Articles tagged with Salt Marshes
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A University of Houston biologist has received a $2.16 million federal grant to study how some coastal frogs survive in salty environments. The research could reveal how cells cope with salt stress and have implications for understanding the health risks of high-salt diets in humans.
A team of international marine scientists urges reform to licensing and regulation of coastal restoration projects. The authors argue outdated systems hinder progress toward ambitious global targets to restore 30% of degraded ecosystems by 2030.
A new multi-diversity index (MDI) developed by the University of Queensland has opened up a market for coastal wetland restoration projects. The index measures biodiversity gains in restored ecosystems, enabling landholders and communities to earn tradeable certificates with a market value.
Stakeholders from Germany, the Netherlands, and Finland met to develop impact plans influencing policies and markets to restore degraded peatlands. The plans aim to align policy goals with specific tasks, support efficient funding and market innovation.
Researchers developed a model to detect early signs of marsh decline using satellite observations, identifying vulnerable areas along Georgia's coast. The study found belowground biomass has declined across 72% of Georgia's coastal marsh since 2014.
Scientists at UMass Amherst accurately quantify coastal carbon storage using satellites, revealing 10 million cars' worth of carbon stored in top meter of soil and an additional 15,000-worth each year. The results are crucial for a resilient, low-carbon future, highlighting the potential for salt marshes to mitigate climate change.
Researchers found that restoring coastal marshes can significantly help protect coastlines at a reasonable cost. A study by MIT graduate student Ernie I. H. Lee and professor Heidi Nepf shows that enhancing salt marshes in front of protective seawalls can reduce construction costs while still providing adequate protection from storms.
The study reveals the genes that enable plants to make DMSP, allowing them to thrive in salty and drought conditions. This breakthrough could improve agricultural productivity in nitrogen-poor soils, making crops more sustainable in the face of global climate change.
Scientists from the University of East Anglia and other institutions review the climatic effectiveness of four 'nature-based' techniques using marine biological processes. They conclude that these activities cannot provide a significant contribution to carbon dioxide removal, posing risks to meaningful climate mitigation.
Researchers found that salt marsh restoration can reduce flood risk, preserve habitats, and provide recreational opportunities. The study also emphasizes the importance of integrating nature-based solutions into comprehensive climate resilience strategies to mitigate future climate change impacts.
A UK feasibility study suggests that a carbon credit scheme could support private investment in saltmarsh restoration, providing vital habitat for wildlife and addressing the climate crisis. The introduction of a Saltmarsh Code would pave the way for projects with public financing to contribute to restoration efforts.
Scientists highlight tidal wetlands beyond mangroves, saltmarshes and seagrass as Blue Carbon ecosystems, offering biodiversity conservation and carbon sequestration benefits.
Tidal landscapes like mangroves and salt marshes are a greater carbon sink than previously thought, with stored carbon in biomass and muddy soils contributing to climate change mitigation. The new findings also show that bicarbonate exports from these ecosystems double the size of the carbon trap, making them even more effective.
A study reveals that sea otter reintroduction has slowed creekbank erosion by up to 90% and restored marsh stability despite rising sea levels and pollution. The researchers suggest that this phenomenon can have far-reaching benefits for ecosystems worldwide, overturning the traditional bottom-up paradigm of coastal geomorphology.
Researchers analyzed DNA sequenced datasets of microbes collected from salt marsh sites to study the relationship between cordgrasses and sulfur-cycling microbes. They found diverse microbial communities with varying combinations of genes for sulfate reduction and sulfur oxidation, allowing them to thrive in salt marsh sediments.
A new conceptual framework developed by international researchers, led by UNF's Dr. Scott F. Jones, provides a rigorous and equitable way to compare salt marsh ecosystems worldwide. The framework accounts for the uniqueness of each individual salt marsh and offers guidance on applying it to 11 global examples.
Salt marshes reduce wave run-up on dikes, but their impact is dependent on foreshore elevation and marsh width. In some locations, marshes are absent where mud flats are low-lying, highlighting the need for human interventions or hard engineering solutions to enhance protection.
A 50-year study on Great Sippewissett Marsh found that more than 90% of the world's salt marshes will be underwater by 2100 due to sea-level rise. Despite attempts to adapt, low-lying wetlands are unlikely to migrate landward, and human development may exacerbate the problem.
Salt marshes along the US East Coast have accumulated soil more quickly over the past century to keep up with rising waters. However, this rate of growth will eventually slow down as sea levels continue to rise, and many coastal wetlands may not be able to adapt in time.
A team of researchers found that coastal habitats can adapt to rapid sea-level rise by utilizing abundant sediment, which can help salt marshes survive. The study's key finding highlights the importance of re-infusing sediment into estuary systems when dredging is necessary.
