Salt Marsh Communities Research Articles

Measuring, mapping and modelling: an integrated approach to the management of mangrove and saltmarsh in the Minnamurra River estuary, southeast Australia

Mangrove and saltmarsh ecosystems appear particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, and their effective management will require forecasts of how these wetland habitats are likely to respond to sea-level rise through the twenty-first century. We describe a preliminary study of a small stand of mangrove and saltmarsh that involves measuring of elevation change and accretion, mapping of wetland communities, and modelling of their potential response to sea-level rise. The wetland occurs on the banks of the Minnamurra River estuary in southern New South Wales and has been the focus of several studies over recent decades. The research includes empirical measurements of sedimentation at sites in both mangrove and saltmarsh vegetation using the surface elevation table-marker horizon technique. This is a site at which mapping has been undertaken to delineate the extent of each vegetation community from a time-series of aerial photographs using geographical information systems; the gradual incursion of the mangrove, Avicennia marina, into more landward saltmarsh communities, observed over past decades for many systems in southeastern Australia, has continued into the twenty-first century. The observed patterns of change are compared with simulations of how this wetland system might respond to future sea-level rise, adopting several different approaches and the upper and lower bounds of Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change sea-level rise projections. The model results show considerable variability in response depending on the parameters adopted. We advocate the need for the integration of these three approaches, measuring, mapping and modelling, as a basis for future management and adaptation. Our study demonstrates the considerable opportunities to refine the data input and model outputs as part of adaptive management, as more sophisticated technologies and data become available.

Geographic variation in salt marsh structure and function

We examined geographic variation in the structure and function of salt marsh communities along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of the United States. Focusing on the arthropod community in the dominant salt marsh plant Spartina alterniflora, we tested two hypotheses: first, that marsh community structure varies geographically, and second, that two aspects of marsh function (response to eutrophication and addition of dead plant material) also vary geographically. We worked at eleven sites on the Gulf Coast and eleven sites on the Atlantic Coast, dividing each coast up into two geographic areas. Abiotic conditions (tidal range, soil organic content, and water content, but not soil salinity), plant variables (Spartina nitrogen content, height, cover of dead plant material, but not live Spartina percent cover or light interception), and arthropod variables (proportional abundances of predators, sucking herbivores, stem-boring herbivores, parasitoids, and detritivores, but not total arthropod numbers) varied among the four geographic regions. Latitude and mean tidal range explained much of this geographic variation. Nutrient enrichment increased all arthropod functional groups in the community, consistent with previous experimental results, and had similar effects in all geographic regions, contrary to our hypothesis, suggesting widespread consistency in this aspect of ecosystem function. The addition of dead plant material had surprisingly little effect on the arthropod community. Our results caution against the uncritical extrapolation of work done in one geographic region to another, but indicate that some aspects of marsh function may operate in similar ways in different geographic regions, despite spatial variation in community structure.

Avian Communities in Tidal Salt Marshes of San Francisco Bay: A Review of Functional Groups by Foraging Guild and Habitat Association

The San Francisco Bay estuary is highly urbanized, but it supports the largest remaining extent of tidal salt marshes on the west coast of North America as well as a diverse native bird community. San Francisco Bay tidal marshes are occupied by more than 113 bird species that represent 31 families, including five subspecies from three families that we denote as tidal-marsh obligates. To better identify the niche of bird species in tidal marshes, we present a review of functional groups based on foraging guilds and habitat associations. Foraging guilds describe the method by which species obtain food from tidal marshes, while habitat associations describe broad areas within the marsh that have similar environmental conditions. For example, the ubiquitous song sparrows (Alameda Melospiza melodia pusillula, Suisun M. m. maxillaris, and San Pablo M. m. samuelis) are surface-feeding generalists that consume prey from vegetation and the ground, and they are found across the entire marsh plain into the upland–marsh transition. In contrast, surface-feeding California black rails (Laterallus jamaicensis coturniculus) are cryptic, and generally restricted in their distribution to the mid- and high-marsh plain. Although in the same family, the endangered California clapper rail (Rallus longirostris obsoletus) has become highly specialized, foraging primarily on benthic fauna within marsh channels when they are exposed at low tide. Shorebirds such as the black-necked stilt (Himantopus mexicanus) typically probe in mud flats to consume macroinvertebrate prey, and are generally restricted to foraging on salt pans within the marsh plain, in ponds, or on mud flats during transitional stages of marsh evolution. The abundance and distribution of birds varies widely with changing water depths and vegetation colonization during different stages of restoration. Thus, tidal-marsh birds represent a rich and diverse community in bay marshes, with niches that may be distinguished by the food resources they consume and the habitats that they occupy along the tidal gradient.

