reviewPLoS ONENov 23, 2011GOLD OA

The Protective Role of Coastal Marshes: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

CCChristine C. ShepardCMCaitlin M. CrainMWMichael W. Beck

University of California, Santa Cruz · The Nature Conservancy

PubMed
Indexed incrossrefdoajpubmed

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Salt marshes lie between many human communities and the coast and have been presumed to protect these communities from coastal hazards by providing important ecosystem services. However, previous characterizations of these ecosystem services have typically been based on a small number of historical studies, and the consistency and extent to which marshes provide these services has not been investigated. Here, we review the current evidence for the specific processes of wave attenuation, shoreline stabilization and floodwater attenuation to determine if and under what conditions salt marshes offer these coastal protection services. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We conducted a thorough search and…

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655
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Authors

3

Topics & keywords

Topics
Keywords
  • Marsh
  • Salt marsh
  • Wetland
  • Shore
  • Environmental science
  • Ecosystem services
  • Vegetation (pathology)
  • Biomass (ecology)
UN Sustainable Development Goals
  • Life below water
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