Marsh persistence under sea-level rise is controlled by multiple, geologically variable stressors
Introduction: Marshes contribute to habitat and water quality in estuaries and coastal bays. Their importance to continued ecosystem functioning has led to concerns about their persistence. Outcomes: Concurrent with sea-level rise, marshes are eroding and appear to be disappearing through ponding in...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
2017-10-01
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| Series: | Ecosystem Health and Sustainability |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/20964129.2017.1396009 |
| _version_ | 1797717705116090368 |
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| author | M. Mitchell J. Herman D. M. Bilkovic C. Hershner |
| author_facet | M. Mitchell J. Herman D. M. Bilkovic C. Hershner |
| author_sort | M. Mitchell |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Introduction: Marshes contribute to habitat and water quality in estuaries and coastal bays. Their importance to continued ecosystem functioning has led to concerns about their persistence. Outcomes: Concurrent with sea-level rise, marshes are eroding and appear to be disappearing through ponding in their interior; in addition, in many places, they are being replaced with shoreline stabilization structures. We examined the changes in marsh extent over the past 40 years within a subestuary of Chesapeake Bay, the largest estuary in the United States, to better understand the effects of sea-level rise and human pressure on marsh coverage. Discussion: Approximately 30 years ago, an inventory of York River estuary marshes documented the historic extent of marshes. Marshes were resurveyed in 2010 to examine shifts in tidal marsh extent and distribution. Marsh change varied spatially along the estuary, with watershed changes between a 32% loss and an 11% gain in marsh area. Loss of marsh was apparent in high energy sections of the estuary while there was marsh gain in the upper/riverine section of the estuary and where forested hummocks on marsh islands have become inundated. Marshes showed little change in the small tributary creeks, except in the creeks dominated by fringing marshes and high shoreline development. Conclusions: Differential resilience to sea-level rise and spatial variations in erosion, sediment supply, and human development have resulted in spatially variable changes in specific marsh extents and are predicted to lead to a redistribution of marshes along the estuarine gradient, with consequences for their unique communities. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T08:41:11Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d74b34ab49bd4e81af7c9bd328d3bf57 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2096-4129 2332-8878 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T08:41:11Z |
| publishDate | 2017-10-01 |
| publisher | American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Ecosystem Health and Sustainability |
| spelling | doaj.art-d74b34ab49bd4e81af7c9bd328d3bf572023-09-02T16:52:36ZengAmerican Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)Ecosystem Health and Sustainability2096-41292332-88782017-10-0131010.1080/20964129.2017.13960091396009Marsh persistence under sea-level rise is controlled by multiple, geologically variable stressorsM. Mitchell0J. Herman1D. M. Bilkovic2C. Hershner3College of William & MaryCollege of William & MaryCollege of William & MaryCollege of William & MaryIntroduction: Marshes contribute to habitat and water quality in estuaries and coastal bays. Their importance to continued ecosystem functioning has led to concerns about their persistence. Outcomes: Concurrent with sea-level rise, marshes are eroding and appear to be disappearing through ponding in their interior; in addition, in many places, they are being replaced with shoreline stabilization structures. We examined the changes in marsh extent over the past 40 years within a subestuary of Chesapeake Bay, the largest estuary in the United States, to better understand the effects of sea-level rise and human pressure on marsh coverage. Discussion: Approximately 30 years ago, an inventory of York River estuary marshes documented the historic extent of marshes. Marshes were resurveyed in 2010 to examine shifts in tidal marsh extent and distribution. Marsh change varied spatially along the estuary, with watershed changes between a 32% loss and an 11% gain in marsh area. Loss of marsh was apparent in high energy sections of the estuary while there was marsh gain in the upper/riverine section of the estuary and where forested hummocks on marsh islands have become inundated. Marshes showed little change in the small tributary creeks, except in the creeks dominated by fringing marshes and high shoreline development. Conclusions: Differential resilience to sea-level rise and spatial variations in erosion, sediment supply, and human development have resulted in spatially variable changes in specific marsh extents and are predicted to lead to a redistribution of marshes along the estuarine gradient, with consequences for their unique communities.http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/20964129.2017.1396009Chesapeake Bayclimate changecoastal resiliencemarsh changesalt marshsea-level risetidal wetlands |
| spellingShingle | M. Mitchell J. Herman D. M. Bilkovic C. Hershner Marsh persistence under sea-level rise is controlled by multiple, geologically variable stressors Ecosystem Health and Sustainability Chesapeake Bay climate change coastal resilience marsh change salt marsh sea-level rise tidal wetlands |
| title | Marsh persistence under sea-level rise is controlled by multiple, geologically variable stressors |
| title_full | Marsh persistence under sea-level rise is controlled by multiple, geologically variable stressors |
| title_fullStr | Marsh persistence under sea-level rise is controlled by multiple, geologically variable stressors |
| title_full_unstemmed | Marsh persistence under sea-level rise is controlled by multiple, geologically variable stressors |
| title_short | Marsh persistence under sea-level rise is controlled by multiple, geologically variable stressors |
| title_sort | marsh persistence under sea level rise is controlled by multiple geologically variable stressors |
| topic | Chesapeake Bay climate change coastal resilience marsh change salt marsh sea-level rise tidal wetlands |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/20964129.2017.1396009 |
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