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We evaluated the process of salt-marsh colonization in early successional stages and investigated how the sequence of species establishment was related to different success factors. Vegetation data were collected in the restoration site and in the adjacent salt marshes during three consecutive periods. Seed length, width and mass were used as dispersal traits, and Ellenberg moisture, salinity and nutrient indices as indicators of site suitability. Seed production in the reference site and seed bank in the restoration site were also investigated. The establishment of salt-marsh species in the restoration site was good and fast, the cover of new colonizers was unrelated to their cover in the restoration site at the first year. Seed availability appeared to be a more important factor in explaining the sequence of species establishment than salt and nutrient-limitation tolerance. Among dispersal and site traits, seed length and mass mainly indicated a relationship with new colonizers. We evaluated the process of salt-marsh colonization in early successional stages and 4 investigated how the sequence of species establishment was related to different success 5 factors. Vegetation data were collected in the restoration site and in the adjacent salt marshes 6 during three consecutive periods. Seed length, width and mass were used as dispersal traits, 7 and Ellenberg moisture, salinity and nutrient indices as indicators of site suitability. Seed 8 production in the reference site and seed bank in the restoration site were also investigated.9 The establishment of salt-marsh species in the restoration site was good and fast, the cover of 10 new colonizers was unrelated to their cover in the restoration site at the first year. Seed 11 availability appeared to be a more important factor in explaining the sequence of species 12 establishment than salt and nutrient-limitation tolerance. Among dispersal and site traits, seed 13 length and mass mainly indicated a relationship with new colonizers.14 15

International audienc

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