CBIN: A Research Network for Sustaining Barrier Island Ecosystems in a Changing Global Environment

沿海障壁岛分布在世界各地的沿着许多大陆海岸线上，包括人口稠密的美国东海岸和墨西哥湾沿岸。 沿海屏障岛是非常受欢迎的住宅开发区，但也为邻近海岸线提供了重要的保护，使其免受高能海浪的影响。 它们创造了各种各样的海岸线和湿地生境，支持各种植物和动物群落，包括候鸟和具有重要商业价值的鱼类。 尽管有大量的工程、自然和社会科学研究人员对这些生态系统进行研究，但目前还没有一个组织来促进这些研究人员之间的交流，并评估这些重要生态系统未来的可持续性。 当前项目的重点是开发一个跨学科网络，解决在全球气候变化的压力下美国屏障岛生态系统的有效管理问题（例如，海平面上升和飓风活动增加）和持续的城市化。 通过建立沿海屏障岛屿网络，科学家和城市规划人员将通过讲习班、学生暑期班、通讯和强调公共和教育推广活动的互动网站进行互动。气候变化可能对屏障岛屿生态系统以及这些人口稠密地区的相关社会经济和文化基础设施产生潜在的破坏性影响。 预计海平面的上升和强烈风暴的频率将特别影响屏障岛屿的生态系统，因为它们极易受到这两种情况的影响。 通过促进来自多个学科的堰塞岛研究人员之间的沟通，以及与管理人员的沟通，该项目将导致更好地理解和更有效的管理战略，以保护堰塞岛。 教育和外联活动将使公众更好地了解屏障岛的价值。

Coastal barrier islands are found along many continental shorelines worldwide, including the heavily populated eastern seaboard and Gulf Coast of the United States. Coastal barrier islands are very popular areas for residential development but also provide critical protection for adjacent shorelines from high-energy oceanic waves. They create a variety of shoreline and wetland habitats that support diverse plant and animal assemblages, including migratory birds and commercially important fish species. Despite the large number of engineering, natural, and social science researchers who conduct research on these ecosystems, no organization currently exists for fostering communication among these researchers and evaluating the future sustainability of these important ecosystems. The focus of the current project is to develop an interdisciplinary network that will address the effective management of U.S. barrier island ecosystems under the pressures of global climate change (e.g., sea level rise and increased hurricane activity) and continued urbanization. Through the formation of the Coastal Barrier Island Network (CBIN), scientists and municipal planners will interact through workshops, summer courses for students, a newsletter, and an interactive web site that will emphasize public and educational outreach activities. Climate change may have potentially devastating impacts on barrier island ecosystems and the associated socioeconomic and cultural infrastructures of these heavily populated areas. Predicted increases in sea level and the frequency of intense storms will particularly impact barrier island ecosystems due to their extreme vulnerability to both. By facilitating communication among barrier island researchers from multiple disciplines, as well as with managers, this project will lead to better understanding and more effective management strategies for protecting barrier islands. Educational and outreach activities will lead to improved public understanding of the value of barrier islands.