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Pétillon J, McKinley E, Alexander M, Adams JB, Angelini C, Balke T, Griffin JN, Bouma T, Hacker S, He Q, Hensel MJS, Ibáñez C, Macreadie PI, Martino S, Sharps E, Ballinger R, de Battisti D, Beaumont N, Burdon D, Daleo P, D'Alpaos A, Duggan-Edwards M, Garbutt A, Jenkins S, Ladd CJT, Lewis H, Mariotti G, McDermott O, Mills R, Möller I, Nolte S, Pagès JF, Silliman B, Zhang L, Skov MW. Top ten priorities for global saltmarsh restoration, conservation and ecosystem service research. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 898:165544. [PMID: 37453706 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.165544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2023] [Revised: 07/11/2023] [Accepted: 07/12/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
Coastal saltmarshes provide globally important ecosystem services including 'blue carbon' sequestration, flood protection, pollutant remediation, habitat provision and cultural value. Large portions of marshes have been lost or fragmented as a result of land reclamation, embankment construction, and pollution. Sea level rise threatens marsh survival by blocking landward migration where coastlines have been developed. Research-informed saltmarsh conservation and restoration efforts are helping to prevent further loss, yet significant knowledge gaps remain. Using a mixed methods approach, this paper identifies ten research priorities through an online questionnaire and a residential workshop attended by an international, multi-disciplinary network of 35 saltmarsh experts spanning natural, physical and social sciences across research, policy, and practitioner sectors. Priorities have been grouped under four thematic areas of research: Saltmarsh Area Extent, Change and Restoration Potential (including past, present, global variation), Spatio-social contexts of Ecosystem Service delivery (e.g. influences of environmental context, climate change, and stakeholder groups on service provisioning), Patterns and Processes in saltmarsh functioning (global drivers of saltmarsh ecosystem structure/function) and Management and Policy Needs (how management varies contextually; challenges/opportunities for management). Although not intended to be exhaustive, the challenges, opportunities, and strategies for addressing each research priority examined here, providing a blueprint of the work that needs to be done to protect saltmarshes for future generations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julien Pétillon
- UMR CNRS ECOBIO, University of Rennes, 35042 Rennes, France; Institute for Coastal and Marine Research, Department of Botany, Nelson Mandela University, Summerstrand Campus, Gqeberha 6031, South Africa.
| | - Emma McKinley
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Cardiff University, Park Place, Cardiff CF10 3AT, UK
| | - Meghan Alexander
- School of Geography, University of Nottingham, University Park Campus, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK
| | - Janine B Adams
- Institute for Coastal and Marine Research, Department of Botany, Nelson Mandela University, Summerstrand Campus, Gqeberha 6031, South Africa
| | - Christine Angelini
- Environmental School for Sustainable Infrastructure and the Environment, University of Florida, Weil Hall 365, 1949 Stadium Road, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Thorsten Balke
- School of Geographical and Earth Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK
| | - John N Griffin
- Department of Biosciences, Swansea University, Singleton Park, Swansea SA2 8PP, UK
| | - Tjeerd Bouma
- Department of Estuarine and Delta Systems, Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ), Yerseke, the Netherlands; Faculty of Geosciences, Department of Physical Geography, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands; Building with Nature group, HZ University of Applied Sciences, Vlissingen, the Netherlands
| | - Sally Hacker
- Department of Integrative Biology, 3029 Cordley Hall, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA
| | - Qiang He
- Duke University Marine Lab, 135 Duke Marine Lab Road, Beaufort, NC 28516, USA
| | - Marc J S Hensel
- Department of Environmental Biology, University of Massachusetts, 100 Morrissey Blvd., Boston, MA 02125, USA
| | - Carles Ibáñez
- Climate Change Department, Area of Sustainability, Eurecat - Technological Centre of Catalonia, 43870 Amposta, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Peter I Macreadie
- Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, 221 Burwood Highway, Burwood, Victoria 3125, Australia
| | | | - Elwyn Sharps
- School of Geography, University of Nottingham, University Park Campus, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK; RSPB Centre for Conservation Science, RSPB, The Lodge, Sandy, Bedfordshire SG19 2DL, UK; Natural Resources Wales, TY Cambria, Newport Road, Cardiff, Wales, UK
| | - Rhoda Ballinger
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Cardiff University, Park Place, Cardiff CF10 3AT, UK
