Tropicalization of the barrier islands of the northern Gulf of Mexico: A comparison of herbivory and decomposition rates between smooth cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora) and black mangrove (Avicennia germinans)

Macy, Aaron; Sharma, Shailesh; Sparks, Eric; Goff, Josh; Heck, Kenneth L.; Johnson, Matthew W.; Harper, Patric; Cebrián, Just

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0210144

Cited by 20 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 53 publications

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“…Freeze‐tolerant salt marshes dominate areas that are too cold for mangrove forests, while mangroves dominate coastal reaches with mild winters. Hence, coastal wetlands in this region contain a dynamic mosaic of mangrove forest and salt marsh plants (Coldren, Langley, Feller, & Chapman, ; Langston, Kaplan, & Angelini, ; Macy et al, ; Perry & Mendelssohn, ; Weaver & Armitage, ).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Temperature thresholds for black mangrove (Avicennia germinans) freeze damage, mortality and recovery in North America: Refining tipping points for range expansion in a warming climate

et al. 2019

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Near the tropical‐temperate transition zone, warming winter temperatures are expected to facilitate the poleward range expansion of freeze‐sensitive tropical organisms. In coastal wetlands of eastern and central North America, freeze‐sensitive woody plants (mangroves) are expected to expand northward into regions currently dominated by freeze‐tolerant herbaceous salt marsh plants. To advance understanding of mangrove range expansion, there is a need to refine temperature thresholds for mangrove freeze damage, mortality and recovery. We integrated data from 38 sites spread across the mangrove range edge in the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic coasts of North America, including data from a regional collaborative network – the Mangrove Migration Network. In 2018, an extreme freeze event affected 60% of these sites, with minimum temperatures ranging from 0 to −7°C. We used temperature and vegetation data from before and after the freeze to quantify temperature thresholds for leaf damage, mortality and biomass recovery of the black mangrove (Avicennia germinans) – the most freeze‐tolerant mangrove species in North America. For A. germinans individuals near their northern range limit, our results indicate that temperature thresholds for leaf damage are close to −4°C, but temperature thresholds for mortality are closer to −7°C. Thresholds are expected to be warmer for more southern A. germinans individuals and for the other two common mangrove species in the region (Laguncularia racemosa and Rhizophora mangle). Regenerative buds allowed A. germinans to resprout and recover quickly from above‐ground freeze damage. Hence, biomass recovery levels during the first post‐freeze growing season were 90%, 78%, 62% and 45% for temperatures of −4, −5, −6 and −7°C, respectively. Due to a combination of vigorous resprouting and new recruitment from propagules, we expect full recovery at most sites within 1–3 years, assuming no further freeze events. Synthesis. To improve predictions of tropical range expansion in response to climate change, there is a need to better understand tropical species’ responses to winter temperature extremes. Collectively, our results refine temperature thresholds for A. germinans freeze damage, mortality and recovery, which can improve predictions of mangrove range expansion and coastal wetland ecological transformations in a warming climate.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Temperature thresholds for black mangrove (Avicennia germinans) freeze damage, mortality and recovery in North America: Refining tipping points for range expansion in a warming climate

et al. 2019

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“…The lack of heavy frosts has allowed a number of tropical/subtropical species to extend into and persist in the northernmost reaches of the Gulf. For example, black mangrove Avicennia germinans have become common throughout the Gulf [7][8][9][10], including Texas [11], Louisiana [12], Mississippi [13], and Florida [14]. Both red and white mangroves (Rhizophora mangle and Languncularia racemosa, respectively) are now common in Florida's Big Bend region near Cedar Key (author's, personal observation).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Poleward expansion of common snook Centropomus undecimalis in the northeastern Gulf of Mexico and future research needs

