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Forests
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Coastal Forest Dynamics and Coastline Erosion, 2nd Edition
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Coastal Forest Dynamics and Coastline Erosion, 2nd Edition

A special issue of Forests (ISSN 1999-4907). This special issue belongs to the section "Forest Hydrology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 June 2024) | Viewed by 5343

Special Issue Editors

Dr. William H. Conner

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Belle W. Baruch Institute of Coastal Ecology and Forest Science, Clemson University, P.O. Box 596, Georgetown, SC 29442, USA
Interests: forested wetland ecology; wetland management; wetland creation and restoration; effects of man and nature on natural environments; wetlands for wastewater treatment; estuarine/upland connections; changing land-use impacts on natural systems
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Thomas J. Dean

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Renewable Natural Resources, Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA
Interests: crown dynamics; stem mechanics; population biology; competition; size–density relationships
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

A combination of anthropogenic and natural factors threaten the coastline and the forests that lie between the coast and the uplands. Various transportation, navigation, and flood control projects have greatly altered hydrology, leading to drying in the upper reaches of flood plains and permanent flooding in the lower reaches. Rising sea levels encroach on coastal forests as well, and salt water has intruded into normally freshwater swamps. These alterations are favoring species changes in the upper reaches and conversion to marsh in the lower regions. To forestall these changes, more information is needed to support efforts to maintain coastal forests, to regenerate and restore coastal forests for the near future, and to identify environmental conditions that need to be created when planning rehabilitation projects.

The aim of this Special Issue is to create a collection of articles addressing the basic and applied ecology of coastal species, how they respond to changes in their habitat, and analyses of rehabilitation projects. The scope of the Special Issue includes species commonly associated with coastal forests, the threats facing coastal forests with specific examples, and management practices used to regenerate and tend coastal forests.

The topics of manuscripts we are soliciting include the following, involving coastal species and changes in their habitat:

  • Silviculture;
  • Production ecology;
  • Ecohydrology;
  • Tolerance;
  • Restoration case studies.

Dr. William H. Conner
Prof. Dr. Thomas J. Dean
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Forests is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • coastal forests
  • sea level rise
  • silviculture
  • ecohydrology
  • tolerance

