Spartina alterniflora invasion changed enrichment and coupling characteristics of multiple elements in coastal marsh sediment of the Yellow River Delta

• Published in: Applied geochemistry Vol. 148; p. 105517
• Main Authors: Zheng, Meijie, Zhang, Zhongsheng, Jiang, Shan, Xin, Yuan, Zhang, Xuehui, Zheng, Dongmei, Wu, Haitao
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01-01-2023
• Subjects: Coupling; Enrichment; Multiple elements; Spartina alterniflora; Yellow River Delta; Enrichment; Multiple elements; Coupling; Spartina alterniflora; Yellow River Delta
• ISSN: 0883-2927; 1872-9134
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apgeochem.2022.105517

Uncertainty surrounds how plant invasion shapes characteristics of multiple-element distribution, which makes it difficult to learn more about the interaction between plants and elemental cycles. In this paper, 14 elements were analyzed in sediments from coastal wetlands where Spartina alterniflora (Sa) and native plants grow in the Yellow River Delta (YRD). Results indicated that mineral elements such as iron (Fe) and manganese (Mn) were highest in wetlands dominated by Phragmites australis (Pa), whereas biogenic elements as carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) were the most abundant in Sa wetlands. Phytogenous processes control elemental variation in Sa wetlands, whereas lithosphere or sedimentation govern elemental changes in Pa wetlands. Sa wetlands had a complicated network with the greatest number of linkages among multiple elements, indicating that S. alterniflora invasion might enhance links among numerous elements. Fe, sulfur (S), Mn, and magnesium (Mg) were cores of element networks in wetlands covered by native plant species, whereas they shifted to Mg in Sa wetlands. The Fe-Mn connection was the most essential link of element networks in wetlands with native plant species, and it switched to the Mg-Mn link in Sa wetlands.
•alterniflora contribute more biogenic elements in Sa wetlands.•Sa wetlands had the most complicated network of multiple elements.•Fe, S, Mn, and Mg were the key elements in wetlands with native plant species.•The Fe-Mn and Mg-Mn link was the most essential in Pa, Ss, Cl and Sa, respectively.