| | - Davide de Battisti
- Chioggia Hydrobiological Station "Umberto D'Ancona", Department of Biology, University of Padova, Palazzo Grassi, Calle Grassi Naccari 1060, 30015 Chioggia, Ve, Italy
| | - Nicola Beaumont
- Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Prospect Place, Plymouth PL1 3DH, UK
| | - Daryl Burdon
- Daryl Burdon Ltd., Marine Research, Teaching and Consultancy, Willerby HU10 6LL, UK
| | - Pedro Daleo
- Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras (IIMyC), UNMDP - CONICET, CC 1260 Correo Central, B7600WAG Mar del Plata, Argentina
| | - Andrea D'Alpaos
- Department of Geosciences, University of Padova, via G. Gradenigo 6, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | | | - Angus Garbutt
- Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (CEH), Environment Centre Wales, Deiniol Rd, Bangor LL57 2UW, UK
| | - Stuart Jenkins
- School of Ocean Sciences, Bangor University, Menai Bridge, Anglesey LL59 5AB, UK
| | - Cai J T Ladd
- School of Geographical and Earth Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK
| | - Heather Lewis
- Natural Resources Wales, TY Cambria, Newport Road, Cardiff, Wales, UK
| | - Giulio Mariotti
- Department of Oceanography and Coastal Sciences, 1002-Q Energy, Coast and Environment Building, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA
| | - Osgur McDermott
- World Conservation Monitoring Centre (WCMC), UN-Environment, 219 Huntingdon Rd, Cambridge CB3 0DL, UK
| | - Rachael Mills
- Natural England, Foss House, Kings Pool, 1-2 Peasholme Green, York YO1 7PX, UK
| | - Iris Möller
- Department of Geography, University of Cambridge, Downing Place, Cambridge CB2 3EN, UK
| | - Stefanie Nolte
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich NR47TJ, UK; Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, Lowestoft NR33 0HT, UK
| | - Jordi F Pagès
- School of Geography, University of Nottingham, University Park Campus, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK
| | - Brian Silliman
- Department of Integrative Biology, 3029 Cordley Hall, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA
| | - Liquan Zhang
- State Key Lab. of Estuarine and Coastal Research (SKLEC), East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Martin W Skov
- School of Ocean Sciences, Bangor University, Menai Bridge, Anglesey LL59 5AB, UK
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Valdez SR, Daleo P, DeLaMater DS, Silliman BR. Variable responses to top-down and bottom-up control on multiple traits in the foundational plant, Spartina alterniflora. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0286327. [PMID: 37228166 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0286327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2023] [Accepted: 05/15/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023] Open
Abstract
While the effects of top-down and bottom-up forces on aboveground plant growth have been extensively examined, less is known about the relative impacts of these factors on other aspects of plant life history. In a fully-factorial, field experiment in a salt marsh in Virginia, USA, we manipulated grazing intensity (top-down) and nutrient availability (bottom-up) and measured the response in a suite of traits for smooth cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora). The data presented within this manuscript are unpublished, original data that were collected from the same experiment presented in Silliman and Zieman 2001. Three categories of traits and characteristics were measured: belowground characteristics, litter production, and reproduction, encompassing nine total responses. Of the nine response variables measured, eight were affected by treatments. Six response variables showed main effects of grazing and/ or fertilization, while three showed interactive effects. In general, fertilization led to increased cordgrass belowground biomass and reproduction, the former of which conflicts with predictions based on resource competition theory. Higher grazing intensity had negative impacts on both belowground biomass and reproduction. This result contrasts with past studies in this system that concluded grazer impacts are likely relegated to aboveground plant growth. In addition, grazers and fertilization interacted to alter litter production so that litter production disproportionately increased with fertilization when grazers were present. Our results revealed both predicted and unexpected effects of grazing and nutrient availability on understudied traits in a foundational plant and that these results were not fully predictable from understanding the impacts on aboveground biomass alone. Since these diverse traits link to diverse ecosystem functions, such as carbon burial, nutrient cycling, and ecosystem expansion, developing future studies to explore multiple trait responses and synthesizing the ecological knowledge on top-down and bottom-up forces with trait-based methodologies may provide a promising path forward in predicting variability in ecosystem function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie R Valdez
