Articles tagged with Salt Marshes
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.
Northern coastal marshes are more susceptible to overgrazing by herbivores from nutrient-rich runoff, leading to destabilization and reduced function. This study integrates field experiments and finds that latitude plays a key role in mediating the impact of nutrient loading on plant-herbivore interactions.
A new, inexpensive tidal simulator allows researchers to study the effects of added nutrients and salt on salt marsh plant growth in a controlled setting. The device enables the investigation of tidal marsh plant growth with minimal space and cost, opening new doors for wetland research.
Despite visible signs of recovery, Cape Cod's saltmarshes are not fully restoring their ecosystem functions. A new study found that recovering marshes provide only partial benefits in terms of wave exposure and sediment height, while always-healthy marshes continue to offer superior coastal protection.
Climate change is allowing mangroves to thrive in new areas around northern Florida, with the species' range expanding by over 3,000 acres between 1984 and 2011. The growth of mangroves may pose challenges for other coastal ecosystems, such as salt marshes, which could face loss of habitat and biodiversity.
Mangroves have expanded dramatically along Florida's Atlantic Coast as frost frequency declined, replacing salt marshes. This change is linked to extreme weather patterns and rising temperatures.
A new study by Duke University and University of Massachusetts at Boston found that preserving the right mix of species is crucial for maintaining healthy ecosystems. The research showed that removing key species can have profound impacts on ecosystem health, highlighting the importance of biodiversity quality over quantity.
Research reveals that recreational fishing and Great Depression-era ditches are causing significant erosion and die-off of cordgrass habitat in Cape Cod salt marshes. The unchecked growth of purple marsh crabs has led to the destruction of this essential ecosystem, threatening the region's ecological balance.
A new plant-parasitic nematode worm, Meloidoderita salina, was discovered in a tidal salt marsh at Mont Saint Michel Bay. The female nematode worm exhibits a unique hexagonal beaded pattern on its cystoids, which is the first observation of this type in nematode worms.
A recent study by the U.S. National Science Foundation found that excessive nutrient enrichment can cause salt marsh loss, leading to habitat destruction for fish and shellfish. The research showed that nutrient-enriched marshes experienced extensive erosion, converting vegetated areas into mudflats with reduced productivity.
Researchers found that fertilizer introduction stimulates bacterial growth, breaking down peat and vital components of the soil, leading to rapid changes in creek morphology and salt marsh retreat. The team's study highlights the devastating impact of nutrient enrichment on coastal ecosystems, threatening cities from storm surges, carb...
A long-term study reveals that excessive nutrients can cause salt-marsh loss, leading to habitat destruction for fish and wildlife. The research highlights the need for better waste management practices to protect these critical coastal ecosystems.
Researchers predict that salt marshes can absorb significant amounts of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, potentially slowing climate change. However, the ecosystems can only survive moderate rates of sea-level rise and may not be able to mitigate warming at high levels.
A study found that arthropods and crabs were vulnerable to the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill but recovered within a year if host plants remained healthy. Salt marsh ecosystems showed resilience despite oil exposure.
A University of Houston study found that arthropods in coastal salt marshes affected by the 2010 BP oil spill experienced reduced populations due to oil exposure, but recovered within a year if host plants remained healthy.
A team of scientists discovered that high summer temperatures influence bill size in salt marsh sparrow species. The study found that birds with larger bills can pump blood into tissue and release heat more effectively.
Two LSU research groups investigate the impact of oil and dispersants on the Louisiana salt marsh ecosystem and genetic structure of wildlife populations. The studies aim to understand short- and long-term effects of chemicals on natural systems.
Researchers are tracking short- and long-term exposure to oil and dispersants in Gulf Coast salt marshes. The goal is to document changes in Spartina grasses, plant growth, and marsh animals and microbes.
Researchers found that 20th-century sea-level rise in North Carolina is three times higher than the rate of sea-level rise during the last 500 years. The acceleration appears consistent with other studies from the Atlantic coast, suggesting a possible link to human-induced climate change.
New research shows that pannes in New England salt marshes are sensitive to temperature increases and may be driven to local and regional extinction. The plants in these waterlogged zones respond by growing more initially but then dying off, making way for invasive species like Spartina patens.
Researchers found that parasites dominated the links between species in food webs, with a significant impact on ecosystem stability. The study also revealed new patterns, including increased vulnerability of mid-trophic level animals to parasites and predators.
Researchers are using California horn snails as a 'data logger' to monitor trematode populations and infer predator-prey relationships in wetland ecosystems. The study found that higher parasite counts were associated with more bird species, indicating the effectiveness of this method for assessing biodiversity.
Research reveals that drought-stressed soils create an environment conducive to the spread of fungal disease by predatory periwinkles, which graze on cordgrass. This top-down approach to salt marsh ecology challenges long-held assumptions about the main causes of marsh die-off.
Researchers found that periwinkle snails, normally harmless, played a significant role in killing off thousands of acres of salt marsh in the Southeast during intense droughts. The study reveals that extreme climatic events can trigger formation of grazer fronts, leading to habitat die-off in stable ecosystems.
Research found that geese prefer short-grass areas where protein ingestion is highest, helping to keep the grass short and maintaining its nutritional value. Grazing livestock, such as cows and horses, also prevent salt marsh vegetation from becoming too coarse, protecting the geese's food source.
The study found that when blue crabs disappeared from a salt marsh, periwinkle snails flourished, eating all the cordgrass and causing ecosystem collapse. Overgrazing by periwinkles can convert southern salt marshes into barren mudflats within eight months.
A study published in Estuarine, Coastal, and Shelf Science found that restored salt marshes provide similar energy resources to undisturbed sites. The research team compared the diets of mummichog fish in both habitats and found no significant differences.
Researchers have found unprecedented sea-level rise along the coasts of Maine and Nova Scotia, with rates of 30-60 cm since 1750. The finding suggests a two-step increase in sea level, caused by natural climatic warming followed by human-induced climate change.