Research Topics

drivers of coastal change, to track transitions in structure and function of ecosystems and societies with disturbances such as storms, floods, and climate change

The Coastal Disturbance Ecology Lab researches drivers of coastal change. The goal for much of our research is to track transitions in structure and function of ecosystems and societies with disturbances such as storms, floods, and climate change. We study this on multiple spatial and temporal scales, using LiDAR, census records, historical maps, and aerial imagery in GIS to track landscape changes over time.  We also conduct field experiments and surveys to measure community-level responses. A major question driving our research is “how have humans altered the response and recovery of systems?”

ECOSYSTEM SHIFTS

 40% of the world population lives within 100km of the coast and climate change affects coastal areas uniquely, with both rising temperatures and sea levels potentially driving slow ecosystem transitions and land loss, while increased storm intensity and unpredictability can produce sudden changes in an already stressed environment. We aim to broaden the knowledge of how multiple stressors, including landscape modifications, nutrient inputs, and climate change, interact with both natural and anthropogenic disturbances to affect structure, function, and stability at the landscape-scale. Most recently, our work has involved using GIS to uncover a novel climate driven ecosystem shift from oyster reef to mangrove Island in the Indian River Lagoon, Florida.
We are currently collaborating with sociologists and political scientists to document how elevation and disturbances, such storms and redlining, can play a role in reorganizing demographics of cities, perpetuating race and class segregation. 

RESTORATION

 Small-scale anthropogenic modifications to a marsh can have landscape-scale impacts, both positively and negatively, with climate driven sea-level rise. Our restoration work seeks to uncover the additive impact that small-scale development and subsequent restoration can impart on a system. Uncovering elevation and hydrologic drivers of natural recovery can help prioritize restoration science to restore functioning of a system rather than structure of a system. By restoring natural functioning, we may allow the system to naturally restore its structure. 
Living shoreline restoration is an alternative to hard armoring that will potentially allow the coastal system to 'keep up' with sea level rise. We documented the impact multiple small-scale living shoreline restorations can have on entire system when considered additively.
We are also involved in an ongoing large-scale analysis of oyster reef restoration ecological impact, from New jersey to Louisiana.
We used field work and GIS to track coastal erosion in Louisiana after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill and potential land loss due to small hydrologic modifications on the Louisiana coast, which disproportionality impacted Native American tribes.