Projects

Vegetation development in response to salinity intrusion at the wetlands scale

Here we investigate how salt intrusion affects vegetation dynamics and the resulting morphological development of fresh-brackish wetland ecosystem. Focal points are the implications of salt intrusion of vegetation composition and subsequent implications for the development of creeks that are a key element determining the resilience of wetlands to salt intrusion as well as sea level rise. Specific research questions:

• How do salinity gradients form in wetlands following salt intrusion in emerging as well as established wetlands? And how do they affect vegetation composition?
• What is sensitivity of wetland species in relation to salt intrusion, as a function of the characteristics of the salinity stress event?
• How do salt-induced changes in plant species composition affect the morphological development of both natural and re-aligned wetland ecosystems, in terms of creek development and basin size, for both emerging and established wetlands? How does this affect the efficiency of nature-based solutions such as managed realignment projects (wp7).