Vegetation successions of coastal wetlands in southern Laizhou Bay, Bohai Sea, northern China, influenced by the changes in relative surface elevation and soil salinity. (1st September 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhang, Xuliang; Zhang, Zhaohui; Wang, Wei; Fang, Wei-Ta; Chiang, Yi-Te; Liu, Xiujun; Ju, Hongrun
• Is Part Of: Journal of environmental management. Volume 293(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-09-01
• Subjects: Coastal wetland -- Relative surface elevation -- Soil salinity -- Vegetation -- Succession; Environmental policy -- Periodicals; Environmental management -- Periodicals; Environment -- Periodicals; Ecology -- Periodicals; 363.705
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.112964
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0301-4797

Abstract

Abstract: Vegetation successions of coastal wetlands were influenced by the changes in relative surface elevation and soil salinity. In this study, the vegetation successions of coastal wetlands in southern Laizhou Bay and the factors influencing the successions were investigated by quadrat survey. The changes of relative surface elevation and soil salinity in coastal wetlands of the study region were caused by climate change, sea-level rise, coastal erosion, sedimentation, neotectonism, storm surge, seawater intrusion, invasion of Spatina alterniflora, and utilization of underground brine. The changes led to the regressive vegetation succession of coastal wetlands without the protection of sea embankment and the progressive vegetation succession of coastal wetlands with the protection of sea embankment. The invasion of S. alterniflora resulted in the regressive vegetation succession of wetlands in the riparian zone. The successions weakened the coastal wetlands' ecological capacities of carbon sequestration, pollutant purification, and resisting marine disasters, decreasing their species diversity. Some measures were proposed to resist the adverse impact of successions, such as introducing passenger water, storing water in flood season, digging 200 hm 2 of ponds, and planting Salix matsudana and Tamarix chinensis around the ponds. Highlights: Changes in elevation and soil salinity cause vegetation succession of coastal wetland. The model of vegetation successions is provided on the level of associations. Coastal wetland vegetation without the protection of sea embankment regressively evolved. Coastal wetland vegetation protected by sea embankment progressively evolved. The successions weakened the coastal wetlands' ecological capacities.