Wave Attenuation by Two Contrasting Ecosystem Engineering Salt Marsh Macrophytes in the Intertidal Pioneer Zone

Ysebaert, Tom; Yang, S.L.; Zhang, Liquan; He, Qing; Bouma, Tjeerd J.; Herman, Peter M. J.

doi:10.1007/s13157-011-0240-1

Cited by 101 publications

(89 citation statements)

References 31 publications

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“…As opposed to conventional engineering solutions (dikes, dams), marshes can adapt to increasing sea levels by accumulating sediment and thus grow with the rising sea. Additionally, natural coastal protection by marsh vegetation has been proven to be very effective as the majority of wave energy entering a marsh dissipates over the first few meters from the leading edge of the marsh (Bouma et al ; Ysebaert et al ; Möller et al ). Even under extreme water levels and wave heights typical for storm surges, when coastal defense is most important, up to 60% of wave‐height attenuation may be attributed to marsh vegetation (Möller et al ).…”

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confidence: 99%

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Coping with waves: Plasticity in tidal marsh plants as self‐adapting coastal ecosystem engineers

Silinski

Schoutens

Puijalon

et al. 2017

Limnology & Oceanography

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Tidal marsh vegetation is increasingly valued for its role in ecosystem‐based coastal protection due to its wave dissipating capacity. As the efficiency of wave dissipation is known to depend on specific vegetation properties, we quantified how these morphological, biochemical, and biomechanical properties of tidal marsh vegetation are, in turn, affected by wave exposure. This was achieved by field measurements at two locations, with contrasting wave exposure, in the brackish part of the Scheldt Estuary (SW Netherlands), where Scirpus maritimus is the dominant pioneer species. Our results show that shoots from more wave‐exposed conditions developed significantly shorter and thicker stems than the ones growing in more sheltered conditions. Furthermore, we show that the more exposed shoots are more flexible whereas the shoots growing in more sheltered conditions are stiffer. This may indicate plasticity in response to wave exposure following a stress‐avoidance strategy. Increasing stiffness was shown to be related to enhanced biogenic silica and lignin contents of the shoot tissue. These properties might affect the wave‐attenuating capacity of the marsh as stiff plants are known to mitigate waves more effectively than flexible ones. However, we also found higher shoot densities on the exposed site, which may partly explain why higher relative wave attenuation rates were found on the exposed site, despite the presence of more flexible individual shoots. This study highlights that the efficiency of wave attenuation by tidal marsh vegetation ultimately depends on mutual interactions between waves and plasticity in morphological, biochemical, and biomechanical plant properties.

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confidence: 99%

“…The capacity of plants to attenuate waves, however, depends on plant morphological traits. For instance, flume experiments and field measurements showed that stiffer shoots as well as a high standing biomass increase wave attenuation (Bouma et al ; Ysebaert et al ). Waves, in turn, have been shown to exert stress on plant growth.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Coping with waves: Plasticity in tidal marsh plants as self‐adapting coastal ecosystem engineers

Silinski

Schoutens

Puijalon

et al. 2017

Limnology & Oceanography

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“…The seasonal patterns of wave attenuation observed in the British saltmarsh and seagrass environments appear to correspond to seasonal growth cycles of the vegetation (Möller and Spencer, 2002;Möller et al, 2006;Paul and Amos, 2011). In the Yangtze Estuary, S. alterniflora demonstrated a greater capacity to attenuate waves than the shorter, more flexible native species Scirpus mariqueter (Ysebaert et al, 2011) and exhibited rates of wave attenuation that were 1 to 2 orders of magnitude greater than an adjacent mudflat (Yang et al, 2012).…”

Section: Fieldmentioning

confidence: 84%

Engineering with Nature to Reduce Wave Energy in Wetlands

Smith¹,

Bryant²

2017

Handbook of Coastal and Ocean Engineering

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A body of literature quantifying wave attenuation through vegetation has developed within the last few decades and serves as the foundation for growing interest in wetlands for engineering with nature applications. Wave dissipation is shown to be highly variable, influenced by hydrodynamics, plant structure, and the interaction between the two. The current method of predicting wave dissipation often makes use of an empirical drag coefficient, which is given as a function of nondimensional flow parameter. These empirical equations are shown to have limitations, particularly in the transition from the submerged to emergent regime, and are highly variable in nature and in magnitude. Vegetation is shown to preferentially dissipate energy at frequencies higher than the spectral peak for single-and double-peaked wave spectra. Idealized simulations of Jamaica Bay with STeady-state spectral WAVE (STWAVE) demonstrate the potential for vegetation to provide shoreline protection by reducing wave height under severe wind and water level conditions.

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“…, Ysebaert et al. ). Also, seagrasses showing differences in shoot stiffness and densities modify water velocities and friction forces differentially (Fonseca and Fisher , Paul et al.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

The influence of species, density, and diversity of macroalgal aggregations on microphytobenthic settlement

Umanzor

Ladah

Zertuche‐González

2017

Journal of Phycology

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Intertidal macroalgae can modulate their biophysical environment by ameliorating physical conditions and creating habitats. Exploring how seaweed aggregations made up of different species at different densities modify the local environment may help explain how associated organisms respond to the attenuation of extreme physical conditions. Using Silvetia compressa, Chondracanthus canaliculatus, and Pyropia perforata, we constructed monocultures representing the leathery, corticated and foliose functional forms as well as a mixed tri-culture assemblage including the former three, at four densities. Treatment quadrats were installed in the intertidal where we measured irradiance, temperature, particle retention, and water motion underneath the canopies. Additionally, we examined the abundance and richness of the understory microphytobenthos with settlement slides. We found that the density and species composition of the assemblages modulated the amelioration of extreme physical conditions, with macroalgal aggregations of greater structural complexity due to their form and density showing greater physical factor attenuation. However, increasing the number of species within a patch did not directly result in increased complexity and therefore, did not necessarily cause greater amelioration of the environment. Microphytobenthic composition was also affected by species composition and density, with higher abundances under S. compressa and C. canaliculatus canopies at high and mid densities. These results support the idea that the environmental modifications driven by these macroalgae have a significant effect on the dynamics of the intertidal environment by promoting distinct temporal and spatial patchiness in the microphytobenthos, with potentially significant effects on the overall productivity of these ecosystems.

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Wave Attenuation by Two Contrasting Ecosystem Engineering Salt Marsh Macrophytes in the Intertidal Pioneer Zone

Cited by 101 publications

References 31 publications

Coping with waves: Plasticity in tidal marsh plants as self‐adapting coastal ecosystem engineers

Coping with waves: Plasticity in tidal marsh plants as self‐adapting coastal ecosystem engineers

Engineering with Nature to Reduce Wave Energy in Wetlands

The influence of species, density, and diversity of macroalgal aggregations on microphytobenthic settlement

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