α- and β-diversity in moth communities in salt marshes is driven by grazing management

This study evaluates the effects of long-term sheep grazing in salt marshes on the diversity of moths and derives conclusive management suggestions for the conservation of invertebrate diversity in salt marshes. Study sites were located on the Hamburger Hallig, on the Western coast of Schleswig–Holstein, Germany. Between 2006 and 2009, salt marshes that have been under four levels of livestock density (0, 1–2 sheep/ha, 3–4 sheep/ha, 10 sheep/ha) for over 20years were sampled using light traps and photoeclectors. Plant and moth species richness were highest under low stocking densities, moth species richness, however, showed no difference between low stocking densities and abandonment. Species richness of moths was only weakly correlated with vegetation parameters (species richness, vegetation height, cover and litter). Using additive diversity partitioning we show that no single grazing treatment harbored all recorded moth species and that grazing increases habitat heterogeneity within each treatment. Additionally, we show that moths react more sensitively to grazing than plants, and that therefore assessments of plant species richness in salt marshes do not allow conclusions on invertebrate diversity. For the evaluation of salt-marsh diversity, a multi-species approach should be favored combining plant and invertebrate assessments. A mosaic of abandoned sites and sites with low and intermediate stocking densities would benefit moth diversity in salt-marsh conservation.

Importance of allochthonous material in benthic macrofaunal community functioning in estuarine salt marshes

Allochthonous input provides important food and spatial resources for estuarine benthic fauna. While it is known that autochthonous materials are important for fauna occupying small marshes, here, we present the significance of allochthonous materials for benthic fauna inhabiting a large salt marsh. To assess the effects of allochthonous input on benthic macrofaunal communities in estuarine salt marshes, we determined the source of substrate sediments and food resource utilisation patterns of benthic invertebrates in 2 temperate estuaries (the Tama River and the Obitsu River estuarine outlets into Tokyo Bay) by using stable carbon and nitrogen isotope analyses. In the Tama River estuary, which has small patches of marsh vegetation upstream of the river mouth, there was an input of sedimentary organic matter from autochthonous sources (i.e. common reed and microphytobenthos). In the Obitsu River estuary salt marsh, which is situated immediately upstream of the river mouth and is well connected to the sea, sediment consists of allochthonous sources (i.e. imported phytoplankton), along with microphytobenthos. Isotope analysis indicated that most benthic invertebrates in the Tama River estuary depend on benthic microalgae (autochthonous) as a food resource, whereas the macrofauna in the Obitsu River estuary are supported by drift macroalgae (allochthonous), in addition to microphytobenthos or phytoplankton. Our results indicated that allochthonous material provides a food resource and potential habitat for benthic macrofauna in extensive salt marshes that have a strong connection to the sea but is not substantial in smaller marshes with limited connectivity to coastal water.

Evaluating estuarine habitats using secondary production as a proxy for food web support

The management, restoration, and conservation of estuarine habitats would benefit from knowledge of habitat-specific functions that reflect important ecosystem services. Secondary production may provide a comprehensive metric of food web support because it synthesizes contributions of local primary production, food subsidies from other habitats, and the protective influences of habitat structure. Despite widespread perceptions of how habitats compare in food web contribution, few methodologically comparable studies on secondary production across multiple estuarine habitats exist. At field sites in North Carolina, USA, annual secondary produc- tion was estimated for macrobenthic infaunal and epifaunal communities in salt marshes, seagrass meadows, oyster reefs, intertidal and subtidal flats, and on shoreline stabilization structures. Habi- tats with hard emergent or biogenic structure generally exhibited higher secondary production than habitats lacking structure. Oyster reef had the highest secondary production, ranging from 467.3 to 853.7 g ash free dry mass (AFDM) m �2 yr �1 , while shoreline stabilization structures ranked high because of dense epifaunal communities. Estimates of secondary production suggest ranking of natural habitats as oyster reef > salt marsh > seagrass > intertidal flat and subtidal flat. Undesir- able impacts of shoreline stabilization structures on adjacent habitats made their inclusion in this ranking of food web support by habitat difficult. The importance of suspension feeders on oyster reefs, shoreline stabilization structures, and in some marshes suggests that secondary production patterns are partly influenced by external subsidies facilitated by support from habitat structure. Consequently, estuarine rehabilitation should include structural habitat elements that will con- tribute to ecosystem production at higher trophic levels. Without such habitat restoration, the fate of estuaries in the USA affected by anthropogenic stressors may be loss of habitat diversity and prevalence of low-trophic-supporting habitats.

