Collaborative Research: Interacting Controls on Ecosystem Function: Nutrient State and Omnivory in Salt Marsh Ecosystems

沿海生态系统的营养负荷和物种组成正在发生变化，其变化幅度远远超过以前的测量值，这无疑影响到沿海地区的生产力和可持续性。预测这些变化的影响在盐沼中很重要，因为沼泽是世界上最具生物生产力的地区之一，并提供关键的生态系统服务，如渔业育苗区，氮的去除和海岸线风暴缓冲。 该项目解决了一个关键问题：增加的养分和物种变化对盐沼生态系统提供的生态系统服务有什么影响？该项目是第一个利用全生态系统实验来改变营养负荷和减少鱼类数量的项目，以了解对营养循环、物种多样性、食物网和盐沼长期可持续性的影响，卡特里娜飓风造成的沿海湿地退化造成的破坏是盐沼对社会重要性的一个例子。人们越来越重视沼泽地的这一作用，这使得河口成为大规模恢复计划的重点。该项目将为制定水质标准提供必要的信息，并为数百万美元的沿海管理决策提供前景，例如建造污水处理设施，渔业管理或重建失去的沼泽地。

Coastal ecosystems are experiencing changes in nutrient loading and species composition much higher than previously measured, undoubtedly affecting productivity and sustainability of coastal regions. Predicting the impacts of these changes is important in salt marshes because marshes are among the most biologically productive areas in the world and provide critical ecosystem services, such as nursery areas for fisheries, removal of nitrogen, and shoreline storm buffering. This project addresses a critical question: What are the effects of increased nutrients and species change on ecosystem services provided by salt marsh ecosystems? The project is the first to use whole-ecosystem experiments that alter nutrient loading and reduce fish populations to understand the effects on nutrient cycling, species diversity, food webs and the long-term sustainability of salt marshes.The damage by Hurricane Katrina due to degradation of coastal wetlands is one example of the importance of salt marshes to society. A growing appreciation of this role for marshes has led to estuaries becoming the focus of large-scale restoration programs. This project will provide information essential for developing water quality standards and providing perspective for multi-million dollar coastal management decisions, such as construction of sewage treatment facilities, regulation of fishing, or rebuilding of lost marshes.