Mangrove Forest Responses to Sea-Level Rise in the Greater Everglades
USGS researchers will utilize long-term soil elevation change data to help advance understanding of soil elevation dynamics and ecological transformations due to climate change within coastal wetlands of the Greater Everglades.
The Science Issue and Relevance: By the end of the 21st century, sea-level rise is expected to have a harmful and transformative impact on wetland ecosystems in the Greater Everglades. Wetlands in the region provide many critical ecosystem goods and services. In addition to supporting fish and wildlife habitat, these ecosystems protect coastlines, store carbon, provide clean water, modulate hydrologic regimes, and provide recreational opportunities. Resource managers are increasingly challenged to develop future-focused management strategies that will help ensure that these ecosystem goods and services are available for future generations. Such strategies depend upon knowledge of the processes that govern ecosystem responses to sea-level rise. The objective of this research is to improve our understanding of the responses of mangrove ecosystems in the Greater Everglades to climate change (e.g., accelerating sea-level rise and hurricane intensification).
Methodology for Addressing the Issue: Our efforts focus primarily on long-term soil elevation change data collected from surface elevation table-marker horizon (SET-MH) stations at mangrove forests within Everglades National Park. These data span two decades and are some of the oldest and most continuously monitored SET-MH data in the world.
Future Steps: This project will help advance understanding of soil elevation dynamics and ecological transformations due to climate change (i.e., accelerating sea-level rise and hurricane intensification) within coastal wetlands of the Greater Everglades.
USGS researchers will utilize long-term soil elevation change data to help advance understanding of soil elevation dynamics and ecological transformations due to climate change within coastal wetlands of the Greater Everglades.
The Science Issue and Relevance: By the end of the 21st century, sea-level rise is expected to have a harmful and transformative impact on wetland ecosystems in the Greater Everglades. Wetlands in the region provide many critical ecosystem goods and services. In addition to supporting fish and wildlife habitat, these ecosystems protect coastlines, store carbon, provide clean water, modulate hydrologic regimes, and provide recreational opportunities. Resource managers are increasingly challenged to develop future-focused management strategies that will help ensure that these ecosystem goods and services are available for future generations. Such strategies depend upon knowledge of the processes that govern ecosystem responses to sea-level rise. The objective of this research is to improve our understanding of the responses of mangrove ecosystems in the Greater Everglades to climate change (e.g., accelerating sea-level rise and hurricane intensification).
Methodology for Addressing the Issue: Our efforts focus primarily on long-term soil elevation change data collected from surface elevation table-marker horizon (SET-MH) stations at mangrove forests within Everglades National Park. These data span two decades and are some of the oldest and most continuously monitored SET-MH data in the world.
Future Steps: This project will help advance understanding of soil elevation dynamics and ecological transformations due to climate change (i.e., accelerating sea-level rise and hurricane intensification) within coastal wetlands of the Greater Everglades.