Coastal Wetlands

The Wetlands group is investigating the role of taxonomic and genetic diversity in salt marsh plants and mangroves on resilience. The Wetlands group has hypothesized that the positive effects of increased diversity (i.e. more plant species and more genetic variation within species) on ecosystem function will be greater in oiled than non-oiled habitats. Surveys are being conducted seasonally on marsh plants and mangroves in the Chandeleur Islands for plant density, productivity, percent cover and macrofauna abundance. Mesocosm experiments are also being conducted to investigate how oil exposure affects plant growth and other ecosystem processes.

Presentations and Publications

• Impacts of Deepwater Horizon Oil Pollution on Wetlands Resiliency. Authors: Hughes, A.R.; Heck, K.; Cebrian, J.; Mortazavi, B.; Sobecky, P.; Flournoy, N.; Scheffel, W.; Goff, J.
  Poster presentations at: Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill & Ecosystem Science Conference (Feb 1-4, 2016); Benthic Ecology Meeting (Mar 16-19, 2016)
  

• Impacts of Deepwater Horizon Oil Pollution on Wetlands Resiliency. Authors: Scheffel, W.A.; Hughes, A.R.; Heck, K.L.; Cebrian, J.; Goff, J.
  Oral presentation at: MS/AL Bays and Bayous Symposium (Nov 30-Dec 1, 2016)