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Climate-Linked Alteration of Ecosystem Services in Tidal Salt Marshes of Georgia and Louisiana

EPA Grant Number: R832221
Title: Climate-Linked Alteration of Ecosystem Services in Tidal Salt Marshes of Georgia and Louisiana
Investigators: Hester, Mark W. , Alber, Merryl , Joye, Samantha , Mendelssohn, Irving A.
Institution: University of Louisiana at Lafayette , Louisiana State University - Baton Rouge , University of Georgia
EPA Project Officer: Jones, Brandon
Project Period: March 21, 2005 through March 20, 2008
Project Amount: $749,457
RFA: Effects of Climate Change on Ecosystem Services Provided by Coral Reefs and Tidal Marshes (2004)
Research Category: Ecological Indicators/Assessment/Restoration , Global Climate Change , Aquatic Ecosystems

Description:

Objective:

The objective of this research is to elucidate the effects of climate-change on tidal marsh ecosystem services in tidal salt marshes of Georgia and Louisiana. The goal is to better understand how the ecosystem services of eutrophication control, carbon sequestration, sustainable habitat, and faunal support are influenced by climate-change, specifically increased drought severity, in salt marshes with tidal amplitudes ranging from macrotidal (Georgia) to microtidal (Louisiana).

Approach:

The approach is to take advantage of a unique and timely research opportunity afforded by recent, multi-year, severe drought events in the tidal salt marshes of both Louisiana and Georgia that resulted in large areas of sudden salt marsh dieback. Within each state, six large study areas will be identified in which permanent plots will be established in habitats that represent a range of salt marsh response to drought from relatively unimpacted, reference (high vegetation cover) to severely impacted (complete dieback and loss of vegetation cover). Additionally, Spartina alterniflora, the dominant salt marsh grass, will be artificially established at low and high stem densities within areas of complete dieback marsh as a mechanism of controlling plant density independently from the drought-induced dieback. Alteration to the ecosystem services mentioned above will be evaluated at several scales over two growing seasons.

Expected Results:

The proposed research will greatly increase scientific understanding of how climate change and severe drought events impact crucial salt marsh ecosystem services. By conducting this research in a natural laboratory that brackets a range of hydrogeomorphic conditions (deltaic plain/microtidal to coastal plain/macrotidal), the data generated will have widespread applicability and value to coastal managers on the effects of climate change on tidal salt marsh ecosystem services.

Publications and Presentations:

Publications have been submitted on this project: View all 13 publications for this project

Supplemental Keywords:

Watersheds, sediments, global climate, estuary, stressor, nitrogen oxides, sulfates, indicators, restoration, habitat, integrated assessment, conservation, environmental assets, environmental chemistry, marine science, biology, ecology, monitoring, analytical, surveys, measurement methods, Southeast, Gulf of Mexico, EPA Region 6, EPA Region 4 , Ecosystem Protection/Environmental Exposure & Risk, Air, Geographic Area, Scientific Discipline, RFA, climate change, Aquatic Ecosystems & Estuarine Research, Ecological Risk Assessment, Air Pollution Effects, Atmosphere, Aquatic Ecosystem, Chemistry, Monitoring/Modeling, Environmental Monitoring, State, coral reef communities, meteorology, climate model, Global Climate Change, ecosystem indicators, tidal marsh, coastal ecosystems, Louisiana (LA), climatic influence, habitat preservation, climate models, sea level rise, aquatic ecosystems, atmospheric chemistry, climate variability, environmental measurement, environmental stress, global change, ecosystem stress, ecological models, climate, global climate models, Georgia (GA)

Progress and Final Reports:
2005 Progress Report
2006 Progress Report
2007 Progress Report

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The perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.

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