Characterization of Schoenoplectus pungens in a Great Lakes Coastal Wetland and a Pacific Northwestern Estuary

Accuracy of optical image analysis compared to conventional vegetation measurements for estimating morphological features of emergent vegetation

“…These studies have indicated the importance of considering the flexibility of species when attempting to estimate wave attenuation. Young's modulus has been used to catalog and describe the flexibility of several species of vegetation (Feagin et al, 2011;Albert et al, 2013). The optical image analysis does not yet include an estimation of flexibility but may increase the detail of a standard wave attenuation model by showing vertical variations in obstruction.…”

“…While modeled wave attenuation is most simply described by stem density, height, and diameter (Dalrymple et al, 1984;Kobayashi et al, 1993), more robust models include stem flexibility (Asano, 2006;Mullarney and Henderson, 2010) and variations in the structure of the vegetation (Dubi and Torum, 2011). Recent studies have begun to highlight regional and local differences in vegetation by describing species densities, elevations, flexibility, heights, and leaf areas because these differences have been shown to be important in estimating wave attenuation (Feagin, 2008;Albert et al, 2013).…”

“…and may be represented simply as a thin cylinder, making it a suitable species for estimating stem height and stem diameter from images of lateral obstruction. Schoenoplectus pungens is a common species along the Pacific Coast and typically occurs at the leading edge of vegetation at the margin of open water and marsh, where it is subject to wind generated waves during high tide (Albert et al, 2013). Schoenoplectus pungens is morphologically simple, being typified by a single straight stem, circular in cross section at the base and tapering to a triangular cross-section for most of the stem height, with few to no leaves.…”

Vertical Structure of Wave Induced Currents, Orbital Velocity and Turbulence Observed in Natural Vegetation

“…Recently, Albert et al (2013) observed the various characteristics of bulrush (Schoenoplectus pungens) in coastal wetlands including plant populations, stem density, diameter, height, and flexibility. Using the same species of bulrushes, Blackmar et al (2014) investigated wave height attenuation using smallscale artificial plants combined with numerical simulations to show how heterogeneous stands of vegetation could be modeled using a combination of drag coefficients estimated for two homogenous stands of vegetation separately.…”

“…Using the same species of bulrushes, Blackmar et al (2014) investigated wave height attenuation using smallscale artificial plants combined with numerical simulations to show how heterogeneous stands of vegetation could be modeled using a combination of drag coefficients estimated for two homogenous stands of vegetation separately. To extend the work of Albert et al (2013) and Blackmar (2014), we provide the observation of velocity components including currents (mean velocity), orbital velocity, and turbulence since these quantities are often associated with the suspension and transport of sediment. Unlike natural beaches, the transport of sediment in vegetation is a poorly understood area, although the trapping of sediment, for example, is a valuable ecosystem service that can be provided by coastal vegetation.…”