Comparing vertical accretion, organic carbon (C) sequestration, and nitrogen burial between a natural, never diked tidal salt marsh and a hydrologically restored tidal salt marsh on Sapelo Island, Georgia.

Restoration of tidal marshes throughout the 20th century have attempted to bring back important functions of natural tidal systems. In this study, vertical accretion, organic carbon (C) sequestration, and nitrogen burial were compared between a natural, never diked tidal salt marsh and a hydrologically restored tidal salt marsh on Sapelo Island, Georgia to examine the impacts of restoration years later. On Sapelo Island there are two marshes near the University of Georgia Marine Institute, one of which is a natural marsh, and one of which is a restored marsh. The restored marsh had been diked in 1948, and the dike was breached, allowing for the marsh to be restored, in 1956. Soil cores were collected from both marshes, and the sediments were analysed for Nitrogen and Carbon concentrations and bulk density. This analysis was used to determine accretion rates for the two marshes as well as changes in the restored marsh since the dike was breached. Nitrogen burial, carbon sequestration, and soil accretion in the restored marsh as compared to the natural marsh were the focus of this study.