Kumara, M.P., L.P. Jayatissa, K.W. Krauss, D.H. Phillips, & M. Huxham. 2010. High mangrove density enhances surface accretion, surface elevation change, and tree survival in coastal areas susceptible to sea-level rise. Oecologia 164: 545-553.
Ken Krauss, Ph.D.
Biography
EDUCATION
Ph.D., Biology, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, 2004
M.S., Forestry, Louisiana State University, 1997
B.S., Biology, University of Southwestern Louisiana, 1994
RESEARCH
Ken Krauss' research spans several habitats, from mangroves to tidal freshwater forested wetlands and marshes. His research takes a multi-tiered approach to understanding eco-physiological processes in coastal wetland forests; defining gas exchange between the soil and atmosphere, and among the leaf, tree, and atmosphere. Research has defined thresholds to tidal freshwater forested wetland habitat change in the face of persistent environmental drivers (esp. sea level rise and salinity), defined the potential of forested wetlands to influence water cycling in coastal areas, and has begun to establish the potential of other wetland types to contribute to water conservation, especially under drought and perennial salinization. Krauss also focuses on the vulnerability of coastal swamp forests and mangroves to sea-level rise, and on how science can inform management and restoration activity within the coastal zone.
BACKGROUND
He has been a scientist with the federal government since 1997, first with the USDA Forest Service in Stoneville, Mississippi and, then, in Honolulu, Hawaii, where he studied sedimentation, systematics, regeneration, growth, invasion biology, and ecophysiology of Pacific island forested wetlands in the Federated States of Micronesia and Hawaii. Krauss began working at the USGS National Wetlands Research Center in 2001 (renamed to USGS Wetland and Aquatic Research Center, or WARC, in 2015), where he maintains an expertise in forest ecology and ecophysiology, and serves as one of WARC's climate change scientists focusing on mangroves and tidal freshwater forested wetlands.
2004-present, Research Ecologist, U.S. Geological Survey, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center, Lafayette, Louisiana
2001-2004, Ecologist, U.S. Geological Survey, National Wetlands Research Center, Lafayette, Louisiana
1997-2001, Ecologist, USDA Forest Service, Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry, Honolulu, Hawaii
1996-1997, Ecophysiologist Technician, USDA Forest Service, Center for Bottomland Hardwoods Forestry, Stoneville, Mississippi
1995-1996, Graduate Research Assistant, Louisiana State University, School of Forestry, Wildlife, and Fisheries, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Science and Products
Year Published: 2018
Chapter 13: Terrestrial wetlands
1. The assessment of terrestrial wetland carbon stocks has improved greatly since the First State of the Carbon Cycle Report (CCSP 2007) because of recent national inventories and the development of a U.S. soils database. Terrestrial wetlands in North America encompass an estimated 2.2 million km2, which constitutes about 37% of the global wetland...
Kolka, Randall; Trettin, Carl; Tang, Wenwu; Krauss, Ken W.; Bansal, Sheel; Drexler, Judith Z.; Wickland, Kimberly P.; Chimner, Rodney A.; Hogan, Dianna M.; Pindilli, Emily J.; Benscoter, Brian; Tangen, Brian; Kane, Evan S.; Bridgham, Scott D.; Richardson, Curtis J.Attribution: Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center, Ecosystems, Climate Research and Development Program, Land Change Science Program, Region 2: South Atlantic-Gulf (Includes Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands), Region 4: Mississippi Basin, United States of America
Year Published: 2018
Expectations of Maurepas Swamp response to a river reintroduction, Louisiana
Mississippi River reintroductions (freshwater diversions) into wetlands previously disconnected from the river have been implemented in southeastern Louisiana as a means to rehabilitate degraded and submerging wetlands. To date, all active Mississippi River reintroductions have targeted marsh habitat. However, a 57 cubic meter per second (2,000...
Krauss, Ken W.; Shaffer, Gary P.; Keim, Richard F.; Chambers, Jim L.; Wood, William B.; Hartley, Stephen B.Attribution: Wetland and Aquatic Research Center, Ecosystems, Region 2: South Atlantic-Gulf (Includes Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands), Region 4: Mississippi Basin
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Krauss, K.W., Shaffer, G.P., Keim, R.F., Chambers, J.L., Wood, W.B., and Hartley, S.B., 2018, Expectations of Maurepas Swamp response to a river reintroduction, Louisiana: U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet 2018–3072, 4 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/fs20183072.
