Relationship between vegetation and soil formation in a rapidly submerging coastal marsh

Abstract

In a Terrebonne Basin (Louisiana) marsh, 137Cs dating indicated that vertical accretion (0.98cm yr-1) was extremely rapid relative to other marshes, but insufficient to counter submergence (1.38cm yr-1). Mineral and organic matter accumulation were similar to that in other marshes. This marsh is threatened by a positive feedback loop of plant flooding stress and inadequate vertical accretion. Inadequate plant growth limits vertical accretion, which further increases flooding and decreases plant production. Thus plant production partly determines the degree of submergence some coastal and estuarine marshes will tolerate. -from Authors