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

29 pages, 8791 KiB  
Article
Leaf Physiological Responses and Early Senescence Are Linked to Reflectance Spectra in Salt-Sensitive Coastal Tree Species
by Steven M. Anderson, Emily S. Bernhardt, Jean-Christophe Domec, Emily A. Ury, Ryan E. Emanuel, Justin P. Wright and Marcelo Ardón
Forests 2024, 15(9), 1638; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15091638 - 17 Sep 2024
Viewed by 283
Abstract
Salt-sensitive trees in coastal wetlands are dying as forests transition to marsh and open water at a rapid pace. Forested wetlands are experiencing repeated saltwater exposure due to the frequency and severity of climatic events, sea-level rise, and human infrastructure expansion. Understanding the [...] Read more.
Salt-sensitive trees in coastal wetlands are dying as forests transition to marsh and open water at a rapid pace. Forested wetlands are experiencing repeated saltwater exposure due to the frequency and severity of climatic events, sea-level rise, and human infrastructure expansion. Understanding the diverse responses of trees to saltwater exposure can help identify taxa that may provide early warning signals of salinity stress in forests at broader scales. To isolate the impacts of saltwater exposure on trees, we performed an experiment to investigate the leaf-level physiology of six tree species when exposed to oligohaline and mesohaline treatments. We found that species exposed to 3–6 parts per thousand (ppt) salinity had idiosyncratic responses of plant performance that were species-specific. Saltwater exposure impacted leaf photochemistry and caused early senescence in Acer rubrum, the most salt-sensitive species tested, but did not cause any impacts on plant water use in treatments with <6 ppt. Interestingly, leaf spectral reflectance was correlated with the operating efficiency of photosystem II (PSII) photochemistry in A. rubrum leaves before leaf physiological processes were impacted by salinity treatments. Our results suggest that the timing and frequency of saltwater intrusion events are likely to be more detrimental to wetland tree performance than salinity concentrations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Coastal Forest Dynamics and Coastline Erosion, 2nd Edition)
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16 pages, 5051 KiB  
Article
Aboveground Carbon Stocks across a Hydrological Gradient: Ghost Forests to Non-Tidal Freshwater Forested Wetlands
by Christopher J. Shipway, Jamie A. Duberstein, William H. Conner, Ken W. Krauss, Gregory B. Noe and Stefanie L. Whitmire
Forests 2024, 15(9), 1502; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15091502 - 28 Aug 2024
Viewed by 468
Abstract
Upper estuarine forested wetlands (UEFWs) play an important role in the sequestration of atmospheric carbon (C), which is facilitated by their position at the boundary of terrestrial and maritime environments but threatened by sea level rise. This study assessed the change in aboveground [...] Read more.
Upper estuarine forested wetlands (UEFWs) play an important role in the sequestration of atmospheric carbon (C), which is facilitated by their position at the boundary of terrestrial and maritime environments but threatened by sea level rise. This study assessed the change in aboveground C stocks along the estuarine–riverine hydrogeomorphic gradient spanning salt-impacted freshwater tidal forested wetlands to freshwater forested wetlands in seasonally tidal and nontidal landscape positions. Standing stocks of C in forested wetlands were measured along two major coastal river systems, the Winyah Bay in South Carolina and the Savannah River in Georgia (USA), replicating and expanding a previous study to allow the assessment of change over time. Aboveground C stocks on these systems averaged 172.9 Mg C ha−1, comparable to those found in UEFWs across the globe and distinct from the terrestrial forested ecosystems they are often considered to be a part of during large-scale C inventory efforts. Groundwater salinity conditions as low as 1.3 ppt were observed in conjunction with losses of aboveground C. When viewed in context alongside expected sea level rise and corresponding saltwater intrusion estimates, these data suggest a marked decrease in aboveground C stocks in forested wetlands situated in and around tidal estuaries. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Coastal Forest Dynamics and Coastline Erosion, 2nd Edition)
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21 pages, 4944 KiB  
Article
Tidal Freshwater Forested Wetlands in the Mobile-Tensaw River Delta along the Northern Gulf of Mexico
by Andrew Balder, Christopher J. Anderson and Nedret Billor
Forests 2024, 15(8), 1359; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15081359 - 3 Aug 2024
Viewed by 848
Abstract
Tidal freshwater forested wetlands (TFFWs) typically occur at the interface between upriver non-tidal forests and downstream tidal marshes. Due to their location, these forests are susceptible to estuarine and riverine influences, notably periodic saltwater intrusion events. The Mobile-Tensaw (MT) River Delta, one of [...] Read more.
Tidal freshwater forested wetlands (TFFWs) typically occur at the interface between upriver non-tidal forests and downstream tidal marshes. Due to their location, these forests are susceptible to estuarine and riverine influences, notably periodic saltwater intrusion events. The Mobile-Tensaw (MT) River Delta, one of the largest river deltas in the United States, features TFFWs that are understudied but threatened by sea level rise and human impacts. We surveyed 47 TFFW stands across a tidal gradient previously determined using nine stations to collect continuous water level and salinity data. Forest data were collected from 400 m2 circular plots of canopy and midstory species composition, canopy tree diameter and basal area, stem density, and tree condition. Multivariate hierarchical clustering identified five distinct canopy communities (p = 0.001): Mixed Forest, Swamp Tupelo, Water Tupelo, Bald Cypress, and Bald Cypress and Mixed Tupelo. Environmental factors, such as river distance (p = 0.001) and plot elevation (p = 0.06), were related to community composition. Similar to other TFFWs along the northern Gulf of Mexico, forests closest to Mobile Bay exhibited lower basal areas, species density, diversity, and a higher proportion of visually stressed individual canopy trees compared to those in the upper tidal reach. Results indicate a strong tidal influence on forest composition, structure, and community-level responses. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Coastal Forest Dynamics and Coastline Erosion, 2nd Edition)
