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Improved modelling of the impacts of sea level rise on coastal wetland plant communities

  • WETLANDS BIODIVERSITY AND PROCESSES
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Abstract

This study presents an enhanced methodology for modelling the impacts of sea level rise on coastal wetlands. The tool integrates dGPS-calibrated LiDAR data, isostatic uplift and sediment accretion rates to predict the location and extent of plant communities at three non-contiguous micro-topographical coastal wetlands in Estonia by 2100 in response to global sea level rise. Scenarios were run including sediment accretion, elevated sediment accretion and then discounting sediment accretion and dGPS calibration for comparison. Results showed an increase in surface elevation (related to sediment accretion and isostatic uplift) resulting in a decrease in local sea level in the majority of sites and scenarios in the north of the country, although a rise in local sea level is predicted in sites with limited allochthonous sediment supply, predominantly impacting higher elevation plant communities. Wetlands situated on the west coast are likely to maintain equilibrium with sea level as a result of lower sedimentation and isostatic uplift than more northerly sites. This study shows that dGPS-calibrated LiDAR data and sediment accretion are essential to maintain model validity in Baltic coastal wetlands due to their low relief and could considerably improve current sea level rise impact models for other regions.

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Acknowledgments

This research was funded, in part, by the University of Brighton. This research was also supported by the European Social Fund’s Doctoral Studies and Internationalisation Programme DoRa, Estonia; and the Estonian Land Board.

We would also like to thank Henri Järv, Tiina Järv, Samuel Bastable, Darren Ward, Taaniel Sepp, Martin Leppik, Kuldar Kuusik, Mae-Liis Sepp, Triin Jaagus and the staff of the Matsalu National Park and the Silma Nature Reserve.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Aquatic Research Centre, School of the Environment and Technology, University of Brighton, Cockcroft Building, Moulsecoomb, Brighton, BN2 4GJ, UK

    R. D. Ward, N. G. Burnside, C. B. Joyce & P. A. Teasdale

  2. Department of Landscape Management, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Fr.R. Kreutzwaldi 1, 51014, Tartu, Estonia

    K. Sepp

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  1. R. D. Ward
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Correspondence to R. D. Ward.

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Guest editors: Pierluigi Viaroli, Marco Bartoli & Jan Vymazal / Wetlands Biodiversity and Processes: Tools for Management and Conservation

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Ward, R.D., Burnside, N.G., Joyce, C.B. et al. Improved modelling of the impacts of sea level rise on coastal wetland plant communities. Hydrobiologia 774, 203–216 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-015-2374-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-015-2374-2

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