Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Joachim Schoenfeld, Isabel Mendes
Summary: Benthic foraminifera in tidally influenced salt marshes show vertical zonation and are influenced by factors such as freshwater influx, salinity, and pore water properties. In this study, the dominance of saltworts and increasing soil salinities indicated the importance of evaporation as an environmental factor. Faunal changes in the salt marsh were related to vegetation zonal boundaries, mean tide or mean high water levels, calcite saturation state, or organic carbon concentrations.
ESTUARINE COASTAL AND SHELF SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Kelly Elschot, Martin J. Baptist, Marinka E. B. van Puijenbroek
Summary: A global concern for coastal ecosystems is the predicted rise in sea-level for which salt marshes must keep pace. Variables that control this elevation change need to be identified to predict the adaptability of marshes to future sea-level rise. Grazing by livestock can significantly reduce the annual rates of elevation gain and affect the future adaptability of salt marshes to grow vertically for rising sea levels. Trampling by grazing cattle, along with other factors like precipitation deficit and extreme drought, can lead to biocompaction and reduce the total elevation change.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Z. H. Ning, C. Chen, S. Y. Zhang, A. D. Wang, Q. Wang, T. Xie, J. H. Bai, B. S. Cui
Summary: Understanding the impact of lateral hydrological connectivity on plant invasion is important for predicting the range-expansion of invasive species in tidal channel-salt marsh systems. High lateral hydrological connectivity facilitates the expansion of Spartina alterniflora along tidal channel margins, while low connectivity limits its lateral expansion. Human-made and naturally formed geomorphic structures can increase lateral hydrological connectivity, potentially promoting the invasion of S. alterniflora. These findings emphasize the importance of considering hydrological processes in the management of invasive plant species.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATICS
(2023)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Anna R. Armitage, Carolyn A. Weaver, Ashley A. Whitt, Steven C. Pennings
Summary: The study found that woody encroachment of mangroves into coastal wetlands can lead to a decrease in plant species richness and changes in animal assemblages, with certain species being more common in areas without mangroves. Results were consistent with a previous manipulative experiment, indicating mangroves have significant impacts on associated plant and animal communities as woody encroachment continues and mangrove cover increases.
ESTUARINE COASTAL AND SHELF SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Yvonne Milker, Tina Dura, Benjamin P. Horton
Summary: This study examines the response of foraminifera to rapid changes in relative sea-level (RSL) using observations from the tidal restoration of Ni-les'tun marsh over a six-year period. The findings suggest that foraminifera show a delayed colonization of new habitats following RSL changes, potentially due to their reproductive cycle and limited food availability. However, postdepositional taphonomic processes have minimal influence on the similarity between modern and fossil assemblages.
Article
Plant Sciences
Fan Li, Christine Angelini, James E. Byers, Christopher Craft, Steven C. Pennings
Summary: This study shows that tidal freshwater marsh plant and animal communities are vulnerable to long-term salinity changes but resilient to short saline pulses. While saline pulses did not impair most ecosystem functions, the decline of a single species in the pulse treatment was associated with reduced marsh accretion and no elevation gain, which are crucial for wetland survival in an era of rising seas.
JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Thomas E. Kutcher, Kenneth B. Raposa
Summary: Tidal restoration efforts in salt marshes have led to some biological recovery, but incomplete restoration is common due to inundation stress and eutrophication. This study highlights the importance of long-term biological monitoring and the use of rapid assessment data to provide valuable context for restoration findings and guide future restoration practices.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Caroline R. Narron, Jessica L. O'Connell, Deepak R. Mishra, David L. Cotten, Peter A. Hawman, Lishen Mao
Summary: Remote sensing is crucial for understanding coastal wetland ecosystems, but tidal inundation affects the reliability of remote sensing-based models. To address this issue, we developed the Flats index to identify and filter flooded pixels. We also demonstrated innovative applications of the index in detecting flooding frequency and patterns.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Faming Wang, Meagan Eagle, Kevin D. Kroeger, Amanda C. Spivak, Jianwu Tang
Summary: The study found that restored salt marshes had lower elevation but greater plant biomass, ecosystem production, respiration, and CO2 exchange compared to natural references. Respiration rates in aboveground biomass and soil were also higher in restored marshes. This suggests that well-restored salt marshes may enhance carbon sequestration rates and extend marsh survival.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Soil Science
Hollie E. Emery, John H. Angell, Akaash Tawade, Robinson W. Fulweiler
Summary: Coastal wetlands exhibit different emission patterns of CO2, CH4, and N2O following tidal inundation and rainfall, and accurately predicting carbon and nitrogen cycling in salt marshes requires considering pulse responses and baseline gas flux rates.
