Salt Marsh Morphological Evolution Under Plant Species Invasion

Abstract

Species invasion in salt marsh wetlands is known to disturb the balance of biotic and abiotic ecosystems (e.g., changing material exchange cycles and community structure). However, its in uence on the morphological evolution of salt marshes is not yet understood in depth. This study investigates the longterm temporal and spatial distributions of an invasive plant-Spartina alterni ora (S. alterni ora)-and its morphological characteristics in Yangtze Estuary by remote sensing imagery interpretation, tidal creek extraction, regional statistical analysis, and proximity analysis. The invaded site shows an area of S. alterni ora with a 35-fold increase from the start to the end of its initiation phase; it is the second biggest species in the study area. It is found that species invasion not only limited the expansion of native pioneer vegetation but also changed bio-geomorphic feedback loops. With the in uence of plant invasion, median tidal creek lengths decreased and the median tidal creek sinuosity ratio remained stable, between 1.06 and 1.07 in the subarea. The method used here is adaptable to other salt marshes. The ndings from this study can provide practical guidance for the restoration of native salt marshes in the estuary and thus control the spread of invasive species.