Tasmanian coastal saltmarsh community transitions associated with climate change and relative sea level rise 1975 - 2009

Coastal saltmarshes are reputed to be one of the most vulnerable communities to global warming, with widespread evidence of retreat and movement of lower marsh vegetation into areas previously occupied by upper marsh vegetation in response to rising sea levels, and potential changes in community composition from changes in rainfall, temperature and wind. We undertook an investigation of decades scale change in the distributions of saltmarsh communities defined by dominant species, using historic vegetation maps, remote sensing imagery and extensive field data collection. Our study area in south-eastern Tasmania has suffered a marked increase in temperatures and wind speeds and a marked decrease in rainfall since 1975, with sea level rising at a rate of 0.8 mm per annum. We therefore tested the hypothesis that these changes would result in a shift in saltmarsh community composition towards more salt- and inundation-tolerant communities and salt scalds. Eighteen percent of the 1975 marsh was lost to direct human modification and a net 4% was lost to coastal retreat. One large marsh was cut off from the sea then burned, then reconnected with the sea. The vegetation change between 1975 and 2009 in other parts of the saltmarshes occurred in 21% of their 1975 area. Most of the community transitions were consistent with increasing aridity. Thus, our results indicate that global warming has already caused marked changes in community composition in saltmarsh in Tasmania.

Effects of selected groundwater chemical traits on a salt marsh community

Effects of selected groundwater chemical traits on a salt marsh communityElectrical conductivity, exchangeable sodium ratio and water depth have negative impacts, whereas soil organic matter concentration has a positive impact on Black Sea salt marsh vegetation. The most saline soils were characterized bySalicornia prostratavegetation and associated with exchangeable sodium ratio.Alhagi pseudalhagiandTamarix smrynensispopulations were associated with water depth, whileJuncus littoralis, Ammophila arenariaandE. paraliaswere associated with soil organic matter.Euphorbia paralias, Ammophila arenariaandIris orientaliswere associated with acidity.

Marine fungal diversity: a comparison of natural and created salt marshes of the north-central Gulf of Mexico

Marine fungal communities of created salt marshes of differing ages were compared with those of two reference natural salt marshes. Marine fungi occurring on the lower 30 cm of salt marsh plants Spartina alterniflora and Juncus roemerianus were inventoried with morphological and molecular methods (ITS T-RFLP analysis) to determine fungal species richness, relative frequency of occurrence and ascomata density. The resulting profiles revealed similar fungal communities in natural salt marshes and created salt marshes 3 y old and older with a 1.5 y old created marsh showing less fungal colonization. A 26 y old created salt marsh consistently exhibited the highest fungal species richness. Ascomata density of the dominant fungal species on each host was significantly higher in natural marshes than in created marshes at all three sampling dates. This study indicates marine fungal saprotroph communities are present in these manmade coastal salt marshes as early as 1 y after marsh creation. The lower regions of both plant hosts were dominated by a small number of marine ascomycete species consistent with those species previously reported from salt marshes of the East Coast of USA.

Impacts of Spartina alterniflora invasion on the benthic communities of salt marshes in the Yangtze Estuary, China

