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Hurricane-Induced Sedimentation Improves Marsh Resilience and Vegetation Vigor under High Rates of Relative Sea Level Rise

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Abstract

During the next century coastal marsh sustainability will largely depend on whether or not marshes can keep pace with rising sea levels while weathering more frequent and/or intense storms. In particular, hurricanes have the potential to inflict widespread damage to coastal systems, but can also deliver nourishing inorganic sediment. To determine if hurricane-induced sedimentation can enhance marsh condition and promote marsh sustainability, even in regions of high relative sea level rise (RSLR), we experimentally assessed primary productivity and marsh resilience in marshes that were subject to various levels of hurricane-induced sedimentation in 2005 and 2008 in coastal Louisiana, where RSLR is accelerated due to land subsidence. Primary production and marsh resilience, i.e., recovery rate of plant cover after an experimental disturbance, increased in response to hurricane-induced sedimentation. Sedimentation led to a more oxidized soil environment, reduced porewater sulfide concentrations, and increased porewater phosphorus and exchangeable soil iron and manganese concentrations. Improved soil physicochemical conditions were likely responsible for the increased productivity and resilience, even with the high rates of RSLR the area experiences. This suggests that when storm-induced sedimentation is sufficient, stability of coastal marshes may be enhanced, at least for some time, helping to cope with sea level rise.

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Acknowledgements

This study was funded by grants from the United States Department of Energy’s National Institute for Climate Change - Coastal Center. Field and laboratory assistance was provided by Sean Graham, Carey Perry, and Allison Music. We would also like to thank two anonymous reviewers who provided comments to improve this manuscript.

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  1. Joseph J. Baustian

    Present address: The Nature Conservancy, Louisiana Field Office, PO Box 4125, Baton Rouge, LA, 70821, USA

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  1. Department of Oceanography and Coastal Sciences, 3263 Energy, Coast & Environment Building, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, 70803, USA

    Irving A. Mendelssohn

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Correspondence to Joseph J. Baustian.

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Baustian, J.J., Mendelssohn, I.A. Hurricane-Induced Sedimentation Improves Marsh Resilience and Vegetation Vigor under High Rates of Relative Sea Level Rise. Wetlands 35, 795–802 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13157-015-0670-2

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