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Book Plant Traits Explain Abundance Rank in Salt Marsh Vegetation

Download or read book Plant Traits Explain Abundance Rank in Salt Marsh Vegetation written by Catherine Louise Bonin and published by . This book was released on 2007 with total page 148 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Book Salt Marshes

    Book Details:
  • Author : Judith S. Weis
  • Publisher :
  • Release : 2009
  • ISBN :
  • Pages : 280 pages

Download or read book Salt Marshes written by Judith S. Weis and published by . This book was released on 2009 with total page 280 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Tall green grass. Subtle melodies of songbirds. Sharp whines of muskrats. Rustles of water running through the grasses. And at low tide, a pungent reminder of the treasures hidden beneath the surface.All are vital signs of the great salt marshes' natural resources. Now championed as critical habitats for plants, animals, and people because of the environmental service and protection they provide, these ecological wonders were once considered unproductive wastelands, home solely to mosquitoes and toxic waste, and mistreated for centuries by the human population. Exploring the fascinating biodiversity of these boggy wetlands, Salt Marshes offers readers a wealth of essential information about a variety of plants, fish, and animals, the importance of these habitats, consequences of human neglect and thoughtless development, and insight into how these wetlands recover. Judith S. Weis and Carol A. Butler shed ample light on the human impact, including chapters on physical and biological alterations, pollution, and remediation and recovery programs. In addition to a national and global perspective, the authors place special emphasis on coastal wetlands in the Atlantic and Gulf regions, as well as the San Francisco Bay Area, calling attention to their historical and economic legacies. Written in clear, easy-to-read language, Salt Marshes proves that the battles for preservation and conservation must continue, because threats to salt marshes ebb and flow like the water that runs through them.

Book The Role of Biotic and Abiotic Processes in the Zonation of Salt Marsh Plants in the Nueces River Delta  Texas

Download or read book The Role of Biotic and Abiotic Processes in the Zonation of Salt Marsh Plants in the Nueces River Delta Texas written by Michael Kevin Rasser and published by . This book was released on 2009 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Salt marshes provide critical ecosystem services, such as shoreline stabilization, biogeochemical cycling and habitat for wildlife, to much of the world's population living on the coasts. Emergent vascular plants are a critical component of these ecosystems. This study was a comprehensive effort to gain a better understanding of the ecology of salt marsh plants in the Nueces River delta on the south Texas coast. This knowledge is essential to understand the potential anthropogenic impacts on salt marshes, including sea-level rise, global warming, reduced freshwater inflow and coastal erosion. A combination of remote sensing analysis, field studies and experiments were used to allow analysis across spatial scales ranging from landscape patterns of vegetation to leaf level measurements of the dominant species. A novel method of image classification was developed using high-resolution multi-spectral imagery integrated with ancillary data to map the major plant communities at a landscape scale. This included a high marsh assemblage composed primarily of Spartina spartinae and a low marsh community dominated by Borrichia frutescens and Salicornia virginica. Geospatial analysis determined that the location of these plant communities was related to the distance from the tidal creek network and elevation. The B. frutescens and S. virginica assemblage was more abundant at lower elevations along the waters edge, making it vulnerable to loss from shoreline erosion. At a finer spatial scale, gradient analysis was utilized to examine the relationship between elevation, which creates environmental gradients in salt marshes, and species distribution. I discovered that elevation differences of less than 5 cm can influence both individual species and plant community distribution. One interesting finding was that the two dominant species, B. frutescens and S. virginica, share similar responses along an elevation gradient yet are observed growing in monotypic adjacent zones. I constructed a large reciprocal transplant experiment, using 160 plants at 4 sites throughout the marsh, to determine what causes the zonation between these two species. The results of this study found that S. virginica fared well wherever it was transplanted but was a weak competitor. B. frutescens survival was significantly lower in the S. virginica zone than in its own zone suggesting that abiotic factors are important in determining the zonation of this species. However, high spatial and temporal variability existed in environmental parameters such as salinity. This variability may have been caused by the semi-arid climate and irregular flooding typical in the Nueces Marsh. Therefore, I utilized a greenhouse experiment to directly test the importance of the two dominant physical factors in salt marshes, flooding and salinity. The results found that for B. frutescens the effects of flooding were not significant, however salinity at 30% reduced growth. Salinity did not influence growth of S. virginica. The greater ability of S. virginica to tolerate salinity stress has important implications because reduced freshwater inflow or climate change can increase porewater salinity, thus favoring the expansion of S. virginica, and altering the plant community structure.

