Planting Spartina alterniflora in a salt marsh denuded of vegetation by an oil spill induces a rapid response in the soil microbial community

Meta‐analysis of salt marsh vegetation impacts and recovery: a synthesis following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill

“…This was due in part to shifts from the normally dominant vegetation, particularly Spartina alterniflora, to species such as Paspalum vaginatum and Distichlis spicata, with important implications for marsh structure, function, and resilience (Zengel et al 2015(Zengel et al , 2021. Similar species shifts from Spartina alterniflora to Distichlis spicata in heavily oiled areas were also observed by others (Beland et al 2016, Johnson et al 2018, Cagle et al 2020, although this topic was not often examined or reported in most Deepwater Horizon marsh studies. Willis et al (2016) indicated possible species shifts from Juncus roemerianus to a mix of other species including Distichlis spicata, Spartina patens, and Salicornia sp., although this subject was not addressed in detail.…”

“… 2019 , 2020 , Cagle et al. 2020 ). Belowground plant biomass is not often reported for oil spill studies, probably because of logistical and cost constraints as well as concerns about negatively impacting the marsh (see brief review in Silliman et al.…”

“…Belowground biomass declined over time in contrast with recovery trends in nearly all the aboveground metrics and, therefore, was a strong indicator of ongoing impact and limited recovery. This is particularly insightful given the link between belowground biomass and marsh function and resilience, such as infauna and microbial communities, biogeochemistry, carbon sequestration, and soil shear strength and erodibility (Peterson et al 2008, Macreadie et al 2013, Lin et al 2016, Silliman et al 2016, 2020, Cagle et al 2020. Belowground plant biomass is not often reported for oil spill studies, probably because of logistical and cost constraints as well as concerns about negatively impacting the marsh (see brief review in Silliman et al 2016;Culbertson et al 2008, Michel et al 2009 are good examples of delayed belowground biomass recovery in coastal marshes from seven to 37 years following two refined fuel oil spills).…”

Archaeal and bacterial communities assembly and co-occurrence networks in subtropical mangrove sediments under Spartina alterniflora invasion

“…S. alterniflora have been aggressive invaders of coastal habitats worldwide. Whereas most studies focused on S. alterniflora invasion altered the community abundance and diversity of related functional microorganisms, and affected C, N, and S cycles [ 7 , 51 ]. The impact of invasion on community assembly and network structure was poorly understood.…”

Disentangling Archaeal and Bacterial Biogeography and Co-occurrence Networks in Subtropical Mangrove Sediments Under Spartina Alterniflora Invasion

“…Spartina alterni ora invasion changed bacterial and archaeal community assembly and co-occurrence patterns S. alterni ora have been aggressive invaders of coastal habitats worldwide. Whereas most studies focused on S. alterni ora invasion altered the community abundance and diversity of related functional microorganisms, and affected C, N, and S cycles [7,51]. The impact of invasion on community assembly and network structure was poorly understood.…”