What factors determined restoration success of a salt marsh ten years after de-embankment?

摘要: Questions How successful was the restoration of a salt marsh at former summer polder on mainland coast Dutch Wadden Sea 10 yr after de-embankment? What were most important factors determining level success? Location Noard-Fryslân Butendyks, northwest Netherlands. Methods The frequencies target plant species recorded before de-embankment and monitored thereafter (1, 2, 3, 4, 6 later) using permanent transects. Vegetation change repeated mapping 14 yr 1, 7 de-embankment. A large-scale factorial experiment with 72 sampling plots set up to determine effects distance breach point, creek grazing treatment composition. Abiotic data also collected from transects elevation, soil salinity redox potential. Results Ten years de-embankment, transect showed that 78% 96% found site. mapping, however, diversity communities low, 50% site covered by secondary pioneer community. multivariate analogue ANOVA indicated experimental factor composition interaction between nearest livestock grazing. The combination proximity exclusion always resulted in development high In contrast, being located far creek, grazed situated low elevation accompanying community. Conclusions Using as criteria, success could be claimed However, lower than desired. Variable regimes should applied high-elevation areas prevent dominance single tall grasses promote formation vegetation mosaics. Low-elevation need pressure. Also, an adequate drainage network preserved or constructed low-elevation