Tidal action enhances coastal wetland plant connectivity

Yanan Wu; Zhenming Zhang; Matthew R Hipsey; Mingxiang Zhang

doi:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.138784

Tidal action enhances coastal wetland plant connectivity

Chemosphere. 2023 Aug:331:138784. doi: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.138784. Epub 2023 Apr 27.

Authors

Yanan Wu¹, Zhenming Zhang², Matthew R Hipsey³, Mingxiang Zhang⁴

Affiliations

¹ College of Ecology and Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, China; The Key Laboratory of Ecological Protection in the Yellow River Basin of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Beijing, 100083, China.
² College of Ecology and Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, China; The Key Laboratory of Ecological Protection in the Yellow River Basin of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Beijing, 100083, China. Electronic address: zhenmingzhang@bjfu.edu.cn.
³ Centre for Water and Spatial Science, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, 6009, Australia.
⁴ College of Ecology and Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, China; The Key Laboratory of Ecological Protection in the Yellow River Basin of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Beijing, 100083, China. Electronic address: zhangmingxiang@bjfu.edu.cn.

PMID: 37119931
DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.138784

Abstract

Coastal wetlands are being greatly affected by global climate change, and understanding how tides influence plant connectivity can provide a basis for plant conservation and wetland restoration decisions in degraded and at-risk areas. In our study, we quantified the structural and functional connectivity of Suaeda salsa in the Yellow River Delta and explored the impact of tidal action on connectivity. The results showed that plant structural connectivity increased with distance inland from the sea. Similarly, seed connectivity was enhanced but gene connectivity was diminished when moving inland. An increase in the tidal channel branching rate was associated with a significant reduction in plant structural connectivity, and tidal inundation frequency significantly promoted gene connectivity. Tidal action was found to reduce seed circulation and germination, but this effect was not significant. Overall, it was established that plant structural connectivity is not equivalent to functional connectivity and that the effects of tides on structural and functional connectivity are inconsistent. In terms of achieving effective plant connectivity, tides can promote connectivity. In addition, when studying plant connectivity, temporal and spatial scales should be considered. This study provides a more comprehensive and insightful understanding tidal drivers of plant connectivity.

Keywords: Plant connectivity; Suaeda salsa; Tidal channel; Tides; Yellow River Delta.

MeSH terms

Chenopodiaceae*
China
Plants
Rivers
Seeds
Wetlands*