Monitoring Spartina alterniflora Expansion Mode and Dieback Using Multisource High-Resolution Imagery in Yancheng Coastal Wetland, China

Spartina alterniflora (smooth cordgrass), China's most common invasive species, has posed significant challenges to native plant communities and coastal environments. Monitoring the invasion and dieback process of S. alterniflora by multisource high-resolution imagery is necessary to manage the invasion of the species. Current spatial analyses, however, are insufficient. As a result, we first extracted S. alterniflora by integrating multisource high-resolution images through the multiscale object-oriented classification method, then identified the expansion patterns of S. alterniflora on the seaward side by the landscape expansion index, and conformed the main drivers of S. alterniflora dieback on the landward side in the Jiangsu Dafeng Milu National Nature Reserve. The findings revealed that the area of S. alterniflora decreased in size from 1511.26 ha in 2010 to 910.25 ha in 2020. S. alterniflora continues to grow to the sea and along the tidal creek on the seaward side, with a total increase of 159.13 ha. External isolation expansion patterns accounted for 65.16% of the total expansion patches, with marginal expansion patches accounting for 24.22% and tidal creek-leading expansion patches accounting for 10.62%. While the landward side showed a declining trend, the total area decreased by 852.36 ha, with an annual average change rate of 8.67%. S. alterniflora dieback was negatively related to the number of tidal creeks and positively related to the number of wild Elaphures davidianus and the length of artificial ditches. Our findings provide a scientific foundation for the ecological control of S. alterniflora. Its presence in coastal wetlands inspires evidence-based protection and management strategies to protect the coastal wetland ecosystem.

Automated summary

Spartina alterniflora, China's most common invasive species, poses challenges to native plant communities and coastal environments. Current spatial analyses are insufficient, so we used multisource high-resolution imagery to monitor the invasion and dieback process of S. alterniflora. Our findings show that the area of S. alterniflora decreased over time, but it continues to grow along the seaward side. The dieback of S. alterniflora is related to certain factors such as the number of tidal creeks and the length of artificial ditches. These findings provide a scientific basis for the ecological control and management of S. alterniflora, promoting evidence-based strategies for coastal wetland protection.