As a species for ecological engineering, Spartina alterniflora was introduced to Chongming Dongtan in 1995, and over the last 10 years, this species has rapidly invaded large areas of the Chongming Dongtan nature reserve. In this study, use of a normalized biomass size-spectra (NBSS) approach was explored to evaluate the possible impacts of S. alterniflora invasion on the benthic communities along gradients of intertidal zones and the invasion history of S. alterniflora within the nature reserve. The results showed that the characteristics of macrobenthic communities and the variation in macrobenthic communities described by the first two CCA axes revealed clearly the gradients of elevation and invasion history of S. alterniflora. The differences in the macrobenthic assemblages between the Spartina alterniflara marshes and the native Phragmites australis marshes decreased with increasing of invasion history of S. alterniflara. The macrobenthic biomass showed a decreasing trend, while the meiobenthic biomass showed a reverse trend along the elevation gradient. The macrobenthic biomass of S. alterniflora marshes with longer invasion history was higher than that at recently invaded S. alterniflora marshes, while the meiobenthic biomass was lower. The slopes of NBSS for the sampling sites showed a trend of steeper slopes with decreasing of elevation and at the recently invaded S. alterniflora marshes than that at marshes with longer invasion history, while the differences between the native P. australis marshes and the S. alterniflora marshes with long invasion history tended to be diminished. The NBSS approach could thus be used more widely to detect possible impacts of S. alterniflara invasion on benthic assemblages. This study also indicated the potential for this approach to provide valuable insights into the ecosystem ecology of invasive species, which could be very important for wetland biodiversity conservation and resource management in the Yangtze River Estuary and other such impacted areas.

Disturbance Type Affects the Distribution of Mobile Invertebrates in a High Salt Marsh Community

Salt marshes are frequently exposed to storm overwashes resulting in large deposits of sand and wrack at the margin of the high marsh and sand dune communities. On Cape Cod, MA, these disturbance-generated areas are dominated by burrows of the crab Uca pugilator and by nest entrances of the ants Formica subsericea and Tetramorium caespitum. We mimicked the effects of storm deposits through additions of sand and wrack and examined their effects on the distributions of the biotic structures of these organisms. We found that while crabs responded negatively to sand deposition, ants did so positively. We suggest that soil temperature and moisture explain these patterns. Wrack deposits extend higher the zone of moist soil and decrease evaporative stress for marine organisms such as crabs, whereas sandy areas tend to be drier and preferred by terrestrial ants. We conclude that disturbance type influences the distribution of these marine and terrestrial organisms over the ecotone.

Plant community organization in New South Wales saltmarshes:species mosaics and potential causes

Saltmarsh communities recognised by Outhred and Buckney (1983) bad Adam et al. (1988) were analysed for similarity, and we suggest that the vegetation of the majority of the mid-intertidal marsh in NSW be considered a single community complex, i.e. a mosaic dominated by Sporoblous virginicus, Sarcocornia quinqueflora and Triglochin striatum, wither alone or in combination. Triglochin appeared to be abundant more often in Outhred and Buckney's (1983) study of Kooragang Island that in the broader survey of NSW saltmarshes conducted by Adam et al. (1988). Our field sampling at Kooragang Island suggested that widespread disturbance by cattle could explain such a difference. We characterised spatial variability within the mid-intertidal saltmarsh mosaic at Kooragang and explored evidence suggesting species interactions. All three dominants were positively associated at the square-meter scale in a heavily grazed saltmarsh at Kooragang Island, but not at reference sites having less disturbance from cattle. Negative correlations of cover estimates between pairs of co-occurring species supported the hypothesis that the three dominants are competitors. We hypothesised that Sporoblous is capable of excluding Triglochin in the absence of canopy and/or rhizosphere disruption. Cattle graze the thick canopy of Sporoblous, and their hooves disrupt its dense rhizosphere allowing pooling of tidal water. These wet gaps appear highly suitable for establishment of the waterlogging-tolerant Triglochin. Observations of Sarcocornia in areas of high salinity, regardless of intertidal position, suggest that hypersalinity shifts the competitive advantage. These hypotheses about what controls dominance need to be tested experimentally, paying careful attention to the size of treatment plots and number of replicates in order to detect small changes in species occurrence and cover.

A comparison of sampling techniques in the assessment of burrowing crab abundance in saltmarsh and mangrove environments.

