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Quantifying linkages between watershed factors and coastal wetland plant invasion in the US Great Lakes

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Abstract

Context

Freshwater coastal wetlands provide numerous ecosystem services, including habitat, nutrient uptake, coastal stabilization, and aesthetic value, but the integrity of these ecosystems is threatened by invasion of non-native competitors. Invasive species, such as Phragmites and Typha, are a concern in these wetlands, as they can dominate and outcompete native species.

Objectives

This work sets out to understand the conditions that allow invasive species to dominate. This will allow for better management of landscapes and wetlands.

Methods

We bring together two datasets to relate landscape conditions to coastal wetland invasion: (1) a spatially explicit map of nutrient inputs (SENSEmap) across the US Great Lakes Basin, and (2) a satellite land use map that includes explicit classifications of wetlands. Using machine learning algorithms, we quantified correlations between wetland plant invasion along the coastline to nutrient loads (both N and P) and other landscape scale variables (hydraulic conductivity, slope, imperviousness, land use, and land cover) across multiple influence zones.

Results

We find that high invasion is typically associated with nitrogen loading above 118 kg/ha/year within the watersheds of the invaded wetlands. Forest cover of < 27% is associated with high invasion. Conversely, nearshore slope of > 2.6% and phosphorus loads < 2.8 kg/ha/year are associated with low invasion. Through N:P ratios, phosphorus was further identified as important. Overall, areas more anthropogenically impacted were more associated with invasion.

Conclusions

We conclude that high nitrogen and low forest cover are correlated with invasion. These conclusions will inform management, as well as future efforts to identify linkages between landscapes and coastal invasion.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by NASA under grants 80NSSC17K0262 and NNX11AC72G, NOAA under Award NA12OAR4320071, and the USDA NIFA Water CAP under award 2015-68007-23133. The statements, findings, conclusions, and recommendations are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of NASA, NOAA, or USDA.

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  1. Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, College of Natural Science, Michigan State University, 288 Farm Lane, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA

    Bailey Ann Hannah, Anthony D. Kendall, Sherry L. Martin & David W. Hyndman

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  1. Bailey Ann Hannah
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  2. Anthony D. Kendall
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Correspondence to Bailey Ann Hannah.

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Hannah, B.A., Kendall, A.D., Martin, S.L. et al. Quantifying linkages between watershed factors and coastal wetland plant invasion in the US Great Lakes. Landscape Ecol 35, 2843–2861 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10980-020-01124-3

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