Coastal Wetlands of the Bahía Blanca Estuary: Landscape Structure and Plant Associations

PRATOLONGO PAULA; FUNK FLAVIA A; PIOVÁN MARÍA JULIA; CELLERI CARLA; NEGRIN VANESA

The Bahía Blanca Estuary

Springer Nature

Año: 2021;

Landscapestructure in the coastal zone of Bahía Blanca is a result of the marinetransgression that affected the area during the Holocene. Storm depositscorresponding to the transgressive maximum are widespread along the northernand western margin of the estuary and set the limits to the area considered in thischapter. Based on geomorphic maps different landscape units were identified,further characterized by their hydrogeomorphic conditions. Tidal andgroundwater influence on the soil surface are the primary drivers of soilproperties and vegetation structure. Within the intertidal zone, there are twodifferent types of plant associations. Salt marshes of Spartina alternifloraare typical landscape components in the middle reach of Principal Channel. Theycommonly occupy elevations lower than the mean high tide, from Ingeniero Whiteto Puerto Rosales. Through the inner section of Principal Channel, thesemarshes are less common, and the dominant species is Sarcocornia ambigua, whichforms marshes at a higher elevation within the tidal fringe. Also, significant landcover changes and landscape trends were identified over the last decades anddiscussed their effects on ecosystem functions. Text boxes contain additionalinformation on invasive and emblematic plant species in the area.