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Dendrochronology of Atriplex portulacoides and Artemisia maritima in Wadden Sea salt marshes

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Abstract

The study uses a rather unusual method, dendrochronology, to investigate the growth and survival of Atriplex portulacoides L. and Artemisia maritima L. on salt marshes at two field sites on the Dutch North Sea barrier islands of Terschelling and Ameland. By providing information on longevity of these typical salt-marsh shrubs, dendrochronology offers an indirect way to investigate the influence of management regime – grazing in this case – on marsh quality and areal extent. Diminishment of salt marshes is a continuing concern in the northern Netherlands. The two shrub species studied here, A. portulacoides and A. maritima, are common to salt marshes. With their extensive roots and branches, they facilitate sedimentation and stabilize salt marshes. Using dendrochronology, this study found that annual growth rings could be identified to determine shrub age and growth. In A. portulacoides these rings took the form of a narrow band of terminal parenchyma. In A. maritima they were made up of unlignified marginal parenchyma together with higher vessel density at the beginning of the growing season. Growth rings indicated that intense grazing was clearly detrimental to the survival of A. portulacoides at the Terschelling site. However, grazing facilitated survival of A. maritima at the Ameland site by reducing light and nutrient competition from grasses. No growth trends could be found, however, as the lifespan for both species is short and many other influences on shrub growth could be identified.

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Acknowledgement

This study is part of the strategic KBIV research program Sustainable Spatial Development of Ecosystems, Landscapes, Seas and Regions, funded by the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Innovation and carried out by Wageningen University Research Center. Special thanks to Johan Krol from the Nature Center (Ameland) for his support during the fieldwork. We are also grateful for the permission granted by ‘De Vennoot’ (Neerlands Reid) to undertake our research on their property. We also thank Sarah Carter, Michelle Luijben and an anonymous reviewer for their comments and editing, which improved the article.

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Correspondence to Mathieu Decuyper.

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Decuyper, M., Slim, P.A. & Van Loon-Steensma, J.M. Dendrochronology of Atriplex portulacoides and Artemisia maritima in Wadden Sea salt marshes. J Coast Conserv 18, 279–284 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11852-014-0317-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11852-014-0317-0

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