Nukuhou coastal wetland. A tidal wetland with grey mangroves (Avicennia marina) and salt marsh threatened by sea level rise. At Ohiwa Harbor, North Island, New Zealand.
Glenn Guntenspergen, Ph.D.
Glenn is a Research Ecologist at the Eastern Ecological Science Center in Laurel, MD.
Science and Products
Coastal Wetland Vulnerability to Climate Change and Sea-Level Rise: Understanding Ecological Thresholds and Ecosystem Transformations
The Response of Coastal Wetlands to Sea-level Rise: Understanding how Macroscale Drivers Influence Local Processes and Feedbacks
The response of coastal wetlands to sea-level rise: Understanding how macroscale drivers influence local processes and feedbacks
Development of a Multimetric Index for Integrated Assessment of Salt Marsh Condition in the Northeast Coastal and Barrier Network
Improving Our Ability to Forecast Tidal Marsh Response to Sea Level Rise
Vulnerability Assessment of Available Habitat for Wintering Black Ducks within the Refuge System in the Chesapeake Bay
North American dataset of ecosystem properties in tidal saline wetlands—Canopy height, aboveground biomass, productivity, soil carbon density, and soil carbon accumulation North American dataset of ecosystem properties in tidal saline wetlands—Canopy height, aboveground biomass, productivity, soil carbon density, and soil carbon accumulation
2025 Wetland Accretion Measurements from Smithsonian Environmental Research Center SMARTX Warming Plots 2025 Wetland Accretion Measurements from Smithsonian Environmental Research Center SMARTX Warming Plots
Sediment core radioisotope measurements in coastal wetlands along the Chesapeake Bay Sediment core radioisotope measurements in coastal wetlands along the Chesapeake Bay
Surface Elevation Tablet Measurements from 10 USGS Sites Along the US Atlantic Coast (2005-2020) Surface Elevation Tablet Measurements from 10 USGS Sites Along the US Atlantic Coast (2005-2020)
Monitoring Changes in Surface Elevation Using Deep Surface Elevation Table and Marker Horizon Data at the Nisqually River Delta, Washington Monitoring Changes in Surface Elevation Using Deep Surface Elevation Table and Marker Horizon Data at the Nisqually River Delta, Washington
Surface Elevation Table (SET) data from the Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge (2010-2013) Surface Elevation Table (SET) data from the Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge (2010-2013)
Nukuhou coastal wetland. A tidal wetland with grey mangroves (Avicennia marina) and salt marsh threatened by sea level rise. At Ohiwa Harbor, North Island, New Zealand.
Shrub Mangrove Forest in Rangaunu Harbour, New Zealand
Shrub Mangrove Forest in Rangaunu Harbour, New ZealandAerial view of shrub mangrove forest in Rangaunu Harbour expanding into coast salt marsh and threatening to move into agricultural land because of sea level rise.
Shrub Mangrove Forest in Rangaunu Harbour, New Zealand
Shrub Mangrove Forest in Rangaunu Harbour, New ZealandAerial view of shrub mangrove forest in Rangaunu Harbour expanding into coast salt marsh and threatening to move into agricultural land because of sea level rise.
Omaha-Taniko Scientific Preserve. An extensive saltmarsh area in the Whangateau Harbour that has a rare intact vegetation sequence from mangrove forest and scrub ecosystem to saltmarsh to the Mānuka-dominated scrub wetland to Kahikatea swamp forest.
Omaha-Taniko Scientific Preserve. An extensive saltmarsh area in the Whangateau Harbour that has a rare intact vegetation sequence from mangrove forest and scrub ecosystem to saltmarsh to the Mānuka-dominated scrub wetland to Kahikatea swamp forest.
To adapt to rising sea levels, coastal wetlands can migrate landward at the expense of adjacent freshwater wetlands and upland ecosystems, but migration can be hindered by natural and anthropogenic barriers. This photo shows marsh migration into an upland forest in Maryland.
To adapt to rising sea levels, coastal wetlands can migrate landward at the expense of adjacent freshwater wetlands and upland ecosystems, but migration can be hindered by natural and anthropogenic barriers. This photo shows marsh migration into an upland forest in Maryland.
