Author(s): Belluco Enrica; Vardy Suzy; Aspden Rebecca; Paterson David; Marani Marco
Linked Author(s): Marco Marani
Keywords: Remote sensing; Salt marsh; Mudflats; Halophytic vegetation; Benthos; Cluster analyses
Abstract: Tidal marshes and mudflats are characterized by complex patterns both in their geomorphic and ecological features. The state and evolution of such patterns are crucially dependent on the interplay between sediment input and transport, eustatism, hydrodynamic regimes and ecological components (e. g. vegetation and microphytobenthos colonization). Biotic factors have a decisive influence on sediment deposition, resuspension and compaction but are, in turn, governed by numerous physical factors (e. g. soil salinity and oxygen availability). In order to monitor, describe and manage a tidal environment, refined observations of the physiological factors affecting vegetation and benthos development, the feedbacks between biotic and abiotic processes, as well as field observations of their space/time distribution, are of key importance. Intertidal morphological and ecological structures possess characteristic extent (order of kilometers) and small-scale features (down to tens of centimeters) which are not simultaneously accessible through field observations, thus making remote sensing a necessary observation tool. This work aims at contributing to the development of new observational tools based on satellite and airborne remote sensing for the study of intertidal environments, with specific application to vegetation and microphytobenthos assemblages in the Venice Lagoon (Italy) and in the Eden Estuary (Scotland). New observational techniques, with particular emphasis on remote sensing and ancillary field surveys are shown to allow reliable, accurate and repeatable quantitative characterizations of intertidal landform and biotic distribution and properties (i. e. marsh vegetation and mudflat benthos assemblages). Analyses of the vegetation and microphytobenthos maps obtained from remote sensing suggest that vegetation and benthic communities spatial distributions do not exhibit characteristic aggregation scales. Such maps are shown to allow the study of possible links between vegetation and relevant geomorphic characters. The characterizations of biological components of tidal environments achieved through remote sensing may be use as a benchmark for future quantitative models of saltmarsh eco-geomorphic dynamics.
Year: 2007