Impact/Purpose:

The objective of this research is to quantify the extent of change that New England tidal marshes have undergone, and to examine the effects of anthropogenic disturbances on community structure and ecosystem function. The focus of this research will be on several major human impacts – historically by hay-farming and mosquito ditching and presently by invasion of Phragmites australis, eutrophication, and sea level rise.

Description:

Results from this research will explain differences between coastal marshes with different histories of human disturbance and distinguish between natural features of coastal marshes and features that are artifacts of human land use.

Record Details:

Record Type:PROJECT( ABSTRACT )

Start Date:09/01/2005

Completion Date:09/01/2008

Record ID: 138498

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Related Organizations:

Role :OWNER

Organization Name :BROWN UNIVERSITY

Mailing Address :Prospect St

Citation :Providence

State :RI

Zip Code :2912

Project Information:

Approach :

With the goal of examining the ecosystem level effects of human impact, I will analyze 18 marshes in Maine, Rhode Island, and Connecticut using aerial photography, remote sensing, and GIS datalayers to identify the extent of ditching and P. australis invasion in New England. I will use field methodologies to measure differences in vegetative cover, decomposition rates, peat accretion, and nitrification rates in marshes with different regimes of human impact. Pollen analysis of peat cores and plant border monitoring will also be used to reconstruct past and ongoing changes in salt marsh vegetation.

Cost :$111,172.00

Research Component :Academic Fellowships

Project IDs:

ID Code :F5E10976

Project type :Fellowship