Spartina invasion and post-removal recovery: sedimentary environment and macrobenthic community change in the Dongmak tidal flat, Korea
Baek, Y.; Lee, J.; Jang, S.; Choi, J.; Hwang, I; Ryu, S. (2026). Spartina invasion and post-removal recovery: sedimentary environment and macrobenthic community change in the Dongmak tidal flat, Korea. Geo-Mar. Lett. 46(1): 10. https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00367-026-00844-w
In: Geo-Marine Letters. Springer: Heidelberg; Berlin. ISSN 0276-0460; e-ISSN 1432-1157, more
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| Keywords |
Environments > Sedimentary environments
Topographic features > Landforms > Coastal landforms > Tidal flats
Spartina Schreb. [WoRMS]
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| Author keywords |
Invasive species Microbenthic communities · Eradication · Ecological recovery |
| Authors | | Top |
- Baek, Y.
- Lee, J.
- Jang, S.
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- Choi, J.
- Hwang, I
- Ryu, S.
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| Abstract |
Spartina has rapidly expanded across East Asian tidal flats, profoundly modifying sedimentary environments and benthic communities. Analysis of invaded and non-invaded sites in the Dongmak tidal flat, Ganghwa Island, Korea, assessed ecological responses to physical eradication conducted between 2020 and 2024. Invaded sites contained finer sediments and exhibited higher sedimentation rates than non-invaded areas, reflecting the ability of Spartina stands to reduce current velocity and promote fine-particle deposition. After eradication, sediments progressively coarsened, organic matter and nutrient contents declined, and grain-size distributions converged toward those of non-invaded flats within four years. Macrobenthic assemblages displayed comparable mean richness and density across invaded sites, yet invaded sites supported simplified communities dominated by a few tolerant taxa. Following eradication, species richness and diversity increased while dominance declined, signaling recovery of community complexity. Formerly dominant taxa such as Perinereis linea and Glauconome chinensis decreased in abundance, whereas a broader suite of species, including the protected crab Helice tridens, became more prominent. Taken together, the results indicate that Spartina invasion drives persistent alterations in tidal flat ecosystems, whereas physical eradication can initiate recovery when supported by sustained monitoring. Ecological convergence with non-invaded flats requires a minimum of four years, underscoring both the urgency of early intervention and the necessity of adaptive, long-term strategies for coastal restoration. |
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