SOIL BIOLOGY & BIOCHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Water Resources
Emilio Grande, Erin C. Seybold, Corianne Tatariw, Ate Visser, Anna Braswell, Bhavna Arora, Francois Birgand, John Haskins, Margaret Zimmer
Summary: Salt marshes can remove terrestrial nutrients before they reach the coast. However, our understanding of the variability of reactive solutes and processes within salt marshes is limited. In this study, we monitored nitrate concentrations in salt marsh porewater at Elkhorn Slough in California, USA, using a high-frequency sampling system. We found that tidal and seasonal hydrologic fluxes control nitrate dynamics and export in coastal environments.
HYDROLOGICAL PROCESSES
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Li-Shan Tan, Zhen-Ming Ge, Shi-Hua Li, Ya-Lei Li, Li-Na Xie, Jian-Wu Tang
Summary: Reclaimed creeks showed significantly increased concentrations of dissolved carbon and nitrogen species, with slightly decreased N2O and NO3--N. They also exhibited higher global warming potential, making them hotspots for greenhouse gas effects compared to natural tidal creeks.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Brian Yellen, Jonathan D. Woodruff, Hannah E. Baranes, Simon E. Engelhart, W. Rockwell Geywer, Noa Randall, Frances R. Griswold
Summary: There is concern about rising sea levels drowning salt marshes faster than they can build elevation. Little attention has been paid to how changes in inlet geometry affect estuarine tides and marshes. A storm in 1898 created a new inlet, shortening one river and lengthening another. Measurements suggest that this caused increased high tides and frequent inundation. Sediment deposition and channel widening allowed the marshes to adjust to the increased inundation and survive rapid sea level rise.
JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-EARTH SURFACE
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Elizabeth B. Watson, Wenley Ferguson, Lena K. Champlin, Jennifer D. White, Nick Ernst, Habibata A. Sylla, Brittany P. Wilburn, Cathleen Wigand
Summary: Coastal marshes in the Northeastern U.S. are converting to open water due to accelerated sea level rise and historic impacts. The installation of tidal channel extension features, or runnels, has shown promise in promoting vegetation recolonization and reducing water levels. However, there is limited data available to support its advisability.
FRONTIERS IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Geography
Carlton P. Anderson, Gregory A. Carter, Margaret C. B. Waldron
Summary: Coastal marshes play a vital role in providing ecosystem services, such as biodiversity, water quality, and erosion protection. This study aimed to determine precise elevation thresholds associated with coastal marshes and their transition zones, known as ecotones, and upland plant communities along Mississippi's Gulf of Mexico coast. The results showed that the transitions from marsh to ecotone and ecotone to upland occurred at approximately 0.40 m and 0.60 m elevation, respectively. Understanding these centimeter-scale dependencies will facilitate the modeling of marsh migration in response to various factors.
ANNALS OF THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF GEOGRAPHERS
(2022)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Alan R. Nelson, Andrea D. Hawkes, Yuki Sawai, Ben P. Horton, Rob C. Witter, Lee-Ann Bradley, Niamh Cahill
Summary: The lithology and microfossil biostratigraphy beneath the marshes of a central Oregon estuary provide evidence that rules out more than 0.5 meters of coseismic coastal subsidence during the past 2000 years. The presence of multiple peat-mud contacts in cores and outcrops, often considered to be related to subsidence during megathrust earthquakes, could not be confirmed to have formed during great earthquakes. The study suggests that only the youngest peat-mud contact is likely associated with the 1700 CE Cascadia earthquake, while the rest may be related to gradual changes in tide levels.
