Land and Resource Use
An expanding population and the associated development are increasing stress on coastal land and resources, resulting in depleted fisheries, lost habitat, degraded water quality, and increased chemical and sediment runoff. These conditions are found throughout the coastal U.S. and are among the most challenging problems facing coastal resource managers.
Fishing can also directly affect coastal resources , including deep sea corals. Fish provide nutrition, recreational opportunities, and many other products and uses for society. But the modern processes through which fish are sought, caught and used can lead to a variety of adverse impacts on fish habitats, the sustainability of their populations, and the lives of the people who rely on fisheries for their own economic viability.
Land development, urbanization and other forms of habitat modification directly affect ecosystem health. Whole ecosystems may change or even disappear entirely. Land development can cause changes in freshwater delivery to an ecosystem, and runoff resulting from more paved roads and other impermeable surfaces can increase the spread of contaminants.
In addition, continued unsustainable use of resources can degrade estuarine and marine ecosystems. In many cases, entire species have been extirpated from their habitats because of unregulated exploitation. The impacts of these activities go beyond species removal, however. An entire ecosystem's composition may be altered when just one species is pushed out.
Using more informed management approaches, these resources can remain balanced and viable for future generations. NCCOS scientists conduct habitat assessments, contaminant monitoring, and biomolecular research to better understand land and resource uses and their potential coastal impacts. For example, NCCOS scientists are studying the effects of increased freshwater flow through the Everglades on Florida Bay . They are also evaluating different habitat restoration techniques for seagrass beds, oyster beds, and coral reefs, and are exploring the extent of, and the reasons for, declines of coral reef ecosystems. These studies will provide managers with better tools to protect and manage coastal ecosystems.
In support of land and resource use research, NCCOS scientists are also pursuing studies in ecological forecasting. Ecological forecasts apply research results to management problems, allowing coastal managers to better predict future environmental conditions using current conditions and various management scenarios. These timely forecasts provide coastal managers with practical information for better ecosystem management.
For more information on NCCOS projects involving Climate Change and Long-Term Use, open the NCCOS Project Explorer (opens in a new window).
Feature Articles
- NCCOS Research on Fish Otoliths Yields Key Environmental Clues
- Evaluating Environmental Impacts of Residential Docks
- Where Have All the Fish Gone?
- Scientists Work for a Better Understanding of the Causes and Cures of Hypoxia in the Gulf of Mexico
Related Topics
- NCCOS Human Dimensions Research
- Visual Impact Assessment of Small Docks and Piers: Theory and Practice
- CSCOR's South Florida Project Page
- Land and Resource Use Research at the Cebter for Coastal Environmental Health and Biomolecular Research in Charleston, SC:
- Land and Resource Use Research at Hollings Marine Laboratory in Charleston, SC:
- Science Results from program used to protect Largest and Most Valuable U.S. Fishery (FOCI) factsheet (PDF)
