title: Effects of Shoreline Dynamics on Saltmarsh Vegetation.
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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Marine Sciences, University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama, United States of America.|Dauphin Island Sea Lab, Dauphin Island, Alabama, United States of America.
authors.forename: Shailesh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.affiliation: Dauphin Island Sea Lab, Dauphin Island, Alabama, United States of America.
authors.forename: Joshua
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Goff
authors.affiliation: Dauphin Island Sea Lab, Dauphin Island, Alabama, United States of America.
authors.forename: Ryan M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Moody
authors.affiliation: Department of Marine Sciences, University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama, United States of America.|Dauphin Island Sea Lab, Dauphin Island, Alabama, United States of America.
authors.forename: Ashley
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: McDonald
authors.affiliation: Dauphin Island Sea Lab, Dauphin Island, Alabama, United States of America.
authors.forename: Dorothy
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Byron
authors.affiliation: Department of Marine Sciences, University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama, United States of America.|Dauphin Island Sea Lab, Dauphin Island, Alabama, United States of America.
authors.forename: Kenneth L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Heck
authors.affiliation: Department of Marine Sciences, University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama, United States of America.|Dauphin Island Sea Lab, Dauphin Island, Alabama, United States of America.
authors.forename: Sean P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Powers
authors.affiliation: State Lands Division Coastal Section, Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Spanish Fort, Alabama, United States of America.
authors.forename: Carl
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ferraro
authors.affiliation: Department of Marine Sciences, University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama, United States of America.|Dauphin Island Sea Lab, Dauphin Island, Alabama, United States of America.
authors.forename: Just
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cebrian
mesh_terms: D000407:Alabama; D044822:Biodiversity; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D017753:Ecosystem; D004777:Environment