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
Environmental Sciences
Ya-Nan Tang, Jun Ma, Jing-Xian Xu, Wan-Ben Wu, Yuan-Chen Wang, Hai-Qiang Guo
Summary: This study mapped the spatial distributions of salt marsh communities and their aboveground biomass (AGB) using image and LiDAR data acquired by a UAV. The results showed that the AGB estimation model based on UAV-LiDAR data and a random forest algorithm had high accuracy.
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Julia D. S. Friese, Axel Temming, Andreas Daenhardt
Summary: Inundated salt marshes are valued as nekton habitat due to their low predator and high prey abundance. Habitat quality is dependent on abiotic properties, including water temperature, oxygen concentration, flow velocity, turbidity, and sediment grain size. Despite seasonal variations, salt-marsh creeks provide relatively stable temperature and oxygen conditions, sheltered by vegetation and characterized by low flow velocities and fine sediments. Turbidity plays a significant role in nekton species occurrence, while temperature has a minor impact. Small nekton species dominate in salt-marsh creeks due to their ability to cope with extreme temperatures and benefit from reduced currents.
ESTUARINE COASTAL AND SHELF SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Xiaoshuai He, William G. Wallace, John R. Reinfelder
Summary: Grass shrimp have been identified as a potential factor in the transfer of methylmercury from salt marsh sediments to young-of-the-year (YOY) fish. The concentrations of methylmercury in grass shrimp were found to be significantly correlated with sediment levels. Bioenergetic models have shown that grass shrimp play a major role in the accumulation of methylmercury in YOY striped bass and summer flounder. Direct accumulation of methylmercury from grass shrimp to YOY fish increases with higher levels of methylmercury in both grass shrimp and sediment. However, in heavily contaminated salt marshes, indirect accumulation of methylmercury from grass shrimp by YOY summer flounder is predicted to plateau due to a lower proportion of grass shrimp in the diet.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Geography, Physical
Zoe Hughes, Sarah Farron, Duncan Fitzgerald
Summary: Expansion of drainage networks through the headward erosion of tidal creeks is a response of salt marshes to sea-level rise. This response reduces the potential for submergence and marsh platform loss.
EARTH SURFACE PROCESSES AND LANDFORMS
(2023)
Article
Oceanography
Collin Ortals, Orlando Cordero, Arnoldo Valle-Levinson, Christine Angelini
Summary: Intertidal creeks play a significant role in connecting salt marshes and influencing the spatial heterogeneity in plant and animal distributions. The study reveals that the effective drag in these creeks is significantly higher than bed drag, leading to asymmetrical drag between tidal flood and ebb phases. Pressure gradient and friction dominate creek momentum balance, highlighting potential impacts on eco-geospatial evolution of salt marshes.
JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-OCEANS
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Kaitlin M. Glover, Matthew E. Kimball, Bruce W. Pfirrmann, Mary Margaret Pelton, Robert P. Dunn
Summary: Designation of essential fish habitat requires understanding species-specific vital rates across habitats and regions. Brown shrimp is an economically important species occurring in various habitats across the southeastern US, exhibiting variation in vital rates. This study estimated growth rates of juvenile brown shrimp in intertidal creek habitat and found that they are similar to those in salt marsh habitats in northern GoM estuaries.
ESTUARIES AND COASTS
(2023)
Article
Limnology
Lucheng Zhan, Pei Xin, Jiansheng Chen, Xiaogang Chen, Ling Li
Summary: This study reveals the presence of numerous highly saline artesian springs in a salt marsh system in East China. Multiple methods were used to determine the origin and trajectory of these springs, suggesting that they represent a long-term redistribution process of ancient marine water trapped in the unconfined aquifer. This new pattern of groundwater flow has significant implications for studies on submarine groundwater discharge in similar coastal systems.
