USGS Gulf of Mexico Project Search Results
Project Name: Science for the Conservation of Coastal and Marine Systems, Coral reefs, and Benthic Ecosystems: Central region
Start/End Dates: Oct. 1, 2000-Sept. 30, 2008
Geographic Location: Collier County, FL; Coastal Louisiana; Padre Island National Seashore,
Statement of Problem: Marine and coastal natural resources and ecosystems are vital to the nation. These systems and their valuable fishery and recreational areas are under stress from a variety of natural and anthropogenic factors. Research and monitoring are needed to provide the information necessary to protect, maintain, and restore these systems.
Hurricanes, drought-related marsh dieback, coastal erosion, subsidence, etc. are all having major impacts on coastal ecosystems -- especially in the northern Gulf of Mexico. Numerous restoration projects, some massive in size and scale of species affected, are already underway and many more are planned. Studies linking disturbance - recovery to restoration efforts are necessary to ensure the continued vitality of these systems and the success of restoration. These are key components of the goals of the USGS ecosystems program.
Objectives: Evaluate the vitality, integrity, and resilience of seagrass and submerged aquatic vegetation communities. Assess critical ecological linkages (e.g., nutrient flow, habitat use) among intertidal marsh-mangrove and subtidal seagrass-coral marine systems.
The role of large disturbances (e.g., hurricanes, marsh dieback, wave action / erosion, etc.) needs to be evaluated and linked in to restoration activities at various scales. The dynamics of understanding disturbance, resilience, and their links to restoration are critical to the ecosystem program goals.
Tasks:
Task 2 - Effects of Hurricanes on OCS Oil and Gas Infrastructure.
Task 3 - Ecology and Restoration of Mangrove and Marsh Ecosystems
Task 4 - Role of Halophila in restoration of Halodule Seagrass Meadows in the Laguna Madre of Texas
Task 5 - Rates & Patterns of Root Growth and Turnover in Wetlands: Measurement Technique and Applications
Task 6 - Seagrasses in Laguna Madre, TX: processes Responsible for Ecosystem Change
Task 7 - Biogenic Accretion Through Surface Root Production in Coastal Wetlands and Implications for Elevation Change Relative to Sea-Level Rise
Task 9 - Sudden Marsh Die-back in Coastal Louisiana: Vegetation and Soil Status, Mechanisms of Dieback, and Potential for Recovery
Task 10 - Impacts of physical disturbance on seagrass meadows of Padre Island National Seashore, Laguna Madre, Texas
Task 12 - Louisiana Coastal Area (LCA) Study: Investigation of Factors Controlling Elevation Change in Coastal Marshes
Contact: Carroll Cordes
337 266-8653
Note: This information was obtained from the U.S. Geological Survey's BASIS+ budgeting and reporting system and was not edited for content or errors.