Many researchers have recognised the importance of crabs in the mangrove ecosystem. However, very little is known about burrowing crab species living in temperate Australian saltmarsh. In the present study four different survey techniques were employed to investigate the diversity and abundance of crabs in the saltmarsh and mangrove at Towra Point. The four techniques yielded different results for species abundance and diversity. Four different species Heloecius cordiformis, Sesarma erthrodactyla, Helograpsus haswellianus and Paragrapsus laevis were found in saltmarsh. Three of these species H. Cordiformis, S. Erthrodactyla and P. Laevis were also found in the mangrove. A higher diversity of crabs were found in the Sarcocornia and Sporobolus saltmarsh communities than those dominated by Jancus kraussii. Pit traps were an effective means of capturing crabs though under-represented H. Cordiformis, and S. Erthrodactyla but was ineffective at identifying crabs in the more heavily vegetated Sporobolus and Juncus communities. Surveying crabs underneath artificial blocks may have over-represented the density of S. Erythrodactyla. Burrow counting is a quick and effective means of estimating crab density, though gives no information on assemblage diversity. The results of the study recommended a combination of pit-trap and visual census as a means of efficiently sampling crab assemblages.

The Vegetation of Kooragang Island, New South Wales.

Kooragang Island lies at the mouth of the Hunter River estuary, and is flanked by the North and South Channels of the River (Fig. 1). It has an area of 2592 ha vegetated mainly by mangrove and saltmarsh communities with some pasture development on the western end. Plans to reclaim the Island for industrial development met with opposition and the future of the Island became the subject of a public inquiry (Coffey, 1973) which recommended that a part of the Island and Fullerton Cover to the north be preserved as a wetland habitat, particularly for migratory wading birds.

The relationship between mangrove and saltmarsh communities in the Sydney region.

Coastal saltmarshes around the world are characterised by belts of vegetation parallel to the shore. The species and communities which define the zones vary geographically such that it is claimed that a particular zonation pattern is a feature of a broad geographical region (Chapman 1974). It has been suggested that the zonation pattern repeats in space the course of succession over time. The most seaward zone occupies the lowest elevation on the shore and is vegetated by pioneer species. As sediment accretes the marsh surface is raised, and thus experiences fewer tidal inundations. The changed physical environment is conducive to the invasion of species which replace the pioneers. However, conditions to seaward are now appropriate for colonisation so that the pioneer species move seaward. With further sedimentation the pioneer zone continues to migrate seaward (Se fig. 1) until a balance between accretion and erosive forces is reached and extension ceases.

Effects of warming and altered precipitation on plant and nutrient dynamics of a New England salt marsh

Salt marsh structure and function, and consequently ability to support a range of species and to provide ecosystem services, may be affected by climate change. To better understand how salt marshes will respond to warming and associated shifts in precipitation, we conducted a manipulative experiment in a tidal salt marsh in Massachusetts, USA. We exposed two plant communities (one dominated by Spartina patens-Distichlis spicata and one dominated by short form Spartina alternifora) to five climate manipulations: warming via passive open-topped chambers, doubled precipitation, warming and doubled precipitation, extreme drought via rainout shelter, and ambient conditions. Modest daytime warming increased total aboveground biomass of the S. alterniflora community (24%), but not the S. patens-D. spicata community. Warming also increased maximum stem heights of S. alterniflora (8%), S. patens (8%), and D. spicata (15%). Decomposition was marginally accelerated by warming in the S. alternifora community. Drought markedly increased total biomass of the S. alterniflora community (53%) and live S. patens (69%), perhaps by alleviating waterlogging of sediments. Decomposition was accelerated by increased precipitation and slowed by drought, particularly in the S. patens-D. spicata community. Flowering phenology responded minimally to the treatments, and pore water salinity, sulfide, ammonium, and phosphate concentrations showed no treatment effects in either plant community. Our results suggest that these salt marsh communities may be resilient to modest amounts of warming and large changes in precipitation. If production increases under climate change, marshes will have a greater ability to keep pace with sea-level rise, although an increase in decomposition could offset this. As long as marshes are not inundated by flooding due to sea-level rise, increases in aboveground biomass and stem heights suggest that marshes may continue to export carbon and nutrients to coastal waters and may be able to increase their carbon storage capability by increasing plant growth under future climate conditions.

Comparative Phylogeography of North American Atlantic Salt Marsh Communities

Identifying differential population structure within metacommunities is key toward describing the mechanisms that maintain biodiversity in natural systems. At both local and regional scales on the North American Atlantic coast, we assessed phylogeographic and genetic diversity patterns of six common salt marsh invertebrates using equivalent sampling schemes and sequence data from the same mitochondrial locus. In general, our results suggest little genetic structure across four previously sampled biogeographic regions and a slight increase in genetic diversity from northern to southern areas; however, two of the species (Geukensia demissa and Uca pugilator) exhibited significant differentiation between the northernmost populations and other regions, consistent with a number of previous studies. Although the minimal genetic structure recovered in this community is consistent with expectations based on the larval life history of the species examined, confirmation of this result suggests that latitudinal shifts in ecological interactions in salt marsh systems are environmentally driven, rather than due to heritable adaptation.