Correction
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Jeannette Xiu Wen Wan, Aron J. Meltzner, Adam D. Switzer, Ke Lin, Xianfeng Wang, Sarah L. Bradley, Danny H. Natawidjaja, Bambang W. Suwargadi, Benjamin P. Horton
Article
Geography, Physical
Joao Moreno, Filipa Moreno, Francisco Fatela, Eduardo Leorri
Summary: The study examined the influence of solar activity on climate and all-cause mortality, finding that peaks in mortality rates were associated with wars, famines, and other factors triggered by climate deterioration. Wavelet transform coherence analysis revealed (multi)decadal oscillations in total solar irradiance and North Atlantic Oscillation, suggesting a potential role of space weather in modulating mortality dynamics.
Article
Geography, Physical
Stoil Chapkanski, Gilles Brocard, Franck Lavigne, Camille Tricot, Ella Meilianda, Nazli Ismail, Jedrzej Majewski, Jean-Philippe Goiran, Dedy Alfian, Patrick Daly, Benjamin Horton, Adam Switzer, Veronique Degroot, Annika Steuer, Bernhard Siemon, Julien Cavero, Clement Virmoux, Darusman Darusman
Summary: River deltas are significantly impacted by demographic growth and land use intensification, leading to rapid migration of coastal areas and threats to urban settlements, coastal farming, and ecosystems. Studying the geomorphological evolution of deltas can be enhanced through the use of overlapping maps and aerial photographs, along with satellite images, to track changes in fluvial and coastal landforms. The evolution of river channels and coastlines in the Aceh River delta over the past 130 years reveals a progressive decrease in sediment supply, resulting in lengthening and narrowing of river channels, landward migration of the shoreline, and narrowing of beach ridges. The 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami caused an instantaneous retreat of the coastline, accelerating the overall trend of retreat. Beach ridges located up-drift of rivers and tidal channel mouths are particularly vulnerable to long-term landward retreat and tsunamigenic erosion.
EARTH SURFACE PROCESSES AND LANDFORMS
(2022)
Editorial Material
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
L. Caesar, G. D. McCarthy, D. J. R. Thornalley, N. Cahill, S. Rahmstorf
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jennifer S. Walker, Robert E. Kopp, Christopher M. Little, Benjamin P. Horton
Summary: Sea-level rise is an important indicator of climate changes. The authors estimate that global sea-level rise emerged by 1863 and find spatial variability of emergence at sites within the North Atlantic.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Geography, Physical
Pedro Matos-Llavona, Lisa L. Ely, Breanyn MacInnes, Tina Dura, Marco A. Cisternas, Joanne Bourgeois, David Bruce, Jessica DePaolis, Alexander Dolcimascolo, Benjamin P. Horton, Daniel Melnick, Alan R. Nelson, Walter Szeliga, Robert L. Wesson
Summary: This study examines the inconsistency between the tsunami deposits at a location in south-central Chile and the historical and geological records of tsunamis. The research suggests that the discrepancy may be attributed to factors such as falling sea levels, coastal geomorphological changes, and a potentially larger tsunami in 1960.
EARTH SURFACE PROCESSES AND LANDFORMS
(2022)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Yvonne Milker, Tina Dura, Benjamin P. Horton
Summary: This study examines the response of foraminifera to rapid changes in relative sea-level (RSL) using observations from the tidal restoration of Ni-les'tun marsh over a six-year period. The findings suggest that foraminifera show a delayed colonization of new habitats following RSL changes, potentially due to their reproductive cycle and limited food availability. However, postdepositional taphonomic processes have minimal influence on the similarity between modern and fossil assemblages.
