Healthy Ecosystems
Healthy Ecosystems
SHIFTING SHORES
in the Winter 2024 issue
Living shorelines along North Carolina’s waters offer the promise of more resilient coastal habitats and communities.
DEGREES OF CHANGE
Why Water Temperatures Matter
in the Winter 2024 issue
New research looks at long-term trends in NC estuaries — changes that could bring new species to our coast.
Sixty Miles Off-Shore: A First-Hand Account of Research on the R/V Palmetto
in the Winter 2024 issue
A Sea Grant fellow shares his experience aboard a science vessel — deploying traps, analyzing fish, and acclimating to life on the Atlantic.
ECOSYSTEM SOLUTIONS
Reducing the Nutrient Load: How an Alternative Method of Wastewater Treatment Could Help the Tar-Pamlico Recover
in the Winter 2024 issue
Are hybrid constructed wetlands part of the solution for North Carolina’s impaired watersheds?
HOT TAKE
Some Forests Need Fire
in the Fall 2023 issue
THE UNTAPPED RESOURCE
How Students Can Help Build Community Resiliency
in the Fall 2023 issue
As children learn through environmental education — and pass along what they discover to adults — the process equips young and old to take informed action.
SHRINKING HABITATS
How Have Oyster Reefs Changed Over the Last Six Decades?
in the Fall 2023 issue
In a crucial North Carolina estuary, scientists combed through historical data to better understand both biodiversity and seafood supply.
SAFETY ALERT
Danger in the Water: “Forever Chemicals” Have Contaminated Fish in the Cape Fear River
in the Fall 2023 issue
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services has released advisories on limits for the consumption of fish from the middle and lower Cape Fear River due to the presence of PFAS. In some cases, the department recommends no consumption whatsoever.
BEHIND THE RESEARCHER
Matt Damiano, Warming Waters, and Sustaining Iconic Fish
in the Fall 2023 issue
“We have a rapidly changing landscape of both the ocean environment and the makeup of who is going out to catch fish.”
Ecology, Psychology, and the Art of Being You: An Interview with Dr. J. Drew Lanham, MacArthur Fellow
in the Summer 2023 issue
Growing up on a family farm in Edgefield, South Carolina, Joseph Drew Lanham, “Drew,” to many, knew he wanted to be an ornithologist by the third grade.
A River of Plastics
in the Summer 2023 issue
New research reveals the Neuse River Basin annually delivers an estimated 230 billion particles of plastic to the Pamlico Sound.
Climate Resilience: Natural Landscapes and Flood Mitigation in New Bern, NC
in the Summer 2023 issue
Ecosystems, equity, and a planning success story
Vital Signs
Most of the World’s Salt Marshes Likely Will Be Underwater by 2100.
in the Summer 2023 issue
Sea Grant is among the funders on a 50-year study of salt marsh ecology that has concluded that more than 90% of the world’s salt marshes could succumb to sea level rise by the end of the century.
Emerging Contaminants: PFAS in the Tidal Creeks of Southeastern North Carolina
in the Summer 2023 issue
Resilience and Redevelopment in Duffyfield: Revisualizing the Future of an Underserved Neighborhood in New Bern, NC
in the Spring 2023 issue
After Hurricane Florence flooded an African American neighborhood with a long history of strength after adversity, a team of community leaders, researchers, and students has been working to restore housing and preserve community history.
“Stop the Spread” and “Don’t Plant a Pest”- from Plant This Instead!
Eco-friendly Alternatives to Harmful Ornamental Plants
in the Spring 2023 issue
Here’s what not to plant — and what to plant instead.
Emerging Contaminants: The Autoimmune Effects of Exposure to PFAS
in the Spring 2023 issue
Why do these alligators have infections?
Science and Social Media: Twitter and the Red Tides
in the Spring 2023 issue
Can social media provide a real-time map of red tide events?
Vital Signs: The Hottest Ocean in Recorded History
in the Spring 2023 issue
NOAA and NASA track dramatic global changes.
Naturalist’s Notebook: Hurricanes, People, and Piping Plovers
in the Spring 2023 issue
A new study looked at the long-term mating habits of these birds before and after protective measures went into effect.
Healthy Ecosystems: How Much Ocean Floor Do Natural Reefs Occupy?
in the Spring 2023 issue
And how much more territory belongs to natural reefs than to artificial reefs?
Coastal Currents: New Community Research Projects Launch
in the Fall 2022 issue
Coastal Currents: Coastal Research Fellows Study Seagrass and Dredge Plumes
in the Fall 2022 issue
Is There a Future for Oyster Relaying in North Carolina?
in the Fall 2022 issue
For years, oyster farmers in our state have been telling researchers that they have seen greater numbers of healthy oysters in areas they harvest than in those they leave alone.
Troubled Waters: Flooding, Contaminants, and Heightened Risks
in the Fall 2022 issue
Underserved communities in North Carolina disproportionately experience the adverse effects of flooding and poor water quality. Why is this? And what can we do about it?
