Environmental disturbances and restoration of salt marshes

Judith Weis; Lisamarie Windham-Myers

doi:10.1016/b978-0-323-90798-9.00095-0

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USGS · 70248795

Environmental disturbances and restoration of salt marshes

Judith Weis·Lisamarie Windham-Myers

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Abstract

Salt and brackish marshes (hereafter salt marshes) are the dominant coastal wetland in temperate and boreal intertidal settings. Human-enhanced disturbances threaten their persistence and functionality, with consequences to many ecosystem services. Restoration potentials are very site specific, varying by degree of disturbance and target goals. Global changes in climate and land-use will continue to impact salt marsh extent and function, requiring a portfolio of responses. While local responses may achieve limited target goals for salt marsh functions, preservation of current tidal wetlands and their inland migration corridors is the most viable option for maintaining a full suite of salt marsh ecosystem services, globally.

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Judith Weis, Lisamarie Windham-Myers. 2024. Environmental disturbances and restoration of salt marshes. https://doi.org/10.1016/b978-0-323-90798-9.00095-0

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