Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Characterizing wetland boundaries: A pacific coast example

  • Wetland Management and Case Studies
  • Published:
Wetlands Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In order to provide ecologically meaningful recommendations for delimiting coastal wetland (salt marsh) boundaries, we used five approaches to analyze elevation and vegetation data from Bahia de San Quintin, Baja California. The 2-dm elevation band with the steepest slope coincided with the band of lowest compositional similarity and the band with the most species distributional limits. Consistent results, using three analytical approaches, suggest that this band represents an ecological boundary. For Bahia de San Quintín, we suggest that the upper salt marsh boundary coincides with the upper limits ofFrankenia grandifolia,Limonium californicum, andSuaeda esteroa, and the lower limits ofFrankenia palmeri andLycium species.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References Cited

  • Beals, E. 1969. Vegetational change along altitudinal gradients. Science 165:981–985.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bridges, P. H., and M. R. Leeder. 1976. Sedimentary model for intertidal mudflat channels with examples from the Solway Firth, Scotland. Sedimentology 23:533–552.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • California Coastal Commission. 1981. Statewide interpretive guideline for wetlands and other wet environmentally sensitive habitat areas. San Francisco, Calif. 27 pp. plus appendices.

  • Eilers, H. P., A. Taylor, and W. Sanville. 1983. Vegetative delineation of coastal salt marsh boundaries. Environmental Management 7:443–452.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Harvey, H. T., M. J. Kutilek, and K. M. DiVittorio. 1978. Determination of transition zone limits in coastal California wetlands. Report to Environmental Protection Agency. San Jose State University, San Jose, Calif. 180 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Huffman, R. T. 1981. Technical delineation of wetland boundaries within riparian systems. Unpublished report from the California Riparian Systems Conference, Univ. of California.

  • Kershaw, K. A. 1973. Quantitative and dynamic plant ecology, 2nd ed. American Elsevier Publ. Co., New York. 308 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Macdonald, K. B. 1977. Coastal salt marsh. In: M. G. Barbour and J. Major, eds., Terrestrial Vegetation of California, pp. 263–294.

  • Neuenschwander, L. F. 1972. A phytosociological study of the transition between salt marsh and terrestrial vegetation of Bahia de San Quintin. M.A. Thesis, California State Univ., Los Angeles. 70 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Neuenschwander, L. F., T. H. Thorsted, Jr., and R. J. Vogl. 1979. The salt marsh and transitional vegetation of Bahia de San Quintin. Bull. Southern California Acad. Sci. 78:163–182.

    Google Scholar 

  • Niering, W. A., and R. S. Warren. 1980. Vegetation patterns and processes in New England salt marshes. Bioscience 30:301–307.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nixon, S. W. 1982. The ecology of New England high salt marshes: a community profile. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Biological Services, Washington, D.C. FWS/OBS-81/55. 70 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Robbins, J. M., and M. J. Hershman. 1974. Boundaries of the coastal zone: a survey of state laws. Coastal Zone Management J. 1:305–331.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Seliskar, D. M. 1983. Root and rhizome distribution as an indicator of upper salt marsh wetland limits. Hydrobiologia 107:231–236.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thorstad, T. H., Jr. 1972. The salt marsh vegetation of Bahia de San Quintin. M.A. Thesis, California State Univ., Los Angeles. 64 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Whittaker, R. H., editor. 1973. Ordination and Classification of Communities. Handbook of Vegetation Science, Vol. 5. W. Junk, The Hague. 737 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zedler, J. B. 1977. Salt marsh community structure in the Tijuana Estuary, California. Estuarine Coastal Mar. Sci. 5:39–53.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zedler, J. B. 1982. The ecology of southern California coastal salt marshes: a community profile. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Biological Services Program, Washington, D.C. FWS/OBS-81/54. 110 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zedler, J. B. 1984. Salt marsh restoration: a guidebook for southern California. California Sea Grant College Program Technical Report No. T-CSGCP-009. 46 pp.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. San Diego State University, 92182, San Diego, CA

    Joy B. Zedler & George W. Cox

Authors
  1. Joy B. Zedler
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. George W. Cox
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Zedler, J.B., Cox, G.W. Characterizing wetland boundaries: A pacific coast example. Wetlands 4, 43–55 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03160486

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03160486

Keywords

Search

Navigation