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

沿海屏障岛屿在世界各地的许多大陆海岸线上都有发现，包括人口稠密的美国东海岸和墨西哥湾沿岸。沿海屏障岛屿是非常受欢迎的住宅开发区域，但也为邻近海岸线提供了关键保护，使其免受高能海浪的侵袭。它们创造了各种海岸线和湿地栖息地，支持各种动植物组合，包括候鸟和具有重要商业价值的鱼类物种。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，但目前还没有组织来促进这些研究人员之间的交流和评估这些重要生态系统的未来可持续性。当前项目的重点是开发一个跨学科网络，以解决在全球气候变化(例如海平面上升和飓风活动增加)和持续城市化的压力下对美国堰塞岛生态系统的有效管理。通过建立沿海障碍岛网(CBIN)，科学家和市政规划者将通过讲习班、学生暑期课程、时事通讯和一个强调公共和教育宣传活动的互动网站进行互动。气候变化可能对这些人口稠密地区的障碍岛生态系统以及相关的社会经济和文化基础设施产生潜在的破坏性影响。预计海平面上升和强烈风暴频发将特别影响障碍岛生态系统，因为它们极易受到这两方面的影响。通过促进来自多个学科的堰塞岛研究人员以及与管理人员之间的交流，该项目将有助于更好地了解和制定更有效的保护堰塞岛的管理战略。教育和外联活动将使公众更好地了解障碍岛的价值。

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.