NC Sea Grant Symposium Spurs Coastal Research

Based on topics and issues highlighted during the symposium, Sea Grant requested research proposals focused on infrastructure in the coastal zone, long-term datasets, tidal creek systems and research to inform restoration.

Projects could examine how infrastructure interacts with the natural system, use existing long-term data sets to enhance the management of coastal resources, advance knowledge and management of tidal creek systems, or enhance the success of future restoration activities.

“The chosen projects address one or more focus areas — and continue the momentum that the symposium began,” notes John Fear, Sea Grant deputy director.

Three projects have been selected for funding.

“Connecting long-term trends in estuarine hypoxia to phytoplankton and fisheries in the context of climatic and anthropogenic perturbations” will identify how human-induced, low-oxygen events affect phytoplankton and commercial fisheries stocks in the Neuse River Estuary. Researchers Hans Paerl and Benjamin Peierls are with the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Institute of Marine Sciences.

“Demographics of American eels (Anguilla rostrata) inhabiting tidal creeks of coastal North Carolina: The importance of urbanization” will examine the effects of development near tidal creeks on juvenile American eels. Jeffrey Buckel and Paul Rudershausen are researchers with NC State University’s Center for Marine Sciences and Technology. Laura Lee is a researcher with the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries.

“Understanding broad-scale drivers of coastal wetland extent” will look at factors that control growth and reduction of coastal wetlands. Those conclusions will help to forecast wetlands loss and to better target restoration efforts. The principal investigator is James Heffernan with Duke University’s Nicholas School of the Environment.