A global standard for monitoring coastal wetland vulnerability to accelerated sea-level rise

Webb, Edward L.; Friess, Daniel A.; Krauss, Ken W.; Cahoon, Donald R.; Guntenspergen, Glenn R.; Phelps, Jacob

doi:10.1038/nclimate1756

Cited by 237 publications

(165 citation statements)

References 76 publications

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“…This is because the main research interest on sediment dynamics is predominantly focused on long-term accretion rates to see whether mangroves can keep up with sea-level rise (see e.g. Woodroffe, 1995;Lovelock et al, 2011;McKee, 2011;Webb et al, 2013). However our results clearly demonstrate the importance of frequent measurements of sediment dynamics (i.e.…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 40%

Cross-shore gradients of physical disturbance in mangroves: implications for seedling establishment

et al. 2013

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Mangroves may grow in an active sedimentary environment and are therefore closely linked to physical coastal processes. Seedlings colonize dynamic tidal flats, after which mangroves have the potential to change their physical environment by attenuating hydrodynamic energy and trapping sediments. Disturbance from hydrodynamic energy of waves or currents and the resulting sediment dynamics appear to be a critical bottleneck for seedling establishment on tidal flats and at the forest fringe. However, knowledge about the mechanisms at the single plant level and the spatial pattern of disturbance is limited. By means of a flume study, we demonstrate that a surface erosion threshold of as little as 1–3 cm depth can lead to failure of young seedlings. By monitoring accretion/erosion for 8 months along cross-shore transects in southwest Thailand, we show that, especially on the bare mudflat, the physical sediment disturbance regularly exceeds the critical erosion thresholds derived from the flume study. Physical sediment parameters along the same transects were analysed to deduct patterns of hydrodynamic energy attenuation. Grain size analysis and erosion/accretion data showed only limited energy dissipation within the fringing Avicennia/Sonneratia zone; sediment dynamics only dropped below lethal values for seedlings within the denser Rhizophora zone. Overall, present results emphasize that (i) seedling survival is extremely sensitive to physically driven sediment dynamics and (ii) that such physical disturbances are not only present on the tidal flats but can penetrate a significant distance into the forest. Spatio-temporal patterns in sediment dynamics should hence be considered when conducting restoration of mangrove ecosystems

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Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 40%

Cross-shore gradients of physical disturbance in mangroves: implications for seedling establishment

et al. 2013

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“…Second, while our one low marsh core exhibits anomalously low CAR relative to the high cores in which CAR was estimated, the single core does not possess sufficient statistical power to draw conclusions about differences between average low and high marsh CAR in Clayoquot Sound because of regional heterogeneity SAR and CAR within and between marshes. Previous studies of marsh accretion dynamics have 5 demonstrated variability in SAR on scales as small as one meter due to such influences as recent ecological disturbance (Webb et al 2013), water table height and soil drainage (Craft 2007), and variable mineral sediment deposition from freshwater drainage (Callaway et al 2012). In our case, a power analysis suggests that at least nine cores measured for CAR would be required to confidently compare the means of low marsh and high marsh cores.…”

Section: Low Marsh Car 10mentioning

confidence: 99%

Carbon Stocks and Accumulation Rates in Salt Marshes of the Pacific Coast of Canada

Chastain

Kohfeld

Pellatt

2018

Preprint

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Tidal salt marshes are known to accumulate "blue carbon" at high rates relative to their surface area and have been put forth as a potential means for enhanced CO2 sequestration. However, estimates of salt marsh carbon accumulation rates are based on a limited number of marshes globally and the estimation of carbon accumulation rates require detailed dating to provide 5 accurate estimates. We address one data gap along the Pacific Coast of Canada by estimating carbon stocks in 34 sediment cores and estimating carbon accumulation rates using we suggest that their carbon accumulation rate capacity could best be considered as a climate mitigation co-benefit when conserving for other salt marsh ecosystem services.Biogeosciences Discuss., https://doi

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“…The SET method measures VLM w of the substrate overlying the SET rod base, which ideally is set on bedrock, by direct measurement of the wetland surface relative to the SET rod base (Cahoon et al 1995;Cahoon et al 2002b;Webb et al 2013;Figs. 1 and 2).…”

Section: Wetland Elevation Changementioning

confidence: 99%

“…In addition, global evaluations of wetland elevation trends using the high resolution (mm/y) surface elevation table-marker horizon (SET-MH) method (Cahoon et al 1995) wetland elevation trends vary within and among wetlands, ranging from positive to negative slopes influenced by both surface vertical accretion and erosion, and subsurface subsidence and expansion processes . The SET-MH method is currently used in 29 countries on six continents in both temperate and tropical coastal regions to evaluate elevation dynamics in primarily salt marsh and mangrove environments (Webb et al 2013). Unlike the upland habitats where tide gauges are located, salt marshes and mangrove forests are able to alter their surface elevation by trapping sediments brought in by the tide, and through belowground production and accumulation of roots and rhizomes.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Estimating Relative Sea-Level Rise and Submergence Potential at a Coastal Wetland

Cahoon

2014

Estuaries and Coasts

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A tide gauge records a combined signal of the vertical change (positive or negative) in the level of both the sea and the land to which the gauge is affixed; or relative sealevel change, which is typically referred to as relative sea-level rise (RSLR). Complicating this situation, coastal wetlands exhibit dynamic surface elevation change (both positive and negative), as revealed by surface elevation table (SET) measurements, that is not recorded at tide gauges. Because the usefulness of RSLR is in the ability to tie the change in sea level to the local topography, it is important that RSLR be calculated at a wetland that reflects these local dynamic surface elevation changes in order to better estimate wetland submergence potential. A rationale is described for calculating wetland RSLR (RSLR wet ) by subtracting the SET wetland elevation change from the tide gauge RSLR. The calculation is possible because the SET and tide gauge independently measure vertical land motion in different portions of the substrate. For 89 wetlands where RSLR wet was evaluated, wetland elevation change differed significantly from zero for 80 % of them, indicating that RSLR wet at these wetlands differed from the local tide gauge RSLR. When compared to tide gauge RSLR, about 39 % of wetlands experienced an elevation rate surplus and 58 % an elevation rate deficit (i.e., sea level becoming lower and higher, respectively, relative to the wetland surface). These proportions were consistent across saltmarsh, mangrove, and freshwater wetland types. Comparison of wetland elevation change and RSLR is confounded by high levels of temporal and spatial variability, and would be improved by co-locating tide gauge and SET stations near each other and obtaining longterm records for both.

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A global standard for monitoring coastal wetland vulnerability to accelerated sea-level rise

Abstract: Friess, Daniel A.; Krauss, Ken W.; Cahoon, Donald R.; Guntenspergen, Glenn R.; and Phelps, Jacob, "A global standard for monitoring coastal wetland vulnerability to accelerated sea-level rise" (2013). USGS

Cited by 237 publications

References 76 publications

Cross-shore gradients of physical disturbance in mangroves: implications for seedling establishment

Cross-shore gradients of physical disturbance in mangroves: implications for seedling establishment

Carbon Stocks and Accumulation Rates in Salt Marshes of the Pacific Coast of Canada

Estimating Relative Sea-Level Rise and Submergence Potential at a Coastal Wetland

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