Biophysical controls of marsh soil shear strength along an estuarine salinity gradient

Abstract. Sea-level rise, saltwater intrusion, and wave erosion threaten coastal marshes, but the influence of salinity on marsh erodibility remains poorly understood. We measured shear strength soils along a biodiversity gradient in York River estuary Virginia to assess direct indirect impacts potential erodibility. found that soil was higher monospecific salt marshes (5–36 kPa) than biodiverse freshwater (4–8 kPa), likely driven by differences belowground biomass. However, we also at edge controlled sediment characteristics, rather vegetation or salinity, suggesting inherent relationships may be obscured more dynamic environments. Our results indicate are weaker soils, suggest salinization these lead simultaneous losses