Impacts from ditching salt marshes in the mid-Atlantic and northeastern United States

摘要: Tidal inundation extent and duration, water drainage retention by marsh peat — hydrology determine most physical ecological characteristics of salt systems. Ditching, installed across nearly all marshes on the US east coast 1940 to control mosquitoes, alters hydrology. Two linchpin papers are used here as springboards review literature that describes resulting effects, which clearly include reduced table height for changes in avian populations. Effects invertebrate populations, including generally less, although a smaller degree than is sometimes reported. Impacts nekton not clear, probably negative. range tide asymmetry appear have greater effects intermarsh variations from ditching has been appreciated or studied. Overall, changed patterns nutrient releases promotion Phragmites australis invasions important ef...