Mangrove Range Expansion Rapidly Increases Coastal Wetland Carbon Storage

Doughty, Cheryl L.; Langley, J. Adam; Walker, Wayne; Feller, Ilka C.; Schaub, R. Thomas; Chapman, Samantha K.

doi:10.1007/s12237-015-9993-8

Cited by 168 publications

(135 citation statements)

References 70 publications

(108 reference statements)

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“…These carbon accumulation dynamics in marsh soils will likely be altered in response to future environmental conditions driven by climate change and coastal restoration activities. For example, it is predicted that as air and sea temperatures increase, some herbaceous wetland vegetation will be replaced with tropical woody mangrove species (Comeaux et al 2012;Osland et al 2012;Doughty et al 2015) and that these community shifts may influence carbon production and accumulation rates in wetland soils. Sea-level rise is also predicted to produce more saline environmental conditions that could drive transitions of fresh marshes to more saline marsh types (Herbert et al 2015) or drive salt marsh transgression inland (Kirwan et al 2016).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Relationships Between Salinity and Short-Term Soil Carbon Accumulation Rates from Marsh Types Across a Landscape in the Mississippi River Delta

et al. 2017

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Salinity alterations will likely change the plant and environmental characteristics in coastal marshes thereby influencing soil carbon accumulation rates. Coastal Louisiana marshes have been historically classified as fresh, intermediate, brackish, or saline based on resident plant community and position along a salinity gradient. Short-term total carbon accumulation rates were assessed by collecting 10-cm deep soil cores at 24 sites located in marshes spanning the salinity gradient. Bulk density, total carbon content, and the short-term accretion rates obtained with feldspar horizon markers were measured to determine total carbon accumulation rates. Despite some significant differences in soil properties among marsh types, the mean total carbon accumulation rates among marsh types were not significantly different (mean ± std. err. of 190 ± 27 g TC m −2 year −1 ). However, regression analysis indicated that mean annual surface salinity had a significant negative relationship with total carbon accumulation rates. Based on both analyses, the coastal Louisiana total marsh area (1,433,700 ha) accumulates about 2.7 to 3.3 Tg C year −1 .Changing salinities due to increasing relative sea level or resulting from restoration activities may alter carbon accumulation rates in the short term and significantly influence the global carbon cycle.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Relationships Between Salinity and Short-Term Soil Carbon Accumulation Rates from Marsh Types Across a Landscape in the Mississippi River Delta

et al. 2017

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“…For example, in Florida over the 7-year period (2003 to 2010), “total wetland C stocks increased 22% due to mangrove encroachment into salt marshes” [38] primarily due to differences in aboveground biomass. Similarly, the sedimentation rate of mangroves is higher than Spartina [38]. However, further research is needed to examine the trade-offs between mangroves and salt marshes.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Is the Geographic Range of Mangrove Forests in the Conterminous United States Really Expanding?

Giri

Long

2016

Sensors

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Changes in the distribution and abundance of mangrove species within and outside of their historic geographic range can have profound consequences in the provision of ecosystem goods and services they provide. Mangroves in the conterminous United States (CONUS) are believed to be expanding poleward (north) due to decreases in the frequency and severity of extreme cold events, while sea level rise is a factor often implicated in the landward expansion of mangroves locally. We used ~35 years of satellite imagery and in situ observations for CONUS and report that: (i) poleward expansion of mangrove forest is inconclusive, and may have stalled for now, and (ii) landward expansion is actively occurring within the historical northernmost limit. We revealed that the northernmost latitudinal limit of mangrove forests along the east and west coasts of Florida, in addition to Louisiana and Texas has not systematically expanded toward the pole. Mangrove area, however, expanded by 4.3% from 1980 to 2015 within the historic northernmost boundary, with the highest percentage of change in Texas and southern Florida. Several confounding factors such as sea level rise, absence or presence of sub-freezing temperatures, land use change, impoundment/dredging, changing hydrology, fire, storm, sedimentation and erosion, and mangrove planting are responsible for the change. Besides, sea level rise, relatively milder winters and the absence of sub-freezing temperatures in recent decades may be enabling the expansion locally. The results highlight the complex set of forcings acting on the northerly extent of mangroves and emphasize the need for long-term monitoring as this system increases in importance as a means to adapt to rising oceans and mitigate the effects of increased atmospheric CO2.

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“…Studies are finding that climate-changed-induced movement of mangroves into saltmarsh with warming temperatures is resulting in increases in the carbon stored in biomass and soils in marine and estuarine mangroves. This is because mangrove forests have some of the highest average C storage per land area in unmanaged terrestrial ecosystems (Doughty et al 2015, Kelleway et al 2015. As mangroves replace salt marsh vegetation, soil C may increase (Bianchi et al 2013).…”

Section: Salt Marsh and Mangrove Response To A Changing Climate And Amentioning

confidence: 99%

Wetlands In a Changing Climate: Science, Policy and Management

Moomaw

Chmura

Davies³

et al. 2018

Wetlands

299

142

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Part 1 of this review synthesizes recent research on status and climate vulnerability of freshwater and saltwater wetlands, and their contribution to addressing climate change (carbon cycle, adaptation, resilience). Peatlands and vegetated coastal wetlands are among the most carbon rich sinks on the planet sequestering approximately as much carbon as do global forest ecosystems. Estimates of the consequences of rising temperature on current wetland carbon storage and future carbon sequestration potential are summarized. We also demonstrate the need to prevent drying of wetlands and thawing of permafrost by disturbances and rising temperatures to protect wetland carbon stores and climate adaptation/resiliency ecosystem services. Preventing further wetland loss is found to be important in limiting future emissions to meet climate goals, but is seldom considered. In Part 2, the paper explores the policy and management realm from international to national, subnational and local levels to identify strategies and policies reflecting an integrated understanding of both wetland and climate change science. Specific recommendations are made to capture synergies between wetlands and carbon cycle management, adaptation and resiliency to further enable researchers, policy makers and practitioners to protect wetland carbon and climate adaptation/resiliency ecosystem services.

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Mangrove Range Expansion Rapidly Increases Coastal Wetland Carbon Storage

Cited by 168 publications

References 70 publications

Relationships Between Salinity and Short-Term Soil Carbon Accumulation Rates from Marsh Types Across a Landscape in the Mississippi River Delta

Relationships Between Salinity and Short-Term Soil Carbon Accumulation Rates from Marsh Types Across a Landscape in the Mississippi River Delta

Is the Geographic Range of Mangrove Forests in the Conterminous United States Really Expanding?

Wetlands In a Changing Climate: Science, Policy and Management

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