LIMNOLOGY AND OCEANOGRAPHY LETTERS
(2023)
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
Jessica L. Valenti, Thomas M. Grothues, Kenneth W. Able
Summary: This study conducted a comprehensive comparison of fish species composition, abundance, diversity, richness, and fish lengths in subtidal salt marsh creek, sand, and seagrass habitats within a temperate lagoonal estuary. The results showed that fish abundance, diversity, and richness were often higher in creek mouth and seagrass habitats than in sand habitat, and there were some differences in species composition between habitats. The study emphasized the significance of marsh creeks in shaping the subtidal habitat mosaic of temperate lagoonal estuaries.
ESTUARIES AND COASTS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Xin Huang, Hao Liu, Jianlin Chen, Liangying Gui, Liangliang Huang
Summary: This study investigated the seasonal variations of fish assemblages and environmental variables in the Nanliu River Estuary, China, and found significant differences in fish assemblages across seasons. Different ecological types of fish utilized mangroves in different ways.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Sanghamitra Basu, Pranab Gogoi, Subarna Bhattacharyya, Lohith K. Kumar, Sanjoy Kumar Das, Basanta Kumar Das
Summary: The present study provides a comprehensive understanding of the dynamics of zooplankton community in relation to physical and chemical variables in the tidal creeks of the Indian Sundarbans estuarine system. The findings reveal significant variations in water parameters among seasons, with a rich diversity of zooplankton species. The study also highlights the temporal shift in species abundance and the indirect effect of certain variables on zooplankton distribution.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Sinead M. Crotty, Daniele Pinton, Alberto Canestrelli, Hallie S. Fischman, Collin Ortals, Nicholas R. Dahl, Sydney Williams, Tjeerd J. Bouma, Christine Angelini
Summary: This study reveals that the mussel, Geukensia demissa, has a significant effect on saltmarsh accretion in the southeastern US, with deposition being 2.8-10.7 times higher on mussel aggregations compared to other marsh locations. The study also predicts that mussels drive substantial changes to the magnitude and spatial patterning of accretion at marsh domain scales. Moreover, a manipulative experiment involving over 200,000 mussels shows that the faunal engineer has a much larger impact on relative marsh accretion rates than expected. Therefore, there is a critical need for empirical, experimental, and modeling work to understand the importance of faunal engineers in modifying the persistence of coastal ecosystems globally.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Jolien Buyse, Kris Hostens, Steven Degraer, Annelies De Backer
Summary: The study of environmental monitoring data in the Belgian part of the North Sea over the past 30 years has revealed that climate-related factors have an impact on fish densities and species trends. Sea surface temperature and the Atlantic multidecadal oscillation winter index were found to be related to fish densities in coastal assemblages, while the North-Atlantic Oscillation index was related to fish densities in an offshore assemblage. The densities of warm water species from the Lusitanean region increased, positively correlated with sea surface temperature and the winter index, indicating a northward expansion of their habitat range. In contrast, cold water species from the Boreal region showed a negative correlation with sea surface temperature and the winter index, with stable densities between 1985 and 2000 followed by a decrease in the last decade. The study also observed a significant decrease in the length of the commercially important plaice species, likely influenced by a combination of climate and fishing-induced selection. This study highlights the importance of environmental and climate-related drivers in understanding the changes in marine ecosystems.
ESTUARINE COASTAL AND SHELF SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Shaun Fraser, James J. Waggitt
Summary: Persistent knowledge gaps regarding the ecological context and potential environmental impacts of marine renewable energy (MRE) devices contribute to increased costs and uncertainties in MRE projects globally. This study proposes a proportional approach utilizing shore-based observation and baited fish trap methods to provide practical and cost-effective methods for gathering site-specific information on predator behavior and associated prey assemblages in the tidal stream energy (TSE) sector. The results from the trial conducted in tidal channel environments in Shetland demonstrate the practical application of this approach. The combined method has the potential to reduce costs and uncertainties in environmental impact assessment (EIA) and support responsible development of the MRE industry.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)