Lynn Wingard’s research focus is on the application of paleoecologic techniques to the interpretation of Holocene marine and estuarine ecosystems. Current emphasis is on deriving baseline environmental data for Greater Everglades Ecosystem Restoration resource managers and on examining the interaction of climate and sea level on south Florida’s coastline in the Holocene.
Professional Experience
1991-Present Research Geologist, U.S. Geological Survey
Lynn Wingard has been a Research Geologist with the USGS since 1991. She has conducted biostratigraphic and paleoecologic research on Mesozoic and Cenozoic Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain sediments throughout her career. Her early research focused on molluscan taxonomy and evolution across the Cretaceous Tertiary boundary and she examined the role of taxonomic assignments in calculations of extinction at the boundary. Investigations into the subsurface geology and paleoenvironments in Florida led to a reclassification of the subsurface Oligocene units and she assisted the Florida State Geologic Survey in their state map efforts.
Beginning in 1994, Lynn has served as Principal Investigator on projects related to the Greater Everglades Ecosystem Restoration as part of the USGS Priority Ecosystem Science Program and she has served in a number of advisory roles related to this research. Her work has helped define salinity targets for Florida’s southern estuaries and has contributed to estimating historic freshwater flow through the wetlands. Her collaboration with Everglades resource managers has demonstrated the importance of paleoecology and the emerging field of conservation paleobiology in providing valuable scientific information to guide restoration efforts. Recent work has focused on sea level rise and storm history and how these driving factors have shaped the south Florida coastline over the last 5,000 years and what this tells us in terms of future projections of coastal change.
Science Leadership and Advisory Roles
- 1993: helped draft Program Implementation Plan for USGS South Florida Ecosystem Initiative
- 2001-Present: member of 6 CERP - Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan - Teams; currently serving on Southern Coastal Systems Sub-Team and Biscayne Bay Southeast Everglades Ecosystem Restoration Eco-subteam
- 2002: helped draft DOI and USGS Science Plans in Support of Greater Everglades Ecosystem Restoration
Science and Products
Determining Target Salinity Values for Restoration of the Estuaries of the Greater Everglades
Sea Level Rise and Climate: Impacts on the Greater Everglades Ecosystem and Restoration
Science and Products
- Science
Determining Target Salinity Values for Restoration of the Estuaries of the Greater Everglades
The Greater Everglades Ecosystem, which includes Everglades National Park and Biscayne National Park, experienced significant alterations in the 20th century with the construction of canals to divert water, water management practices, growth of agriculture, and the rapidly expanding urban population of Miami and south Florida. In the 1990s a federal, state, and local effort to restore the Greater...Sea Level Rise and Climate: Impacts on the Greater Everglades Ecosystem and Restoration
The Greater Everglades Ecosystem covers much of south Florida, and the highest areas are only a few meters above sea level. Predictions of sea level rise and changes in storm intensity for the 21st century are particularly concerning to the urban population of Miami and the east coast, but also represent a challenge to Everglades National Park and Biscayne National Park resource managers. The... - Multimedia
- Publications