Year Published: 2018
Floristic quality index and forested floristic quality index: Assessment tools for restoration projects and monitoring sites in coastal Louisiana
The Floristic Quality Index (FQI) has been used in many areas throughout the United State to assess the integrity of plant communities and restoration projects. Here, we summarize two tools that have been developed for monitoring sites in coastal Louisiana wetlands. The FQI was modified for herbaceous data collected in coastal Louisiana monitoring...
Dorney, John; Savage, Rick; Tiner, R.W.; Adamus, Paul; Cretini, Kari; Wood, William B.; Visser, Jenneke M.; Krauss, Ken W.; Sharp, Leigh Anne; Steyer, Gregory D.; Shaffer, Gary P.; Piazza, SaraiAttribution: Wetland and Aquatic Research Center, Ecosystems, Region 2: South Atlantic-Gulf (Includes Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands), Region 4: Mississippi Basin
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Cretini, K.F., Wood, W.B., Visser, J.M., Krauss, K.W., Sharp, L.A., Steyer, G.D., Shaffer, G.P., and Piazza, S.C., 2018, Floristic quality index and forested floristic quality index: Assessment tools for restoration projects and monitoring sites in Coastal Louisiana, in Dorney, J., Savage, R., Tiner, R.W., and Adamus, P., eds., Wetland and Stream Rapid Assessments: Development, Validation, and Application: London, Academic Press, Chapter 4.5.2, p. 459 - 473, https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-805091-0.00049-9.
Year Published: 2018
Growth stress response to sea level rise in species with contrasting functional traits: A case study in tidal freshwater forested wetlands
With rising sea levels, mortality of glycophytes can be caused by water and nutrient stress under increasing salinity. However, the relative effects of these two stressors may vary by species-specific functional traits. For example, deciduous species, with leaves typically emerging during low salinity periods of the year, may suffer less from...
Zhai, Lu; Krauss, Ken W.; Liu, Xin; Duberstein, Jamie A.; Conner, William H.; DeAngelis, Donald L.; Sternberg, Leonel d.S.LAttribution: Wetland and Aquatic Research Center, Ecosystems, Region 2: South Atlantic-Gulf (Includes Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands), Region 4: Mississippi Basin
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Zhai, L., Krauss, K.W., Liu, X., Duberstein, J.A., Conner, W.H., DeAngelis, D.L., and da Silveira Lobo Sternberg, L., 2018, Growth stress response to sea level rise in species with contrasting functional traits: a case study in tidal freshwater forested wetlands: Environmental and Experimental Botany, Available Online, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envexpbot.2018.07.023.
Year Published: 2018
Ghost forests of Marco Island: Mangrove mortality driven by belowground soil structural shifts during tidal hydrologic alteration
Land use changes often create in situ stress and eventual mortality in mangroves as unsuitable hydroperiods are created through tidal flow alterations. Here, we document mangrove forest and soil structural changes within transects established in tidally restricted areas on Marco Island (Collier County,...
Krauss, Ken W.; Demopoulos, Amanda W.J.; Cormier, Nicole; From, Andrew; McClain-Counts, Jennifer P.; Lewis, Roy R.Attribution: Wetland and Aquatic Research Center, Ecosystems, Region 2: South Atlantic-Gulf (Includes Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands), Region 4: Mississippi Basin
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Krauss, K.W., Demopoulos, A.W.J., Cormier, N., From, A.S., McClain-Counts, J.P., and Lewis, R.R., III, 2018, Ghost forests of Marco Island: Mangrove mortality driven by belowground soil structural shifts during tidal hydrologic alteration: Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, v. 212, p. 51-62, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecss.2018.06.026.
Year Published: 2018
Flooding alters plant-mediated carbon cycling independently of elevated atmospheric CO2 concentrations
Plant‐mediated processes determine carbon (C) cycling and storage in many ecosystems; how plant‐associated processes may be altered by climate‐induced changes in environmental drivers is therefore an essential question for understanding global C cycling. In this study, we hypothesize that environmental alterations associated with near‐term climate...
