Survival of the thickest? Impacts of extreme wave-forcing on marsh seedlings are mediated by species morphology

Schoutens, Ken, Reents, Svenja, Nolte, Stefanie ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8570-241X, Evans, Ben, Paul, Maike, Kudella, Matthias, Bouma, Tjeerd, Möller, Iris and Temmerman, Stijn (2021) Survival of the thickest? Impacts of extreme wave-forcing on marsh seedlings are mediated by species morphology. Limnology and Oceanography, 66 (7). pp. 2936-2951. ISSN 0024-3590

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Abstract

Although tidal marshes are known for their coastal defense function during storm surges, the impact of extreme wave forcing on tidal marsh development is poorly understood. Seedling survival in the first season after germination, which may involve exposure to extreme wave events, is crucial for the natural establishment and human restoration of marshes. We hypothesize that species-specific plant traits plays a significant role in seedlings survival and response to wave induced stress, i.e., through stem bending and uprooting. To test this hypothesis, seedlings of pioneer species (Bolboschoenus maritimus, Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani, Spartina anglica, and Puccinellia maritima) with contrasting biophysical traits were placed in the Large Wave Flume in Hannover (Germany) and exposed to storm wave conditions. Seedlings of P. maritima and S. anglica experienced a lower loss rate and bending angle after wave exposure compared to S. tabernaemontani and especially B. maritimus. The higher loss rates of B. maritimus and S. tabernaemontani result from deeper scouring around the stem base. Scouring depth was larger around stems of greater diameter and higher resistance to bending. Here, B. maritimus and S. tabernaemontani have both thicker and stiffer stems than S. anglica and P. maritima. Our results show that especially seedlings with thicker stems suffer from erosion and scouring, and have the highest risk of being lost during extreme wave events. This implies that for successful seedling establishment and eventually the establishment of a mature tidal marsh vegetation, the species composition and their capacity to cope with storm wave disturbances is crucial.

Item Type:	Article
Faculty \ School:	Faculty of Science > School of Environmental Sciences
UEA Research Groups:	Faculty of Science > Research Groups > Centre for Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences Faculty of Science > Research Groups > Environmental Biology Faculty of Science > Research Groups > Collaborative Centre for Sustainable Use of the Seas
Depositing User:	LivePure Connector
Date Deposited:	18 Jun 2021 00:08
Last Modified:	23 Oct 2022 02:33
URI:	https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/80293
DOI:	10.1002/lno.11850

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