A new noninvasive genetic survey technique allows researchers to identify salt marsh harvest mice and other small mammals without capturing them. The technique uses bait stations and genetics to collect fecal pellets from mice that come and go on their own.
University of South Florida researchers found that mangroves have overtaken 83% of oyster reefs in Tampa Bay, leading to a decline in ecosystem function and habitat for threatened species. Climate-driven changes are altering subtropical ecosystems, threatening the very foundations of coastal biodiversity.
Researchers observed blue crabs digging shallow pits that fill with water and waiting for prey to come to them. The attacks were successful 33% of the time, making it an efficient hunting strategy.
Researchers discovered that copper availability affects the release of nitrous oxide, a potent greenhouse gas. When copper is not available, microbes release more harmful gases instead of nitrogen, which makes up 78% of Earth's atmosphere. By adding metal to natural systems, it may mitigate nitrous oxide release.
A new study finds that coastal wetlands in rural US areas will persist or expand due to rising sea levels, not be slowed by human barriers. The Chesapeake Bay region is expected to experience significant land loss, with over 600 square miles predicted to become inundated by 2100.
A new study published in Science Advances reveals that the environmental stress of too much water wipes out the plant growth benefits of higher CO2 levels. Rising sea levels have caused the effects of increased CO2 to disappear in a 33-year field experiment, highlighting the critical need for conservation and adaptation efforts.
A new study reveals that salt marsh grass in Georgia's coast relies on beneficial bacteria in its roots to access nutrients, improving plant productivity. The research provides insights into the importance of soil microorganisms in maintaining ecosystem health and supporting restoration efforts.
A new research study by the University of Massachusetts Amherst fundamentally changes our understanding of how salt marshes acquire sediment. The majority of sediments are delivered by the ocean during storms, reversing commonly held assumptions about the role of rivers in building and maintaining these ecosystems. This discovery has s...
A UConn study found that adding 5-7 centimeters of sediment to salt marshes in Connecticut increases plant growth, keeping the marsh afloat and reducing costs. The technique can help coastlines in the Northeast stay ahead of rising sea levels by promoting carbon sequestration.
International researchers used machine learning to forecast marsh establishment under various environmental conditions, revealing that controllable local factors are more important than global climate change. The study suggests smart management of tidal flats can counteract threats and strengthen wetlands.
Satellite images reveal a substantial increase in saltmarsh area and stable trends of tidal flat areas after 2012, driven by decreased anthropogenic activities and increased conservation and restoration efforts. Conservation efforts have positively impacted China's coastal wetlands, mitigating the loss of these important ecosystems.
A long-term study in Elkhorn Slough found that superabundant crabs weaken tidal creek banks, reducing marsh plant growth and increasing erosion. Reducing crab abundance led to increased salt marsh vegetation growth and enhanced sediment density.
A new decision tree tool has been developed to differentiate the endangered salt marsh harvest mouse from its abundant look-alike, the western harvest mouse. The tool uses machine learning to analyze characteristics such as belly color and tail hair, allowing for accurate identification with high accuracy.
Researchers at UConn discovered that salt marsh vegetation, bacterial communities, and soil composition can predict a marsh's potential to be a blue carbon reservoir. The study found that tidal restoration leads to changes in plant growth, microbial activity, and carbon cycling.
Grazing by cattle and small herbivores reduces salt marsh erosion, contributing to nature-based coastal defense. Artificial mowing also increases erosion resistance by excluding burying animals from the soil.
The workshop aimed to address the knowledge gap in tidal marshes by discussing key issues, including public awareness, conservation efforts, and sea-level rise impacts. The meeting drew experts from various fields, from undergraduate students to retired leaders, to share perspectives on tidal marsh ecology.
A species of crab, Sesarma reticulatum, is reshaping the landscape of marshlands in the southeastern US. The crab's burrowing and grazing activities lead to erosion of creek heads, accelerating marsh drainage and altering ecosystem dynamics.
A new study reveals how climate change has enabled Sesarma reticulatum to thrive in southern salt marshes, dramatically altering ecosystem dynamics and clearing grasses that hold the marshes together. This has led to increased rates of creek formation and changes in interactions between predators and prey species.
Historic floods have shown salt marshes' ability to confine breach depth, reducing flood damage by lowering inundation depths. This natural defense can greatly enhance coastal safety, even in areas where preserving or developing marshes is not possible.
Researchers at McGill University have launched interactive story maps to highlight the importance of wetlands, which support a disproportionately high number of endangered species. Wetlands also naturally combat climate change by storing carbon dioxide underground.
