Effects of Sea Level Induced Disturbances on High Salt Marsh Metabolism

Miller, W. D.; Neubauer, Scott C.; Anderson, Iris C.

doi:10.2307/1353238

Cited by 65 publications

(41 citation statements)

References 36 publications

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“…The adaptability of coastal wetlands to sea-level rise is often attributed, in part, to the idea that flooding will slow rates of organic matter decay and facilitate more rapid organic matter accumulation (Nyman and DeLaune, 1991;Reed, 1995;Miller et al, 2001). In contrast, our measurements of mass loss suggest that enhanced flooding will lead to little change in decay rate, at least in these brackish marshes.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 72%

“…Although a reduction in decay rate associated with progressively more anaerobic soils is often assumed (e.g. Nyman and DeLaune, 1991;Reed, 1995;Miller et al, 2001), attempts to measure decay rates in coastal wetlands have led to a wide range of conclusions. In freshwater marshes, decomposition rates near the soil surface tend to increase with flooding duration (Ewel and Odum, 1978;Mendelssohn et al, 1999), even though decomposition rates decline with soil depth and its effect on redox potential (Mendelssohn et al, 1999;Pozo and Colino, 1992).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The impact of sea-level rise on organic matter decay rates in Chesapeake Bay brackish tidal marshes

et al. 2013

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The balance between organic matter production and decay determines how fast coastal wetlands accumulate soil organic matter. Despite the importance of soil organic matter accumulation rates in influencing marsh elevation and resistance to sea-level rise, relatively little is known about how decomposition rates will respond to sea-level rise. Here, we estimate the sensitivity of decomposition to flooding by measuring rates of decay in 87 bags filled with milled sedge peat, including soil organic matter, roots and rhizomes. Experiments were located in field-based mesocosms along 3 mesohaline tributaries of the Chesapeake Bay. Mesocosm elevations were manipulated to influence the duration of tidal inundation. Although we found no significant influence of inundation on decay rate when bags from all study sites were analyzed together, decay rates at two of the sites increased with greater flooding. These findings suggest that flooding may enhance organic matter decay rates even in water-logged soils, but that the overall influence of flooding is minor. Our experiments suggest that sea-level rise will not accelerate rates of peat accumulation by slowing the rate of soil organic matter decay. Consequently, marshes will require enhanced organic matter productivity or mineral sediment deposition to survive accelerating sea-level rise

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 72%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The impact of sea-level rise on organic matter decay rates in Chesapeake Bay brackish tidal marshes

et al. 2013

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“…In contrast, export of water with low DO concentrations because of respiration on the marsh platform may have made the open-water data indicate more respiration than was actually occurring in the lagoons. An attempt was made to correct open-water NEM for this effect using measured rates of marsh respiration (Miller et al 2001); doing so resulted in improved correspondence in Burton's Bay but not in Gargathy Bay. These differing results using the 2 methods highlight an important area for future investigation, as many NEM studies rely on a single method , Caffrey 2003, 2004, Santos et al 2004, Goebel & Kremer 2007.…”

Section: Open-water Vs Component Estimates Of Nemmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ecosystem metabolism in shallow coastal lagoons: patterns and partitioning of planktonic, benthic, and integrated community rates

Giordano¹,

Brush²,

Anderson³

2012

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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Net ecosystem metabolism (NEM) provides a quantifiable and integrative method for assessing the ecological responses of aquatic ecosystems to anthropogenic disturbance and has been shown to positively relate to nutrient enrichment in some systems. We measured NEM to determine the trophic status of 4 coastal lagoons receiving a range of nutrient loads on the Virginia/ Maryland portion of the Delmarva Peninsula, USA. From July 2007 to July 2008, we used the component technique to assess NEM by developing photosynthesis−irradiance curves for both the water column and sediments approximately monthly; we added macroalgal incubations in the summer of 2008. We also measured in situ NEM by the open water method using 2 to 3 wk deployments of data sondes. Component incubations indicated net autotrophy in all 4 lagoons for March to October. No significant relationship existed between NEM and total nitrogen load overall, except for reduced autotrophy in the most enriched system. Light availability, sediment organic content, temperature and depth were all important regulators of NEM. Inclusion of macroalgal metabolism during summer 2008 had varied effects on system NEM. Open water and component methods gave divergent results. We attribute these differences to the adjacent marshes and the assumptions inherent in the 2 methods, demonstrating the need for careful attention to the method of choice for estimating system metabolism in these highly variable, shallow photic systems. Overall, NEM was net autotrophic, dominated by phytoplankton production across our study lagoons, and controlled by multiple factors.KEY WORDS: Net ecosystem metabolism · Primary production · Respiration · Coastal lagoon · Phytoplankton · Microphytobenthos · Macroalgae Resale or republication not permitted without written consent of the publisherMar Ecol Prog Ser 458: 21-38, 2012 22 shellfish species (Beck et al. 2001, Able 2005, EPA 2008). The close proximity of shallow marine systems to land, their small volumes and relatively long residence times, and the penetration of light to the benthos make these systems particularly susceptible to nutrient enrichment (Duarte 1995, Bricker et al. 1999). Microphytobenthos (MPB), however, may help mediate the response of shallow systems to nutrient loading (Tobias et al. 2003, Anderson et al. 2010.Although nitrogen loads to coastal lagoons are of a magnitude similar to those of deeper estuaries, responses in shallow lagoons appear to be quite different, likely because of enhanced benthic− pelagic coupling (Nixon et al. 2001). An illuminated benthos results in a significant contribution of MPB, seagrasses and macroalgae to total system production. Under extremely high nitrogen loads, however, bloom-forming macroalgae and, ultimately, phytoplankton can dominate, shading out MPB, seagrasses and slow-growing macroalgae (Borum & Sand-Jensen, 1996, Valiela et al. 1997.Interactions between autotrophic communities are complex and predictive patterns between nutrient loading and a single component of the sys...

