TY - JOUR
T1 - Rising tides, rising gates
T2 - the complex ecogeomorphic response of coastal wetlands to sea-level rise and human interventions
AU - Sandi, Steven G.
AU - Rodríguez, José F.
AU - Saintilan, Neil
AU - Riccardi, Gerardo
AU - Saco, Patricia M.
PY - 2018/4
Y1 - 2018/4
N2 - Coastal wetlands are vulnerable to submergence due to sea-level rise, as shown by predictions of up to 80% of global wetland loss by the end of the century. Coastal wetlands with mixed mangrove-saltmarsh vegetation are particularly vulnerable because sea-level rise can promote mangrove encroachment on saltmarsh, reducing overall wetland biodiversity. Here we use an ecogeomorphic framework that incorporates hydrodynamic effects, mangrove-saltmarsh dynamics, and soil accretion processes to assess the effects of control structures on wetland evolution. Migration and accretion patterns of mangrove and saltmarsh are heavily dependent on topography and control structures. We find that current management practices that incorporate a fixed gate for the control of mangrove encroachment are useful initially, but soon become ineffective due to sea-level rise. Raising the gate, to counteract the effects of sea level rise and promote suitable hydrodynamic conditions, excludes mangrove and maintains saltmarsh over the entire simulation period of 100 years.
AB - Coastal wetlands are vulnerable to submergence due to sea-level rise, as shown by predictions of up to 80% of global wetland loss by the end of the century. Coastal wetlands with mixed mangrove-saltmarsh vegetation are particularly vulnerable because sea-level rise can promote mangrove encroachment on saltmarsh, reducing overall wetland biodiversity. Here we use an ecogeomorphic framework that incorporates hydrodynamic effects, mangrove-saltmarsh dynamics, and soil accretion processes to assess the effects of control structures on wetland evolution. Migration and accretion patterns of mangrove and saltmarsh are heavily dependent on topography and control structures. We find that current management practices that incorporate a fixed gate for the control of mangrove encroachment are useful initially, but soon become ineffective due to sea-level rise. Raising the gate, to counteract the effects of sea level rise and promote suitable hydrodynamic conditions, excludes mangrove and maintains saltmarsh over the entire simulation period of 100 years.
KW - Coastal wetlands
KW - Ecogeomorphic modelling
KW - Mangrove
KW - Saltmarsh
KW - Sea-level rise
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85044381853&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://purl.org/au-research/grants/arc/FT140100610
U2 - 10.1016/j.advwatres.2018.02.006
DO - 10.1016/j.advwatres.2018.02.006
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85044381853
SN - 0309-1708
VL - 114
SP - 135
EP - 148
JO - Advances in Water Resources
JF - Advances in Water Resources
ER -