Sea-level rise in a coastal marsh: Linking increasing tidal inundation, decreasing soil strength and increasing pond expansion Sea-level rise in a coastal marsh: Linking increasing tidal inundation, decreasing soil strength and increasing pond expansion
Causal interpretations can be based on mechanistic knowledge Causal interpretations can be based on mechanistic knowledge
Multi-model comparison of salt marsh longevity under relative sea-level rise Multi-model comparison of salt marsh longevity under relative sea-level rise
Causal effects verses causal mechanisms: Two traditions with different requirements and contributions towards causal understanding Causal effects verses causal mechanisms: Two traditions with different requirements and contributions towards causal understanding
Ecological thresholds and transformations due to climate change: The role of abiotic stress Ecological thresholds and transformations due to climate change: The role of abiotic stress
Nature-based solutions could offset coastal squeeze of tidal wetlands from sea-level rise on the U.S. Pacific coast Nature-based solutions could offset coastal squeeze of tidal wetlands from sea-level rise on the U.S. Pacific coast
Science and Products
Coastal Wetland Vulnerability to Climate Change and Sea-Level Rise: Understanding Ecological Thresholds and Ecosystem Transformations
The Response of Coastal Wetlands to Sea-level Rise: Understanding how Macroscale Drivers Influence Local Processes and Feedbacks
The response of coastal wetlands to sea-level rise: Understanding how macroscale drivers influence local processes and feedbacks
Development of a Multimetric Index for Integrated Assessment of Salt Marsh Condition in the Northeast Coastal and Barrier Network
Improving Our Ability to Forecast Tidal Marsh Response to Sea Level Rise
Vulnerability Assessment of Available Habitat for Wintering Black Ducks within the Refuge System in the Chesapeake Bay
North American dataset of ecosystem properties in tidal saline wetlands—Canopy height, aboveground biomass, productivity, soil carbon density, and soil carbon accumulation North American dataset of ecosystem properties in tidal saline wetlands—Canopy height, aboveground biomass, productivity, soil carbon density, and soil carbon accumulation
2025 Wetland Accretion Measurements from Smithsonian Environmental Research Center SMARTX Warming Plots 2025 Wetland Accretion Measurements from Smithsonian Environmental Research Center SMARTX Warming Plots
Sediment core radioisotope measurements in coastal wetlands along the Chesapeake Bay Sediment core radioisotope measurements in coastal wetlands along the Chesapeake Bay
Surface Elevation Tablet Measurements from 10 USGS Sites Along the US Atlantic Coast (2005-2020) Surface Elevation Tablet Measurements from 10 USGS Sites Along the US Atlantic Coast (2005-2020)
Monitoring Changes in Surface Elevation Using Deep Surface Elevation Table and Marker Horizon Data at the Nisqually River Delta, Washington Monitoring Changes in Surface Elevation Using Deep Surface Elevation Table and Marker Horizon Data at the Nisqually River Delta, Washington
Surface Elevation Table (SET) data from the Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge (2010-2013) Surface Elevation Table (SET) data from the Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge (2010-2013)
Nukuhou coastal wetland. A tidal wetland with grey mangroves (Avicennia marina) and salt marsh threatened by sea level rise. At Ohiwa Harbor, North Island, New Zealand.
Nukuhou coastal wetland. A tidal wetland with grey mangroves (Avicennia marina) and salt marsh threatened by sea level rise. At Ohiwa Harbor, North Island, New Zealand.
Shrub Mangrove Forest in Rangaunu Harbour, New Zealand
Shrub Mangrove Forest in Rangaunu Harbour, New ZealandAerial view of shrub mangrove forest in Rangaunu Harbour expanding into coast salt marsh and threatening to move into agricultural land because of sea level rise.
Shrub Mangrove Forest in Rangaunu Harbour, New Zealand
Shrub Mangrove Forest in Rangaunu Harbour, New ZealandAerial view of shrub mangrove forest in Rangaunu Harbour expanding into coast salt marsh and threatening to move into agricultural land because of sea level rise.
Omaha-Taniko Scientific Preserve. An extensive saltmarsh area in the Whangateau Harbour that has a rare intact vegetation sequence from mangrove forest and scrub ecosystem to saltmarsh to the Mānuka-dominated scrub wetland to Kahikatea swamp forest.
Omaha-Taniko Scientific Preserve. An extensive saltmarsh area in the Whangateau Harbour that has a rare intact vegetation sequence from mangrove forest and scrub ecosystem to saltmarsh to the Mānuka-dominated scrub wetland to Kahikatea swamp forest.
To adapt to rising sea levels, coastal wetlands can migrate landward at the expense of adjacent freshwater wetlands and upland ecosystems, but migration can be hindered by natural and anthropogenic barriers. This photo shows marsh migration into an upland forest in Maryland.
To adapt to rising sea levels, coastal wetlands can migrate landward at the expense of adjacent freshwater wetlands and upland ecosystems, but migration can be hindered by natural and anthropogenic barriers. This photo shows marsh migration into an upland forest in Maryland.