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Effect of salinity-altering pulsing events on soil organic carbon loss along an intertidal wetland gradient: a laboratory experiment

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Abstract

Salinity changes resulting from storm surge, tides, precipitation, and stormwater run-off are common in coastal wetlands. Soil microbial communities respond quickly to salinity changes, altering the rate of soil organic carbon (SOC) loss and associated biogeochemical processes. This study quantified the impact of salinity-altering pulses on SOC loss, defined as microbial respiration (CO2 flux) at high and low tide, CH4 flux, and dissolved OC (DOC) release, in 3 intertidal wetlands (Jacksonville, FL, USA). Intact soil cores from a freshwater tidal, brackish, and salt marsh were exposed to simulated tides and 3 salinity pulsing events during a 53-day laboratory experiment. Soil and water physio-chemical properties, nutrient release, and microbial indicators were measured. Microbial respiration was the dominate pathway of SOC loss (>97 %). Soil hydraulic conductivity was greater in brackish and salt marshes and was critical to overall soil respiration. High tide CO2 flux was greatest in the freshwater marsh (58 % of SOC loss) and positively correlated with DOC concentration; low tide CO2 flux was greatest in brackish and salt marshes (62 and 70 % of SOC loss, respectively) and correlated with NH4 + and microbial biomass. The freshwater marsh was sensitive to brackish pulses, causing a 112 % increase in respiration, presumably from accelerated sulfate reduction and N-cycling. SOC loss increased in the salt marsh pulsed with freshwater, suggesting freshwater run-off may reduce a salt marsh’s ability to keep-pace with sea level rise. Increased inundation from storm surges could accelerate SOC loss in freshwater marshes, while decreasing SOC loss in brackish and salt marshes.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported in part by the Florida Sea Grant Nutrient Dynamics Fellowship, with funds from Scotts Miracle-Gro, Inc. The views expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the view of these organizations. The authors would like to thank Matt Norton and Gavin Wilson for field and laboratory assistance during this project and Dr. Kanika Inglett for assistance with the soil enzyme analysis. The helpful comments of two anonymous reviewers improved the quality of the manuscript.

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  1. Wetland Biogeochemistry Laboratory, Soil and Water Science Department, University of Florida, 2181 McCarty Hall A, P.O. Box 11029, Gainesville, FL, 32611-0510, USA

    Lisa G. Chambers, Todd Z. Osborne & K. Ramesh Reddy

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  1. Lisa G. Chambers
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Correspondence to Lisa G. Chambers.

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Chambers, L.G., Osborne, T.Z. & Reddy, K.R. Effect of salinity-altering pulsing events on soil organic carbon loss along an intertidal wetland gradient: a laboratory experiment. Biogeochemistry 115, 363–383 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10533-013-9841-5

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