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| Titel |
The impact of sea-level rise on organic matter decay rates in Chesapeake Bay brackish tidal marshes |
| VerfasserIn |
M. L. Kirwan, J. A. Langley, G. R. Guntenspergen, J. P. Megonigal |
| Medientyp |
Artikel
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| Sprache |
Englisch
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| ISSN |
1726-4170
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| Digitales Dokument |
URL |
| Erschienen |
In: Biogeosciences ; 10, no. 3 ; Nr. 10, no. 3 (2013-03-19), S.1869-1876 |
| Datensatznummer |
250018160
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| Publikation (Nr.) |
 copernicus.org/bg-10-1869-2013.pdf |
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| Zusammenfassung |
| The balance between organic matter production and decay determines how fast
coastal wetlands accumulate soil organic matter. Despite the importance of
soil organic matter accumulation rates in influencing marsh elevation and
resistance to sea-level rise, relatively little is known about how
decomposition rates will respond to sea-level rise. Here, we estimate the
sensitivity of decomposition to flooding by measuring rates of decay in 87
bags filled with milled sedge peat, including soil organic matter, roots and
rhizomes. Experiments were located in field-based mesocosms along 3 mesohaline tributaries of the Chesapeake Bay. Mesocosm elevations were
manipulated to influence the duration of tidal inundation. Although we found
no significant influence of inundation on decay rate when bags from all
study sites were analyzed together, decay rates at two of the sites
increased with greater flooding. These findings suggest that flooding may
enhance organic matter decay rates even in water-logged soils, but that the
overall influence of flooding is minor. Our experiments suggest that
sea-level rise will not accelerate rates of peat accumulation by slowing the
rate of soil organic matter decay. Consequently, marshes will require
enhanced organic matter productivity or mineral sediment deposition to
survive accelerating sea-level rise. |
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