title: Changes of soil particle size distribution in tidal flats in the Yellow River Delta.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The tidal flat is one of the important components of coastal wetland systems in the Yellow River Delta (YRD). It can stabilize shorelines and protect coastal biodiversity. The erosion risk in tidal flats in coastal wetlands was seldom been studied. Characterizing changes of soil particle size distribution (PSD) is an important way to quantity soil erosion in tidal flats.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Based on the fractal scale theory and network analysis, we determined the fractal characterizations (singular fractal dimension and multifractal dimension) soil PSD in a successional series of tidal flats in a coastal wetland in the YRD in eastern China. The results showed that the major soil texture was from silt loam to sandy loam. The values of fractal dimensions, ranging from 2.35 to 2.55, decreased from the low tidal flat to the high tidal flat. We also found that the percent of particles with size ranging between 0.4 and 126 μm was related with fractal dimensions. Tide played a great effort on soil PSD than vegetation by increasing soil organic matter (SOM) content and salinity in the coastal wetland in the YRD.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Tidal flats in coastal wetlands in the YRD, especially low tidal flats, are facing the risk of soil erosion. This study will be essential to provide a firm basis for the coast erosion control and assessment, as well as wetland ecosystem restoration.
authors: Key Laboratory of Coastal Environmental Processes and Ecological Remediation, Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research (YIC), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS); Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Coastal Environmental Processes, YICCAS, Yantai, Shandong, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, Beijing, China.
authors: Xiaofei
authors: X
authors: Lyu
authors: Key Laboratory of Coastal Environmental Processes and Ecological Remediation, Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research (YIC), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS); Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Coastal Environmental Processes, YICCAS, Yantai, Shandong, China.
authors: Junbao
authors: J
authors: Yu
authors: Environment College, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, 130024, P. R. China.
authors: Mo
authors: M
authors: Zhou
authors: Key Laboratory of Coastal Environmental Processes and Ecological Remediation, Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research (YIC), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS); Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Coastal Environmental Processes, YICCAS, Yantai, Shandong, China.
authors: Bin
authors: B
authors: Ma
authors: Key Laboratory of Coastal Environmental Processes and Ecological Remediation, Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research (YIC), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS); Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Coastal Environmental Processes, YICCAS, Yantai, Shandong, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, Beijing, China.
authors: Guangmei
authors: G
authors: Wang
authors: Key Laboratory of Coastal Environmental Processes and Ecological Remediation, Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research (YIC), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS); Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Coastal Environmental Processes, YICCAS, Yantai, Shandong, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, Beijing, China.
authors: Chao
authors: C
authors: Zhan
authors: Key Laboratory of Coastal Environmental Processes and Ecological Remediation, Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research (YIC), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS); Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Coastal Environmental Processes, YICCAS, Yantai, Shandong, China.
authors: Guangxuan
authors: G
authors: Han
authors: Key Laboratory of Coastal Environmental Processes and Ecological Remediation, Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research (YIC), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS); Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Coastal Environmental Processes, YICCAS, Yantai, Shandong, China.
authors: Bo
authors: B
authors: Guan
authors: Key Laboratory of Coastal Environmental Processes and Ecological Remediation, Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research (YIC), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS); Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Coastal Environmental Processes, YICCAS, Yantai, Shandong, China.
authors: Huifeng
authors: H
authors: Wu
authors: Key Laboratory of Coastal Environmental Processes and Ecological Remediation, Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research (YIC), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS); Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Coastal Environmental Processes, YICCAS, Yantai, Shandong, China.
authors: Yunzhao
authors: Y
authors: Li
authors: Key Laboratory of Coastal Environmental Processes and Ecological Remediation, Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research (YIC), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS); Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Coastal Environmental Processes, YICCAS, Yantai, Shandong, China.
authors: De
authors: D
authors: Wang
mesh_terms: D002681:China; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D017709:Fractals; D010316:Particle Size; D045483:Rivers; D012987:Soil / Q000737:chemistry*; D055871:Tidal Waves; D053833:Wetlands
chemical_list: D012987:Soil