- Division of Marine Science and Conservation, Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Beaufort, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Pedro Daleo
- Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras (IIMyC), CONICET - UNMDP, Mar del Plata, Argentina
| | - David S DeLaMater
- Nicholas School of the Environment, University Program In Ecology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Brian R Silliman
- Division of Marine Science and Conservation, Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Beaufort, North Carolina, United States of America
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Marin‐Diaz B, Govers LL, van der Wal D, Olff H, Bouma TJ. The importance of marshes providing soil stabilization to resist fast-flow erosion in case of a dike breach. ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS : A PUBLICATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2022; 32:e2622. [PMID: 35389532 PMCID: PMC9541637 DOI: 10.1002/eap.2622] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2021] [Revised: 10/05/2021] [Accepted: 01/07/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Salt marshes provide valuable ecosystem services including coastal protection by reducing wave loading on dikes and seawalls. If the topsoil is erosion resistant to fast-flowing water, it may also reduce breach depth if a dike fails. In this experiment, we quantified the topsoil erosion resistance from marshes and bare tidal flats with different soil types to understand the extent to which they can help reduce breach depth. Intact soil samples were collected from 11 locations in the Netherlands at different tidal elevations and then exposed for 3 h to 2.3 m/s currents. To the samples that remained stable after flow exposure, an artificial crack was made to test their stability following soil disturbance. All samples from the tidal flats were completely eroded, regardless of sediment type. In contrast, all samples from well-established marsh plateaus were stable as long as no disturbances were made, including those with sandy subsoils. After creating artificial cracks, samples with a thin cohesive top layer on top of sandy subsoil collapsed, while marshes with silty subsoils remained stable. Pioneer marshes on sandy substrate without a cohesive top layer were the only vegetated soils that completely eroded. The lower erosion of marshes with either sandy or silty soils compared to bare tidal flats was best explained by the presence of a top layer with belowground biomass, high organic content, high water content, and low bulk density. When analyzing the erodibility of marshes only, fine root density was the best predictor of erosion resistance. This study demonstrates the importance of preserving, restoring, or creating salt marshes, to obtain a topsoil that is erosion resistant under fast-flowing water, which helps reduce breach dimensions if a dike fails. The probability of topsoil erosion in established marshes with sandy subsoil is higher than in silty marshes. A silty layer of cohesive sediment on top of the sand provides extra erosion resistance as long as it does not break. Pioneer marshes that have not developed a cohesive top layer are erosion sensitive, especially in sandy soils. For future marsh creations, using fine-grained sediments or a mixture of sand with silt or clay is recommended.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beatriz Marin‐Diaz
- Department of Estuarine and Delta systemsNIOZ Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea ResearchYersekeThe Netherlands
- Conservation Ecology Group, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life SciencesUniversity of GroningenGroningenThe Netherlands
| | - Laura L. Govers
- Conservation Ecology Group, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life SciencesUniversity of GroningenGroningenThe Netherlands
- Department of Coastal SystemsNIOZ Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea ResearchDen BurgThe Netherlands
| | - Daphne van der Wal
- Department of Estuarine and Delta systemsNIOZ Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea ResearchYersekeThe Netherlands
- Faculty of Geo‐Information Science and Earth Observation (ITC)University of TwenteEnschedeThe Netherlands
| | - Han Olff
- Conservation Ecology Group, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life SciencesUniversity of GroningenGroningenThe Netherlands
| | - Tjeerd J. Bouma
- Department of Estuarine and Delta systemsNIOZ Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea ResearchYersekeThe Netherlands
- Conservation Ecology Group, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life SciencesUniversity of GroningenGroningenThe Netherlands
- Department of Physical Geography, Faculty of GeosciencesUtrecht UniversityUtrechtThe Netherlands
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Huang H, Xu C, Liu Q. ‘Social distancing’ between plants may amplify coastal restoration at early stage. J Appl Ecol 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.14044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Hao Huang
