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Journal article
Burrowing Crab Effects on Plants and Sediments Peak in Early Successional Ecotones Along A Chronosequence of Tidal Marsh Restoration
Ecosystems, v 28(4), 35
25 Jun 2025
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Abstract
Burrowing crab engineers can affect the biological structure and sediment conditions of their environments. However, it is challenging to predict when and where burrow effects will manifest, as they are often site- and habitat-specific. We used a tidal marsh restoration chronosequence to explore crab burrow effects on plant communities (for example, percent cover, biomass, stem heights) and sediment characteristics (for example, bulk density, organic matter, carbon and nitrogen stocks) through early succession. In a field survey, we compared plants and sediments between plots with high and low crab burrow densities within three habitat zones: mud flat (that is, 0–1 years old), young marsh (that is, ~ 1–6 years old), and old marsh (that is, ~ 6+ years old). In a manipulative experiment, we tested the physical effects of crab burrows on plants and sediments at the mud flat-young marsh ecotone using burrow mimics. In our field survey, crab burrow density did not influence plants or sediments. Rather, plant biomass and stem heights, as well as sediment bulk density, organic matter, carbon, and nitrogen, differed between habitat zones, following expected marsh successional trajectories of development over time. However, in our manipulative experiment, crab burrow mimics had a strong positive effect on plants at the ecotone, suggesting crab burrows can facilitate plant expansion into unvegetated mud flats. Thus, crab burrow effects on plant performance appear to peak in early successional ecotones where burrowing mediates environmental stressors and promotes vegetative growth, with implications for the recovery of biological structure and sediment properties following restoration.
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Details
- Title
- Burrowing Crab Effects on Plants and Sediments Peak in Early Successional Ecotones Along A Chronosequence of Tidal Marsh Restoration
- Creators
- Morgan Sharbaugh - University of AlabamaShelby A. Rinehart (Corresponding Author) - Drexel University, Biodiversity, Earth, and Environmental Science (BEES)Jacob M. Dybiec - University of AlabamaJulia A. Cherry - University of Alabama
- Publication Details
- Ecosystems, v 28(4), 35
- Publisher
- Springer Nature
- Number of pages
- 13
- Grant note
- University of Alabama's Department of Biology, a College Academy of Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activity (CARSCA) grantUniversity of Alabama's Department of Biology, a College Academy of Research, ScholarshipCreative Activity (CARSCA)Drexel University's College of Arts and Sciences
Funding was provided through the University of Alabama's Department of Biology, a College Academy of Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activity (CARSCA) grant awarded to SAR and JAC, and Drexel University's College of Arts and Sciences.
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Biodiversity, Earth, and Environmental Science (BEES)
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:001517041800001
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-105009348788
- Other Identifier
- 991022058836604721
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- Web of Science research areas
- Ecology