摘要：全球变化下盐沼前缘陡坎的侵蚀加剧了海岸生境退化，其形成与演化机制是地球科学领 域的重要科学问题之一。通过系统回顾国内外研究，①归纳分析了水文动力、沉积底质、生物作用 等因素及其耦合作用对盐沼前缘陡坎形成与演化过程的影响；②介绍了关于盐沼前缘陡坎“差异 性沉积波动”、“自组织”、“淤进—蚀退循环”等经典概念框架，探讨了主要概念框架的区别与联系； ③结合生物—动力—地貌学科交叉研究发展趋势，回顾了主流数学模型的发展并比较了不同模型 的适应性与局限性；④讨论了盐沼形成与演化过程中多因素在不同时空尺度上的耦合作用和多尺 度综合机制。研究结果表明，盐沼前缘陡坎的形成与演化机制具有多源性与综合性，而生物作用 通过多重机制影响盐沼前缘陡坎的稳定性。未来研究应着力于厘清生物生长发育过程与动力地 貌过程的互馈作用、加强多尺度多源数据融合、构建高精度三维生物—动力—地貌多过程耦合模 型等方面，从多学科视角进一步揭示盐沼前缘陡坎的形成与演化机制。

Abstract： Salt marshes are amongst the most valuable ecosystems on earth, yet facing ubiquitous cliff erosion at marsh edges on a global scale. Understanding the mechanisms on the formation and evolution of marsh edge cliffs has become an urgent necessity in the field of earth science. However, due to the complexity of marsh habitats at the interface between land and sea, our knowledge on marsh edge cliffs remains elusive. Here, through a literature review, we examined research on cliff erosion at marsh edges worldwide, to provide a better understating on cliff erosion at marsh edges. Firstly, by reviewing the influence of environmental factors such as hydrodynamic forces, sediment substrates, and biological processes, we discussed the coupling effects of these factors at different spatiotemporal scales. Secondly, we conceptually elucidated the prevalent frameworks in terms of “differential deposition fluctuation”, “self-organization”, and “auto-cyclic retreat”. By analyzing their differences and connections, we further discussed the comprehensive mechanisms on the formation and evolution of marsh edge cliffs. Thirdly, the development process and application scope of relevant mathematical models on marsh edge cliff formation and evolution are introduced and discussed. Lastly, we proposed several problems to be solved following the current transdisciplinary research trend on hydrodynamics, geomorphology and ecology. Future researches on the formation and evolution mechanism of marsh edge cliffs would be beneficial for deepening the current insights into saltmarsh erosion and degradation, that can be used to identify early warning signals of vulnerable habitats and to guide ecological restoration in the face of global change and anthropogenic impacts.