- School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences East China Normal University Shanghai P.R. China
| | - Chi Xu
- School of Life Sciences Nanjing University Nanjing P.R. China
| | - Quan‐Xing Liu
- School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences East China Normal University Shanghai P.R. China
- State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research and Center for Global Change and Ecological Forecasting East China Normal University Shanghai P.R. China
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5
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Marin‐Diaz B, Govers LL, Wal D, Olff H, Bouma TJ. How grazing management can maximize erosion resistance of salt marshes. J Appl Ecol 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.13888] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Beatriz Marin‐Diaz
- Department of Estuarine and Delta Systems NIOZ Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research Yerseke The Netherlands
- Conservation Ecology Group Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences University of Groningen Groningen The Netherlands
| | - Laura L. Govers
- Conservation Ecology Group Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences University of Groningen Groningen The Netherlands
- Department of Coastal Systems NIOZ Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research Den Burg The Netherlands
| | - Daphne Wal
- Department of Estuarine and Delta Systems NIOZ Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research Yerseke The Netherlands
- Faculty of Geo‐Information Science and Earth Observation (ITC) University of Twente Enschede The Netherlands
| | - Han Olff
- Conservation Ecology Group Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences University of Groningen Groningen The Netherlands
| | - Tjeerd J. Bouma
- Department of Estuarine and Delta Systems NIOZ Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research Yerseke The Netherlands
- Conservation Ecology Group Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences University of Groningen Groningen The Netherlands
- Department of Physical Geography Faculty of Geosciences Utrecht University Utrecht The Netherlands
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6
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Seo JY, Choi SM, Ha HK. Assessment of potential impact of invasive vegetation on cohesive sediment erodibility in intertidal flats. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 766:144493. [PMID: 33418259 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.144493] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2020] [Revised: 11/29/2020] [Accepted: 12/09/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
In-situ erodibility experiments were conducted to reveal the effects of vegetation on sediment stability in an intertidal flat. Spartina alterniflora (Spartina), one of the most widespread types of vegetation, led to complexity in sediment erodibility. The long stems and leaves of Spartina, which grew to approximately 156 cm from May to November 2019, were effective in trapping suspended sediments in the water columns, eventually promoting the deposition of approximately 2.3 cm within its communities. Sediments eroded by increasing bed shear stress (τb) mainly originated from sediments that were adhered to the stems and leaves of Spartina (May: 76%; November: 54%). They protected subsequent bed erosion against τb. However, this was only an apparent effect because the Spartina caused the erosion rate (E) to stagnate by suppressing the outflow of eroded mass from the bed. As the protective effect of the stems was removed, the uppermost sediment layers in the Spartina communities became more vulnerable to erosion by τb, with the initial erosion thresholds lowered to 0.1 Pa (May) and 0.05 Pa (November). Despite continuous sedimentation by sediment trapping, the sediment bed in Spartina communities had not been consolidated under repeated tidal inundation, showing no distinct development of the critical shear stress for erosion. Thus, the differences in E between cases with or without Spartina's stems reached approximately 1.22 × 10-6 (May) and 1.83 × 10-6 kg m-2 s-1 (November) at τb = 0.6 Pa. Results suggest that the increase in thickness of erodible layers mainly contributed more than sediment volume fraction to the enhancement of erosion potential with τb. This study highlights the necessity to assess both positive and negative effects of Spartina on the stability of sediment beds in intertidal flats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Young Seo
- Department of Ocean Sciences, Inha University, Incheon 22212, Republic of Korea
| | - Sun Min Choi
- Department of Ocean Sciences, Inha University, Incheon 22212, Republic of Korea
| | - Ho Kyung Ha
- Department of Ocean Sciences, Inha University, Incheon 22212, Republic of Korea.