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“…However, the total area of salt marshes in York and Pamunkey Rivers is small relative to the area of low salinity tidal marshes in the system, so this effect may be minor. The gradient in marsh pore-water DIC concentrations occurs despite a general increase in total system metabolism (measured as CO 2 efflux from the marsh surface) from saline to freshwater marshes (e.g., Neitch 2000;Neubauer et al 2000;Miller et al 2001), primarily because free CO 2 is a greater fraction of the DIC pool in low salinity marshes. The significance of tidal marshes as sources of DIC to estuaries can vary from year to year because of interannual changes in organic carbon inputs in the marsh (e.g., autotrophic production and sediment deposition), microbial metabolic pathways (e.g., salinity-induced changes in the importance of sulfate reduction), and hydrological flushing of the system.…”

Section: Datementioning

confidence: 99%

Transport of dissolved inorganic carbon from a tidal freshwater marsh to the York River estuary

Neubauer

Anderson

2003

Limnology & Oceanography

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The cycling of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) and the role of tidal marshes in estuarine DIC dynamics were studied in a Virginia tidal freshwater marsh and adjacent estuary. DIC was measured over diurnal cycles in different seasons in a marsh tidal creek and at the junction of the creek with the adjacent Pamunkey River. In the creek, DIC concentrations around high tide were controlled by the same processes affecting whole-estuary DIC gradients. Near low tide, DIC concentrations were 1.5-5-fold enriched relative to high tide concentrations, indicating an input of DIC from the marsh. Similar patterns (although dampened in magnitude) were observed at the creek mouth and indicated that DIC was exported from the marsh. Marsh pore-water DIC concentrations were up to 5 mmol L Ϫ1 greater than those in the creek and suggested a significant input of sediment pore water to the creek. A model of tidal marsh DIC export showed that, on a seasonal basis, DIC export rates were influenced by water temperature. The composition of exported DIC averaged 19% dissolved CO 2 and 81% HCO and CO . Although CO 2 can belost to the atmosphere during transit through the estuary, DIC in the form of carbonate alkalinity is subject to export from the estuary to the coastal ocean. When extrapolated to an estuarywide scale, the export of marsh-derived DIC to the York River estuary explained a significant portion (47 Ϯ 23%) of excess DIC production (i.e., DIC in excess of that expected from conservative mixing between seawater and freshwater and equilibrium with the atmosphere) in this system. Therefore, CO 2 supersaturation, by itself, does not indicate that an estuary is net heterotrophic.One approach to understanding the cycling of organic carbon within ecosystems is through measurements of total system metabolism, given that the production and removal of organic matter are intimately linked to total dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC, or ⌺CO 2 ) and O 2 cycling. Recent studies of estuarine CO 2 and DIC dynamics have shown that estuaries are generally supersaturated with respect to CO 2 and exhibit high rates of net heterotrophy (i.e., respiration Ͼ photosynthesis; Smith and Hollibaugh 1993;Frankignoulle et al. 1998; Gatusso et al. 1998), although the main stem of Chesapeake Bay is net autotrophic (Kemp et al. 1997). Sources of CO 2 and DIC to estuarine waters include watercolumn and benthic respiration, riverine and groundwater inputs, photodegradation of dissolved organic matter, and inputs from intertidal marshes (Hopkinson and Vallino 1995;Kemp et al. 1997;Cai and Wang 1998). Accurate quantification of rates of net heterotrophy requires that one account 1 Corresponding author. Present address:

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Effects of Sea Level Induced Disturbances on High Salt Marsh Metabolism

Cited by 65 publications

References 36 publications

The impact of sea-level rise on organic matter decay rates in Chesapeake Bay brackish tidal marshes

The impact of sea-level rise on organic matter decay rates in Chesapeake Bay brackish tidal marshes

Ecosystem metabolism in shallow coastal lagoons: patterns and partitioning of planktonic, benthic, and integrated community rates

Transport of dissolved inorganic carbon from a tidal freshwater marsh to the York River estuary

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