Aquatic vegetation often acts as a foundation that forms the base of coastal ecosystems and provides a suite of ecologically and economically important functions:
These functions are vitally important to coastal communities. However, these valuable functions vary significantly in time and space in part due to ecosystem size, quality, and resilience. Larger, less degraded systems provide higher quality and a higher quantity of services. When a system dies back or reduces in size, functions are lost, and in many cases previous gains of functions are reversed; therefore resilient systems—those that can withstand disturbance with minimal decline—are more valuable.
The goal of this research program is to understand the variability in these functions and services and to provide the best science for use in effective conservation and restoration programs. The breadth of ecosystem functions requires that I draw on approaches from ecology, population genetics, biogeochemistry, and plant physiology. It also requires that I work with an interdisciplinary team
- Increases fisheries: Acts as habitat for invertebrates, shellfish, finfish, reptiles, and mammals, many of which have commercial value
- Reduces erosion and protects shores from sea level rise: Decreases significant wave height and bottom shear stress reducing coastal erosion
- Mitigates climate change though carbon burial
- Reduces Eutrophication by binding available nutrients and altering biogeochemical cycles to reduce threats of eutrophication.
These functions are vitally important to coastal communities. However, these valuable functions vary significantly in time and space in part due to ecosystem size, quality, and resilience. Larger, less degraded systems provide higher quality and a higher quantity of services. When a system dies back or reduces in size, functions are lost, and in many cases previous gains of functions are reversed; therefore resilient systems—those that can withstand disturbance with minimal decline—are more valuable.
The goal of this research program is to understand the variability in these functions and services and to provide the best science for use in effective conservation and restoration programs. The breadth of ecosystem functions requires that I draw on approaches from ecology, population genetics, biogeochemistry, and plant physiology. It also requires that I work with an interdisciplinary team