A new study suggests that high levels of nitrate in salt marsh sediments stimulate decomposition, releasing CO2 and reducing the marsh's ability to store carbon. This finding has implications for climate change mitigation strategies relying on blue carbon habitats like salt marshes.
Research reveals that stronger waves due to sea level rise can hamper plant re-establishment on neighboring tidal flats, slowing down or blocking recovery. Effective management of tidal flats is crucial for preserving salt marshes' resilience to wave attacks.
Four sparrow species adapt differently to control water and salt balance, with Savannah Sparrows using channel-forming genes, Swamp Sparrows evolving gene changes, Song Sparrows reinforcing cell walls, and Nelson's Sparrows curbing thirst. The adaptations are rapid and accompanied by shared traits like larger bills and darker plumage.
A new Duke University-led study reveals that marsh plants killed by disturbances like the Deepwater Horizon oil spill can double shoreline erosion rates. The loss of wetland vegetation increases erosion on wave-stressed shorelines by 100%, according to researchers.
The study reveals that restoration of marsh vegetation is crucial for overall recovery after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. The research found that planting foundation species like Spartina alterniflora can facilitate colonization by burrowing invertebrates and fuel the food web, leading to a faster recovery.
A new study finds that climate change will lead to the extinction of both seaside and saltmarsh sparrow species, with saltmarsh sparrows facing local extinction in as little as 30 years. Rising sea levels will reduce available habitat and increase flooding rates, making it difficult for these birds to thrive.
A study by Dauphin Island Sea Lab team reveals black mangroves shift salt marsh trophic pathways, with grazers preferring their leaves due to higher nutritional value. Bacteria also show a preference for decomposing black mangrove leaves, altering ecosystem dynamics.
New research reveals hidden realms in ice-covered lakes and deep soils affecting water clarity, salt marsh survival, drought impact, and climate change pace. NSF's LTER Network of 28 sites explores various ecosystems to better understand ecological processes.
A recent study found that urbanization is weakening the shoreline of New York City's Jamaica Bay wetlands, causing erosion and loss of vital mineral sediment. The marshes are being drained of essential sediments, leading to their gradual but dramatic disintegration.
A global study predicts that coastal wetlands will increase in area as sea levels rise, but only if humans preserve room for them to migrate inland. The researchers found a key threshold of 20 people per square kilometer, and suggest using 'natural and nature-based features' to expand accommodation space.
An international study estimates that rising sea levels will endanger UK salt marshes by 2100, with southern and eastern England facing a high risk of loss by 2040. The study uses geological records to predict the vulnerability of these ecosystems, highlighting the urgent need for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
A new study suggests that reducing nutrient pollution in salt marshes could help prevent human disease. The research found that nutrient enrichment increased the number and biomass of parasites in a specific host species, which may have implications for human health.
Research by Virginia Institute of Marine Science reveals rapid landward migration of barrier-island sands leading to significant loss of adjacent saltmarshes. The study estimates that at least 60 acres of back-barrier saltmarsh are consumed annually, with nearly 10% of Virginia's historical acreage lost since 1870.
A new technique uses remote sensing to assess coastal salt marshes' potential to survive environmental challenges. The UVVR ratio is a good surrogate for labor-intensive field studies, tracking the main destructive processes in marshes.
A new study finds that salt marshes do not respond significantly to fertilization with excess nitrogen. This challenges the long-held assumption that these coastal resources can soak up excess nutrients through enhanced plant growth, preventing low-oxygen dead zones and harmful algal blooms.
A new study by Duke University identified a threshold for permanent spill-induced erosion in salt marshes, with erosion rates accelerating at sites covered in over 90% oil. In contrast, marshes with less oil impact showed no accelerated erosion and potentially recover over time.
A new study suggests that traditional assessment methods overestimate the vulnerability of salt marshes to sea-level rise. Salt marshes can generally survive higher rates of sea-level rise than predicted by current models, thanks to their ability to grow vertically and migrate landward.
Researchers found that waves driven by moderate storms cause the most loss in salt marshes, not severe events like hurricanes. This knowledge brings new tools for managing and restoring wetlands, enabling predictions of erosion based on wind and wave climates.
A new Duke University study finds that clumping newly planted marsh grasses can spur positive interactions and boost growth, increasing vegetative cover by up to 300% in some test plots. This approach challenges 40-year-old forestry-based practice of dispersed planting.
Research by UNH scientists finds that appearance alone is not enough to identify hybrid zone birds; DNA analysis reveals complex combinations of plumage traits. The study provides insights into the challenges of monitoring hybrids in natural populations and aids in conservation initiatives for both species.