Researcher(s)
- Josephine Petrak, Environmental Science, University of Delaware
Faculty Mentor(s)
- Pinki Mondal, Geography, University of Delaware
Abstract
Title: Elevation-Driven Distribution of Marsh Plant Species Across Delmarva Wetlands
Authors: Josephine Petrak1, Isabelle Vavala1, Lauren Hollinger1, Pinki Mondal1
1 Geography and Spatial Sciences, University of Delaware
Abstract: Coastal wetlands are dynamic and highly productive ecosystems that provide important ecological services to wildlife habitat, shoreline protection, and carbon storage. The distribution and composition of marsh plant communities are influenced by a variety of environmental factors, including elevation and the frequency and duration of tidal inundation. Understanding how plant species are distributed along elevation gradients can provide insight into the environmental conditions that shape coastal wetlands and how these ecosystems may respond to future environmental change.
In this research, we analyzed the association between elevation and the distribution of four major marsh plant species across 9 coastal counties in the states of Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia: Smooth cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora), Saltmeadow cordgrass (Spartina patens), Black needlerush (Juncus roemerianus), and Common reed (Phragmites australis). Using ArcGIS Survey123, we documented the locations and ancillary data of these marsh plant patches at 201 sites. These observations were combined with USGS 3DEP LiDAR elevation data and analyzed using ArcGIS Pro.
Elevation patterns were observed among the four marsh plant species, with S. alterniflora generally occurring at lower elevations and P. australis at higher elevations, while S. patens and J. roemerianus occupied intermediate ranges. These results highlight the importance of elevation in shaping marsh vegetation patterns. This research may also provide a foundation for future studies examining how sea-level rise, tidal inundation, salinity levels, and other environmental changes could alter marsh plant distributions across the Delmarva Peninsula.