Jones, Scott F.; Stagg, Camille L.; Krauss, Ken W.; Hester, Mark W.Attribution: Wetland and Aquatic Research Center, Ecosystems, Region 2: South Atlantic-Gulf (Includes Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands), Region 4: Mississippi Basin
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Jones, S.F., Stagg, C.L., Krauss, K.W., and Hester, M.W., 2018, Flooding alters plant-mediated carbon cycling independently of elevated atmospheric CO2 concentrations: Journal of Geophysical Research: Biogeosciences, Accepted Articles, https://doi.org/10.1029/2017JG004369.
Year Published: 2018
Spatial distribution and ecological risk assessment of heavy metals in coastal surface sediments in the Hebei Province offshore area, Bohai Sea, China
Seven hundred and nine surface sediment samples, along with deeper sediment samples, were collected from Hebei Province along the coastal section of the Bohai Sea, China, and analyzed for grain size, concentrations of organic carbon (Corg) and heavy metals (Cu, Pb, Zn, Cr, Cd, As, and Hg). Results indicated that the average concentrations in the...
Ding, Xigui; Ye, Siyuan; Yuan, Hongming; Krauss, Ken W.Attribution: Wetland and Aquatic Research Center, Ecosystems, Climate Research and Development Program, Land Change Science Program, Region 2: South Atlantic-Gulf (Includes Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands), Region 4: Mississippi Basin, United States of America
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Ding, X., Ye, S., Yuan, H., and Krauss, K.W., 2018, Spatial distribution and ecological risk assessment of heavy metals in coastal surface sediments in the Hebei Province offshore area, Bohai Sea, China: Marine Pollution Bulletin, v. 131, Part A, p. 655-661, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2018.04.060.
Year Published: 2018
The role of the upper tidal estuary in wetland blue carbon storage and flux
Carbon (C) standing stocks, C mass balance, and soil C burial in tidal freshwater forested wetlands (TFFW) and TFFW transitioning to low‐salinity marshes along the upper estuary are not typically included in “blue carbon” accounting, but may represent a significant C sink. Results from two salinity transects along the tidal Waccamaw and Savannah...
Krauss, Ken W.; Noe, Gregory B.; Duberstein, Jamie A.; Conner, William H.; Stagg, Camille L.; Cormier, Nicole; Jones, Miriam C.; Bernhardt, Christopher E.; Lockaby, B. Graeme; From, Andrew S.; Doyle, Thomas W.; Day, Richard H.; Ensign, Scott H.; Pierfelice, Katherine N.; Hupp, Cliff R.; Chow, Alex T.; Whitbeck, Julie L.Attribution: Wetland and Aquatic Research Center, Ecosystems, Climate Research and Development Program, Land Change Science Program, Region 2: South Atlantic-Gulf (Includes Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands), Region 4: Mississippi Basin, United States of America
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Krauss, K.W., Noe, G.B., Duberstein, J.A., Conner, W.H., Stagg, C.L., Cormier, N., Jones, M.C., Bernhardt, C.J., Lockaby, B.G., From, A.S., Doyle, T.W., Day, R.H., Ensign, S.H., Pierfelice, K.N., Hupp, C.R., Chow, A.T., and Whitbeck, J.L., 2018, The role of the upper tidal estuary in wetland blue carbon storage and flux: Global Biogeochemical Cycles, Accepted, https://doi.org/10.1029/2018GB005897.
Year Published: 2017
Mangrove ecosystems under climate change
This chapter assesses the response of mangrove ecosystems to possible outcomes of climate change, with regard to the following categories: (i) distribution, diversity, and community composition, (ii) physiology of flora and fauna, (iii) water budget, (iv) productivity and remineralization, (v) carbon storage in biomass and sediments, and (vi) the...
Jennerjahn, T.C.; Gilman, E.; Krauss, Ken W.; Lacerda, L.D.; Nordhaus, I.; Wolanski, E.Attribution: Wetland and Aquatic Research Center, Ecosystems, Region 2: South Atlantic-Gulf (Includes Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands), Region 4: Mississippi Basin
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Jennerjahn, T.C., Gilman, E., Krauss, K.W., Lacerda, L.D., Nordhaus, I., and Wolanski, E., 2017, Mangrove ecosystems under climate change, in Rivera-Monroy, V.H., Lee, S.Y., Kristensen, E., and Twilley, R.R., eds., Mangrove Ecosystems: A Global Biogeographic Perspective, Springer, Chap. 7, p. 211-244, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-62206-4_7.
