Data from: Structure and function of restored and natural salt marshes: Implications for ecosystem resilience and adaptive potential

Salt marshes have ecological and economic value, but shoreline
development, the increasing rate of sea-level rise, and other human
impacts have caused significant loss of salt marshes. As a result,
restoration of these ecosystems is widespread. For restoration and
management to be effective, it is imperative to improve our understanding
of marsh-building plants that serve as the ecological foundation of these
habitats. Given the observed differences in characteristics between
populations of smooth cordgrass, Spartina alterniflora,
restoration plantings may impact the biodiversity and resilience of
restored ecosystems. Understanding differences in the structural and
functional outcomes of active planting of restoration sites will enable
the long-term success of restoration efforts to be improved. Natural and
restored salt marshes in Long Island Sound were studied in 2021–2022
for S. alterniflora genetics, biomass, stem morphology,
and faunal community composition. The average genotypic diversity
of S. alterniflora was more than 4 times higher in
restored than in natural marshes, and differentiation between each
restored site and natural sites decreased with time. No difference was
observed in live S. alterniflora belowground biomass;
however, mean dead belowground biomass in natural marshes was more than 3
times greater than in restored marshes. Marsh platform invertebrates
differed between the restored and natural sites, with natural marsh edge
habitats having 9 times higher density of Geukensia demissa and 3
times as many crab burrows than in restored marshes, but there was no
detected difference in species richness or abundance of nekton at high
tide. With restoration practitioners seeking resilient, self-sustaining
ecosystems, it is important to evaluate whether restored marsh
characteristics are consistent with those goals and modify restoration
planning accordingly to incorporate genetics, structure, and function.