Coastal ecotones are transitional zones between terrestrial and marine ecosystems, consisting of a hierarchy of vegetation and habitats that are circumscribed by a wide variety of physical, biological, or ecological gradients. For instance, on the seaward side of coastal ecotones are salt ponds, salt marshes, and tidal flats, whereas on the landward side are freshwater marshes, hardwood hammocks, and freshwater tidal forests. As species richness and abundance tend to peak in these transitional areas, coastal ecotones are usually biodiversity hotspots and serve as local gene pools and biodiversity centers, deserving high conservation investment. Over the past centuries, coastal ecotones have been increasingly threatened by anthropogenic activities. Faced with growing population pressure, coastal ecotones have been often isolated from oceanic influences by seawalls and converted into farmlands or other types of land use. Moreover, sea-level rise is leading salt-tolerant plant species to migrate into upper, salt-intolerant-dominated habitats, and invasive species also pose a serious challenge to those ecosystems. The degradation and loss of coastal ecotones reduce coastal resilience and ecosystem services, and further pose risks to human well-being.
Here, we call for original and novel papers related to coastal ecotones in any of the following research topics:
1. Innovative studies of the structures, functions, and dynamics of coastal ecotones and long-term ecological monitoring.
2. Biodiversity conservation of coastal ecotones, and the influence of biological invasions.
3. Coastal ecotones and hybrid coastal defenses.
4. Coastal ecotone restoration with blue carbon sequestration, and biodiversity conservation.
5. Managed realignment of coastal ecotones and integrated policies for sustainable coastal development.
Coastal ecotones are transitional zones between terrestrial and marine ecosystems, consisting of a hierarchy of vegetation and habitats that are circumscribed by a wide variety of physical, biological, or ecological gradients. For instance, on the seaward side of coastal ecotones are salt ponds, salt marshes, and tidal flats, whereas on the landward side are freshwater marshes, hardwood hammocks, and freshwater tidal forests. As species richness and abundance tend to peak in these transitional areas, coastal ecotones are usually biodiversity hotspots and serve as local gene pools and biodiversity centers, deserving high conservation investment. Over the past centuries, coastal ecotones have been increasingly threatened by anthropogenic activities. Faced with growing population pressure, coastal ecotones have been often isolated from oceanic influences by seawalls and converted into farmlands or other types of land use. Moreover, sea-level rise is leading salt-tolerant plant species to migrate into upper, salt-intolerant-dominated habitats, and invasive species also pose a serious challenge to those ecosystems. The degradation and loss of coastal ecotones reduce coastal resilience and ecosystem services, and further pose risks to human well-being.
Here, we call for original and novel papers related to coastal ecotones in any of the following research topics:
1. Innovative studies of the structures, functions, and dynamics of coastal ecotones and long-term ecological monitoring.
2. Biodiversity conservation of coastal ecotones, and the influence of biological invasions.
3. Coastal ecotones and hybrid coastal defenses.
4. Coastal ecotone restoration with blue carbon sequestration, and biodiversity conservation.
5. Managed realignment of coastal ecotones and integrated policies for sustainable coastal development.
