Review
Microbiology
Mark S. Calabon, E. B. Gareth Jones, Itthayakorn Promputtha, Kevin D. Hyde
Summary: This review summarizes research efforts on salt marsh fungi, including their geographical distribution and host association. A total of 486 taxa associated with different hosts in salt marsh ecosystems are listed. Ascomycota dominates the taxa from salt marsh ecosystems. Among the host plants, Juncus roemerianus, Phragmites australis, and Spartina alterniflora have been extensively studied for their fungal associates.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jing Li, Lijuan Cui, Manuel Delgado-Baquerizo, Juntao Wang, Yinuo Zhu, Rumiao Wang, Wei Li, Yinru Lei, Xiajie Zhai, Xinsheng Zhao, Brajesh K. Singh
Summary: This study investigated the shifts of microbial communities and soil multifunctionality along a vegetation gradient in a salt marsh ecosystem. The results showed that vegetation type had a significant impact on soil multifunctionality, and there was a positive correlation between fungal richness and soil multifunctionality.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Carol Kim, Lorie W. Staver, Xuan Chen, Ashley Bulseco, Jeffrey C. Cornwell, Sairah Y. Malkin
Summary: We investigated the succession of soil microbial communities in newly constructed salt marshes using 16S rRNA amplicon sequences. The alpha diversity of subsurface horizons recovered to reference levels within 3 years, while alpha diversity in surface soils remained unchanged. Microbial community succession was faster in surface soils and slower in subsurface horizons. We found important taxa driving the trajectories towards reference conditions and observed co-development of sulfide and methane removal metabolisms in marsh soils.
Article
Geography, Physical
Natascia Pannozzo, Nicoletta Leonardi, Iacopo Carnacina, Rachel Smedley
Summary: Research on the impact of storm surges and sea-level rise on salt marsh sediment budgets suggests that storm surges can promote resilience of the salt marsh and estuarine system, while sea-level rise may threaten stability of the marsh.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Pedro Brito, Renata A. Ferreira, Susete Martins-Dias, Olga M. Azevedo, Miguel Caetano, Isabel Cacador
Summary: The study demonstrated that Halimione portulacoides actively responded to higher concentrations of Ce, with the shoots showing decreased antioxidant enzyme activity at 1200 μg/L. High Ce concentrations led to a loss of turgor pressure and oxidative stress in the shoots, posing a threat to the sustainability of halophytes and estuarine marshes.
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
Soil Science
Amanda C. Spivak, Andrew J. Pinsonneault, Christopher Hintz, Jay Brandes, J. Patrick Megonigal
Summary: Roots of salt marsh grasses affect soil building and decomposition through the release of carbon exudates and oxygen. Experimental results suggest that carbon and oxygen availability play a role in soil metabolism and regulation of carbon mineralization.
SOIL BIOLOGY & BIOCHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Soil Science
Kai Xiao, Feng Pan, Isaac R. Santos, Yan Zheng, Chunmiao Zheng, Nengwang Chen, Zeyang Lu, Fenfang Wang, Zhenyang Li, Hailong Li
Summary: In this study, the impact of crab bioturbation on the redox geochemistry of iron, phosphate, and sulfide in coastal wetlands was investigated. The results showed that crab burrowing activities created deep depths for redox reactions and facilitated the coupling of Fe and S, leading to spatial variability in soil geochemistry. These findings highlight the importance of crab burrows in mediating the cycling of key elements in wetland ecosystems.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Birch Maxwell Lazo-Murphy, Samantha Larson, Sydney Staines, Heather Bruck, Julianne McHenry, Annie Bourbonnais, Xuefeng Peng
Summary: This study isolated four fungi capable of growth under sulfidic conditions from salt marsh sediments and measured their isotopomer signatures of N2O production using isotope ratio mass spectrometry.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Danielle C. Perry, Wenley Ferguson, Carol S. Thornber
Summary: Sea level rise in New England is accelerating faster than the global average, posing a threat to salt marshes. This study examines the use of runnels as a climate adaptation strategy to enhance drainage in drowning marshes and finds positive impacts on soil properties and vegetation composition, as well as an increase in carbon dioxide uptake.
