The dynamics characterizing tidal environments are dictated by a complex of geomorphological and ecological processes, whose close interaction makes a holistic and interdisciplinary approach necessary for their understanding and quantitative description. Only an interdisciplinary approach may for example recognise the importance of feedback mechanisms linking salt marsh soil topography and vegetation. The latter is, in fact, a crucial factor in determining sediment transport, stabilisation and resuspension and its development is, in turn, influenced by soil topography and characteristics, which determine its aeration conditions. The present note summarizes some of the main results obtained through an interdisciplinary approach within the European research project TIDE (Tidal Inlets Dynamics and Environment). The research groups participating in the project have produced a large body of quantitative observations of ecological (salt marsh vegetation and benthos) and morphological (topography and channel network geometry) properties, through remote sensing (from satellite and airborne sensors) and field observations and are developing, on the basis of such observations, mathematical models of ecogeomorphologic co-evolution in tidal environments. In particular, the note describes i) the accurate quantitative maps of salt marsh vegetation (and their statistical analyses) obtained by means of suitable classification procedures applied to multi- and hyper-spectral data or through airborne laser altimetry; ii) the relationships which may be inferred on the basis of the data gathered linking ecological (e.g. biodiversity) and morphological (e.g. topography and network characteristics); iii) the field characterization of the benthic component (e.g. field measurements of sediment critical shear stress depending on the presence of biofilms released by diatoms); iv) conceptual and quantitative ecogeomorphic models, which may be developed and validated by use of the observations
Observation and ecogeomorphological modelling of tidal environments
MARANI, MARCO;BELLUCO, ENRICA;D'ALPAOS, ANDREA;FEOLA, ALESSANDRA;LANZONI, STEFANO;RINALDO, ANDREA;
2004
Abstract
The dynamics characterizing tidal environments are dictated by a complex of geomorphological and ecological processes, whose close interaction makes a holistic and interdisciplinary approach necessary for their understanding and quantitative description. Only an interdisciplinary approach may for example recognise the importance of feedback mechanisms linking salt marsh soil topography and vegetation. The latter is, in fact, a crucial factor in determining sediment transport, stabilisation and resuspension and its development is, in turn, influenced by soil topography and characteristics, which determine its aeration conditions. The present note summarizes some of the main results obtained through an interdisciplinary approach within the European research project TIDE (Tidal Inlets Dynamics and Environment). The research groups participating in the project have produced a large body of quantitative observations of ecological (salt marsh vegetation and benthos) and morphological (topography and channel network geometry) properties, through remote sensing (from satellite and airborne sensors) and field observations and are developing, on the basis of such observations, mathematical models of ecogeomorphologic co-evolution in tidal environments. In particular, the note describes i) the accurate quantitative maps of salt marsh vegetation (and their statistical analyses) obtained by means of suitable classification procedures applied to multi- and hyper-spectral data or through airborne laser altimetry; ii) the relationships which may be inferred on the basis of the data gathered linking ecological (e.g. biodiversity) and morphological (e.g. topography and network characteristics); iii) the field characterization of the benthic component (e.g. field measurements of sediment critical shear stress depending on the presence of biofilms released by diatoms); iv) conceptual and quantitative ecogeomorphic models, which may be developed and validated by use of the observations
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