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Experimental Saltwater Intrusion Drives Rapid Soil Elevation and Carbon Loss in Freshwater and Brackish Everglades Marshes

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Abstract

Increasing rates of sea-level rise (SLR) threaten to submerge coastal wetlands unless they increase soil elevation at similar pace, often by storing soil organic carbon (OC). Coastal wetlands face increasing salinity, marine-derived nutrients, and inundation depths from increasing rates of SLR. To quantify the effects of SLR on soil OC stocks and fluxes and elevation change, we conducted two mesocosm experiments using the foundation species sawgrass (Cladium jamaicense) and organic soils from freshwater and brackish Florida Everglades marshes for 1 year. In freshwater mesocosms, we compared ambient and elevated salinity (fresh, 9 ppt) and phosphorus (ambient, + 1 g P m−2 year−1) treatments with a 2 × 2 factorial design. Salinity addition reduced root biomass (48%), driving 2.8 ± 0.3 cm year−1 of elevation loss, while soil elevation was maintained in freshwater conditions. Added P increased root productivity (134%) but also increased breakdown rates (k) of roots (31%) and leaves (42%) with no effect on root biomass or soil elevation. In brackish mesocosms, we compared ambient and elevated salinity (10, 19 ppt) and inundated and exposed conditions (water level 5-cm below and 4-cm above soil). Elevated salinity decreased root productivity (70%) and root biomass (37%) and increased k in litter (33%) and surface roots (11%), whereas inundation decreased subsurface root k (10%). All brackish marshes lost elevation at similar rates (0.6 ± 0.2 cm year−1). In conclusion, saltwater intrusion in freshwater and brackish wetlands may reduce net OC storage and increase vulnerability to SLR despite inundation or marine P supplies.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Laura Baumann, Michael Kline, Michelle Robinson, and Patricia LeRoy for their help in the field and laboratory and Florida Department of Transportation, District 4, for permission and access to obtain freshwater peat cores. Sean Charles was supported by Florida International University (FIU) Teaching Assistantships, Dr. John Kominoski, and the FIU Dissertation Year Fellowship. This is contribution number 917 from the Southeast Environmental Research Center in the Institute of Water and Environment and contribution number 22 from the Sea Level Solutions Center from Florida International University.

Funding

Funding for this research was provided by the National Science Foundation’s Florida Coastal Everglades Long Term Ecological Research Program (DEB-1237517) and Florida Sea Grant (RC-S-56), with the cooperation of the Everglades Section of the South Florida Water Management District. Additional funding and support was provided by the Everglades Foundation and Everglades National Park.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, Miami, FL, 33199, USA

    Sean P. Charles, John S. Kominoski, Tiffany G. Troxler, Evelyn E. Gaiser, Shelby Servais & Benjamin J. Wilson

  2. Southeast Environmental Research Center, Florida International University, Miami, FL, 33199, USA

    Sean P. Charles, Tiffany G. Troxler, Shelby Servais & Benjamin J. Wilson

  3. Institute of Water and Environment, Florida International University, Miami, FL, 33199, USA

    John S. Kominoski & Evelyn E. Gaiser

  4. Sea Level Solutions Center, Florida International University, Miami, FL, 33199, USA

    Tiffany G. Troxler

  5. Everglades Foundation, Palmetto Bay, FL, 33157, USA

    Stephen E. Davis

  6. South Florida Water Management District, West Palm Beach, FL, 33406, USA

    Fred H. Sklar, Carlos Coronado-Molina, Christopher J. Madden & Steve Kelly

  7. Everglades National Park, Homestead, FL, 33034, USA

    David T. Rudnick

Authors
  1. Sean P. Charles
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  2. John S. Kominoski
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  3. Tiffany G. Troxler
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  4. Evelyn E. Gaiser
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  5. Shelby Servais
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  6. Benjamin J. Wilson
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  7. Stephen E. Davis
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  8. Fred H. Sklar
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  9. Carlos Coronado-Molina
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  10. Christopher J. Madden
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  11. Steve Kelly
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  12. David T. Rudnick
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sean P. Charles.

Additional information

Communicated by Paul A. Montagna

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Charles, S.P., Kominoski, J.S., Troxler, T.G. et al. Experimental Saltwater Intrusion Drives Rapid Soil Elevation and Carbon Loss in Freshwater and Brackish Everglades Marshes. Estuaries and Coasts 42, 1868–1881 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12237-019-00620-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12237-019-00620-3

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