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Biogeochemical processes mediated by plants and soil in coastal marshes are vulnerable to environmental changes and biological invasion. In particular, tidal inundation and salinity stress will intensify under future rising sea level scenarios. In this study, the interactive effects of flooding regimes (non-waterlogging vs. waterlogging) and salinity (0, 5, 15, and 30 parts per thousand (ppt)) on photosynthetic carbon allocation in plant, rhizodeposition, and microbial communities in native (Phragmites australis) and invasive (Spartina alterniflora) marshes were investigated using mesocosm experiments and 13 CO 2 pulse-labeling techniques. The results showed that waterlogging and elevated salinity treatments decreased specific root allocation (SRA) of 13 C, rhizodeposition allocation (RA) 13 C, soil 13 C content, grouped microbial PLFAs, and the fungal 13 C proportion relative to total PLFAs- 13 C. The lowest SRA, RA, and fungal 13 C proportion occurred under the combined waterlogging and high (30 ppt) salinity treatments. Relative to S. alterniflora, P. australis displayed greater sensitivity to hydrological changes, with a greater reduction in rhizodeposition, soil 13 C content, and fungal PLFAs. S. alterniflora showed an earlier peak SRA but a lower root/shoot 13 C ratio than P. australis. This suggests that S. alterniflora may transfer more photosynthetic carbon to the shoot and rhizosphere to facilitate invasion under stress. Waterlogging and high salinity treatments shifted C allocation towards bacteria over fungi for both plant species, with a higher allocation shift in S. alterniflora soil, revealing the species-specific microbial response to hydrological stresses. Potential shifts towards less efficient bacterial pathways might result in accelerated carbon loss. Over the study period, salinity was the primary driver for both species, explaining 33.2-50.8 % of 13 C allocation in the plant-soil-microbe system. We propose that future carbon dynamics in coastal salt marshes under sea-level rise conditions depend on species-specific adaptive strategies and carbon allocation patterns of native and invasive plant-soil systems., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background and aim: Coastal marshes and wetlands hosting blue carbon ecosystems have shown vulnerability to sea-level rise (SLR) and its consequent effects. In this study, we explored the effects of waterlogging and elevated salinity on the accumulation and allocation of photosynthetic carbon (C) in a widely distributed species in marsh lands. Methods: The plant–soil mesocosms of Phragmites australis were grown under waterlogging and elevated salinity conditions to investigate the responses of photosynthetic C allocation in different C pools (plant organs and soils) based on 13CO2 pulse-labeling technology. Results: Both waterlogging and elevated salinity treatments decreased photosynthetic C fixation. The hydrological treatments also reduced 13C transport to the plant organs of P. australis while significantly increased 13C allocation percentage in roots. Waterlogging and low salinity had no significant effects on 13C allocation to rhizosphere soils, while high salinity (15 and 30 ppt) significantly reduced 13C allocation to soils, indicating a decreased root C export in saline environments. Waterlogging enhanced the effects of salinity on the 13C allocation pattern, particularly during the late growing season. The responses of flooding and elevated salinity on C allocation in plant organs and rhizosphere soils can be related to changes in nutrient, ionic concentrations and microbial biomass. Conclusion: The adaptation strategy of P. australis led to increased C allocation in belowground organs under changed hydrology. Expected global SLR projection might decrease total C stocks in P. australis and alter the C allocation pattern in marsh plant-soil systems, due to amplified effects of flooding and elevated salinities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coastal marshes play a notable role in sequestering carbon in plants and soil; however, coastal ecosystems are vulnerable to global change in terms of sea-level rise and saltwater intrusion. The effects of independent and interactive hydrological treatments of waterlogging and elevated salinity on soil CO 2 effluxes in Spartina alterniflora marshes were investigated based on a mesocosm approach. This study highlighted the importance of respective soil respirations during inundation (nondrainage, R s.ND) and reaeration (drainage, R s.D) in the marshes soils. We found that waterlogging treatments heavily suppressed R s.ND but increased the R s.D , regardless of salinity levels. Light salinity enhanced soil respiration, whereas high salinity inhibited soil CO 2 efflux, regardless of the water table level. Waterlogging strengthened the negative effects of salinity on R s.ND and offset the negative effects on R s.D. The variations in soil respiration under the hydrological treatments can be mainly attributed to changes in root biomass; indigenous soil microbial biomass; and activities of sucrase, cellulase and dehydrogenase, as well as ionic concentrations and oxidation-reduction potential. The temperature sensitivity (Q 10 value) of soil respiration (only for R s.D) after drainage showed a notable decline under the conditions of waterlogging and high salinity. The effect degree of coupled hydrological treatments on soil respiration and Q 10 values was similar to a single waterlogging factor before drainage and more strongly than a single factor after drainage. We suggest that the soil CO 2 efflux under water flooding and reaeration, inundation duration, and salinity levels need to be considered to understand the impacts of future hydrological changes on coastal marshes. • Inundation suppressed marsh CO 2 emission while increased efflux at reaeration period. • Light salinity enhanced soil respiration whereas high salinity inhibited CO 2 efflux. • Root growth, MBC, enzyme activity, and ORP and ionic concentration are key factors. • Q 10 value of soil respiration at drainage significantly declined under treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]