Different coastal marsh sites reflect similar  topographic conditions under which bare  patches and vegetation recovery occur

Wang, Chen; Schepers, Lennert; Kirwan, Matthew L.; Belluco, Enrica; D'Alpaos, Andrea; Wang, Qiao; Yin, Shoujing; Temmerman, Stijn

doi:https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-9-71-2021

Articles | Volume 9, issue 1

https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-9-71-2021

© Author(s) 2021. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-9-71-2021

© Author(s) 2021. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Articles | Volume 9, issue 1

Research article

|

11 Feb 2021

Research article |

| 11 Feb 2021

Different coastal marsh sites reflect similar topographic conditions under which bare patches and vegetation recovery occur

Chen Wang, Lennert Schepers, Matthew L. Kirwan, Enrica Belluco, Andrea D'Alpaos, Qiao Wang, Shoujing Yin, and Stijn Temmerman

Supplement

https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-9-71-2021-supplement

Data sets

2003 Maryland Department of Natural Resources LiDAR: Dorchester, Somerset, Talbot, and Wicomico Counties, with portions of Caroline, Kent and Queen Anne's Counties OCM Partners https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/49781

Short summary

Coastal marshes are valuable natural habitats with normally dense vegetation. The presence of bare patches is a symptom of habitat degradation. We found that the occurrence of bare patches and regrowth of vegetation is related to spatial variations in soil surface elevation and to the distance and connectivity to tidal creeks. These relations are similar in three marshes at very different geographical locations. Our results may help nature managers to conserve and restore coastal marshes.