An Integrated Approach Towards a Quantitative Model of Salt Marsh Biocomplexity and Morphodynamics

盐沼是重要的生态系统，经常受到人类活动的影响。由于许多盐沼过程的非线性性质及其之间复杂的相互作用，基于实验、实地研究和新兴遥感技术的计算机建模为在理解和预测盐沼动态方面取得重大进展提供了重要机会。在这个项目中，我们将：(i)确定基本的关键物理、生物和化学成分，这些成分应该成为盐沼动态预测模型的重点；（ii）确定并召集开展协作建模工作所需的关键人员，与佩斯大学、耶鲁大学和罗格斯大学从事相关工作的科学家协调我们的工作；确定严格的模型开发和测试所需的关键理论概念、计算工具和实地研究；（iv）为一个综合研究计划准备一个全面的提案，该计划有效地结合了这些理论、计算和基于实地的组成部分。在为期1.5年的项目期间，我们的核心工作包括组织和召集两个新颖的研讨会。第一个将侧重于盐沼过程和动态；第二个将侧重于实施和测试预测建模，以及遥感技术与建模的耦合。两者都包括到湿地/盐沼地点的实地考察。项目活动将通过地球表面过程研究中心（CESD）组织，这是FSU的一个跨学科卓越中心，并涉及FSU和佩斯-耶鲁-罗格斯小组的科学家相互参与。

Furbish0120582Salt marshes are important ecosystems that are frequently impacted by human activities. Because of the nonlinear nature of many salt marsh processes and the complex interactions among them, computer modeling based on experiments, field studies and emerging remote sensing techniques offers a critical opportunity for achieving significant advances in understanding and predicting salt marsh dynamics. During this project we will: (i) identify essential key physical, biological and chemical components that should become the foci of predictive models of salt marsh dynamics; (ii) identify and assemble key personnel necessary to pursue a collaborative modeling effort, coordinating our efforts with scientists pursuing related work at Pace, Yale and Rutgers Universities; (iii) identify key theoretical concepts, computational tools and field-based studies necessary for rigorous model development and testing; and (iv) prepare a full-scale proposal for a comprehensive research program that effectively combines these theoretical, computational and field-based components. The centerpiece of our efforts during the 1.5-year project period involves organizing and convening two novel workshops. The first will be focused on salt marsh processes and dynamics; the second will be focused on implementing and testing predictive modeling, and the coupling of remote sensing techniques with modeling. Both will involve field excursions to wetland/salt marsh sites. Project activities will be organized through the Center for Earth Surface Processes Research (CESD), an interdisciplinary Center of Excellence at FSU, and involve mutual participation of scientists at FSU and the Pace-Yale-Rutgers group.