RESTORATION ECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Joseph E. Carrara, Christopher A. Walter, Zachary B. Freedman, Ashley N. Hostetler, Jennifer S. Hawkins, Ivan J. Fernandez, Edward R. Brzostek
Summary: As nitrogen deposition increases, forest soils dominated by trees that associate with ectomycorrhizal fungi store more carbon compared to those dominated by trees associating with arbuscular mycorrhizae. This difference is likely due to unique nutrient cycling responses to nitrogen between the two types of mycorrhizal soils.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Chiranjeev Kumawat, Ajay Kumar, Jagdish Parshad, Shyam Sunder Sharma, Abhik Patra, Prerna Dogra, Govind Kumar Yadav, Sunil Kumar Dadhich, Rajhans Verma, Girdhari Lal Kumawat
Summary: Salinization of soil reduces plant growth and development, posing a threat to food security as farmland cultivation decreases. Salt-affected soils are widespread globally, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions. The total area of salt-affected soil worldwide is 1 billion ha, with India alone having 6.74 million ha(-1) of salt-stressed land, including saline and alkali soils. Specific approaches are needed for sustainable crop production on salt-stressed soils, with bioremediation being an eco-friendly option. Microorganisms, such as halophilic bacteria and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, have been found effective for promoting plant growth under salt-stress conditions. These microbial-mediated approaches can help mitigate salt-affected soil and increase crop productivity.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Nicole Maher, Adam Starke
Summary: Salt marsh habitat loss and conversion in the marine-coastal district of New York are causing salt marshes to fall behind in keeping up with sea level rise. A study conducted in Long Island, NY found that vertical elevation growth within the rootzone is insufficient, leading to the need for optimizing conditions for native salt marsh plants and organic matter preservation. Understanding the full suite of processes contributing to elevation changes is crucial for managing this valuable resource for the future.
ESTUARIES AND COASTS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Micael F. M. Goncalves, Ana Paco, Luis F. Escada, Manuela S. F. Albuquerque, Carlos A. Pinto, Jorge A. Saraiva, Ana Sofia Duarte, Teresa A. P. Rocha-Santos, Ana Cristina Esteves, Artur Alves
Summary: There is a pressing need for new substances in health sciences, and marine fungi are potential sources of compounds with antimicrobial, antioxidant, and cytotoxic activities. In Portugal, studies on marine fungi are limited, but extracts from Portuguese marine fungi have shown promising results in terms of antimicrobial, antioxidant, and cytotoxic activities. Different marine fungi species exhibit diverse bioactivity profiles against various pathogens, highlighting their potential as sources of novel compounds for pharmaceutical applications.
APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Guodong Wang, Ming Wang, Zhenshan Xue, Zhibin Ren, Ming Jiang, Marinus Otte
Summary: This study evaluated the role of vegetation in regulating soil biogeochemistry in coastal salt marshes. The results showed that different wetland types had varying soil element concentrations and organic matter content, with organic matter content explaining the most variance. Furthermore, significant differences in element concentrations were found between Phragmites-dominated and Suaeda-dominated sites, even though their organic matter content did not differ significantly.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Linjing Ren, Kai Jensen, Philipp Porada, Peter Mueller
Summary: Research has shown that biotic interactions play a crucial role in regulating carbon cycling, particularly in blue carbon ecosystems. These interactions between plants, animals, and microbiota have strong effects on carbon fluxes across different spatial scales. Climate change-sensitive abiotic factors also influence the strength of biotic interactions on carbon cycling.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Dirk Granse, Juergen Titschack, Malika Ainouche, Kai Jensen, Ketil Koop-Jakobsen
Summary: The study investigated the root system structures of polyploid Spartina taxa and found that the root-aerenchyma can facilitate oxygen transport, showing clear responses to habitat conditions based on different ploidy levels.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Forestry
Anastasia Leonova, Adrian Heger, Lizeth K. Vasconez Navas, Kai Jensen, Christoph Reisdorff
Summary: This study found that young trees had significantly higher fine root mortality during the summer drought in 2018, leading to low reforestation success in floodplains. The response of fine root dynamics differed between oak and elm trees, which may be attributed to differences in root distribution and hydraulic redistribution ability.
TREES-STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION
(2022)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Julia Bass, Dirk Granse, Ingo Hache, Kai Jensen, Volker Karius, Vanessa Minden, Martin Stock, Sigrid Suchrow, Michael Kleyer
Summary: The current climate crisis is leading to sea level rise, which poses a threat to coastal ecosystems. Salt marshes can only persist if their vertical accretion exceeds the rate of sea level rise. Plant functional traits, particularly leaf traits, have an impact on vertical accretion in salt marshes.
