CREST Center for the Integrated Study of Coastal Ecosystem Processes and Dynamics in the Mid-Atlantic region

中大西洋地区海岸生态系统过程和动态综合研究中心的目标是：了解、模拟和预测土地利用和气候变化对中大西洋海岸生态系统的影响。为高中学生和教师、本科生和研究生，特别是来自代表性不足群体的学生提供研究培训。改善海洋和环境科学研究和教育的基础设施。提高公众对人类与海岸环境相互依存关系的认识。研究小组将重点关注水生生态系统的五个重要组成部分，它们都对沿海地区的人们具有经济和环境影响：(1)土地利用和气候变化对水质的影响；(2)微观藻类和海藻（包括有害物种）对水质变化的响应；(3)浮游动物（漂浮在水中的微观动物）种群动态；(4)反复出现的低溶解氧和污染问题对大西洋黄斑鱼等鱼类种群的影响，以及(5)水质变化对马里兰州蓝蟹受血足虫感染和蓝蟹分布的影响？美国沿海海湾。这些项目将有助于我们了解沿海环境和生物对环境变化的反应方式。研究结果将直接提供给作为该项目的合作者的马里兰州自然资源部和国家公园管理局。研究结果还将用于加强参与该项目的科学家在美利坚大学、弗吉尼亚海洋科学研究所和摩根州立大学开设的本科和研究生课程，从而影响到比中心直接支持的学生更多的学生。这五个综合子项目将有助于增进对沿海泻湖和河口的过程和动态的了解。与气候变化和人类对陆地的改造相关的水质变化将增加对沿海社区如何应对这些压力源的理解。该中心将对海洋和环境科学学科作出重大贡献，并将提供一个基线，以评估生态系统尺度上由人类和气候驱动因素造成的环境变化。更广泛的影响该中心将与几个州和联邦机构以及其他大学建立并加强伙伴关系，其中包括一所HBCU（摩根州立大学）。为了确保下一代海洋科学家受过良好的训练并能反映美国？鉴于其多样性，CREST中心每年还将为8名研究生、5名本科生、10名高中教师、5名高中生和1名博士后提供培训和资助。这些学生将在研究的各个阶段与CREST教师一起工作，并将在致力于海洋研究的大学，联邦，州和私人机构中做好职业准备。通过与教师合作，将海洋环境科学融入高中课程，该中心将对马里兰州东海岸的200名高中生产生积极影响。

The goals of the CREST Center for the Integrated Study of Coastal Ecosystem Processes and Dynamics in the Mid-Atlantic Region are to:Understand, model and predict the effects of land use and climate change on the mid-Atlantic coastal ecosystems.Provide research training to high school students and teachers, undergraduate and graduate students, particularly from members of underrepresented groups.Improve infrastructure for research and education in marine and environmental sciences.Increase public awareness of the interdependence of humans and the coastal environment.The research team will focus on five important components of the aquatic ecosystem, all of which have economic and environmental implications for people living in coastal areas:(1) The effects of land use and climate change on water quality, (2) the response of microscopic algae and seaweed, including harmful species, to water quality changes (3) dynamics of zooplankton (microscopic animals floating in water) populations, which serve as food for commercially and ecologically important fish species (4) the effects of the recurring problem of low dissolved oxygen and pollution on fish populations such as Atlantic croaker, and (5) the effects of water quality changes on the infection of blue crab by the parasite Hematodinium and on blue crab distributions in Maryland?s coastal bays. These projects will contribute to our understanding of the coastal environment and the ways organisms respond to changes in their environment. Research results will be made directly available to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and the National Park Service, who are collaborators on the project. The results will also be used to enhance undergraduate and graduate courses offered by the scientists who are involved in the project at UMES, Virginia Institute of Marine Science, and Morgan State University, thereby impacting more students than are directly supported by the Center.Intellectual MeritThe five integrated subprojects will contribute to increased understanding of processes and dynamics in coastal lagoons and estuaries. Changes in water quality associated with climate change and human modifications of boarding land will increase the understanding of how coastal communities respond to such stressors. The Center will contribute significantly to the disciplines of marine and environmental sciences and it would provide a baseline to evaluate environmental change at the ecosystem scale from both human and climatic drivers.Broader ImpactThe Center will establish and strengthen partnerships with several state and federal agencies, as well as with other universities, including one HBCU (Morgan State University). In order to ensure that the next generation of marine scientists is both well trained and reflective of America?s diversity, the CREST Center will also provide training and financial support to eight graduate students, five undergraduates, 10 high school teachers, 5 high school students and one postdoctoral fellow each year. These students will work alongside CREST faculty on all phases of research and will be well positioned for careers in Universities, federal, state and private agencies dedicated to marine research. By working with teachers to infuse marine environmental science into the high school curricula, the Center will have a positive impact on 200 high school students on the Eastern Shore of Maryland.