Biomass distribution patterns of salt marshes: A detailed spatial analysis in central China's coastal wetlands.

Wetland vegetation plays a critical role in the health of coastal ecosystems, serving pivotal roles in disaster mitigation and blue carbon sequestration. While extensive research on the effects of sea-level rise on the aboveground biomass of salt marsh vegetation, the spatial patterns of biomass distribution related to surface elevation remain less explored. This study investigates the growth patterns and spatial distribution of Spartina alterniflora in central coast of China through field surveys and the analysis of remote sensing data via Google Earth Engine. We have found a significant parabolic relationship between vegetation biomass and distance from the sea, with the optimal biomass influenced by the location of the marsh front edge. Further, we observe that biomass distribution varies with surface elevation and is influenced by geomorphological features notably creeks, which introduce significant elevation differences and local biomass fluctuations. These findings offer new insights into the spatial distribution of tidal flat vegetation, which are vital for effective coastal management and for modeling the evolution of tidal flats. • Discovered parabolic spatial distribution of biomass in China's tidal flat. • Unveiled positive biomass-elevation relationship within salt marshes in central China. • Used remote sensing to track Spartina alterniflora's spatial growth patterns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]