Climate change, sea-level rise and the dynamics of South American coastal wetlands: case studies and the global frame

LARA, RUBÉN JOSÉ

Buenos Aires

Congreso; Kolloquium für Humboldt-Stipendiaten und –Preisträger; 2006

Fundación Alexander-von-Humboldt

<!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0cm; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:DE; mso-fareast-language:DE;} @page Section1 {size:612.0pt 792.0pt; margin:72.0pt 90.0pt 72.0pt 90.0pt; mso-header-margin:36.0pt; mso-footer-margin:36.0pt; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> Coastal wetlands rank among the most productive ecosystems on earth, being key ecosystems in the transitional regions between marine and terrestrial environments. They are present in all climatic regions and are highly susceptible to changes in temperature, rainfall or tidal flooding regimes, which can produce significant ecotone shifts in coastal regions. In South America, information about the dynamic of salt marshes in relation to modifications in substrate conditions due to sea-level or climate change is scarce, particularly in temperate to cold regions. In Brazil, mangroves and coastal marshes show already evidence of be reacting to an increasing inundation frequency, keeping a good record of past reactions to sea-level and climate oscillations. Further south, the extended salt marshes and brackish water bodies in the south of Buenos Province belong to the endangered coastal wetlands in Argentina. Two study cases are presented. Driving forces of ecosystem change, and its consequences for resource use, as well as research and management priorities and strategies are discussed.