Document Type
Article
Publication Title
PLoS ONE
Abstract
We evaluated the impact of shoreline dynamics on fringing vegetation density at mid- and low-marsh elevations at a high-energy site in the northern Gulf of Mexico. Particularly, we selected eight unprotected shoreline stretches (75 m each) at a historically eroding site and measured their inter-annual lateral movement rate using the DSAS method for three consecutive years. We observed high inter-annual variability of shoreline movement within the selected stretches. Specifically, shorelines retrograded (eroded) in year 1 and year 3, whereas, in year 2, shorelines advanced seaward. Despite shoreline advancement in year 2, an overall net erosion was recorded during the survey period. Additionally, vegetation density generally declined at both elevations during the survey period; however, probably due to their immediate proximity with lateral erosion agents (e.g., waves, currents), marsh grasses at low-elevation exhibited abrupt reduction in density, more so than grasses at mid elevation. Finally, contrary to our hypothesis, despite shoreline advancement, vegetation density did not increase correspondingly in year 2 probably due to a lag in response from biota. More studies in other coastal systems may advance our knowledge of marsh edge systems; however, we consider our results could be beneficial to resource managers in preparing protection plans for coastal wetlands against chronic stressors such as lateral erosion.
First Page
1
Last Page
14
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0159814
Publication Date
7-21-2016
Department
Marine and Environmental Sciences
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Recommended Citation
Publisher required Citation: Sharma S, Goff J, Moody RM, McDonald A, Byron D, Heck KL, Jr., et al. (2016) Effects of Shoreline Dynamics on Saltmarsh Vegetation. PLoS ONE 11(7): e0159814. doi:10.1371/journal. pone.0159814
Included in
Biology Commons, Environmental Monitoring Commons, Hydrology Commons, Marine Biology Commons, Natural Resources and Conservation Commons, Natural Resources Management and Policy Commons, Other Life Sciences Commons, Plant Sciences Commons, Sedimentology Commons, Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecology Commons, Water Resource Management Commons
Comments
Must use original publisher's citation to cite this work.
Copyright: This is an open access article, free of all copyright, and may be freely reproduced, distributed, transmitted, modified, built upon, or otherwise used by anyone for any lawful purpose. The work is made available under the Creative Commons CC0 public domain dedication.
Data Availability Statement: All relevant data are within the paper and its Supporting Information files. Funding: This project was funded by ADCNR, State Lands Division (Grant # SLD-EDRP-DISL-08-1).
Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.