Coupling Scirpus recruitment with Spartina control guarantees recolonization of native sedges in coastal wetlands

Li, Shihua; Ge, Zheng–Ming; Tan, Lishan; Zhou, Ke; Hu, Zhong-Jian

doi:10.1016/j.ecoleng.2021.106246

Cited by 9 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 27 publications

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“…The exclusion rate of these native species would be rapid in coastal China, as more than 60% of coastlines are associated with constructed seawalls (Ma et al, 2014), and few available habitats at higher elevations remain for native species to escape landward invasion. However, in salt marshes that have eradicated S. alterniflora in the Yangtze estuary, for example, fragmented populations of native S. mariqueter have been restored successfully in unvegetated mudflats outside the seawall (Li et al, 2021) and have expanded rapidly in response to rising sea levels (Ge et al, 2015).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of Spartina invasion on the soil organic carbon content in salt marsh and mangrove ecosystems in China

Wei

Chen

et al. 2022

Journal of Applied Ecology

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1. Coastal wetlands are large reservoirs of soil carbon (C) and have been invaded globally by the exotic species Spartina alterniflora. However, the effects of these invasions on soil C content remain unclear.2. We performed a meta-analysis of 2479 soil organic C (SOC) content observations collected from 91 field studies conducted in coastal China, the world's largest introduced range for S. alterniflora.3. Spartina alterniflora invasions had no significant effect on the SOC content in vegetated native wetlands in coastal China. S. alterniflora increased the SOC content in the top 30 cm of salt marshes after invading only one of the nine marsh types, which was dominated by a dwarf succulent species, Suaeda salsa in the northern subtropics and decreased the SOC content in the top 60 cm of mangroves dominated by Kandelia obovata and mixed communities after invasion in the southern subtropics. S. alterniflora invasions did not significantly affect the SOC content in the other salt marsh or mangrove ecosystems. Moreover, the SOC content in S. alterniflora-invaded ecosystems increased only on a decadal scale and then decreased, rather than increasing monotonically. 4. Synthesis and applications. Our findings reveal that the SOC content of S. alterniflora-invaded ecosystems is similar to or lower than that of most native ecosystems. As soil bulk density is often reduced by S. alterniflora invasions, the C storage capabilities of vegetated native ecosystems might be substantially reduced after S. alterniflora invasions. Moreover, the SOC content in these invaded ecosystems gradually decreased after long-term S. alterniflora invasions (>20 years). Therefore, the displacement of native salt marsh or mangrove species by S. alterniflora may not be considered a natural climate solution to increase the C sink in coastal China. Future efforts are required to control S. alterniflora preferentially in coastal wetlands where S. alterniflora invasions do not increase

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of Spartina invasion on the soil organic carbon content in salt marsh and mangrove ecosystems in China

Wei

Chen

et al. 2022

Journal of Applied Ecology

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“…The allocation of more resources to corm by S. mariqueter aimed to enhance its opportunities and potential for reestablishment in frequently disturbed habitats. This allocation strategy represented the plant's adaptive response to long‐term adaptation to tidal environments and was the most advantageous outcome for its own survival (Li et al., 2021).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The above and the belowground nitrogen allocation strategy of Scirpus mariqueter based on ¹⁵N isotope tracing along an elevation gradient and its significance for coastal wetlands restoration

Gao,

He,

Fang

et al. 2024

J. Plant Nutr. Soil Sci.

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BackgroundEcological restoration of coastal wetlands has become particularly urgent worldwide as wetland areas have declined dramatically over the past two decades.AimsTo understand the nitrogen allocation strategy of Scirpus mariqueter (S. mariqueter) and provide theory support for future wetland management and restoration.MethodsThe study investigated the response mechanism of S. mariqueter to altitude spatial changes in Nanhui Dongtan from 2017 to 2019 using remote sensing imagery and field surveys. The ecological adaptability of S. mariqueter at different elevations (denoted as A, B, and C for elevations 2.40, 3.15, and 3.49 m, respectively) was analyzed through 15N stable isotope tracing technology. In July and September 2020, 15N‐enriched urea solution was uniformly sprayed onto the leaf surfaces of S. mariqueter at different sites. Plant samples were collected at the end of July and September, and the aboveground, belowground, seed, and rhizome biomass were measured, followed by 15N isotope tests.Results(1) From 2017 to 2019, the biomass of S. mariqueter significantly increased in the elevation change of 0.44–0.48 m, with the maximum aboveground biomass increase of 488.70 g dm−2. The density also increased significantly in the elevation change of 0.13–0.43 m, peaking at 674.02 plants m−2; (2) during the growing period, the biomass of A, B, and C increased. The aboveground portion of the 15N allocation rate accounted for 74%–84%. The belowground portion of the 15N allocation rate positively correlated with elevation; (3) during the reproductive period, elevation positively correlated with the 15N distribution rate of seeds and corms, as well as the biomass allocation rate of seeds and aboveground portions. The 15N allocation rate of the corms was higher than that of seeds. Additionally, elevation exhibited a negative correlation with belowground biomass allocation rate. (4) Point A has the highest difference of above and belowground biomass proportion, and 15N isotope allocation. Area of point A is the critical area affecting vegetation expansion and should be paid more attention in the future work of coastal management and restoration.ConclusionThere is an adaption strategy of S. mariqueter that affects the plant‐soil interaction and the biogeomorphological development process along the elevation gradient.