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7
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Paduani M. Microplastics as novel sedimentary particles in coastal wetlands: A review. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2020; 161:111739. [PMID: 33091840 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2020.111739] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2020] [Revised: 10/01/2020] [Accepted: 10/02/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Coastal wetlands are often neglected in marine debris studies. Interactions of plastics with natural particles are also largely understudied across all ecosystems but are becoming the focus of an emerging field on plastic cycling. Some studies have investigated short-term interactions, and some models predict short turnover times at the sediment surface on open shorelines. However, buried plastics may be retained longer in wetlands where accretion is often high, and some studies suggest their use as historical markers. The ubiquity, persistence, and behavior of plastic particles within wetlands warrants their consideration as novel sedimentary particles. Viewing plastics in this context will allow land managers to better predict how these vulnerable systems respond to increasing inputs of plastic pollution. This review evaluates debris distributions in coastal wetland sediments, heteroaggregation, plastic degradation within sediments, and persistence of plastic in the sedimentary record to highlight knowledge gaps and opportunities in this rapidly developing field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melinda Paduani
- Institute of Environment, Department of Earth and Environment, Florida International University, 11200 SW 8th St, Miami, FL 33199, USA.
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Temmink RJM, Christianen MJA, Fivash GS, Angelini C, Boström C, Didderen K, Engel SM, Esteban N, Gaeckle JL, Gagnon K, Govers LL, Infantes E, van Katwijk MM, Kipson S, Lamers LPM, Lengkeek W, Silliman BR, van Tussenbroek BI, Unsworth RKF, Yaakub SM, Bouma TJ, van der Heide T. Mimicry of emergent traits amplifies coastal restoration success. Nat Commun 2020; 11:3668. [PMID: 32699271 PMCID: PMC7376209 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-17438-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2019] [Accepted: 06/29/2020] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Restoration is becoming a vital tool to counteract coastal ecosystem degradation. Modifying transplant designs of habitat-forming organisms from dispersed to clumped can amplify coastal restoration yields as it generates self-facilitation from emergent traits, i.e. traits not expressed by individuals or small clones, but that emerge in clumped individuals or large clones. Here, we advance restoration science by mimicking key emergent traits that locally suppress physical stress using biodegradable establishment structures. Experiments across (sub)tropical and temperate seagrass and salt marsh systems demonstrate greatly enhanced yields when individuals are transplanted within structures mimicking emergent traits that suppress waves or sediment mobility. Specifically, belowground mimics of dense root mats most facilitate seagrasses via sediment stabilization, while mimics of aboveground plant structures most facilitate marsh grasses by reducing stem movement. Mimicking key emergent traits may allow upscaling of restoration in many ecosystems that depend on self-facilitation for persistence, by constraining biological material requirements and implementation costs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ralph J M Temmink
- Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology, Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
| | - Marjolijn J A Christianen
- Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology, Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Wageningen University & Research, Aquatic Ecology and Water Quality Management Group, P.O. Box 47, 6700 AA, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Gregory S Fivash
- Department of Estuarine and Delta Systems, Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research and Utrecht University, 4401 NT, Yerseke, The Netherlands
| | - Christine Angelini
- Department of Environmental Engineering Sciences, Engineering School for Sustainable Infrastructure and Environment, University of Florida, PO Box 116580, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA
| | - Christoffer Boström
- Environmental and Marine Biology, Åbo Akademi University, Tykistökatu 6, 20520, Turku, Finland
| | - Karin Didderen
- Bureau Waardenburg, Varkensmarkt 9, 4101 CK, 4100 AJ, Culemborg, The Netherlands
| | | | - Nicole Esteban
- Bioscience Department, Swansea University, Singleton Park, Swansea, Wales, SA2 8PP, UK
| | - Jeffrey L Gaeckle
- Washington State Department of Natural Resources, Olympia, WA, 98504, USA
| | - Karine Gagnon
- Environmental and Marine Biology, Åbo Akademi University, Tykistökatu 6, 20520, Turku, Finland
| | - Laura L Govers
- Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology, Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Conservation Ecology Group, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, 9700 CC, Groningen, The Netherlands
- Department Coastal Systems, Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research and Utrecht University, 1790 AB, Den Burg, The Netherlands
| | - Eduardo Infantes
- Department of Marine Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Kristineberg Marine Research Station, Kristineberg 566, 45178, Fiskebäckskil, Sweden
| | - Marieke M van Katwijk
- Department of Environmental Science, Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Silvija Kipson
