Introduciton to Ecology and Regulation of Tidal Wetlands in Central California and the San Francisco Bay August 17, 2005

An introduction to the plants, soils, and hydrology of California tidal marshes

John Callaway Department of Environmental Science University of San Francisco

What’s happened to California’s wetlands?

What percentage of California’s wetlands have been lost? a. 10 % b. 50 % c. 75 % d. 90 % e. 99 %

Coastal Training Program Workshop Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve (NERR) San Francisco Bay NERR 1/10 1 Introduciton to Ecology and Regulation of Tidal Wetlands in Central California and the San Francisco Bay August 17, 2005

Wetland Loss in the United States Wetland Loss by State 400,000,000 25,000,000 early 1800's early 1800's

1980 20,000,000 1980 300,000,000

size of Calif. 15,000,000 200,000,000 10,000,000

100,000,000 Wetland area (acres) area Wetland

Wetland area (acres) area Wetland 5,000,000

0 0 United States Alaska Lower 48 FL LA TX MN MI NC (Dahl 1990) State (Dahl 1990)

Wetland Loss by State SF Bay Wetlands Past and Present 25,000,000 early 1800's

20,000,000 1980

15,000,000

10,000,000 ca. 1850 ca. 1998

Wetland area (acres) area Wetland 5,000,000

0 CA OR WA FL LA TX MN MI NC

State (Dahl 1990) (from SFEI)

A Quick Introduction to Tidal Marshes Understanding Tidal Marsh Hydrology

„ Hydrology „ Hydroperiod tides freshwater inputs frequency of inundation „ Soils duration of inundation lack of oxygen depth of inundation salinity „ Vegetation „ Critical hydrological factors spatial patterns of distribution on a variety of scales tides adaptations

common species freshwater inputs

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Tides

„ Mixed, semi-diurnal tides on Pacific Coast two highs and lows each day different heights „ Elevation relative to the tides determines inundation regime „ Other coasts have different tidal patterns

Tidal Variation across the Marsh

regularly inundated rarely inundated

high marsh - mid-marsh plain low marsh upland transition

Importance of Tidal Creeks Freshwater Inputs

• deliver water, sediment „ Large-scale variation up the estuary and nutrients to marsh „ Similar patterns up larger drainages • flush salts from soils „ Finer-scale pattern within a marsh, and • more important in salt associated with any local freshwater inputs marshes than in brackish and freshwater marshes „ VERY DIFFERENT than other US tidal marshes (mediterranean climate)

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Spatial Variation in FW Inputs Salinity Variation across Salt and Brackish Marshes

more regular salinity more variable salinity • greatest input from Delta (higher in summer and lower in winter) • significant local inputs at many local rivers/creeks, including: • Napa R. • Petaluma R. •Alameda Creek • Coyote Creek high marsh - mid-marsh plain low marsh upland transition

Tidal Marsh Soils: Key Characteristics Tidal Marsh Soil Biogeochemistry

„ Fine texture (lots of clay and silt) „ Driven by anaerobic processes „ Poorly drained „ Mix of aerobic and anaerobic zones in the soil low oxygen levels (often no oxygen in soil) „ Sequence of oxidation-reduction reactions low redox status O , NO -, Mn4+, Fe3+, SO 2-, CO (oxidized forms) „ High organic content 2 3 4 2 H 0, N , Mn2+, Fe2+, S2-, CH (reduced forms) „ Moderate pH 2 2 4 „ Unusual biogeochemistry (anaerobic conditions) „ Unusual nutrient dynamics especially nitrogen

Spatial Variation in Soil Factors Tidal Marsh Soils lower soil oxygen higher soil oxygen „ Varying patterns across the marsh: less variable salt more variable salt saturation/inundation salinity „ Seasonal patterns as well, especially salinity

high marsh - mid-marsh plain low marsh upland transition

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Plants: Key Factors Affecting Distribution Spatial and Temporal Variability

