherazzi, ), has been showed to determine the elevation in the tidal prism where seedlings of salt marsh pioneer species can establish seasonally (Bouma et al, ; Cao et al, ; Silinski et al, ). Moreover, bed level change at the tidal flat adjacent to a stable marsh platform has also been identified as a process driving cliff initiation (Bouma et al, ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In many locations, the marsh edge shifts up to several meters per year and is known to show cyclic alternations between erosion and expansion on a decadal or longer time scale (Allen, ; Singh Chauhan, ; Van der Wal et al, ). The switch between these two phases is determined by two key processes: initiation of marsh erosion (i.e., start of retreat) and start of expansion by seedling establishment (Bouma et al, ) and growth of clonal shoots (Silinski et al, ). Whereas the rate of marsh erosion is determined by frequent flooding and wave events (Fagherazzi, ; Wang et al, ), the onset of erosion may originate from a discontinuity by having a stable marsh platform level adjacent to a dynamic tidal flat, where the bed level can vary greatly over time (Bouma et al, ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The process of seedling establishment at the tidal flat is mainly affected by the physical parameters: relative elevation in the tidal frame, which determines the inundation frequency and period (Balke et al, ); and bed level change, which possibly lead to uprooting and/or burying seedlings (Hu, van Belzen, et al, ). Clonal expansion is mainly affected by hydrodynamic conditions (i.e., inundation period and hydrodynamic energy) at the tidal flat (Silinski et al, ). This raises the question as to whether the location of the marsh edge may be determined by both the bed level change and inundation period at the tidal flat fronting the marsh edge.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Quantifying Bed Level Change at the Transition of Tidal Flat and Salt Marsh: Can We Understand the Lateral Location of the Marsh Edge?

et al. 2018

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Bed level dynamics at the interface of the salt marsh and tidal flat have been highlighted as a key factor connecting the long‐term biogeomorphological development of the marsh to large‐scale physical forcing. Hence, we aim to obtain insight into the factors confining the location of the marsh edge (i.e., boundary between tidal flat and salt marsh). A unique data set was collected, containing measurements of daily bed level changes (i.e., integrative result of physical forcing and sediment properties) at six intertidal transects in the North Sea area. Moreover, various biophysical parameters were measured, such as sediment characteristics, waves, inundation time, and chlorophyll‐a levels. The data show that both bed level change and waves decreased from the lower intertidal flat toward the marsh edge and further diminished inside the marsh. However, no direct general relation was found between waves and bed level change. Bed level change inside the marsh was always small, regardless of wave energy. By combining the data sets, we demonstrate that the location of the lower marsh edge is restricted by two interacting factors: inundation time and bed level change. For vegetation establishment to withstand longer inundation stress, which slows down plant growth, more stable bed levels are required so that plants are not heavily disturbed. Conversely, to withstand more dynamic bed levels that disturbs plant growth, lower inundation stress is needed, so that plants grow fast enough to recover from the stress. The results suggest that bed level change is important in determining the position of the marsh edge.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Quantifying Bed Level Change at the Transition of Tidal Flat and Salt Marsh: Can We Understand the Lateral Location of the Marsh Edge?

et al. 2018

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“…This site is suitable to study initiation of marsh erosion, as it is close to where in the past a cliff was originally formed (Van der Wal et al ) and because hydrodynamics are typically stronger in areas where colonisation occurs via clonal expansion rather than seedling establishment (cf. Silinski et al ). The Ellewoutsdijk site is wind exposed, and typical wave conditions have been described in Callaghan et al () and Hu et al ().…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Callaghan et al () suggested that such seasonal variation in bed‐level elevation of the tidal flat may cause the formation of a small cliff at the boundary between the dynamic bare mudflat sediment and the more stable vegetated marsh sediment. Recent studies also suggest sediment dynamics to play an important role in seedling establishment in various coastal wetlands (Han et al ; Balke et al ; Silinski et al ). Hence, we expect that sediment dynamics on the mudflat, as they may occur at an even shorter time scale within a season, may hamper the establishment of pioneer seedlings.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Short-term mudflat dynamics drive long-term cyclic salt marsh dynamics

et al. 2016

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Our study aims to enhance process understanding of the long-term (decadal and longer) cyclic marsh dynamics by identifying the mechanisms that translate large-scale physical forcing in the system into vegetation change, in particular (i) the initiation of lateral erosion on an expanding marsh, and (ii) the control of seedling establishment in front of an eroding marsh-cliff. Short-term sediment dynamics (i.e., seasonal and shorter changes in sediment elevation) at the mudflat causes variation in mudflat elevation over time (dz TF ). The resulting difference in elevation between the tidal flat and adjacent marsh (DZ) initiates lateral marsh erosion. Marsh erosion rate was found to depend on sediment type and to increase with increasing DZ and hydrodynamic exposure. Laboratory and field experiments revealed that seedling establishment was negatively impacted by an increasing dz TF . As the amplitude of dz TF increases towards the channel, expanding marshes become more prone to lateral erosion the further they extend on a tidal flat, and the chance for seedlings to establish increases with the distance that marsh has eroded back towards the land. This processbased understanding, showing the role of sediment dynamics as explanatory factor for marsh cyclicity, is important for protecting and restoring valuable marsh ecosystems. Overall, our experiments emphasize the need for understanding the connections between neighbouring ecosystems such as mudflat and salt marsh.

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Using marsh organs to test seed recruitment in tidal freshwater marshes

Lane

2022

Appl Plant Sci

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Premise Seed recruitment niches along estuarine elevation gradients are seldom experimentally field‐tested under tidal regimes of the Pacific Northwest of North America. Addressing this knowledge gap is important to better understand estuary restoration and plant community response to sea level rise. Methods Germination was tested in marsh organ mesocosms across an elevation gradient (0.5–1.7 m above mean sea level). Seeds were sown on sterile peat moss, and the tops of pipes were secured with horticultural “frost cloth” to ensure no experimental seeds were washed out and no new seeds were introduced. The trials tested artificial and overwinter chilling regimes, as well as the presence and/or absence of a near‐neighbor transplant. Results Carex lyngbyei had significant elevation‐driven germination after overwinter and artificial chilling. Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani had near‐significant germination across elevation after overwinter chilling, and germination in the absence of competition was significantly greater than with a near‐neighbor transplant. Discussion Carex lyngbyei had the highest germination rate at higher elevations, which suggests restricted seed recruitment potential and required clonal expansion to extend into lower marsh elevations. Identifying species‐specific recruitment niches provides insight for restoration opportunities or invasive species monitoring, as well as for estuary migration under sea level rise.

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Quantifying critical conditions for seaward expansion of tidal marshes: A transplantation experiment

Cited by 33 publications

References 37 publications

Quantifying Bed Level Change at the Transition of Tidal Flat and Salt Marsh: Can We Understand the Lateral Location of the Marsh Edge?

Quantifying Bed Level Change at the Transition of Tidal Flat and Salt Marsh: Can We Understand the Lateral Location of the Marsh Edge?

Short-term mudflat dynamics drive long-term cyclic salt marsh dynamics

Using marsh organs to test seed recruitment in tidal freshwater marshes

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