College of Biology and the Environment, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210037, China; Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210037, China.
College of Biology and the Environment, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210037, China; Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210037, China.
Sci Total Environ. 2022 Mar 25;814:152631. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.152631. Epub 2021 Dec 25.
The overwhelming spread of Spartina alterniflora (smooth cordgrass) has put many native plant communities and coastal environments at risk. A better understanding of how S. alterniflora responds to inundation and salinity gradients will help manage the invasion of this species. However, current spatial quantitative analyses are insufficient. Thus, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and field sampling data were integrated to assess the ecological response of S. alterniflora to inundation and salinity gradients. This study aimed to determine the optimum ecological range of flooding and saline for S. alterniflora in Dafeng Milu National Nature Reserve in Jiangsu, China. Our results showed that the optimum ecological amplitude of S. alterniflora to flooding depth was [-0.07 m, 0.82 m] and the optimum mean growing point was 0.38 m. Furthermore, the optimum flooding time was [0 h,11.87 h], and the optimum mean growing point was 4.13 h. Our analyses also showed that soil salinity had significant effects on the growth of S. alterniflora. The optimum ecological amplitude of S. alterniflora to soil salinity was [13.77 g/kg, 22.57 g/kg], and the optimum mean growing point was 18.19 g/kg. This is the first spatially quantitative analysis to study the eco-hydrological mechanism driving both the aboveground biomass and height of S. alterniflora over the intertidal zone to the best of our knowledge. Determining the optimal ecological range for flooding and salt will provide a scientific basis for measures to establish the ecological control of S. alterniflora and to predict the expansion of S. alterniflora in response to rising sea levels.
互花米草（大米草）的广泛蔓延给许多本地植物群落和沿海环境带来了风险。更好地了解互花米草对淹没和盐度梯度的反应将有助于管理该物种的入侵。然而，目前的空间定量分析还不够。因此，本文整合了无人机（UAV）和实地采样数据，以评估互花米草对淹没和盐度梯度的生态响应。本研究旨在确定中国江苏大丰麋鹿国家级自然保护区互花米草的最佳淹没和盐度生态范围。研究结果表明，互花米草对淹没深度的最佳生态幅度为[-0.07 m, 0.82 m]，最佳平均生长点为 0.38 m。此外，最佳淹没时间为[0 h,11.87 h]，最佳平均生长点为 4.13 h。我们的分析还表明，土壤盐分对互花米草的生长有显著影响。互花米草对土壤盐分的最佳生态幅度为[13.77 g/kg, 22.57 g/kg]，最佳平均生长点为 18.19 g/kg。据我们所知，这是首次进行空间定量分析，以研究互花米草在潮间带的地上生物量和高度的生态水力学机制。确定淹没和盐分的最佳生态范围将为建立互花米草生态控制措施和预测互花米草对海平面上升的扩张提供科学依据。
