Real-world time-travel experiment shows ecosystem collapse due to anthropogenic climate change

Nature Communications, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 15(1)

Published: Feb. 15, 2024

Abstract Predicting climate impacts is challenging and has to date relied on indirect methods, notably modeling. Here we examine coastal ecosystem change during 13 years of unusually rapid, albeit likely temporary, sea-level rise ( > 10 mm yr −1 ) in the Gulf Mexico. Such rates, which may become a persistent feature future due anthropogenic change, drove rising water levels similar magnitude Louisiana’s wetlands. Measurements surface-elevation at 253 monitoring sites show that 87% these are unable keep up with levels. We find no evidence for enhanced wetland elevation gain through ecogeomorphic feedbacks, where more frequent inundation would lead biomass accumulation could counterbalance attribute this exceptionally rapid time period. Under current trajectory (SSP2-4.5), drowning ~75% wetlands plausible outcome by 2070.

Language: Английский

---

Measuring and Interpreting the Surface and Shallow Subsurface Process Influences on Coastal Wetland Elevation: A Review

Estuaries and Coasts, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 47(7), P. 1708 - 1734

Published: April 2, 2024

Language: Английский

---

Large-scale loss of Mediterranean coastal marshes under rising sea levels by 2100

Communications Earth & Environment, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 6(1)

Published: Feb. 20, 2025

Language: Английский

---

Top ten priorities for global saltmarsh restoration, conservation and ecosystem service research

The Science of The Total Environment, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 898, P. 165544 - 165544

Published: July 13, 2023

Language: Английский

---

Maximizing blue carbon stocks through saltmarsh restoration

Frontiers in Marine Science, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 10

Published: March 30, 2023

Political discourse around coastal wetland restoration and blue carbon management strategies has increased in the past decade, yet storage neither been a reason for restoration, nor criterion to measure success of current saltmarsh schemes UK. To maximise climate change mitigation through knowledge on key drivers stock variability is required. We use restored saltmarshes similar age, paired with adjacent natural marshes as references, identify stocks following managed realignment within an estuary southeastern England. From surficial soil cores (top 30 cm), we measured alongside environmental characteristics. Carbon between sites were after ~ years when above mean high water neap (MHWN) tidal levels. Elevated marsh platforms likely provide suitable conditions development mature plant communities associated greater capture production organic carbon. The site at Tollesbury (Essex, UK) had 2-fold lower than other estuary. attribute this site’s low position frame, below MHWN levels, coupled sediment supply dominance pioneer communities. As anticipated become important facet recommend that levels are selected or preference given coastlines may rapidly elevate MHWN. Alternatively, elevation could be artificially raised prior realignment. Restoration aiming should also encourage establishment species (e.g., Atriplex portulacoides our study) enhance stocks. However, overall goal ought carefully considered trade-offs ecosystem services ensue if alone pursued.

Language: Английский

---

Mangrove Trees Outperform Saltmarsh Grasses in Building Elevation but Collapse Rapidly Under High Rates of Sea‐Level Rise

Earth s Future, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 11(4)

Published: April 1, 2023

Abstract Mangrove trees are invading saltmarshes at subtropical ecotones globally, but the consequences of this vegetation shift for ecosystem sustainability remain unknown. Using Coastal Wetland Equilibrium Model (CWEM) to simulate survival and sediment accretion, we predict that black mangroves, Avicennia germinans , can build soil elevation by 8 mm yr −1 four times greater than same site, a finding is broadly consistent with field measurements change. Mangroves more rapidly producing much live labile belowground biomass, when mangroves drown, they abruptly lose due large volume quickly decomposing necromass following flood‐induced mortality. Under certain conditions, young accumulate root mass faster mature and, therefore, gain rapidly, neither nor any age survived centenary sea‐level increase 100 cm. The acceleration rise coastal marshes encountering raises question how wetlands should be optimally managed these results provide managers predictive information on wetland building capacity versus marshes.

Language: Английский

---

The distribution of global tidal marshes from earth observation data

bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory), Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: May 28, 2023

ABSTRACT Aim Tidal marsh ecosystems are heavily impacted by human activities, highlighting a pressing need to address gaps in our knowledge of their distribution. To better understand the global distribution and changes tidal extent, identify opportunities for conservation restoration, it is critical develop spatial base occurrence. Here, we globally consistent map year 2020 at 10-m resolution. Location Global Time period Major taxa studied marshes Methods location world’s applied random forest classification model earth observation data from 2020. We trained with reference dataset developed support mapping coastal ecosystems, predicted between 60°N 60°S. validated using standard accuracy assessment methods, final having an overall score 0.852. Results estimate extent be 52,880 km 2 (95% CI: 32,030 59,780 ) distributed across 120 countries territories. centred temperate Arctic regions, nearly half occurring Northern Atlantic (45%) region. At national scale, over third (18,510 ; 11,200 – 20,900) occurs within USA. Main conclusions Our analysis provides most detailed on date shows that occur more greater proportion coastline than previous studies. fills major gap regarding baseline needed measuring estimating value terms ecosystem services

Language: Английский

---

What is coastal subsidence?

Cambridge Prisms Coastal Futures, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 2

Published: Jan. 1, 2024

Abstract Major technological advances have made measurements of coastal subsidence more sophisticated, but these not always been matched by a thorough examination what is actually being measured. Here we draw attention to the widespread confusion about key concepts in literature, much which revolves around interplay between sediment accretion, vertical land motion and surface-elevation change. We attempt reconcile this drawing on well-established from tectonics community. A consensus issues means common language can help bridge gap disparate disciplines (ranging geophysics ecology) that are critical quest for meaningful projections future relative sea-level rise.

Language: Английский

---

Vegetation dieback in the Mississippi River Delta triggered by acute drought and chronic relative sea-level rise

Nature Communications, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 15(1)

Published: April 25, 2024

Vegetation dieback and recovery may be dependent on the interplay between infrequent acute disturbances underlying chronic stresses. Coastal wetlands are vulnerable to stress of sea-level rise, which affect their susceptibility disturbance events. Here, we show that a large-scale vegetation in Mississippi River Delta was precipitated by salt-water incursion during an extreme drought summer 2012 most severe areas exposed greater flooding. Using 16 years data (2007-2022) from coastwide network monitoring stations, impacts lasted five only partial inundation. Dieback marshes experienced increase percent time flooded 43% 2007 75% 2022 decline cover species richness over same period. Thus, while drought-induced high salinities soil saturation triggered significant event, inundation is causing longer-term cover, more widespread losses, reduced capacity recover stressors. Overall, our findings point importance mitigating stresses foster resilience both persistent causes loss.

Language: Английский

---

Coastal Wetlands in the Anthropocene

Annual Review of Environment and Resources, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 49(1), P. 105 - 135

Published: Sept. 4, 2024

We review the functioning and sustainability of coastal marshes mangroves. Urbanized humans have a 7,000-year-old enduring relationship to wetlands. Wetlands include marshes, salt flats, saline freshwater forests. Coastal wetlands occur in all climate zones but are most abundant deltas. Mangroves tropical, whereas from tropical boreal areas. Quantification wetland areas has advanced recent years is still insufficiently accurate. Climate change sea-level rise predicted lead significant losses other impacts on associated with them. Landward migration retreat not expected significantly reduce losses. Nitrogen watershed inputs unlikely alter marsh stability because loadings mostly lower than those fertilization studies that show decreased belowground biomass increased decomposition soil organic matter. Blue carbon impacts. The high values ecosystem goods services be reduced by area Humans had strong Holocene, these increase Anthropocene.

Language: Английский

---