Natural Solutions and Clean Water Future for the Cape Fear
in the Fall 2022 issue
With more people living in the Cape Fear River Basin and climate change bringing heavier rains, a new project is forecasting the effects of stormwater runoff as well as how strategic buffers can lessen pollution.
Hook, Line & Science: Hurricanes, Blue Marlin, and Radiation
in the Fall 2022 issue
Research and news for anglers
Ecofriendly Solutions: Social Media for Sharks
in the Fall 2022 issue
A new study shows that YouTube can serve as a conservation management tool when it comes to misunderstood wildlife.
Healthy Habitats: How Do Restored Oyster Reefs Compare to Live Oyster Reefs?
in the Fall 2022 issue
A new study shows additional benefits from oyster reef restoration — after only six months.
Climate Resilience: NC’s State-of-the Art Warning System Strengthens Flood Planning
in the Fall 2022 issue
Our state has faced major transportation difficulties from three major extreme climate events: Floyd, Matthew, and Florence.
Coastal Currents: Demand Rises for Native Plants
in the Summer 2022 issue
The New Pioneers: Planning for Wastewater Treatment During Climate Change
in the Summer 2022 issue
Communities along the coastal Carolinas are taking steps to ensure residents have functioning septic systems and other types of onsite wastewater treatment — as groundwater rises and storms intensify.
Climate Change and Resistance to Antibiotics: Hotter Waters, Heavy Metals, and a Growing Public Health Concern
in the Summer 2022 issue
Hook, Line & Science: Shark Thievery, American Shad in the Albemarle Sound, and How We Fished 12,000 Years Ago
in the Summer 2022 issue
The latest science for anglers
Sea Science: Climate Change and the Northern Migration
in the Summer 2022 issue
More animals — including sea turtles, manatees, sharks, and hundreds of other fish species — will be on the move.
Stream Science: The Effects of Antibiotics on Urban Stream Ecology
in the Summer 2022 issue
Ecofriendly Solutions: The Top 10 Most Common Types of Trash on the North Carolina Coast — And How You Can Join the International Coastal Cleanup
in the Summer 2022 issue
Last year’s coastal trash included a garter belt and a windshield — but you can help reduce debris.
Coastal Tidings: Warming Seas Means Shorter Lifespans for Many Fish Species
in the Spring 2022 issue
Coastal Tidings: Is FEMA Underestimating Flood Damage Exposure?
in the Spring 2022 issue
Coastal Tidings: Charge Up on the Coast
in the Spring 2022 issue
Coastal Tidings: New “Tangled in Trash” App Relies on Grassroots Reporting
in the Spring 2022 issue
Wings of Change: The Impacts of a Warming Climate on Birds of North Carolina
in the Spring 2022 issue
Extinction will threaten about two-thirds of America’s bird species if temperatures rise by 5.4° F before the turn of the century.
Sea Science: Are Sharks Getting Smaller?
in the Spring 2022 issue
A combination of fewer and smaller sharks in the coastal ocean has likely contributed to shifts in ecosystems and fisheries that we don’t fully understand.
Hook, Line & Science: Deepwater Fish and Shipwrecks, Lionfish DNA, and Ancient Sheepshead Bones
in the Spring 2022 issue
Currents: Are Warming Seas Affecting How Blue Crabs Escape Predators?
in the Spring 2022 issue
Along much of the North Carolina coast, seagrasses are a critical habitat for juvenile blue crabs, providing a refuge from predators.
Coastal Tidings: New Projects Support Seafood and Aquaculture Industries
in the Winter 2021 issue
Podcasting a Wide Net: Student Journalists Offer Coastal Voices on Climate Change to a Worldwide Audience
in the Winter 2021 issue
Conserving a Culture: Land Development, Climate Change, and the Gullah/Geechee Nation
in the Winter 2021 issue
“The Gullah/Geechee people have been able to hold on to their roots.”
Five Years Later: Lessons Learned from Matthew
in the Winter 2021 issue
Torrential inland flooding from the 2016 hurricane was a wakeup call, sparking state investment in coordinated resilience efforts.
Hook, Line & Science: Hurricane Noise, Live Weigh-Ins, and Wind Farms
in the Winter 2021 issue
People & Places: My Passion for Environmental Engineering:
in the Winter 2021 issue
“It’s one thing to lose your home. It’s another thing to be uprooted and never be able to come back to the place you know, the place you love, the place you live, the place your ancestors lived.”
Coastal Landscapes: Native Plant Picks
in the Winter 2021 issue
A new video series highlights beautiful — and ecofriendly — North Carolina plants.
Currents: N.C. Marine Debris by the Numbers
in the Winter 2021 issue
Reported trash in our state totals over one-half million items — and there’s reason to believe the actual total is much higher.
Sea Science: How Do Humpback Whales Behave Around Busy Atlantic Seaports?
in the Winter 2021 issue
Research reveals what happens when humpback whales and boats of all sizes frequent the same high-traffic areas.