Book Saltmarsh Ecology

    Book Details:
  • Author : Stephen Patrick Long
  • Publisher : Blackie Academic and Professional
  • Release : 1983
  • ISBN :
  • Pages : 176 pages

Download or read book Saltmarsh Ecology written by Stephen Patrick Long and published by Blackie Academic and Professional. This book was released on 1983 with total page 176 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Book Restoration of Aquatic Ecosystems

Download or read book Restoration of Aquatic Ecosystems written by National Research Council and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 1992-01-01 with total page 580 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Aldo Leopold, father of the "land ethic," once said, "The time has come for science to busy itself with the earth itself. The first step is to reconstruct a sample of what we had to begin with." The concept he expressedâ€"restorationâ€"is defined in this comprehensive new volume that examines the prospects for repairing the damage society has done to the nation's aquatic resources: lakes, rivers and streams, and wetlands. Restoration of Aquatic Ecosystems outlines a national strategy for aquatic restoration, with practical recommendations, and features case studies of aquatic restoration activities around the country. The committee examines: Key concepts and techniques used in restoration. Common factors in successful restoration efforts. Threats to the health of the nation's aquatic ecosystems. Approaches to evaluation before, during, and after a restoration project. The emerging specialties of restoration and landscape ecology.

Book The Role of Ecological Interactions in Saltmarsh Geomorphic Processes

Download or read book The Role of Ecological Interactions in Saltmarsh Geomorphic Processes written by Bethany Lynn Williams and published by . This book was released on 2018 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Accelerated sea-level rise poses a significant threat to coastal habitats. Salt marshes are critical coastal ecosystems, providing a host of services such as storm protection, food production, and carbon storage. Persistence of salt marshes in the face of rising sea levels relies, in part, on vertical accretion. Current ecogeomorphic models and empirical studies emphasize the importance of the positive relationship between plant production and vertical accretion via sediment trapping by stems aboveground and belowground organic matter production. Thus, changes in plant production influence salt marsh persistence with sea-level rise. However, studies and models of marsh accretion do not consider the effects of animal-mediated changes in plant production. Here, I tested how two co-occurring marsh crustaceans, Uca pugnax (marsh fiddler crab) and Sesarma reticulatum (purple marsh crab), which have contrasting effects on smooth cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora) production, indirectly influence sediment deposition and belowground organic matter contribution, through observational surveys and field manipulation. S. reticulatum feeds directly on S. alterniflora, while U. pugnax facilitates S. alterniflora production through burrowing and biodeposits. I found that U. pugnax facilitated S. alterniflora biomass in some marshes, but not others. However, this facilitation of S. alterniflora biomass did not enhance sediment deposition. U. pugnax had no effect on belowground components of vertical accretion (i.e. root production and decomposition). These results suggest that in isolation, U. pugnax has little impact on saltmarsh geomorphic processes. S. reticulatum reduced S. alterniflora above- and belowground biomass; however, sediment deposition increased as S. alterniflora biomass decreased, contrary to models of ecogeomorphology. This trend was likely due to sediment being resuspended by crab bioturbation, as U. pugnax abundances were higher in S. reticulatum-grazed areas than in non-grazed areas. When U. pugnax occurred in areas of low S. reticulatum grazing, S. alterniflora biomass and sedimentation was similar to areas with only U. pugnax. I suggest that the negative impacts of S. reticulatum are exaggerated when intense grazing results in completely unvegetated areas and subsequent increases in U. pugnax density, where bioturbation erodes sediments. Thus, while S. reticulatum can increase the susceptibility of marsh sediments to physical erosion by removing vegetation, it may also do so by facilitating U. pugnax bioturbation. However, when S. reticulatum grazing intensity is low, facilitation of S. alterniflora growth by U. pugnax can mitigate the negative effect of grazing, which suggests that the net effect of these species may depend on their relative abundance. This study demonstrates that ecological interactions, in addition to physical processes, have significant effects on marsh persistence as sea level rises, and merit incorporation into ecogeomorphic models and empirical studies of marsh accretion.

