Vegetation traits and biogeomorphic complexity shape the resilience of salt marshes to sea-level rise
Abstract The adaptive capacity of ecosystems, or their ability to function despite altered environmental conditions, is crucial for resilience to climate change. However, the role of landscape complexity or species traits on adaptive capacity remains unclear. Here, we combine field experiments and m...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2024-11-01
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| Series: | Communications Earth & Environment |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-024-01829-2 |
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| author | Loreta Cornacchia Roeland C. van de Vijsel Daphne van der Wal Tom Ysebaert Jianwei Sun Bram van Prooijen Paul Lodewijk Maria de Vet Quan-Xing Liu Johan van de Koppel |
| author_facet | Loreta Cornacchia Roeland C. van de Vijsel Daphne van der Wal Tom Ysebaert Jianwei Sun Bram van Prooijen Paul Lodewijk Maria de Vet Quan-Xing Liu Johan van de Koppel |
| author_sort | Loreta Cornacchia |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract The adaptive capacity of ecosystems, or their ability to function despite altered environmental conditions, is crucial for resilience to climate change. However, the role of landscape complexity or species traits on adaptive capacity remains unclear. Here, we combine field experiments and morphodynamic modelling to investigate how ecosystem complexity shapes the adaptive capacity of intertidal salt marshes. We focus on the importance of tidal channel network complexity for sediment accumulation, allowing vertical accretion to keep pace with sea-level rise. The model showed that landscape-scale ecosystem complexity, more than species traits, explained higher sediment accumulation rates, despite complexity arising from these traits. Landscape complexity, reflected in creek network morphology, also improved resilience to rising water levels. Comparing model outcomes with real-world tidal networks confirmed that flow concentration, sediment transport and deposition increase with drainage complexity. These findings emphasize that natural pattern development and persistence are crucial to preserve resilience to climate change. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-2e9c507589194f2abe8e30150ad9aab5 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2662-4435 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-11-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Communications Earth & Environment |
| spelling | doaj-art-2e9c507589194f2abe8e30150ad9aab52024-11-10T12:43:54ZengNature PortfolioCommunications Earth & Environment2662-44352024-11-015111310.1038/s43247-024-01829-2Vegetation traits and biogeomorphic complexity shape the resilience of salt marshes to sea-level riseLoreta Cornacchia0Roeland C. van de Vijsel1Daphne van der Wal2Tom Ysebaert3Jianwei Sun4Bram van Prooijen5Paul Lodewijk Maria de Vet6Quan-Xing Liu7Johan van de Koppel8Department of Estuarine and Delta Systems, NIOZ Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea ResearchHydrology and Environmental Hydraulics Group, Wageningen UniversityDepartment of Estuarine and Delta Systems, NIOZ Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea ResearchDepartment of Estuarine and Delta Systems, NIOZ Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea ResearchDelft University of Technology, Faculty of Civil Engineering and GeosciencesDelft University of Technology, Faculty of Civil Engineering and GeosciencesMarine and Coastal SystemsSchool of Mathematical Sciences, Shanghai Jiao Tong UniversityDepartment of Estuarine and Delta Systems, NIOZ Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea ResearchAbstract The adaptive capacity of ecosystems, or their ability to function despite altered environmental conditions, is crucial for resilience to climate change. However, the role of landscape complexity or species traits on adaptive capacity remains unclear. Here, we combine field experiments and morphodynamic modelling to investigate how ecosystem complexity shapes the adaptive capacity of intertidal salt marshes. We focus on the importance of tidal channel network complexity for sediment accumulation, allowing vertical accretion to keep pace with sea-level rise. The model showed that landscape-scale ecosystem complexity, more than species traits, explained higher sediment accumulation rates, despite complexity arising from these traits. Landscape complexity, reflected in creek network morphology, also improved resilience to rising water levels. Comparing model outcomes with real-world tidal networks confirmed that flow concentration, sediment transport and deposition increase with drainage complexity. These findings emphasize that natural pattern development and persistence are crucial to preserve resilience to climate change.https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-024-01829-2 |
| spellingShingle | Loreta Cornacchia Roeland C. van de Vijsel Daphne van der Wal Tom Ysebaert Jianwei Sun Bram van Prooijen Paul Lodewijk Maria de Vet Quan-Xing Liu Johan van de Koppel Vegetation traits and biogeomorphic complexity shape the resilience of salt marshes to sea-level rise Communications Earth & Environment |
| title | Vegetation traits and biogeomorphic complexity shape the resilience of salt marshes to sea-level rise |
| title_full | Vegetation traits and biogeomorphic complexity shape the resilience of salt marshes to sea-level rise |
| title_fullStr | Vegetation traits and biogeomorphic complexity shape the resilience of salt marshes to sea-level rise |
| title_full_unstemmed | Vegetation traits and biogeomorphic complexity shape the resilience of salt marshes to sea-level rise |
| title_short | Vegetation traits and biogeomorphic complexity shape the resilience of salt marshes to sea-level rise |
| title_sort | vegetation traits and biogeomorphic complexity shape the resilience of salt marshes to sea level rise |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-024-01829-2 |
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