Responses of Coastal Wetland Vegetation to a Large-Scale Tidal Restoration on the Texas Upper Coast

dc.contributor.advisorArmitage, Anna R
dc.contributor.committeeMemberFeagin, Rusty A
dc.contributor.committeeMemberJurgens, Laura J
dc.contributor.committeeMemberPollack, Jennifer B
dc.creatorMcDonald, Ashley E
dc.date.accessioned2023-02-07T16:11:17Z
dc.date.available2024-05-01T06:07:14Z
dc.date.created2022-05
dc.date.issued2022-04-22
dc.date.submittedMay 2022
dc.date.updated2023-02-07T16:11:18Z
dc.description.abstractCoastal wetlands are often modified by climate- and human-driven events of various frequency, intensity, and duration. These alterations may result in substantial changes to ecosystem structure and function. For example, the closure of Rollover Pass in 2019 reduced tidal saltwater input to East Galveston Bay, thus restoring historical hydrological conditions. I studied the impacts of pass closure on the salinity and floral community composition in adjacent wetlands from 2019-2021. Some decreases to salinity occurred, but they were small in magnitude and may not lead to substantial shifts in plant communities. There were few changes in plant community composition, and those that occurred were reorganizations in the distribution and abundance of existing salt-tolerant species. The slow rate of biotic change following this large-scale restoration highlights the decadal scale needed for ecosystem restoration and is an argument for prioritizing conservation strategies in ecosystem management.
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdf
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/1969.1/197218
dc.language.isoen
dc.subjectwetland
dc.subjectcoastal
dc.subjectrestoration
dc.subjectvegetation
dc.subjectsalinity
dc.subjectalteration
dc.titleResponses of Coastal Wetland Vegetation to a Large-Scale Tidal Restoration on the Texas Upper Coast
dc.typeThesis
dc.type.materialtext
local.embargo.terms2024-05-01
local.etdauthor.orcid0000-0001-9055-9737
thesis.degree.departmentMarine Biology
thesis.degree.disciplineMarine Biology
thesis.degree.grantorTexas A&M University
thesis.degree.levelMasters
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Science

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