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“…spring and early summer). Scirpus is a clonal perennial plant that overwinters with belowground rhizomes and corms and can self‐maintain over long time once populations established (Li et al., 2021). The strength of our findings further lies in the consistency of multiple lines of evidence.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Spartina was eradicated by spraying Gallant herbicides (haloxyfop‐R‐methyl) which specifically targets grasses but not sedges and degrades rapidly without persistent environmental impacts or permanently altering the wetland soil environment (Zhao et al., 2020). Although Spartina has been successfully eradicated, the restoration area has remained largely as mudflats with little recovery of Scirpus (Li et al., 2021). The dominant grazers are small, grazing crabs Helice .…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Co‐restoring keystone predators and foundation species to recover a coastal wetland

Wu,

2023

Journal of Applied Ecology

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Achieving global targets for ecosystem restoration necessitates the development of effective restoration approaches. Current restoration approaches focus primarily on mitigating abiotic stresses or supplementing propagules to restore foundation species that support associated species by ‘engineering’ local habitats. Although keystone predators can strongly affect foundation species in natural ecosystems via trophic cascades and are often diminished in degraded ecosystems, they are traditionally neglected in efforts to restore foundation species. Here, we investigated how a keystone predator (Scylla serrata) might affect the restoration of a foundational plant (Scirpus mariqueter) in a degraded salt marsh. In a series of restoration experiments, we examined the effects of proximity to existing Scylla burrows, as well reintroducing Scylla, on the establishment of planted Scirpus in restoration areas. Furthermore, we tested if Scylla affected Scirpus via non‐consumptive effects in experiments that controlled Scylla's consumption of grazers. We found that planted Scirpus suffered less grazing and achieved higher density in areas closer to existing Scylla burrows where Scylla predation on grazers was stronger. Consistently, reintroduction of Scylla reduced grazing on Scirpus and increased its density by 360%. These positive effects of Scylla on Scirpus were driven by consumptive effects that reduced the abundance of grazers and by non‐consumptive effects that inhibited the herbivory by grazers. Synthesis and applications. These results demonstrate that incorporation of keystone predators, including both their consumptive and non‐consumptive effects, into restoration designs can greatly enhance the restoration of foundation species. Our study thus highlights the value of co‐restoring keystone predators and foundation species. Given that predators are depleted in many ecosystems, this co‐restoration approach may be broadly applicable.

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Coupling Scirpus recruitment with Spartina control guarantees recolonization of native sedges in coastal wetlands

Cited by 9 publications

References 27 publications

Effects of Spartina invasion on the soil organic carbon content in salt marsh and mangrove ecosystems in China

Effects of Spartina invasion on the soil organic carbon content in salt marsh and mangrove ecosystems in China

The above and the belowground nitrogen allocation strategy of Scirpus mariqueter based on ¹⁵N isotope tracing along an elevation gradient and its significance for coastal wetlands restoration

Co‐restoring keystone predators and foundation species to recover a coastal wetland

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Coupling Scirpus recruitment with Spartina control guarantees recolonization of native sedges in coastal wetlands

Cited by 9 publications

References 27 publications

Effects of Spartina invasion on the soil organic carbon content in salt marsh and mangrove ecosystems in China

Effects of Spartina invasion on the soil organic carbon content in salt marsh and mangrove ecosystems in China

The above and the belowground nitrogen allocation strategy of Scirpus mariqueter based on 15N isotope tracing along an elevation gradient and its significance for coastal wetlands restoration

Co‐restoring keystone predators and foundation species to recover a coastal wetland

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The above and the belowground nitrogen allocation strategy of Scirpus mariqueter based on ¹⁵N isotope tracing along an elevation gradient and its significance for coastal wetlands restoration