Form Submission: Participation Entry

Coastal wetlands are highly productive ecosystems that provide numerous environmental, social, and economic benefits to society. However, accelerated rates of sea-level rise (SLR) are outpacing vertical accretion rates of marshes, which threatens the extent and function of these ecosystems. While SLR leads to marsh submergence at the seaward edge, it can also shift the position of the marsh-upland boundary. Therefore, marsh migration, or the landward retreat of salt marshes to higher elevations, is a key mechanism for marshes to survive under high SLR rates. This work uses combination of salt marsh ecology field methods and dendrochronology to explore how SLR and storm disturbances interact to facilitate the upslope migration of marshes into a coastal forest along Long Island Sound in Madison, Connecticut. This research will advance our understanding of the processes behind marsh migration and the timescale at which they occur, which will guide future wetland conservation and management efforts.