Book Ecology of Freshwater and Estuarine Wetlands

Download or read book Ecology of Freshwater and Estuarine Wetlands written by Darold P. Batzer and published by Univ of California Press. This book was released on 2014-12-06 with total page 372 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This second edition of this important and authoritative survey provides students and researchers with up-to-date and accessible information about the ecology of freshwater and estuarine wetlands. Prominent scholars help students understand both general concepts of different wetland types as well as complex topics related to these dynamic physical environments. Careful syntheses review wetland soils, hydrology, and geomorphology; abiotic constraints for wetland plants and animals; microbial ecology and biogeochemistry; development of wetland plant communities; wetland animal ecology; and carbon dynamics and ecosystem processes. In addition, contributors document wetland regulation, policy, and assessment in the US and provide a clear roadmap for adaptive management and restoration of wetlands. New material also includes an expanded review of the consequences for wetlands in a changing global environment. Ideally suited for wetlands ecology courses, Ecology of Freshwater and Estuarine Wetlands, Second Edition, includes updated content, enhanced images (many in color), and innovative pedagogical elements that guide students and interested readers through the current state of our wetlands.

Book Tidal Freshwater Wetlands

Download or read book Tidal Freshwater Wetlands written by Aat Barendregt and published by . This book was released on 2009 with total page 320 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Book Biogeochemistry of Wetlands

Download or read book Biogeochemistry of Wetlands written by K. Ramesh Reddy and published by CRC Press. This book was released on 2022-09-10 with total page 926 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The globally important nature of wetland ecosystems has led to their increased protection and restoration as well as their use in engineered systems. Underpinning the beneficial functions of wetlands are a unique suite of physical, chemical, and biological processes that regulate elemental cycling in soils and the water column. This book provides an in-depth coverage of these wetland biogeochemical processes related to the cycling of macroelements including carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and sulfur, secondary and trace elements, and toxic organic compounds. In this synthesis, the authors combine more than 100 years of experience studying wetlands and biogeochemistry to look inside the black box of elemental transformations in wetland ecosystems. This new edition is updated throughout to include more topics and provide an integrated view of the coupled nature of biogeochemical cycles in wetland systems. The influence of the elemental cycles is discussed at a range of scales in the context of environmental change including climate, sea level rise, and water quality. Frequent examples of key methods and major case studies are also included to help the reader extend the basic theories for application in their own system. Some of the major topics discussed are: Flooded soil and sediment characteristics Aerobic-anaerobic interfaces Redox chemistry in flooded soil and sediment systems Anaerobic microbial metabolism Plant adaptations to reducing conditions Regulators of organic matter decomposition and accretion Major nutrient sources and sinks Greenhouse gas production and emission Elemental flux processes Remediation of contaminated soils and sediments Coupled C-N-P-S processes Consequences of environmental change in wetlands# The book provides the foundation for a basic understanding of key biogeochemical processes and its applications to solve real world problems. It is detailed, but also assists the reader with box inserts, artfully designed diagrams, and summary tables all supported by numerous current references. This book is an excellent resource for senior undergraduates and graduate students studying ecosystem biogeochemistry with a focus in wetlands and aquatic systems.

Book Tijuana River Valley

    Book Details:
  • Author : Samuel Safran
  • Publisher :
  • Release : 2017-01-31
  • ISBN : 9780990898597
  • Pages : 228 pages

Download or read book Tijuana River Valley written by Samuel Safran and published by . This book was released on 2017-01-31 with total page 228 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Tijuana River Valley Historical Ecology Investigation synthesizes hundreds of historical maps, photographs, and texts to reconstruct the ecological, hydrological, and geomorphic conditions of the Tijuana River valley prior to major European-American landscape modification. How did the valley look and function before there was the state of California, the city of Tijuana, or an international border? What habitat types and wildlife were found there? How have these habitat types and the physical processes that shaped them changed over time? And finally, what can the valley's ecological past tell us about its present and future? In answering these fundamental questions, this richly-illustrated study provides scientists, managers, and residents in the valley with information designed to support and inspire ongoing management and restoration activities.