Naturalist’s Notebook: What’s the Status of American Eels in North Carolina’s Tidal Creeks?
in the Winter 2021 issue
Scientists looked at whether development on tidal creek terrain affected the survival rate of yellow-phase American eels.
Coastal Tidings: Do Ghost Forests Perpetuate Global Warming?
in the Fall 2021 issue
Coastal Tidings: Study Reveals Foul Play from Clavelina Oblonga
in the Fall 2021 issue
Digging Up a Stormy Past: Sediment samples hundreds of years old reveal how hurricanes and nor’easters affect the landward migration of salt marshes
in the Fall 2021 issue
Currents: Invasion on the Mudflats
in the Fall 2021 issue
New research reveals the impact of the invasive seaweed Gracilaria on hard clams and other intertidal bottom-dwellers.
Coastwatch Classroom: The Watershed Wisdom Lesson Plan
in the Fall 2021 issue
As the pandemic continues to affect K-12 learning models, several thousand North Carolina teachers, students, and others already have accessed the free Watershed Wisdom online lesson plan.
Hook, Line, & Science: Oyster Reefs, Self-Releasing Hooks, and the Mysterious Wanderings of Southern Flounder
in the Fall 2021 issue
Naturalist’s Notebook: Do Water Snakes Get Thirsty?
in the Fall 2021 issue
A research team enters swampy terrain to hand-capture snakes and measure the reptiles’ sensitivity to dehydration.
Above and Below: The Impact of Weather Events on Water Quality and Quantity
in the Summer 2021 issue
Two projects explore very different effects of weather on surface water and groundwater in coastal North Carolina.
The Butterfly Effect
in the Summer 2021 issue
A native Crystal Coast species inspires backyard stewardship.
Mapping the Future: Climate Change and Flooding in Coastal North Carolina
in the Summer 2021 issue
As seas rise and storms strengthen, new modeling will help communities assess heightened flood risks.
Currents: Against Wind and Water
in the Summer 2021 issue
As climate change brings more intense hurricanes and higher seas that threaten the shape and survival of coastal communities, homeowners still have options that can help to reduce the risk of property damage.
Naturalist’s Notebook
Skedaddling Sea Turtles: How Loggerheads React to Hurricanes
in the Summer 2021 issue
Not only do the turtles dive longer and change locations, but their new behaviors linger after the storms have passed.
Coastal Tidings: Nearly 20 Million Pack NC Parks in 2020
in the Spring 2021 issue
Coastal Tidings: “No Credible Evidence” Seafood Transmits COVID-19
in the Spring 2021 issue
Coastal Tidings: Is Climate Change Affecting Fish in NC Waters?
in the Spring 2021 issue
Coastal Tidings: Are We Catching the Same Sport Fish?
in the Spring 2021 issue
In the Wake of Storms
in the Spring 2021 issue
Even as our state’s capacity for seafood processing declines, wholesalers and distributors have built a network that rapidly deploys initial aid to coastal communities after hurricanes.
In Full Bloom: Algae, Air Quality, and New Research on the Impacts of Cyanotoxins
in the Spring 2021 issue
“Some days, we even operated like a band of storm chasers: When the CEEG’s network reported bloom sightings, we would all jump in our vehicles and speed toward those locations.”
Hook, Line & Science: Illegal Angling, Measuring the Megalodon, and More
in the Spring 2021 issue
The latest science for anglers
Sea Science
Crabitat: Juvenile Blue Crab Habitats in Pamlico Sound
in the Spring 2021 issue
K-12 students creatively respond to the question “What does climate resiliency mean to you?”
in the Spring 2021 issue
Coastal Tidings: Do Ghost Forests Contribute to Climate Change?
in the Winter 2020 issue
Coastal Tidings: New Fellow Explores Seagrass Restoration
in the Winter 2020 issue
Plan, Respond, Recover, Adapt: Building Resilience in Coastal NC
in the Winter 2020 issue
North Carolina Sea Grant’s new coastal resilience specialist tells why resilience means much more than merely “bouncing back.”
THE WINDING PATH OF RESEARCH: Flood Risk, Recognition, and the Latino and Latina Community in Wilmington, NC
in the Winter 2020 issue
When nobody showed up for her study, Olivia Vilá changed course — and her work shed new light on environmental justice.
PLASTIC, PLASTIC, EVERYWHERE
in the Winter 2020 issue
Plastic pollution globally taints land, air, and water, but new efforts are tackling the problem in North Carolina’s aquatic ecosystems.
Hook, Line & Science: The Moon, Mystery Fish, and More
in the Winter 2020 issue
Naturalist’s Notebook: Sparrows and Rising Seas
in the Winter 2020 issue
Two coastal study sites now support hundreds of saltmarsh and seaside sparrows but might only provide habitat for 25 by 2060.
Last Word
Science Is Everywhere: An Interview With Terri Kirby Hathaway, North Carolina Sea Grant’s Marine Education Specialist
in the Winter 2020 issue
From sinking sodas to seaweed in ice cream, marine education offers plenty to keep K-12 students curious.