Identification of Spartina alterniflora habitat expansion in a Suaeda salsa dominated coastal wetlands

A significant expansion of the invasive Spartina alterniflora habitat, from 3,920 to 4,350 hectares, was identified between 2017 and 2020 in the core area of the Migratory Bird Sanctuaries along the Coast of Yellow Sea-Bohai Gulf of China. This expansion coincided with a marked reduction and fragmentation of the native Suaeda salsa habitat, which shrank to just 1,414 hectares by 2020. The study utilized GF-2 remote sensing images and the U-Net model, demonstrating high classification accuracy, to analyze habitat shifts, interspecific competition, and the resulting ecological impacts. The findings highlight intensified competition between S. alterniflora and Phragmites australis, both encroaching on S. salsa habitats, which threatens biodiversity by reducing food and shelter for red-crowned cranes. This research offers critical insights into the competitive dynamics among native and invasive species in coastal wetlands under global warming and human influences.

Huang, Y., Liu, Z., Zheng, G., & Zhao, C. (2022). Identification of Spartina alterniflora habitat expansion in a Suaeda salsa dominated coastal wetlands. Ecological Indicators, 145, 109704. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2022.109704