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16 pages, 3080 KiB  
Article
Interactive Effects of Salinity and Hydrology on Radial Growth of Bald Cypress (Taxodium distichum (L.) Rich.) in Coastal Louisiana, USA
by Richard H. Day, Andrew S. From, Darren J. Johnson and Ken W. Krauss
Forests 2024, 15(7), 1258; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15071258 - 19 Jul 2024
Viewed by 579
Abstract
Tidal freshwater forests are usually located at or above the level of mean high water. Some Louisiana coastal forests are below mean high water, especially bald cypress (Taxodium distichum (L.) Rich.) forests because flooding has increased due to the combined effects of [...] Read more.
Tidal freshwater forests are usually located at or above the level of mean high water. Some Louisiana coastal forests are below mean high water, especially bald cypress (Taxodium distichum (L.) Rich.) forests because flooding has increased due to the combined effects of global sea level rise and local subsidence. In addition, constructed channels from the coast inland act as conduits for saltwater. As a result, saltwater intrusion affects the productivity of Louisiana’s coastal bald cypress forests. To study the long-term effects of hydrology and salinity on the health of these systems, we fitted dendrometer bands on selected trees to record basal area increment as a measure of growth in permanent forest productivity plots established within six bald cypress stands. Three stands were in freshwater sites with low salinity rooting zone groundwater (0.1–1.3 ppt), while the other three had higher salinity rooting zone groundwater (0.2–4.9 ppt). Water level was logged continuously, and salinity was measured monthly to quarterly on the surface and in groundwater wells. Higher groundwater salinity levels were related to decreased bald cypress radial growth, while higher freshwater flooding increased radial growth. With these data, coastal managers can model rates of bald cypress forest change as a function of salinity and flooding. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Coastal Forest Dynamics and Coastline Erosion, 2nd Edition)
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15 pages, 2706 KiB  
Article
Coastal Forest Change and Shoreline Erosion across a Salinity Gradient in a Micro-Tidal Estuary System
by Lori E. Gorczynski, A. Reuben Wilson, Ben K. Odhiambo and Matthew C. Ricker
Forests 2024, 15(6), 1069; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15061069 - 20 Jun 2024
Viewed by 700
Abstract
Coastal Zone Soil Survey mapping provides interpretive information that can be used to increase coastal resiliency and quantify how coastal ecosystems are changing over time. North Carolina has approximately 400,500 ha of land within 500 m of the tidal coastline that is expected [...] Read more.
Coastal Zone Soil Survey mapping provides interpretive information that can be used to increase coastal resiliency and quantify how coastal ecosystems are changing over time. North Carolina has approximately 400,500 ha of land within 500 m of the tidal coastline that is expected to undergo some degree of salinization in the next century. This study examined 33 tidal wetlands in the Albemarle–Pamlico Sound along a salinity gradient to provide a coastal zone mapping framework to quantify shoreline change rates. The primary ecosystems evaluated include intact tidal forested wetlands (average water salinity, 0.15–1.61 ppt), degraded “ghost forest” wetlands (3.51–8.28 ppt), and established mesohaline marshes (11.73–15.47 ppt). The average shoreline rate of change (m/yr) was significantly different among estuary ecosystems (p = 0.004), soil type (organic or mineral) (p < 0.001), and shore fetch category (open or protected) (p < 0.001). From 1984 to 2020, a total of 2833 ha of land has been submerged due to sea level rise in the Albemarle–Pamlico Sound with the majority (91.6%) of this loss coming from tidal marsh and ghost forest ecosystems. The results from this study highlight the importance of maintaining healthy coastal forests, which have higher net accretion rates compared to other estuarine ecosystems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Coastal Forest Dynamics and Coastline Erosion, 2nd Edition)
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19 pages, 7068 KiB  
Article
Multivariate Analysis of the Community Composition of Tidal Freshwater Forests on the Altamaha River, Georgia
by Galen Costomiris, Christine M. Hladik and Christopher Craft
Forests 2024, 15(1), 200; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15010200 - 19 Jan 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1093
Abstract
Situated in the transitional zone between non-tidal forests upstream and tidal freshwater marshes downstream, tidal freshwater forests (TFF) occupy a unique and increasingly precarious habitat due to the threat of saltwater intrusion and sea level rise. Salinization causes tree mortality and forest-to-marsh transition, [...] Read more.
Situated in the transitional zone between non-tidal forests upstream and tidal freshwater marshes downstream, tidal freshwater forests (TFF) occupy a unique and increasingly precarious habitat due to the threat of saltwater intrusion and sea level rise. Salinization causes tree mortality and forest-to-marsh transition, which reduces biodiversity and carbon sequestration. The Altamaha River is the longest undammed river on the United States East Coast and has extensive TFF, but there have been only limited field studies examining TFF along the entire gradient of salinity and flooding. We surveyed thirty-eight forest plots on the Altamaha River along a gradient of tidal influence, and measured tree species composition, diameter, and height. Hierarchical clustering and indicator species analysis were used to identify TFF communities. The relationship of these communities to elevation and river distance was assessed using non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS). We identified six significantly different forest communities: Oak/Hornbeam, Water Tupelo, Bald Cypress/Tupelo, Pine, Swamp Tupelo, and Bald Cypress. Both elevation and river distance were significantly correlated with plot species composition (p = 0.001). Plots at the downstream extent of our study area had lower stem density, basal area, and species diversity than those further upstream, suggesting saltwater intrusion. This study demonstrates the importance of and need for thorough and robust analyses of tidal freshwater forest composition to improve prediction of TFF response to sea level rise. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Coastal Forest Dynamics and Coastline Erosion, 2nd Edition)
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