Gough and Grace used strategic sod placement and exclosures to determine if rising sea levels will impact salt marsh vegetation by increasing salinity, flooding frequency and sensitivity of plants to herbivory. Flooding and salinity negatively affected plant communities, as flood frequency and salinity increased, species density and total biomass decreased. The effects of herbivory were limited in plant communities that were not exposed to increased salinity and flooding frequency, however, the impacts of herbivory were enhanced in plant communities with these disturbances. The results of this study suggest that rising sea levels will impact plant communities in Louisiana salt marshes by decreasing species density and biomass and increasing the susceptibly of plants to herbivore damage.
Citations and enhanced abstracts for journals articles and documents focused on rangeland ecology and management. RSIS is a collaboration between Montana State University, University of Idaho, and University of Wyoming.