Which factors and processes drive the spatio-temporal dynamics of brackish marshes?-Insights from development and parameterisation of a mechanistic vegetation model
- Tidal marsh vegetation offers important ecosystem services. However, in many estuaries, extensive embankments, artificial bank protection, river dredging and agriculture threaten tidal marshes. In this study we analysed the processes underlying the spatio-temporal patterns of tidal marsh vegetation in the Elbe estuary and quantified the influence of specific habitat factors by developing and applying the process-based dynamic habitat-macrophyte model HaMac in a pattern-oriented way. In order to develop and parameterise the model, we measured a wide range of biotic and abiotic parameters in two study sites in the Elbe estuary and compared observed and simulated patterns. The final model is able to reproduce the general patterns of vegetation zonation, development and growth and thus helps to understand the underlying processes. By considering the vegetative reproduction of marsh plants as well as abiotic influence factors and intraspecific competition, HaMac allowed to systematically analyse the significance of factors and processesTidal marsh vegetation offers important ecosystem services. However, in many estuaries, extensive embankments, artificial bank protection, river dredging and agriculture threaten tidal marshes. In this study we analysed the processes underlying the spatio-temporal patterns of tidal marsh vegetation in the Elbe estuary and quantified the influence of specific habitat factors by developing and applying the process-based dynamic habitat-macrophyte model HaMac in a pattern-oriented way. In order to develop and parameterise the model, we measured a wide range of biotic and abiotic parameters in two study sites in the Elbe estuary and compared observed and simulated patterns. The final model is able to reproduce the general patterns of vegetation zonation, development and growth and thus helps to understand the underlying processes. By considering the vegetative reproduction of marsh plants as well as abiotic influence factors and intraspecific competition, HaMac allowed to systematically analyse the significance of factors and processes for the dynamic of tidal marsh vegetation. Our results show that rhizome growth is the most important process and that flow velocity, inundation height and duration as well as intraspecific competition are the most important habitat factors for explaining spatio-temporal dynamics of brackish marshes. Future applications of HaMac could support the sustainable development and stabilisation of shore zones and thus contribute to the promotion and planning of ecosystem -based shoreline protection measures. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.…
Author details: | Jana CarusORCiDGND, Maike Heuner, Maike Paul, Boris SchröderORCiDGND |
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DOI: | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2017.08.023 |
ISSN: | 0304-3800 |
ISSN: | 1872-7026 |
Title of parent work (English): | Ecological modelling : international journal on ecological modelling and engineering and systems ecolog |
Publisher: | Elsevier |
Place of publishing: | Amsterdam |
Publication type: | Article |
Language: | English |
Year of first publication: | 2017 |
Publication year: | 2017 |
Release date: | 2020/04/20 |
Tag: | Bolboschoenus maritimus; Emergent macrophytes; Pattern-oriented modelling; Phragmites australis; Tidal marsh vegetation; Vegetative reproduction |
Volume: | 363 |
Number of pages: | 15 |
First page: | 122 |
Last Page: | 136 |
Funding institution: | research programme KLIWAS (Impacts of climate change on waterways and navigation - Searching for options of adaptation) of the German Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure (BMVI); Environmental Modelling working group at the University of Potsdam; German Science Foundation [SCHR1000/6-2, SCHR1000/8-2, PA 2547/1-1]; Federal Ministry of Education and Research (joint project COMTESS - Sustainable Coastal Land Management: Trade-offs in Ecosystem Services) [01LL0911C]; joint project RELEEZE - Release from Coastal Squeeze [01LC1701] |
Organizational units: | Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Fakultät / Institut für Geowissenschaften |
Peer review: | Referiert |
Institution name at the time of the publication: | Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Fakultät / Institut für Erd- und Umweltwissenschaften |