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Rooseveltov trg 6, 10000, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Leon P M Lamers
- Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology, Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- B-WARE Research Centre, Toernooiveld 1, 6525 ED, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Wouter Lengkeek
- Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology, Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Bureau Waardenburg, Varkensmarkt 9, 4101 CK, 4100 AJ, Culemborg, The Netherlands
| | - Brian R Silliman
- Division of Marine Science and Conservation, Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, 135 Duke Marine Lab Road, Beaufort, NC, USA
| | - Brigitta I van Tussenbroek
- Reef Systems Unit, Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, 77580, Puerto Morelos, Quintana Roo, Mexico
| | - Richard K F Unsworth
- Project Seagrass, 33 Park Place, Cardiff, CF10 3BA, UK
- Seagrass Ecosystem Research Group, College of Science, Swansea University, Swansea, SA2 8PP, UK
| | - Siti Maryam Yaakub
- Department Ecological Habitats and Processes, DHI Water & Environment, 2 Venture Drive, 18-18 Vision Exchange, Singapore, 608526, Singapore
| | - Tjeerd J Bouma
- Department of Estuarine and Delta Systems, Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research and Utrecht University, 4401 NT, Yerseke, The Netherlands
- Conservation Ecology Group, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, 9700 CC, Groningen, The Netherlands
- Building with Nature group, HZ University of Applied Sciences, Postbus 364, 4380 AJ, Vlissingen, The Netherlands
- Faculty of Geosciences, Department of Physical Geography, Utrecht University, 3508 TC, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Tjisse van der Heide
- Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology, Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
- Conservation Ecology Group, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, 9700 CC, Groningen, The Netherlands.
- Department Coastal Systems, Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research and Utrecht University, 1790 AB, Den Burg, The Netherlands.
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Piarulli S, Vanhove B, Comandini P, Scapinello S, Moens T, Vrielinck H, Sciutto G, Prati S, Mazzeo R, Booth AM, Van Colen C, Airoldi L. Do different habits affect microplastics contents in organisms? A trait-based analysis on salt marsh species. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2020; 153:110983. [PMID: 32275538 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2020.110983] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2020] [Revised: 02/13/2020] [Accepted: 02/13/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Salt marshes in urban watersheds are prone to microplastics (MP) pollution due to their hydrological characteristics and exposure to urban runoff, but little is known about MP distributions in species from these habitats. In the current study, MP occurrence was determined in six benthic invertebrate species from salt marshes along the North Adriatic lagoons (Italy) and the Schelde estuary (Netherlands). The species represented different feeding modes and sediment localisation. 96% of the analysed specimens (330) did not contain any MP, which was consistent across different regions and sites. Suspension and facultative deposit-feeding bivalves exhibited a lower MP occurrence (0.5-3%) relative to omnivores (95%) but contained a much more variable distribution of MP sizes, shapes and polymers. The study provides indications that MP physicochemical properties and species' ecological traits could all influence MP exposure, uptake and retention in benthic organisms inhabiting European salt marsh ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefania Piarulli
- Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences and Interdepartmental Research Centre for Environmental Sciences, UO CoNISMa, University of Bologna, Via S. Alberto 163, 48123 Ravenna, Italy.
| | - Brecht Vanhove
- Marine Biology Research Group, UGent, Krijgslaan 281 S8, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Paolo Comandini
- Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences and Interdepartmental Research Centre for Environmental Sciences, UO CoNISMa, University of Bologna, Via S. Alberto 163, 48123 Ravenna, Italy
| | - Sara Scapinello
- Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences and Interdepartmental Research Centre for Environmental Sciences, UO CoNISMa, University of Bologna, Via S. Alberto 163, 48123 Ravenna, Italy
| | - Tom Moens
- Marine Biology Research Group, UGent, Krijgslaan 281 S8, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Henk Vrielinck
- Department of Solid State Sciences, UGent, Krijgslaan 281 S1, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Giorgia Sciutto
- Department of Chemistry "G. Ciamician", University of Bologna, Via Guaccimanni 42, 48121, Ravenna, Italy
| | - Silvia Prati
- Department of Chemistry "G. Ciamician", University of Bologna, Via Guaccimanni 42, 48121, Ravenna, Italy
| | - Rocco Mazzeo
- Department of Chemistry "G. Ciamician", University of Bologna, Via Guaccimanni 42, 48121, Ravenna, Italy
| | - Andy M Booth
- SINTEF Ocean, Department of Environmental and New Resources, Brattørkaia 17 C, 7010 Trondheim, Norway
| | - Carl Van Colen
- Marine Biology Research Group, UGent, Krijgslaan 281 S8, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Laura Airoldi
- Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences and Interdepartmental Research Centre for Environmental Sciences, UO CoNISMa, University of Bologna, Via S. Alberto 163, 48123 Ravenna, Italy.
