Hongqing Wang is a Research Ecologist at WARC.
Hongqing Wang's expertise is ecosystem modeling coupled with field observation, application of remote sensing, GIS, GPS and spatial statistics. His current research areas include integrated modeling, monitoring and detecting changes in hydrodynamics, sediment transport, morphology, water quality, landscape, surface elevation, vegetation (composition/distribution and productivity), biological population dynamics (e.g., oysters), and soil biogeochemistry (C, N, P, S) in wetland ecosystems due to natural disturbances (e.g., climate change, land subsidence, storms) and human activities (e.g., land use, water management, ecosystem restoration). Wang is one of the developers of Wetland Morphology Model for Louisiana's 2012 Coastal Master Plan for coastal Louisiana ecosystem restoration, sponsored by State of Louisiana's Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority. He has also been involved in monitoring programs such as Coastwide Reference Monitoring System and Louisiana Coastal Area program for adaptive management. He is currently an Associate Editor for Wetlands.
BACKGROUND
Previous Professional Positions
Microcomputer Systems Specialist, April – October 2011: Five Rivers Services, LLC/National Wetlands Research Center / USGS, Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Microcomputer Systems Specialist, July 2009 – March 2011: IAP World Services/National Wetlands Research Center / USGS, Lafayette & Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Assistant Professor Research, February 2007 – June 2009: Center for Louisiana Water Studies, Institute of Coastal Ecology and Engineering, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Lafayette, Louisiana.
Research Scientist, February 2004 – January 2007: Environmental Cooperative Science Center (ECSC), NOAA, and Environmental Sciences Institute (ESI), Florida A&M University, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida.
Postdoctoral Research Associate, November 2002 – January 2004: Department of Geography and Environmental Systems, University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC).
Professional Association Memberships
Ecological Society of America (ESA) Society of Wetland Scientists (SWS) Coastal and Estuarine Research Federation (CERF) American Ecological Engineering Society (AEES) American Geophysical Union (AGU) International Society for Ecological Modeling (ISEM) ASPRS: The Imaging & Geospatial Information Society International Association of Landscape Ecology (IALE)
Science and Products
Impacts of coastal and watershed changes on upper estuaries: causes and implications of wetland ecosystem transitions along the US Atlantic and Gulf Coasts
Model Improvements for Louisiana’s 2023 Coastal Master Plan
Alabama Barrier Island Restoration Assessment
Collecting Ecological Data and Models of Living Shoreline Restoration Projects
Alabama Barrier Island Restoration Assessment at Dauphin Island
Modeling Tidal Freshwater Forested Wetlands (TFFW) Habitat Changes for Land Management
Predicting the Long-Term Impact of Hurricane Sandy on Spatial Patterns of Wetland Morphology in Salt Marshes of Jamaica Bay, New York
Integrated Modeling of Coastal Processes and Linkages to Management Applications
Forecasting Biological Vulnerabilities: Modeling Jamaica Bay Wetland Morphology under Future Hurricanes
Influence of Sea-Level Rise on Wetland Vegetation Community Structure, Primary Productivity, Organic Matter Decomposition and Carbon Storage
Long-Term Carbon Burial in Marshes of the Mississippi River Delta
Science and Products
- Science
Impacts of coastal and watershed changes on upper estuaries: causes and implications of wetland ecosystem transitions along the US Atlantic and Gulf Coasts
Estuaries and their surrounding wetlands are coastal transition zones where freshwater rivers meet tidal seawater. As sea levels rise, tidal forces move saltier water farther upstream, extending into freshwater wetland areas. Human changes to the surrounding landscape may amplify the effects of this tidal extension, impacting the resiliency and function of the upper estuarine wetlands. One visible...Model Improvements for Louisiana’s 2023 Coastal Master Plan
The Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority’s Coastal Master Plan is a blueprint for responding to environmental changes. As part of the agency’s continued engagement, USGS supports model developments and improvements for the 2023 Coastal Master Plan.Alabama Barrier Island Restoration Assessment
This project is a collaborative effort between the USGS, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), and the State of Alabama funded by National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) to investigate viable, sustainable restoration options that protect and restore the natural resources of Dauphin Island, Alabama. The project is focused on restoration options that protect and restore habitat and living...Collecting Ecological Data and Models of Living Shoreline Restoration Projects
Developing effective living shoreline restoration projects that can withstand hurricanes and storms requires a better understanding of how restoration structures reduce the impact of wave and current energy on marsh edges in estuaries and bays. Without this knowledge, existing living shoreline projects and adaptive management measures are more likely to fail, decreasing the possibility for long...Alabama Barrier Island Restoration Assessment at Dauphin Island
Dauphin Island, Alabama, is the only barrier island providing protection to much of Alabama's coastal natural resources. Severely impacted by repeated extreme events, like Hurricane Katrina and Deepwater Horizon oil spill, USGS and partners are conducting a joint study to evaluate the feasibility of certain alternatives to increase resiliency and sustainability of the island.Modeling Tidal Freshwater Forested Wetlands (TFFW) Habitat Changes for Land Management
As tidal freshwater forested wetlands - TFFWs - are influenced by salinty due to salt water intrusion, they may experience changes in plant community composition, growth, and productivity. Models are needed to predict vegetation community change or dieback, as well as changes in carbon sequestration and storage due to changing climate, drought, changes in freshwater discharge, elevated carbon...Predicting the Long-Term Impact of Hurricane Sandy on Spatial Patterns of Wetland Morphology in Salt Marshes of Jamaica Bay, New York
USGS scientists are working with collaborators to understand how Hurricane Sandy impacted wetlands in Jamaica Bay, New York.Integrated Modeling of Coastal Processes and Linkages to Management Applications
Coastal wetlands provide valuable ecosystem services such as wave attenuation, surge reduction, carbon sequestration, wastewater treatment, and critical habitats for endangered fish and wildlife species. However, wetland loss threatens the capacity of coastal wetlands to provide these ecosystem services.Forecasting Biological Vulnerabilities: Modeling Jamaica Bay Wetland Morphology under Future Hurricanes
In light of the increase in hurricane frequency and intensity, there is concern about the resilience and sustainability of coastal wetlands. Models can be used to investigatethe impacts of future hurricanes on wetland morphology along the northeast coasts in areas like Jamaica Bay, New York, an area impacted by Hurricane Sandy.Influence of Sea-Level Rise on Wetland Vegetation Community Structure, Primary Productivity, Organic Matter Decomposition and Carbon Storage
This study will employ a space for time substitution to show long-term effects of rising sea-level and increasing salinity on vegetation community structure, primary production and decomposition. Productivity and decomposition rates will be estimated for four wetland plant community types defined by salinity zones and dominant plant species.Long-Term Carbon Burial in Marshes of the Mississippi River Delta
Wetlands along the Gulf of Mexico coast play an important role in the global carbon cycle, but as they rapidly convert to open water, their potential for carbon storage is declining. USGS is working to provide accurate, long-term marsh soil carbon sequestration rates. - Data
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