THE TAPHONOMIC FIDELITY OF SEED SIZE IN FOSSIL ASSEMBLAGES: A LIVE-DEAD CASE STUDY

Trends in the size distributions of fossil seed assemblages over geologic time have been interpreted as evidence of fundamental changes in the structure of terrestrial ecosystems. It is not clear, however, how accurately fossil seed assemblages reflect the original flora. As a case study, the seed-size distribution of a living hardwood forest and a salt marsh community in Maryland was compared to that of its potential fossil assemblage, seeds extracted from sediment cored in the adjacent tidal estuary. Results indicated that the death assemblage was significantly different from the source community, lacking most of the smaller-seed morphotypes. The biased accumulation was not driven solely by over- or underrepresentation of plants of a particular dispersal mode or growth form. Although there was a sedimentological gradient along the transects, there was no correlation between grain size and seed-size distributions within the cores. The difference appears to be primarily an issue of transport: 45% of morphotypes identified in the death assemblage were present in the life assemblage, and only 33% identified in the life assemblage were also in the death assemblage. These results indicate that (1) estuarine deposits capture a partial representation of the local seed flora with significant regional influences, and (2) fossil seed assemblages should not be compared directly to seed-size distributions documented in living communities.

Phytosociological Studies on the HalophyticCommunities of Central Anatolia

Central Anatolia belongs to the Irano-Turanian region in terms of phytogeography. Salt marshes occupy a significant place in this province. Halophytic vegetation which develops around the salt lakes is floristically very rich and includes many endemic taxa. In this study, five different phytosociological researches, carried out on the salt marsh communities of Central Anatolia were taken as a whole. In all these researches, the vegetation analyses were carried out according to the traditional Braun-Blanquet approach. The nomenclature and classification of syntaxa follow the International Code of Phytosociological Nomenclature. Plant associations misevaluated and/or not considered as validly published were renamed and reclassified. The salt marsh communities which are dealt with in this study belong to the Halostachyetalia and Juncetalia maritimi orders of the Salicornietea classis. These orders are represented by the alliances of Lepidio caespitosi-Limonion iconici and Inulo aucheranae-Elymion salsi in the salt marshes of Central Anatolia.

Re‐establishing a saltmarsh vegetation structure in a changing climate

Summary A major management decision in an ecological restoration or rehabilitation project is whether supplementary planting or natural vegetation regeneration is the better alternative or if a combination can be applied. Management decisions are further complicated when the project involves saltmarsh as tidal cycles, the effects of salinity and sea level rise add to the complexity of decisions. The ecological values of the saltmarsh community in Australia were only recognized relatively recently but the endangered ecological community listing in 1994 (under the New South Wales Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995) highlighted the need to protect, rehabilitate and restore saltmarsh.This project measured vegetation change after soil profile reconstruction in saltmarsh surrounding Sponsors Lagoon, Fingal Peninsula in north coastal New South Wales, Australia. Restored sites (planted and non‐planted) were compared with nearby disturbed (control) and reference sites. The dominant species in the community to be restored were Saltwater Couch (Sporobolus virginicus), Suaeda (Suaeda australis), Sarcocornia (Sarcocornia quinqueflora ssp. quinqueflora and Sea Rush (Juncus kraussii ssp. australiensis). Changes in percentage cover of the species in the first three years after soil reconstruction work showed that the dominant Saltwater Couch established only from vegetative growth arising from remnant vegetation but there was strong seedling regeneration of several other species. It was concluded that planting is important for species that are less vagile, in larger, denuded parts of this site where their resilience is lower and natural regeneration potential is limited. An understanding of the biology of the individual species is therefore likely to be essential in saltmarsh restoration projects. A combination of techniques, incorporating planting of slower establishing species and encouragement of seed‐germinated colonizers is useful for initial site stabilization and progressive ecological recovery at this site. The inclusion of migration zones in the planning phase will allow for the long‐term viability of this restoration project.