Article Responses: Coastal Areas
Article 1
It is essential to note that salt marshes and estuaries provide more resources and services than any other ecosystem. They provide edible animals, plants, fiber, thatch, fuel, and fodder. They also offer protection from storms, act as nurseries for fish, and provide biogeochemical filters (Gedan, 230). The aim will thus be to look for evidence concerning the above provisions in salt marshes.
Environmental
The collection will involve taking temperature measurements in the salt marshes, types of plants that are found in the region, water levels and purity, etc. The temperature in the areas is expected to rise while the water levels subside. Types of plants found in salt marshes include the marsh hay and cord grass (Mary & Williams, 4). The plants act as storm buffers and filter pollutants.
Wellbeing
The assessment of the number of tourists in the salt marsh region and the activities they take part in such as surfing and boat ridings. The plants in the region also allow free circulation of air; hence, the aesthetic opportunities are present if there is vegetation,
Article 2
Main Arguments
The ecosystem services harden the shorelines of the salt marshes.
They also restore the ecological engineers such as oysters and marsh grasses.
They facilitate the retention of coastal habitats using natural resilience to safeguard human communities and property (Brisson, 4).
Article 3
Climate Change Predictors
The increase of heat due to greenhouse gases that will reduce the water levels
Erosion of the coastline due to disruptive human activities such as the construction of buildings and release of wastes (Heffner et.al, 5).
Increased storminess because of the excessive harvesting of salt marsh vegetation that acts as storm buffers.
The rise in heat levels will increase the temperature in the coastal areas.
Article 4
The preservation of the salt marshes will need complex decisions that will balance the conservation goals and ecosystem tradeoffs. The invasive plants will reduce the threat of salt marsh loss and promote ecosystem resilience. The preservation of the regions will require a linkage between salt marsh die-offs and overfishing to prevent the depletion of predators that will trigger a herbivore-infested die-off (Gedan et.al, 234). The process will require management approaches that conserve the overall biodiversity in the regions.
Works Cited
Brisson, Caitlyn. Salt marsh die-off and recovery reveal disparity between the recovery
of ecosystem structure and service provision. Biological Conservation 179 (2014) 1–5.
Gedan, Keryn, et. al. Uncertain future of New England salt marshes. Marine Ecology Press Series. Vol. 434: 229–237, 2011.
Heffner, Leana, et.al. Climate Change & Rhode Island’s Coasts. University of Rhode Island, 2012.
Mary & Williams. Field Guide to Virginia Salt and Brackish Marsh Plants. Virginia Institute of Marine Science: School of Marine Science, n.d.