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De Battisti D, Griffin JN. Below-ground biomass of plants, with a key contribution of buried shoots, increases foredune resistance to wave swash. ANNALS OF BOTANY 2020; 125:325-334. [PMID: 31631214 PMCID: PMC7442386 DOI: 10.1093/aob/mcz125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2019] [Accepted: 07/23/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Sand dunes reduce the impact of storms on shorelines and human infrastructure. The ability of these ecosystems to provide sustained coastal protection under persistent wave attack depends on their resistance to erosion. Although flume experiments show that roots of perennial plants contribute to foredune stabilization, the role of other plant organs, and of annual species, remains poorly studied. Furthermore, it remains unknown if restored foredunes provide the same level of erosion resistance as natural foredunes. We investigated the capacity of three widespread pioneer foredune species (the perennial Ammophila arenaria and the annuals Cakile maritima and Salsola kali) to resist dune erosion, and compared the erosion resistance of Ammophila at natural and restored sites. METHODS Cores collected in the field were tested in a flume that simulated a wave swash. A multi-model inference approach was used to disentangle the contributions of different below-ground compartments (i.e. roots, rhizomes, buried shoots) to erosion resistance. KEY RESULTS All three species reduced erosion, with Ammophila having the strongest effect (36 % erosion reduction versus unvegetated cores). Total below-ground biomass (roots, rhizomes and shoots), rather than any single compartment, most parsimoniously explained erosion resistance. Further analysis revealed that buried shoots had the clearest individual contribution. Despite similar levels of total below-ground biomass, coarser sediment reduced erosion resistance of Ammophila cores from the restored site relative to the natural site. CONCLUSIONS The total below-ground biomass of both annual and perennial plants, including roots, rhizomes and buried shoots, reduced dune erosion under a swash regime. Notably, we show that (1) annual pioneer species offer erosion protection, (2) buried shoots are an important plant component in driving sediment stabilization, and (3) management must consider both biological (plants and their traits) and physical (grain size) factors when integrating dunes into schemes for coastal protection.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - John N Griffin
- Department of Biosciences, Swansea University, Swansea, UK
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11
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Understanding Lateral Marsh Edge Erosion with Terrestrial Laser Scanning (TLS). REMOTE SENSING 2019. [DOI: 10.3390/rs11192208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Coastal wetlands are a crucial buffer zone between land and sea but lateral erosion threatens their long-term sustainability. Better understanding of the forces leading to lateral marsh retreat will benefit the assessment of management options applied to mitigate the erosion. Terrestrial Laser Scanning (TLS), Light Detection and Ranging (lidar), and associated technologies are increasingly being used to assess this erosion. The central objective of this study was to identify a methodology for measuring marsh edge erosion with a TLS and correlate that erosion with exposed roots and incident wave energy. We quantified edge erosion across multiple temporal and spatial scales using a TLS, showing greater than one meter of lateral erosion over a 318-day period. We then evaluated the relationships between the erosion and incident wave energy along with erosion and vegetation roots. Wave height and erosion was strongly related (r2 = 0.99), while vegetation roots did not show an apparent effect. We discuss the challenges that arise from using TLS equipment, TLS data sets, and the use of voxels to measure marsh edge erosion.
