RAPID: Ecological Resistance of Multiply Stressed Populations: the response of tidal marsh birds and plants to Hurricane Sandy

所有的动植物种群都能经受住变化。然而，一个人口能够吸收的环境变化量很可能取决于该人口所经历的其他、过去和现在的压力。该项目将测试沿海沼泽地的本地动植物种群抵御最近极端风暴飓风桑迪的能力，在更容易受到过去压力的沼泽中，它们的能力是更强还是更弱。研究人员将比较风暴前后沼泽植物和动物的丰度，并测试在更特殊的物种中，还是在被开发包围、被引进植物入侵或受到海平面高上升速度挑战的沼泽中，脆弱性更大，以及之前对不同类型开发或利用的地区的保护是否有助于减少脆弱性。通过利用现有的生态系统干扰理论来解决这些问题，本研究将提供干扰和压力对本地物种和栖息地的影响的一般见解。这项研究也将提供一个具体的评估飓风桑迪？潮汐沼泽是抵御风暴破坏的重要缓冲。这将有助于管理者针对特定的湿地进行保护和恢复，并提高计划中的联邦恢复工作的效率。这项工作还将通过确定哪些类型的沼泽最容易受到未来的干扰，为未来的沿海管理规划提供信息。研究结果将通过盐沼栖息地和鸟类研究项目（Saltmarsh Habitat and Avian Research Program）传播给地方、州和联邦合作伙伴。盐沼栖息地和鸟类研究项目是一个由大学、非政府组织、州和联邦机构合作伙伴组成的合作联盟，共同致力于保护潮汐沼泽栖息地及其所支持的物种（www.tidalmarshbirds.org）。该项目还将帮助培训20名现场技术人员。

All animal and plant populations can weather change. However, the amount of environmental change a population can absorb is likely to depend upon other, past and ongoing stresses that the population experiences. This project will test whether the ability of populations of native plants and animals in coastal marshes to withstand the recent, extreme storm Hurricane Sandy was greater or less in marshes more subject to past stresses. Researchers will compare the abundances of marsh plants and animals before and after the storm and test whether vulnerability was greater in more specialized species or in marshes surrounded by development, invaded by introduced plants, or challenged by high rates of sea-level rise, and whether previous protection of areas from different kinds of development or use helped reduce vulnerability. By addressing these questions using current theories of ecosystem disturbance, the research will provide general insights on the effects of disturbance and stress on native species and habitats. This research also will provide a specific assessment of Hurricane Sandy?s impact on tidal marshes, a vital buffer against storm damage. This will help managers target specific marshes for conservation and restoration and improve the efficiency of planned federal restoration efforts. The work will also inform future coastal management planning by identifying which types of marshes are most vulnerable to future disturbances. Findings will be disseminated to local, state, and federal partners through the Saltmarsh Habitat and Avian Research Program, a cooperative consortium of universities, non-governmental organizations, and state and Federal agency partners working together to conserve tidal marsh habitats and the species they support (www.tidalmarshbirds.org). The project will also help train 20 field technicians.