Vertical intertidal variation of organic matter stocks and patterns of sediment deposition in a mesotidal coastal wetland

• DOI: 10.1016/j.ecss.2022.107896
• Publication Date: 2022-05-13T07:33:03Z
• Authors: Carmen B. de los ...; François Lahuna; André Silva; Cátia Freitas; Márcio Martins; A. Rita Carrasco; Rui Santos
• Keywords: Salt marsh; Spartina alterniflora; Spartina; Deposition; Blue carbon

Tidal coastal wetlands, common home to seagrass and salt marshes, are relevant carbon sinks due their high capacity accumulate store organic in sediments. Recent studies demonstrated that the spatial variability of this within same wetland system can be significant. Some environmental drivers remain understudied selection most ones context dependent. Here we investigated role bed elevation, hydrodynamics, habitat type (salt marsh seagrass) on matter (OM) net deposition-resuspension rate superficial sedimentary stocks (top 5 cm) at tidal wetlands Ria Formosa, a mesotidal lagoon South Portugal. Results showed two vectors variation need considered describe intertidal OM stocks: elevation imposes decrease hydroperiod thus change from lower Z. noltei upper saltmarsh S. maritimus, horizontal along secondary channels current flow velocity magnitude. The multiple linear regression analyses, using data 40 sampling points, explained 59% marshes seagrasses Formosa revealed generally with yet among sites habitats. It was also found exponential. Our study emphasizes importance considering for regional estimations (and carbon) wetlands.