2020

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Globally, rising temperatures have resulted in numerous examples of poleward shifts in species distribution patterns with accompanying changes in community structure and ecosystem processes. In the Gulf of Mexico, higher mean temperatures and less frequent winter freezes have led to the expansion of tropics-associated marine organisms. Our objectives were to quantify changing environmental conditions and the poleward expansion of the common snook Centropomus undecimalis into the Cedar Keys area of Florida, USA (29 deg N). The snook is an economically and recreationally important sport fish found from southern Brazil to south Florida. Cedar Key and the Lower Suwannee River are north of the snook's historically documented range, likely due to lethal water temperatures during winter. Using data from a long-term monitoring program, we report an increase in catches of snook in this area since 2007. The spatial and temporal expansion of the species began with adult fish in 2007. By 2018, snook of all sizes were found in the region, and we found strong evidence of local reproduction during 2016-2018. The locations of nursery habitat and winter thermal refuges (e.g., freshwater springs) need to be identified and have implications for land-use policy and minimum-flow regulations for rivers. The arrival of the snook in the northern Gulf of Mexico could affect food web ecology and habitat interactions among estuarine predators, and future studies should evaluate snook's food habits and competitive interactions with resident fishes in this expanded range. Our study provides an example of how species range expansions due to changing temperatures should result in new research priorities to evaluate impacts of climate change on coastal systems.

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“…Near the transition between tropical and temperate climates, warming air and ocean temperatures are expected to allow tropical biomes to move poleward—towards the north pole in the northern hemisphere and towards the south pole in the southern hemisphere (Carter et al., 2018; Chen, Hill, Ohlemüller, Roy, & Thomas, 2011; Day et al., 2013; Parmesan, 2006; Yamano, Sugihara, & Nomura, 2011). Scientists have used the term “tropicalization” to describe the transformation of temperate ecosystems by these poleward‐moving tropical species (Macy et al., 2019; Osland & Feher, 2020; Scheffel, Heck, & Johnson, 2018; Vergés et al., 2014; Yáñez‐Arancibia, Day, Twilley, & Day, 2014). In coastal wetland ecosystems, warming winter air temperatures are expected to allow tropical mangrove forests to move poleward, in some cases at the expense of temperate salt marsh ecosystems (Cavanaugh et al., 2019; Saintilan, Wilson, Rogers, Rajkaran, & Krauss, 2014).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Frequency of extreme freeze events controls the distribution and structure of black mangroves (Avicennia germinans) near their northern range limit in coastal Louisiana

Osland

Day

Michot

2020

Diversity and Distributions

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Aim Climate change is expected to result in the tropicalization of coastal wetlands in the northern Gulf of Mexico, as warming winters allow tropical mangrove forests to expand their distribution poleward at the expense of temperate salt marshes. Data limitations near mangrove range limits have hindered understanding of the effects of winter temperature extremes on mangrove distribution and structure. Here, we investigated the influence of extreme freeze events on the abundance, height and coverage of black mangroves (Avicennia germinans) near their northern range limit in Louisiana. Location Coastal Louisiana, USA. Methods We quantified the relationships between the frequency of extreme freeze events and A. germinans abundance, height and coverage using: (a) mangrove observation points recorded via aerial surveys from a fixed‐wing aircraft; (b) 30 years of temperature data; and (c) mangrove mortality and leaf damage temperature thresholds. We used freeze frequency data and mangrove–climate relationships to evaluate and spatially depict the risk of A. germinans freeze damage across Louisiana. Results We identified strong negative relationships between the frequency of extreme freeze events and A. germinans abundance, height and coverage. Avicennia germinans is most abundant, tall and continuous along the south‐eastern outer coast of Louisiana, where the frequency of extreme freeze events is reduced (i.e., lower risk of mangrove freeze damage) by the buffering effects of comparatively warm Gulf of Mexico waters. Conversely, the risk of A. germinans freeze damage has historically been very high across Louisiana's Chenier Plain and within more inland wetlands in the Deltaic Plain. Main conclusions Our analyses advance understanding of how the frequency of extreme freeze events controls the distribution, height and coverage of A. germinans near its northern range limit. In addition to informing climate‐smart coastal restoration efforts, our findings can be used to better anticipate and prepare for the tropicalization of temperate wetlands due to climate change.

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Tropicalization of the barrier islands of the northern Gulf of Mexico: A comparison of herbivory and decomposition rates between smooth cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora) and black mangrove (Avicennia germinans)

Cited by 20 publications

References 53 publications

Temperature thresholds for black mangrove (Avicennia germinans) freeze damage, mortality and recovery in North America: Refining tipping points for range expansion in a warming climate

Temperature thresholds for black mangrove (Avicennia germinans) freeze damage, mortality and recovery in North America: Refining tipping points for range expansion in a warming climate

Poleward expansion of common snook Centropomus undecimalis in the northeastern Gulf of Mexico and future research needs

Frequency of extreme freeze events controls the distribution and structure of black mangroves (Avicennia germinans) near their northern range limit in coastal Louisiana

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