Tempo and mode of salt marsh exchange

智力优势：盐沼是陆地和海洋之间物质流动的关键媒介。物质输入、输出和转化的平衡影响着沼泽本身和周围的河口。 以前的努力，了解沼泽的作用集中在检查时间的变化（通常在低分辨率）的批量出口，或出口材料的成分变化，很少考虑其时间的变化。在斯基德韦海洋研究所工作的研究人员认为，无论是数量和质量的沼泽和河口之间交换的物质在潮汐主导的系统沿着美国东南部海岸显着变化，以响应半日，全日，潮汐，气象和季节性强迫，这种变化必须包括在考虑总的贡献沼泽碳循环沿着陆地-海洋边界。 本研究将利用三管齐下的战略，以评估的数量和质量的溶解有机物（DOM）和颗粒有机物（POM）从格罗夫斯溪，一个良好的特点，沿海格鲁吉亚的中潮盐沼出口。特别是，通过评估湿地功能如何对目前的全方位环境条件作出反应，该项目将提供切实的见解，了解这些关键地区的碳循环将如何对这些条件的预期变化作出反应。 更广泛的影响：更广泛的科学意义的研究将是一个更好的理解DOM和POM交换和转化的盐沼河口地区。 这项研究也将提供宝贵的机会，本科实习生体验跨学科的研究。 这项工作的结果将通过网络、印刷品和斯基达韦研究所的公共宣传方案传播给科学研究人员、区域环境管理人员和公众。

Intellectual Merit: Salt marshes are critical mediators of the flux of material between the terrestrial and marine realms. The balance of material import, export, and transformation affects both the marsh itself and the surrounding estuary. Previous efforts to understand the role of marshes have concentrated either on examining temporal changes (often at low resolution) of bulk exports, or compositional changes in exported material with little regard for its temporal variability. Researchers working at the Skidaway Institute of Oceanography contend that both the quantity and quality of materials exchanged between marsh and estuary in tidally-dominated systems along the southeastern US coast vary significantly in response to semidiurnal, diurnal, tidal, meteorological and seasonal forcing, and that this variability must be included when considering the total contributions of marshes to carbon cycling along the land-ocean boundary. This study will utilize a three-pronged strategy to assess both the quantity and quality of dissolved organic matter (DOM) and particulate organic matter (POM) exported from Groves Creek, a well-characterized meso-tidal salt marsh in coastal Georgia. In particular, by evaluating how marsh function responds to a full spectrum of present environmental conditions, this project will provide tangible insight into how carbon cycling in these critical regions will respond to anticipated changes in those conditions. Broader Impacts: The broader scientific significance of the study will be an improved understanding of DOM and POM exchange and transformation in the salt marsh-estuarine region. This study will also provide valuable opportunities to undergraduate interns to experience interdisciplinary research. Results of this work will be disseminated to scientific researchers, regional environmental managers, and the public on the web, in print, and through Skidaway Institute's programs of public outreach.