USGS National Wetlands Research Center: Coastal Landscape Modeling

Coastal Landscape Modeling

An understanding of how specific ecological mechanisms regulate their structure and function is required to develop ecosystem management plans for restoring and protecting natural resources. Coastal restoration and protection managers need decision-support tools that model wetland community dynamics and responses to both natural processes and anthropogenic practices.

USGS scientists develop conceptual ecological models to help understand the natural wetland environment and how human activities and natural events threaten these environments. Coastal landscape modeling uses predictive relationships to estimate broad ecosystem responses to restoration and protection actions. The models enable more informed management decisions and are used to increase the efficacy of wetland restoration and protection activities in sustaining coastal resources.

Research

Development of a Wetland Morphology Modeling Tool to Predict Effects of Coastal Restoration and Protection Projects for the State’s 2012 Master Plan (Dr. Gregory D. Steyer, Brady Couvillion)

Return to Coastal Restoration Assessment