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Effect of improved tidal flushing and competitive interactions at the boundary between salt marsh and pasture

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Abstract

Zonation of salt marsh plants has been widely recognized and studied, but the boundary between salt marsh and adjacent upland plants has seldom been considered. Three hypotheses about the boundary between salt marsh and adjacent upland pasture were tested on Kooragang Island, New South Wales, Australia. First, we hypothesized that increased tidal range resulting from removal of culverts that restricted tidal flow to areas of salt marsh would lead to landward spread of salt marsh into areas previously dominated by pasture. Monitoring results showed an increase in areal cover by salt marsh plants and a decrease in pasture plants along the boundary between salt marsh and pasture in areas affected by culvert removal, while no change could be detected at a reference site unaffected by culvert removal. Second, we hypothesized that the down-gradient distribution of the pasture species Stenotaphrum secundatum (buffalo grass) was restricted by physical conditions, while the up-gradient distribution of the salt marsh species Sarcocornia quinqueflora (samphire) was restricted by competition with pasture species. Results of a reciprocal transplant experiment were consistent with this hypothesis. Third, we hypothesized that the rate of salt marsh spread following culvert removal would be influenced by competition with pasture species. Results of an experiment in which pasture was removed adjacent to a salt marsh affected by culvert removal were consistent with this hypothesis. Results may help guide management of over 1,300 structures that restrict tidal flow to estuarine wetland habitat in New South Wales, Australia.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biological Sciences, University of Newcastle, 2308, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia

    W. J. Streever & A. J. Genders

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  1. W. J. Streever
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  2. A. J. Genders
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Correspondence to W. J. Streever.

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Streever, W.J., Genders, A.J. Effect of improved tidal flushing and competitive interactions at the boundary between salt marsh and pasture. Estuaries 20, 807–818 (1997). https://doi.org/10.2307/1352253

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