Assessment of Hurricane Marias impact and subsequent effects of ecosystem regeneration and heavy metal inputs in an urban coastal wetland

国家科学基金会支持的波多黎各大学环境纳米技术创新、研究和教育中心致力于纳米材料和设备的开发，以解决环境污染问题，同时培养一支多样化的科学、技术、工程和数学劳动力队伍。该中心的研究工作包括开发用于净水、土壤修复和资源回收的纳米材料。中心调查人员向国家科学基金会提交了一份快速反应(RAPID)提案，以对一场自然灾害进行快速反应研究。2017年9月6日飓风伊尔玛和2017年9月20日飓风玛丽亚的路径加在一起，在整个波多黎各岛上造成了毁灭性的影响。作为中心试验床的城市滨海湿地，是纳米结构开发的底物来源，也是生物燃料生产的底物，受到飓风和来自高地来源的淡水造成的大规模洪水的严重影响。波多黎各里约皮德拉斯大学的中心研究人员将(1)评估飓风影响和随后的湿地再生：用于纳米结构建设的底物来源，用于生物燃料生产的底物来源，以及将与纳米结构结合用于纳米植物修复工作的植物物种，以及(2)量化进入试验床湿地的重金属输入。如大规模飓风和随后该地区的气候条件，影响城市沿海湿地系统的更新动态及其修复重金属的能力。更广泛的影响：拟议的工作将在城市和工业条件的框架下促进对大规模飓风影响如何影响沿海湿地的发现和理解。项目活动通过让研究生和本科生参与研究，提供实践培训和学习。该项目将扩大科学、技术、工程和数学领域中代表性不足群体的参与。

The Nation Science Foundation-supported Center for Innovation, Research and Education in Environmental Nanotechnology at the University of Puerto Rico - Rio Piedras is dedicated to the development of nanomaterials and devices to address environmental pollution, while developing a diverse science, technology, engineering and mathematics workforce. The Center's research endeavors include development of nanomaterials for water purification, soil remediation, and resource recovery. Center investigators submitted a Rapid Response (RAPID) proposal to the National Science Foundation to conduct quick-response research on a natural disaster. The combined paths of Hurricane Irma on September 6, 2017, and Hurricane Maria on September 20, 2017, had devastating effects across the entire island of Puerto Rico. The urban coastal wetland that serves as the Center testbed, source of substrates for nanostructure development, and substrate for biofuel production, was severely affected by the hurricane winds, and by massive flooding due to fresh water flowing from upland sources.Center research staff at the University of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras will (1) assess hurricane impact and subsequent wetland regeneration: the substrate source for nanostructure construction, substrate source for biofuel generation, and the plant species to be used in combination with nanostructures for nano-phyto remediation work, and (2) quantify the heavy metal inputs to the testbed wetland.INTELLECTUAL MERIT: Proposed research will contribute to knowledge concerning the impact of extraordinary natural climatological events, such as a massive hurricane and the subsequent climatological conditions in the area, impact regeneration dynamics of an urban coastal wetland system, and its capacity for heavy metal remediation. BROADER IMPACT: Proposed work will advance discovery and understanding of how massive hurricane impacts affect coastal wetlands under a framework of urban and industrial conditions. Project activities provide hands-on training and learning, by involving graduate and undergraduate students in research. The project will broaden the participation of under-represented groups in science technology, engineering and mathematics fields.