ESTUARINE COASTAL AND SHELF SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Dennis Schulze, Kai Jensen, Stefanie Nolte
Summary: The study investigates the effects of small-scale patterns of vegetation on suspended sediment concentration and sediment deposition. The results show that there is no effect of vegetation on water flow at a spatial scale of 4 m(2). Additionally, adjacent mown or control subplots have no influence on sediment deposition on the subsequent mown or control subplots.
ESTUARINE COASTAL AND SHELF SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Svenja Reents, Iris Moeller, Ben R. Evans, Ken Schoutens, Kai Jensen, Maike Paul, Tjeerd J. Bouma, Stijn Temmerman, Jennifer Lustig, Matthias Kudella, Stefanie Nolte
Summary: Coastal protection provided by tidal wetland vegetation is crucial in defending coastlines against storm surges. This study examines how extreme wave events affect salt-marsh vegetation and whether plant properties influence plant resistance. The results reveal that salt-marsh vegetation is more robust than expected, with pioneer species showing higher resistance. The height of the vegetation canopy and the stiffness of stems also play a role in defining plant resistance.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Limnology
Eva Julia Marie Ostertag, Kai Jensen, Viktoria Unger, Stefanie Nolte
Summary: This study investigates the effects of active soil and passive air warming on seedling emergence and survival in salt marshes. The results show that warming has a significant influence on Shannon diversity, but no significant effects on seedling number and survival. However, there are trends that differ between zones, with seedling numbers slightly higher in the warming treatments in the pioneer zone and decreased in the high marsh. Median survival also differs significantly between species.
LIMNOLOGY AND OCEANOGRAPHY
(2023)
Article
Limnology
Erik S. Yando, Scott F. Jones, W. Ryan James, Denise D. Colombano, Diana I. Montemayor, Stefanie Nolte, Jacqueline L. Raw, Shelby L. Ziegler, Luzhen Chen, Daniele Daffonchio, Marco Fusi, Kerrylee Rogers, Liudmila Sergienko
Summary: Salt marshes are important linkages between terrestrial and marine ecosystems, but the lack of a unifying conceptual framework has affected effective comparisons across different salt marshes. To address this issue, an integrative salt marsh conceptual framework has been developed, providing guidance on applying it to different locations. This framework allows for appropriate comparison by accounting for unique spatial settings in each salt marsh, and it is expected to enhance our understanding of salt marsh function.
LIMNOLOGY AND OCEANOGRAPHY LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Hao Tang, Stefanie Nolte, Kai Jensen, Roy Rich, Julian Mittmann-Goetsch, Peter Mueller
Summary: Salt marshes have a vital role in the carbon cycle by storing a significant amount of organic carbon in their soils. This study examined the response of belowground litter breakdown to varying temperatures across marsh elevations and soil profiles. The research found that warming increased the initial decomposition rate of labile plant materials consistently across the soil profile and flooding gradient. However, the effects on litter stabilization were less consistent and depended on soil conditions.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Heather Alyson Shupe, Kai Jensen, Kristin Ludewig
Summary: Destructively sampling old Pedunculate oak trees to estimate carbon stocks and sequestration rates would harm the preservation of vulnerable floodplain forests. Instead, a nondestructive method using a 1-parameter equation based on diameter at breast height has been adapted to estimate carbon stocks and annual changes in carbon stock for individual trees, including above and below-ground carbon stocks. Additionally, there is a strong linear relationship between carbon sequestration rate and basal area increment.
Article
Forestry
Heather Alyson Shupe, Kai Jensen, Jens Oldeland, Kristin Ludewig
Summary: Trees can help reduce atmospheric CO2 concentrations, but the rate at which they do so varies. This study examines the carbon sequestration rate of Pedunculate oak trees in different floodplain environments and analyzes the effects of extreme events on this rate. The results show that floodplains are suitable areas for reforestation because dominant trees in these areas have a high carbon sequestration rate, even under severe conditions.
TREES FORESTS AND PEOPLE
(2022)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Suman Halder, Susanne K. M. Arens, Kai Jensen, Tais W. Dahl, Philipp Porada
Summary: Lycopsids, a distinct lineage of vascular plants, have evolved from tiny herbaceous plants to forest-like structures, enriching soil carbon pool and promoting soil microbial activity. They affect soil CO2, hydrology, and silicate weathering. A model, LYCOm, was developed to estimate the impacts of lycopsids on carbon uptake, weathering rates, and net primary production, highlighting their importance at the local scale. The study establishes a basis for assessing the biotic enhancement of weathering by lycopsids at the global scale and geological past, providing a novel approach for estimating their impacts on biogeochemistry and climate.
GEOSCIENTIFIC MODEL DEVELOPMENT
(2022)