Biogeomorphic Feedbacks Triggered by Mangrove Degradation at the Seaward Margin Accelerate Persistent Vegetation Decline
declined, with establishment probability being strongly influenced by surface elevation. Mature trees exhibited increased root damage and reduced leaf chlorophyll content, with trait variation primarily driven by surface elevation and sediment physical properties. Following vegetation dieback, surface elevation declined rapidly, forming a positive biogeomorphic feedback that further inhibited regeneration and accelerated margin degradation. We identified a feedback loop between vegetation loss and geomorphic change triggered by extreme disturbances at the MSM that limits natural recovery and threatens ecosystem stability. Our findings underscore the need to prioritize monitoring edge zones and suggest a management framework that integrates remote sensing with in situ monitoring to identify vulnerable zones and guide post-disturbance conservation and restoration under increasing environmental stress.
Authors
- Zifeng Luo
- Yijuan Deng
- Longlong Du
- Lin Zhang
- Mao Wang
- Wenqing Wang
Institutions
- Xiamen University (CN)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Ecology and Evolution
- Published
- 2026-04-30
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.73574
- Primary Topic
- Coastal wetland ecosystem dynamics
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- National Natural Science Foundation of China