Book Encyclopedia of Coastal Science

Download or read book Encyclopedia of Coastal Science written by M. Schwartz and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2006-11-08 with total page 1243 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This new Encyclopedia of Coastal Science stands as the latest authoritative source in the field of coastal studies, making it the standard reference work for specialists and the interested lay person. Unique in its interdisciplinary approach. This Encyclopedia features contributions by 245 well-known international specialists in their respective fields and is abundantly illustrated with line-drawings and photographs. Not only does this volume offer an extensive number of entries, it also includes various appendices, an illustrated glossary of coastal morphology and extensive bibliographic listings.

Book Wetlands

    Book Details:
  • Author : Committee on Characterization of Wetlands
  • Publisher : National Academies Press
  • Release : 1995-09-20
  • ISBN : 0309587220
  • Pages : 329 pages

Download or read book Wetlands written by Committee on Characterization of Wetlands and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 1995-09-20 with total page 329 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "Wetlands" has become a hot word in the current environmental debate. But what does it signify? In 1991, proposed changes in the legal definities of wetlands stirred controversy and focused attention on the scientific and economic aspects of their management. This volume explores how to define wetlands. The committee--whose members were drawn from academia, government, business, and the environmental community--builds a rational, scientific basis for delineating wetlands in the landscape and offers recommendations for further action. Wetlands also discusses the diverse hydrological and ecological functions of wetlands, and makes recommendations concerning so-called controversial areas such as permafrost wetlands, riparian ecosystems, irregularly flooded sites, and agricultural wetlands. It presents criteria for identifying wetlands and explores the problems of applying those criteria when there are seasonal changes in water levels. This comprehensive and practical volume will be of interest to environmental scientists and advocates, hydrologists, policymakers, regulators, faculty, researchers, and students of environmental studies.

Book Wetland Creation and Restoration

Download or read book Wetland Creation and Restoration written by Jon A. Kusler and published by . This book was released on 1990 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This is a preliminary evaluation of the status of the science of wetland creation and restoration in the United States. It contains a series of regional reviews. Each review summarizes wetland creation and restoration experiences in broadly defined wetland regions (e.g. Pacific coastal wetlands, wooded wetlands of the Southeast). It also includes a series of theme papers, covering a wide range of topics of general application to wetland creation and restoration (hydrology, management techniques, planning).

Book Foundations of Restoration Ecology

Download or read book Foundations of Restoration Ecology written by Society for Ecological Restoration International and published by Island Press. This book was released on 2016-11 with total page 580 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "Society for Ecological Restoration"--Cover.

Book The Ecology and Management of Wetlands

Download or read book The Ecology and Management of Wetlands written by Donal D. Hook and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2012-12-06 with total page 602 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book contains the proceedings of a symposium held at the College of Charleston, Charleston, South Carolina, USA, 16-20 June 1986. The seed for this symposium arose from a group of physiologists , soU scientists and biochemists that met in Leningrad, USSR in July 1975 at the 12th Botanical Conference in a Session organized by Professor B.B. Vartepetian. This group and others later conspired to contribute to a book entitled Plant Life in Anaerobic Environments (eds. D. D. Hook and R. M. M. Crawford, Ann Arbor Science, 1978). Several contributors to the book suggested in 1983 that a broad-scoped symposium on wetlands would be useful (a) in facilitating communication among the diverse research groups involved in wetlands research (b) in bringing researchers and managers together and (c) in presenting a com prehensive and balanced coverage on the status of ecology ami management of wetlands from a global perspective. With this encouragement, the senior editor organized a Plan ning Committee that encompassed expertise from many disciplines of wetland scientists and managers. This Committee, with input from their colleagues around the world, organized a symposium that addressed almost every aspect of wetland ecology and management.