Article
Geography, Physical
Jason S. Padgett, Simon E. Engelhart, Harvey M. Kelsey, Robert C. Witter, Niamh Cahill
Summary: This study examines fossil foraminiferal assemblages to assess sudden relative sea level changes in northern Humboldt Bay, California. The results reveal significant variability in subsidence stratigraphy across an estuary. The study also highlights the importance of multiple microfossil reconstructions from different marsh sites to account for estimation variability and enhance confidence in vertical coseismic deformation estimates.
JOURNAL OF QUATERNARY SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Niamh Cahill, Jacky Croke, Micheline Campbell, Kate Hughes, John Vitkovsky, Jack Eaton Kilgallen, Andrew Parnell
Summary: We propose a Bayesian model for probabilistic reconstructions of hydroclimatic variability in Queensland Australia using multiple palaeoclimate proxy records. The model combines time-series modeling with inverse prediction to reconstruct the hydroclimate back through time. Case studies for Brisbane and Fitzroy catchments show the probability of extreme hydroclimate behavior beyond the observed instrumental period.
Article
Geography, Physical
Jennifer S. Walker, Tanghua Li, Timothy A. Shaw, Niamh Cahill, Donald C. Barber, Matthew J. Brain, Robert E. Kopp, Adam D. Switzer, Benjamin P. Horton
Summary: Stratigraphic data from salt marshes accurately reconstruct Holocene relative sea-level change and provide necessary constraints to glacial isostatic adjustment models. A new record of Mid- to Late-Holocene sea-level rise is presented using basal peats from a salt marsh in New Jersey. The sea-level index points range from 1211 to 4414 years BP, and the average rate of sea-level rise from 5000 years BP to present is 1.7 +/- 0.1 mm/year. Comparisons with GIA models show the models tend to overestimate sea-level rise in the past 5000 years.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Daniella Hirschfeld, David Behar, Robert J. Nicholls, Niamh Cahill, Thomas James, Benjamin P. Horton, Michelle E. Portman, Rob Bell, Matthew Campo, Miguel Esteban, Bronwyn Goble, Munsur Rahman, Kwasi Appeaning Addo, Faiz Ahmed Chundeli, Monique Aunger, Orly Babitsky, Anders Beal, Ray Boyle, Jiayi Fang, Amir Gohar, Susan Hanson, Saul Karamesines, M. J. Kim, Hilary Lohmann, Kathy McInnes, Nobuo Mimura, Doug Ramsay, Landis Wenger, Hiromune Yokoki
Summary: Including sea-level rise (SLR) projections in coastal adaptation planning is crucial, but only 72% of coastal practitioners currently utilize them, with lower utilization in developing countries. There is no global standard in the use of SLR projections, but countries with histories of adaptation and consistent national support show greater assimilation of SLR projections.
COMMUNICATIONS EARTH & ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Timothy A. Shaw, Tanghua Li, Trina Ng, Niamh Cahill, Stephen Chua, Jedrzej M. Majewski, Yudhishthra Nathan, Gregory G. Garner, Robert E. Kopp, Till J. J. Hanebuth, Adam D. Switzer, Benjamin P. Horton
Summary: Low elevation equatorial and tropical coastal regions are at high risk due to sea level rise. Based on regional geological reconstructions and instrumental records, we provide probability perspectives of future sea level for Singapore. The quantification of sea-level change reveals that during the last deglaciation, sea level rose by approximately 121 m and had an average rate of 15 mm/yr, resulting in a reduction of the paleogeographic landscape by about 2.3 million km(2). Projections suggest that under a moderate emissions scenario, sea level is expected to rise by 0.95 m at a rate of 7.3 mm/yr by 2150, which has only been exceeded during rapid ice mass loss events similar to 14.5 and similar to 9 thousand years ago. However, projections under a high emissions scenario incorporating uncertain ice-sheet processes have no precedent during the last deglaciation.
COMMUNICATIONS EARTH & ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
