Development of a young, restored salt marsh in a high energy coastal environment, Bay of Fundy, New Brunswick.

About the Study

A salt marsh restoration project at Aulac, N.B., has been monitored annually since 2010 to determine geophysical and biological responses. Three critical phases have been identified. Phases 1 and 2 started immediately after breaching the old dike, and over five years involved rapid sediment deposition and the colonization/spread of the salt marsh bioengineer species Spartina alterniflora. The third phase, driven by the near-complete failure of the old dike, involves new interactions between S. alterniflora, sedimentation and increasing energy. We are quantifying (i) the state of the marsh edge where the old dike was; (ii) accretion and erosion of the marsh surface; (iii) condition of S. alterniflora grasses; and (iv) ecologic health of the salt marsh.

Related Documents or Further Information

Myriam A. Barbeau, Ph.D.
Professor, Department of Biology
University of New Brunswick
P.O. Box 4400
Fredericton, N.B. E3B 5A3
email: mbarbeau@unb.ca