The Role of Surface and Subsurface Processes in Keeping Pace with Sea Level Rise in Intertidal Wetlands of Moreton Bay, Queensland, Australia

Lovelock, Catherine E.; Bennion, Vicki; Grinham, Alistair; Cahoon, Donald R.

doi:10.1007/s10021-011-9443-9

Cited by 92 publications

(59 citation statements)

References 44 publications

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“…The complete RSET-MH set-up (hereafter referred to as 'RSET') therefore provides net surface elevation change above the benchmark depth; moreover, as it has been repeatedly shown that vertical accretion is not a valid substitute for surface elevation change 20,32,39 , the complete set-up is necessary to identify the contribution of surface and shallow subsurface processes to surface elevation change at a specific site 39,40 . Repeated measurements allow chronicling of net surface elevation change, which can be integrated with region-specific relative SLR (tide-gauge data) to determine whether the surface elevation has kept pace with SLR over that time period [40][41][42][43] . Because the benchmark rod is immovable and permanently affixed into the wetland, data collection can be abandoned for significant periods of time (months to years), and resumed at any point in the future without compromising data quality.…”

Section: Simple Affordable High-precision Datamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These short-term measurements of process rates (for example, sediment accretion, root expansion, belowground primary production and decomposition, autocompaction and soil shrink-swell) can be used to calibrate, parameterize and validate locally relevant models 36 to make longer-term predictions of coastal wetland response to changes in the rate of SLR. Thus, although RSET data provide direct, shortterm indications of marsh resilience, modelling allows prediction at the appropriate timescales for management action 35,42,43,58 . Second, to calculate the local difference between wetland elevation change and sea-level change so that absolute site vulnerability can be compared across sites over a broad geographic area (for example, a continent), RSETs need to be levelled (referenced) into a common regional vertical datum 59 .…”

Section: Surmountable Limitations To Rset Datamentioning

confidence: 99%

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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%

Section: Surmountable Limitations To Rset Datamentioning

confidence: 99%

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

et al. 2013

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“…This is because the main research interest on sediment dynamics is predominantly focused on long-term accretion rates to see whether mangroves can keep up with sea-level rise (see e.g. Woodroffe, 1995;Lovelock et al, 2011;McKee, 2011;Webb et al, 2013). However our results clearly demonstrate the importance of frequent measurements of sediment dynamics (i.e.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 71%

Cross-shore gradients of physical disturbance in mangroves: implications for seedling establishment

et al. 2013

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Mangroves may grow in an active sedimentary environment and are therefore closely linked to physical coastal processes. Seedlings colonize dynamic tidal flats, after which mangroves have the potential to change their physical environment by attenuating hydrodynamic energy and trapping sediments. Disturbance from hydrodynamic energy of waves or currents and the resulting sediment dynamics appear to be a critical bottleneck for seedling establishment on tidal flats and at the forest fringe. However, knowledge about the mechanisms at the single plant level and the spatial pattern of disturbance is limited. By means of a flume study, we demonstrate that a surface erosion threshold of as little as 1–3 cm depth can lead to failure of young seedlings. By monitoring accretion/erosion for 8 months along cross-shore transects in southwest Thailand, we show that, especially on the bare mudflat, the physical sediment disturbance regularly exceeds the critical erosion thresholds derived from the flume study. Physical sediment parameters along the same transects were analysed to deduct patterns of hydrodynamic energy attenuation. Grain size analysis and erosion/accretion data showed only limited energy dissipation within the fringing Avicennia/Sonneratia zone; sediment dynamics only dropped below lethal values for seedlings within the denser Rhizophora zone. Overall, present results emphasize that (i) seedling survival is extremely sensitive to physically driven sediment dynamics and (ii) that such physical disturbances are not only present on the tidal flats but can penetrate a significant distance into the forest. Spatio-temporal patterns in sediment dynamics should hence be considered when conducting restoration of mangrove ecosystems

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“…The degree of wetland compaction in mangrove and saltmarsh in southeastern Australia has been correlated to fluctuations in groundwater depth, rainfall and the Southern Oscillation Index (Rogers and Saintilan 2009;Rogers et al 2005a), which all varied in association with a severe El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) related drought between 2001 and 2004. Lovelock et al (2011) attributed compaction of wetlands soils to soil characteristics, with muddy highly organic soils undergoing greater compaction than sandy soils. Instances where elevation gain exceeded the degree of accretion have been attributed to biological processes of belowground root development (Rogers et al 2005a) and abandoned salt evaporation ponds that altered the hydrological regime of saltmarsh (Rogers et al 2005b).…”

Section: Processes Influencing Marsh Surface Elevationmentioning

confidence: 99%

The significance and vulnerability of Australian saltmarshes: implications for management in a changing climate

Saintilan¹,

Rogers

2013

Mar. Freshwater Res.

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We review the distribution, status and ecology of Australian saltmarshes and the mechanisms whereby enhanced atmospheric carbon dioxide and associated climate change have influenced and will influence the provision of ecosystem goods and services. Research in temperate and subtropical saltmarsh has demonstrated important trophic contributions to estuarine fisheries, mediated by the synchronised massspawning of crabs, which feed predominantly on the C-4 saltmarsh grass Sporobolus virginicus and microphytobenthos. Saltmarshes also provide unique feeding and habitat opportunities for several species of threatened microbats and birds, including migratory shorebirds. Saltmarshes increased in extent relative to mangrove in Australia in both tide-and wave-dominated geomorphic settings through the latter Holocene, although historic trends have seen a reversal of this trend. Australian saltmarshes have some capacity to maintain elevation with respect to rising sea level, although in south-eastern Australia, the encroachment of mangrove and, in Tasmania, conversion of shrubland to herbfield in the past half-century are consistent with changes in relative sea level. Modelling of the impacts of projected sea-level rise, incorporating sedimentation and other surface-elevation drivers, suggests that the survival of saltmarsh in developed estuaries will depend on the flexible management of hard structures and other impediments to wetland retreat.

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The Role of Surface and Subsurface Processes in Keeping Pace with Sea Level Rise in Intertidal Wetlands of Moreton Bay, Queensland, Australia

Cited by 92 publications

References 44 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

Cross-shore gradients of physical disturbance in mangroves: implications for seedling establishment

The significance and vulnerability of Australian saltmarshes: implications for management in a changing climate

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