Structure and function in coastal ecosystems

河口是河流在海岸海湾汇入大海的地方。它们是生产率很高的地方，为人们提供海鲜、海岸线保护和污染物过滤等服务。河口有几种生境类型，包括泥质、沙质、贝类和海草草甸。每个栖息地提供不同的服务。贻贝和牡蛎的养殖有可能以受控的方式提供其中一些服务，特别是海鲜的生产。为了了解这些栖息地在沿海环境整体运行中的作用，使用了计算机模型。这些生态系统模型很少包括上述服务，特别是与特定生境捆绑在一起的服务。然而，对沿海环境的压力，如来自城市、农场和工业的径流，会对这些栖息地及其提供的服务造成损害。我们建议改进生态系统模型以及河口的测量，以纳入生态系统服务的作用。沿海栖息地的一个重要功能是能够去除营养物质和其他有害物质。利用加拿大东部养分去除的测量和模型，我们将估计不同生境(贝类养殖、海草、沉积物)在帮助消除这些废物方面的作用。然后，我们将利用这些预测来规划水产养殖等活动，作为帮助恢复沿海生态系统健康的一种手段。

Estuaries are places where rivers meet the sea in coastal bays. They are places of great productivity, providing services to people like seafood, shoreline protection, and filtration of pollutants. There are several habitat types in estuaries including mud, sand, shellfish beds, and seagrass meadows. Each of the habitats provides different services. Farming of mussels and oysters has the potential to provide some of these services in a controlled way, especially production of seafood. In order to understand the role of these habitats in the overall workings of coastal environments, computer models are used. These ecosystem models rarely include the services mentioned above, especially tied into specific habitats. However, stresses on coastal environments such as runoff from cities, farms, and industry causes damage to these habitats and the services they provide. We propose to improve ecosystem models as well as measurements in estuaries to include the role of ecosystem services. An important function of coastal habitats is the ability to remove nutrients and other harmful inputs. Using measurements and models of nutrient removal in eastern Canada, we will estimate the role of different habitats (shellfish culture, seagrass, sediments) in helping remove these wastes. We will then use these predictions to plan activities such as aquaculture as a means of helping restore the health of coastal ecosystems.