Year Published: 2017
Linear and nonlinear effects of temperature and precipitation on ecosystem properties in tidal saline wetlands
Climate greatly influences the structure and functioning of tidal saline wetland ecosystems. However, there is a need to better quantify the effects of climatic drivers on ecosystem properties, particularly near climate-sensitive ecological transition zones. Here, we used climate- and literature-derived ecological data from tidal saline wetlands...
Feher, Laura C.; Osland, Michael J.; Griffith, Kereen T.; Grace, James B.; Howard, Rebecca J.; Stagg, Camille L.; Enwright, Nicholas M.; Krauss, Ken W.; Gabler, Christopher A.; Day, Richard H.; Rogers, KerryleeAttribution: Wetland and Aquatic Research Center, Ecosystems, Region 2: South Atlantic-Gulf (Includes Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands), Region 4: Mississippi Basin
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Feher, L.C., Osland, M.J., Griffith, K.T., Grace, J.B., Howard, R.J., Stagg, C.L., Enwright, N.M., Krauss, K.W., Gabler, C.A., Day, R.H., and Rogers, K., 2017, Linear and nonlinear effects of temperature and precipitation on ecosystem properties in tidal saline wetlands: Ecosphere, v. 8, no. 10, art. e01956, https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.1956.
Year Published: 2017
Measuring the role of seagrasses in regulating sediment surface elevation
Seagrass meadows provide numerous ecosystem services and their rapid global loss may reduce human welfare as well as ecological integrity. In common with the other ‘blue carbon’ habitats (mangroves and tidal marshes) seagrasses are thought to provide coastal defence and encourage sediment stabilisation and surface elevation. A sophisticated...
Potouroglou, Maria; Bull, James C.; Krauss, Ken W.; Kennedy, Hilary A.; Fusi, Marco; Daffonchio, Daniele; Mangora, Mwita M.; Githaiga, Michael N.; Diele, Karen; Huxham, MarkAttribution: Wetland and Aquatic Research Center, Ecosystems, Climate Research and Development Program, Land Change Science Program, Region 2: South Atlantic-Gulf (Includes Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands), Region 4: Mississippi Basin, United States of America
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Potouroglou, M., Bull, J.C., Krauss, K.W., Kennedy, H., Fusi, M., Daffonchio, D., Mangora, M.M., Githaiga, N.M., Diele, K., and Huxham, M., 2017, Measuring the role of seagrasses in regulating sediment surface elevation: Scientific Reports, v. 7, art. 11917, https://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-12354-y.
Year Published: 2017
Assessing coastal wetland vulnerability to sea-level rise along the northern Gulf of Mexico coast: Gaps and opportunities for developing a coordinated regional sampling network
Coastal wetland responses to sea-level rise are greatly influenced by biogeomorphic processes that affect wetland surface elevation. Small changes in elevation relative to sea level can lead to comparatively large changes in ecosystem structure, function, and stability. The surface elevation table-marker horizon (SET-MH) approach is being used...
Osland, Michael J.; Griffith, Kereen T.; Larriviere, Jack C.; Feher, Laura C.; Cahoon, Donald R.; Enwright, Nicholas M.; Oster, David A.; Tirpak, John M.; Woodrey, Mark S.; Collini, Renee C.; Baustian, Joseph J.; Breithaupt, Joshua L.; Cherry, Julia A; Conrad, Jeremy R.; Cormier, Nicole; Coronado-Molina, Carlos A.; Donoghue, Joseph F.; Graham, Sean A.; Harper, Jennifer W.; Hester, Mark W.; Howard, Rebecca J.; Krauss, Ken W.; Kroes, Daniel; Lane, Robert R.; McKee, Karen L.; Mendelssohn, Irving A.; Middleton, Beth A.; Moon, Jena A.; Piazza, Sarai; Rankin, Nicole M.; Sklar, Fred H.; Steyer, Gregory D.; Swanson, Kathleen M.; Swarzenski, Christopher M.; Vervaeke, William; Willis, Jonathan M; Van Wilson, K.Attribution: Wetland and Aquatic Research Center, Ecosystems, Climate Research and Development Program, Land Change Science Program, Region 2: South Atlantic-Gulf (Includes Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands), Region 4: Mississippi Basin, United States of America
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Osland, M.J., Griffith, K.T., Larriviere, J.C., Feher, L.C., Cahoon, D.R., Enwright, N.M., Oster, D.A., Tirpak, J.M., Woodrey, M.S., Collini, R.C., Baustian, J.J., Breithaupt, J.L., Cherry, J.A., Conrad, J.R., Cormier, N., Coronado-Molina, C.A., Donoghue, J.F., Graham, S.A., Harper, J.W., Hester, M.W., Howard, R.J., Krauss, K.W., Kroes, D.E., Lane, R.R., McKee, K.L., Mendelssohn, I.A., Middleton, B.A., Moon, J.A., Piazza, S.C., Rankin, N.M., Sklar, F.H., Steyer, G.D., Swanson, K.M., Swarzenski, C.M., Vervaeke, W.C., Willis, J.M., and Van Wilson, K., 2017, Assessing coastal wetland vulnerability to sea-level rise along the northern Gulf of Mexico coast: gaps and opportunities for developing a coordinated regional sampling network: PLoS ONE, v. 12, no. 9, art. e0183431, https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0183431.
