TY - JOUR
T1 - European salt marshes
T2 - Ecology and conservation in a changing world
AU - Garbutt, Angus
AU - de Groot, Alma
AU - Smit, Chris
AU - Petillon, Julien
PY - 2017/6
Y1 - 2017/6
N2 - Saltmarsh habitats have been studied and reported on in the scientific literature for over a century. The earliest papers were given over to descriptive studies of plant species zonation and distribution. As the science of ecology developed, experimental studies set out to understand the physical processes that play such an important part in the formation of salt marshes and their interaction with the biota. As the twentieth century progressed, ecological theory developed into its own branch of science and salt marshes, with their strong environmental gradients and relatively low number species richness, became ideal habitats to test the latest concepts. At the same time, there became greater awareness of the effects of estuarine and coastal zone degradation due to centuries of over-exploitation, habitat modification and pollution resulting in loss of biodiversity and habitat extent. Studies on habitat management and the restoration of biodiversity and natural processes began to influence policy makers and land managers. Today, there is a global and active science community involved in the descriptive, experimental, applied, theoretical and legislative disciplines of saltmarsh ecology. This special issue brings together some of these areas presented at the Coastal Ecology Workshop, an annual forum for scientists working on saltmarsh related topics throughout Northern Europe.
AB - Saltmarsh habitats have been studied and reported on in the scientific literature for over a century. The earliest papers were given over to descriptive studies of plant species zonation and distribution. As the science of ecology developed, experimental studies set out to understand the physical processes that play such an important part in the formation of salt marshes and their interaction with the biota. As the twentieth century progressed, ecological theory developed into its own branch of science and salt marshes, with their strong environmental gradients and relatively low number species richness, became ideal habitats to test the latest concepts. At the same time, there became greater awareness of the effects of estuarine and coastal zone degradation due to centuries of over-exploitation, habitat modification and pollution resulting in loss of biodiversity and habitat extent. Studies on habitat management and the restoration of biodiversity and natural processes began to influence policy makers and land managers. Today, there is a global and active science community involved in the descriptive, experimental, applied, theoretical and legislative disciplines of saltmarsh ecology. This special issue brings together some of these areas presented at the Coastal Ecology Workshop, an annual forum for scientists working on saltmarsh related topics throughout Northern Europe.
KW - Tidal marsh
KW - Conference proceedings
KW - Biogeomorphology
KW - Ecosystem functioning
U2 - 10.1007/s11852-017-0524-6
DO - 10.1007/s11852-017-0524-6
M3 - Editorial
SN - 1400-0350
VL - 21
SP - 405
EP - 408
JO - Journal of Coastal Conservation
JF - Journal of Coastal Conservation
IS - 3
ER -