„ Inundation (anaerobiosis, oxidation/reduction) „ Spatial scales of variability „ Salinity (both summer stress and winter/spring estuarine-wide scale lows for germination) drainage scale within wetland scale „ Nutrients „ Temporal scales of variability „ Competition climate change „ History inter-annual variation seasonal changes (recruitment)

Tidal Marsh Plant Distributions Simplified Salt Marsh Plant Zonation

„ Salt Marsh „ Brackish Marsh „ Freshwater Marsh high marsh - mid-marsh plain low marsh Salicornia virginica upland transition Spartina foliosa Salicornia virginica „ Remember transitional-upland species!! Frankenia salina Distichlis spicata Grindelia stricta Zonation is similar in brackish marshes, Leymus triticoides but less obvious, and even less obvious in freshwater marshes.

Plant Zonation Plant Adaptations

„ Anaerobiosis physical adaptations „ aerenchyma and adventitious roots physiological adaptations „ Salinity secrete salt other physiological adaptations

(PWA and Faber 2005)

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Salt Marsh Plants

„ Spartina foliosa (cordgrass) „ Salicornia virginica (pickleweed) „ Jaumea carnosa (jaumea) „ Distichlis spicata (saltgrass) „ Frankenia salina (alkali heath) „ Cuscuta salina (salt marsh dodder) „ Atriplex triangularis (spearscale, fat-hen) „ Triglochin maritima (seaside arrow-grass) „ Limonium californicum (salt marsh rosemary, sea lavender) „ Grindelia stricta (gumplant) „ Leymus triticoides (creeping wildrye)

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Spartina foliosa

Distichlis spicata Frankenia salina

Limonium californicum Grindelia stricta

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Scirpus maritimus Brackish Marsh Plants

„ Scirpus maritimus (NOW: Bolboschoenus maritimus) „ Scirpus californicus (NOW: Schoenoplectus californicus) (Calif. tule) „ Scirpus acutus (NOW: Schoenoplectus acutus) (hardstem bulrush, tule) „ Scirpus americanus (NOW: Schoenoplectus americanus) „ Typha angustifolia (narrowleaf cattail) „ Typha latifolia (broadleaf cattail) „ Juncus spp. (rush) „ Salicornia virginica „ Distichlis spicata „ Jaumea carnosa „ Atriplex triangularis „ Baccharis pilularis (coyote brush) „ Rosa californica (California rose)

Scirpus californicus Scirpus acutus

Scirpus americanus Freshwater Marsh Plants

„ Typha angustifolia „ Typha latifolia „ Scirpus acutus „ Scirpus californicus „ Juncus spp. „ Polygonum spp. „ Sagittaria spp. „ Rubus spp. „ Salix spp. „ Lilaeopsis masonii „ Mimulus guttatus „ Lycopus americanus „ Calystegia sepium „ AND MANY OTHER SPECIES!!

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Typha angustifolia Typha latifolia

Rare Tidal Marsh Plants

„ Cordylanthus maritimus subsp. palustris „ Cordylanthus mollis supsp. mollis „ Cirsium hydrophilum „ Aster lentus „ Lathryus jepsonii var. jepsonii „ Lilaeopsis masonii „ AND MORE…

Non-Native Tidal Marsh Plants Plant Summary

„ Spartina alterniflora (and hybrids with S. foliosa) „ Mix of physical and biological factors that affect „ Lepidium latifolium (peppergrass) plant distributions, including inundation and salinity „ Eichhornia crassipes (water hyacinth) „ Diversity is reduced with higher salinity „ Cotula coronopifolia (brass buttons) „ Diversity is higher in the upper marsh „ Polypogon monspeliensis (rabbit’s-foot grass) „ Creeks have strong role in salt marsh plant „ Rumex crispus (curly dock) distribution, not so prominent in brackish and „ Phragmites australis (common reed) freshwater tidal marshes „ AND MORE… „ Upper marsh-transitional areas have many rare species, as well as many non-native invasives

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Acknowledgments

„ CalPhotos: Plants (for photos) http://elib.cs.berkeley.edu/photos/flora/

„ Philip Williams and Phyllis Faber (for reading on SF Bay wetland restoration)

„ Joy Zedler (additional readings)

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