Pre-USGS Publications
Huxham, M., M. Kumara, L. Jayatissa, K.W. Krauss, J. Kairo, J. Langat, M. Mencuccini, M. Skov & B. Kirui. 2010. Intra and inter-specific facilitation in mangroves may increase resilience to climate change threats. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London B 365: 2127-2135.
Krauss, K.W. 2009. Mangrove energetics. Ecology 90: 3588-3589. [book review]
Krauss, K.W., C.E. Lovelock, K.L. McKee, L. López-Hoffman, S.M.L. Ewe & W.P. Sousa. 2008. Environmental drivers in mangrove establishment and early development: a review. Aquatic Botany 89: 105-127.
Conner, W.H., T.W. Doyle & K.W. Krauss, Eds., 2007. Ecology of Tidal Freshwater Forested Wetlands of the Southeastern United States. Springer. 505 p.
Krauss, K.W., J.L. Chambers & D. Creech. 2007. Selection for salt tolerance in tidal freshwater swamp species: advances using baldcypress as a model for restoration. Pages 385-410 in W.H. Conner, T.W. Doyle, K.W. Krauss (eds.), Ecology of Tidal Freshwater Forested Wetlands of the Southeastern United States. Springer. 505 p.
Conner W.H., K.W. Krauss & T.W. Doyle. 2007. Ecology of tidal freshwater forests in coastal deltaic Louisiana and northeastern South Carolina. Pages 223-253 in W.H. Conner, T.W. Doyle, K.W. Krauss (eds.), Ecology of Tidal Freshwater Forested Wetlands of the Southeastern United States. Springer. 505 p.
Conner, W.H., C.T. Hackney, K.W. Krauss & J.W. Day, Jr. 2007. Tidal freshwater forested wetlands: future research needs and an overview of restoration. Pages 461-485 in W.H. Conner, T.W. Doyle, K.W. Krauss (eds.), Ecology of Tidal Freshwater Forested Wetlands of the Southeastern United States. Springer. 505 p.
Gardiner, E.S. & K.W. Krauss. 2001. Photosynthetic light response of flooded cherrybark oak (Quercus pagoda) seedlings grown in two light regimes. Tree Physiology 21: 1103-1111.
Krauss, K.W., R.A. Goyer, J.A. Allen & J.L. Chambers. 2000. Tree shelters effective in coastal swamp restoration (Louisiana). Ecological Restoration18: 200-201.
Allen, J.A., K.W. Krauss, N.C. Duke, O. Björkman, D.R. Herbst & C. Shih. 2000. Bruguiera species in Hawai’i: systematic considerations and ecological implications. Pacific Science 54: 331-343.
Doyle, T.W. & K.W. Krauss. 1999. The sands and sambars of St. Vincent Island. Florida Wildlife 53: 22-25.
Krauss, K.W., J.L. Chambers & J.A. Allen. 1998. Salinity effects and differential germination of several half-sib families of baldcypress from different seed sources. New Forests 15: 53-68.
Allen, J.A., W.H. Conner, R.A. Goyer, J.L. Chambers & K.W. Krauss. 1998. Chapter 4: Freshwater forested wetlands and global climate change. Pages 33-44 in G.R. Guntenspergen and B.A Vairin (eds.), Vulnerability of coastal wetlands in the Southeastern United States: climate change research results, 1992-97. U.S. Geological Survey, Biological Resources Division Biological Science Report USGS/BRD/BSR-1998-0002. 101 p.