A Fresh Take: Seasonal Changes in Terrestrial Freshwater Inputs Impact Salt Marsh Hydrology and Vegetation Dynamics

• DOI: 10.1007/s12237-024-01392-1
• Publication Date: 2024-07-24T16:01:54Z
• Authors: Maya S. Montalvo; Emilio Grande; Anna E. Braswell; Ate Visser; Bhavna Arora; Erin C. Seybold; Corianne Tatariw; John C. Haskins; Charlie A. Endris; Fuller Gerbl; Mong-Han Huang; Darya Morozov; Margaret A. Zimmer
• Keywords: Salt marsh; Brackish marsh

Abstract Salt marshes exist at the terrestrial-marine interface, providing important ecosystem services such as nutrient cycling and carbon sequestration. Tidal inputs play a dominant role in salt marsh porewater mixing, terrestrially derived freshwater are increasingly recognized sources of water solutes to intertidal wetlands. However, there remains critical gap understanding on hydrology, how this may impact subsurface salinity plant productivity. Here, we address knowledge by examining hydrologic behavior, salinity, pickleweed ( Sarcocornia pacifica also known Salicornia pacifica) productivity along transect an estuary central coast California. Through installation suite hydrometric sensors routine sampling vegetation surveys, sought understand seasonal changes terrestrial ecohydrologic processes. We found that shallow saturation, closely coupled with elevated upland level during winter spring, more influenced tidal summer fall. This response indicates switch connectivity impacts functioning. elucidating interannual drought severity historical precipitation can contemporary behavior duration timing upland-marsh connectivity. implies sensitivity climate change involves complex interaction between sea rise vary timescales.