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、输出和转化的平衡既影响沼泽本身，也影响周围的河口。以前了解沼泽作用的努力要么集中在研究大宗出口的时间变化(通常在低分辨率下)，要么集中在研究出口材料的成分变化上，而很少考虑其时间变异性。在斯基德韦海洋研究所工作的研究人员认为，在美国东南海岸潮汐占主导地位的系统中，沼泽和河口之间交换的物质的数量和质量都因半日、日、潮、气象和季节性强迫而变化很大，在考虑沼泽对陆地-海洋边界碳循环的总贡献时，必须考虑这种变化。这项研究将利用三管齐下的战略来评估从格罗夫斯克里克出口的溶解有机物(DOM)和颗粒有机物(POM)的数量和质量。格罗夫斯克里克是佐治亚州沿海的一个特征良好的中潮盐沼。特别是，通过评估沼泽功能如何应对当前环境条件的全面变化，该项目将为这些关键地区的碳循环如何应对这些条件的预期变化提供切实的见解。更广泛的影响：这项研究的更广泛的科学意义将是更好地了解盐沼-河口地区的DOM和POM的交换和转化。这项研究还将为本科生实习生体验跨学科研究提供宝贵的机会。这项工作的结果将通过网络、印刷品和斯基德韦研究所的公众宣传计划向科学研究人员、区域环境管理人员和公众传播。

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.