- Key Findings
Rising seas can stimulate the inland transgression of mangroves and amplify carbon gains (as observed in historic carbon budgets based on long term flux data, paleoecology, and remote sensing). However, FCE LTER studies, experiments, and models show that carbon losses can exceed increases where saltwater invades freshwater marshes, resulting in abrupt elevation loss (collapse) that further promotes saltwater intrusion (Wilson et al. 2019).
Eddy covariance and meteorological tower near TS/Ph-1b in Taylor Slough. Credit: Edward Linden - Results
Net ecosystem carbon balance in the FCE is measured by the net ecosystem exchange of CO2 and CH4 (from our eddy flux tower data in upper graphs), the production, mineralization, and fluxes of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC), dissolved organic carbon (DOC), particulate inorganic carbon (PIC), and particulate organic carbon (POC) within and between marsh, mangrove, and seagrass/marine ecosystems. Net soil elevation change is measured with surface elevation tables. 
Freshwater marsh response to saltwater intrusion from manipulations of phosphorus (+ 15 µmol P d-1) and seawater (9 ppt NaCl). Responses include changes in carbon dioxide flux (blue and red arrows, µmol CO2 m2 s-1), biomass of above and belowground vegetation (green and brown numbers, respectively, in g m-2, respectively) and soil elevation gain or loss (arrows, in cm).
For more information, contact Gregory Starr or Sparkle Malone.