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12
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Piarulli S, Scapinello S, Comandini P, Magnusson K, Granberg M, Wong JXW, Sciutto G, Prati S, Mazzeo R, Booth AM, Airoldi L. Microplastic in wild populations of the omnivorous crab Carcinus aestuarii: A review and a regional-scale test of extraction methods, including microfibres. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2019; 251:117-127. [PMID: 31075692 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2019.04.092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2019] [Revised: 03/19/2019] [Accepted: 04/18/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Microplastic (MP) has become ubiquitous in the marine environment. Its threat to marine organisms has been demonstrated under laboratory conditions, yet studies on wild populations still face methodological difficulties. We reviewed the methods used to separate MP from soft animal tissues and highlighted a lack of standardised methodologies, particularly critical for synthetic microfibres. We further compared enzymatic and a potassium hydroxide (KOH)-based alkaline digestion protocols on wild crabs (Carcinus aestuarii) collected from three coastal lagoons in the north Adriatic Sea and on laboratory-prepared synthetic polyester (PES) of different colour and polypropylene (PP). We compared the cost-effectiveness of the two methods, together with the potential for adverse quantitative or qualitative effects on MP that could alter the capability of the polymers to be recognised via microscopic or spectroscopic techniques. Only 5.5% of the 180 examined crabs contained MP in their gastrointestinal tracts, with a notably high quantitative variability between individuals (from 1 to 117 particles per individual). All MP found was exclusively microfibres, mainly PES, with a mean length (±SE) of 0.5 ± 0.03 mm. The two digestion methods provided comparable estimates on wild crabs and did not cause any visible physical or chemical alterations on laboratory-prepared microfibres treated for up to 4 days. KOH solution was faster and cheaper compared to the enzymatic extraction, involving fewer procedural steps and therefore reducing the risk of airborne contamination. With digestion times longer than 4 days, KOH caused morphological alterations of some of the PES microfibres, which did not occur with the enzymatic digestion. This suggests that KOH is effective for the digestion of small marine invertebrates or biological samples for which shorter digestion time is required, while enzymatic extraction should be considered as alternative for larger organisms or sample sizes requiring longer digestion times.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefania Piarulli
- Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences and Interdepartmental Research Centre for Environmental Sciences, UO CoNISMa, University of Bologna, Via S. Alberto 163, 48123, Ravenna, Italy.
| | - Sara Scapinello
- Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences and Interdepartmental Research Centre for Environmental Sciences, UO CoNISMa, University of Bologna, Via S. Alberto 163, 48123, Ravenna, Italy
| | - Paolo Comandini
- Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences and Interdepartmental Research Centre for Environmental Sciences, UO CoNISMa, University of Bologna, Via S. Alberto 163, 48123, Ravenna, Italy
| | - Kerstin Magnusson
- IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute, Kristineberg 566, SE45178, Fiskebäckskil, Sweden
| | - Maria Granberg
- IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute, Kristineberg 566, SE45178, Fiskebäckskil, Sweden
| | - Joanne X W Wong
- Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences and Interdepartmental Research Centre for Environmental Sciences, UO CoNISMa, University of Bologna, Via S. Alberto 163, 48123, Ravenna, Italy
| | - Giorgia Sciutto
- Department of Chemistry "G.Ciamician", University of Bologna, Via Guaccimanni 42, 48121, Ravenna, Italy
| | - Silvia Prati
- Department of Chemistry "G.Ciamician", University of Bologna, Via Guaccimanni 42, 48121, Ravenna, Italy
| | - Rocco Mazzeo
- Department of Chemistry "G.Ciamician", University of Bologna, Via Guaccimanni 42, 48121, Ravenna, Italy
| | - Andy M Booth
- SINTEF Ocean, Department of Environmental and New Resources, Brattørkaia 17 C, 7010, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Laura Airoldi
- Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences and Interdepartmental Research Centre for Environmental Sciences, UO CoNISMa, University of Bologna, Via S. Alberto 163, 48123, Ravenna, Italy.
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De Battisti D, Fowler MS, Jenkins SR, Skov MW, Rossi M, Bouma TJ, Neyland PJ, Griffin JN. Intraspecific Root Trait Variability Along Environmental Gradients Affects Salt Marsh Resistance to Lateral Erosion. Front Ecol Evol 2019. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2019.00150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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The widespread and overlooked replacement of Spartina maritima by non-indigenous S. anglica and S. townsendii in north-western Adriatic saltmarshes. Biol Invasions 2018. [DOI: 10.1007/s10530-017-1654-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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