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Melissa M Baustian, Ph.D.

Melissa’s research interests include how pelagic, benthic, and vegetated habitats of coastal ecosystems support functions of nutrient cycling, trophic dynamics of food webs, and carbon sequestration.

Melissa has conducted research on the essential mechanisms and stressors involved in benthic-pelagic coupling of lakes, estuaries, and oceans, including the hypoxic region or Dead Zone in coastal Louisiana.  An objective of her current research is to understand how phytoplankton and microphytobenthos (including potential harmful algal blooms) of coastal ecosystems are influenced by nutrient enrichment, environmental change, and coastal restoration. 

Melissa uses new and existing short- and long-term field observations, statistical analyses, and ecosystem models at the landscape level to answer ecological research questions and to provide relevant information to policy makers and coastal managers.  Melissa enjoys participating and leading collaborative and interdisciplinary projects that generate information to inform stakeholders.

Education and Certifications

  • Ph.D., Oceanography and Coastal Sciences, Louisiana State University, 2011

  • M.S., Oceanography and Coastal Sciences, Louisiana State University, 2005

  • B.S., Biology, Iowa State University, 2003

Affiliations and Memberships*

  • Coastal and Estuarine Research Federation

  • Association for the Sciences of Limnology and Oceanography

  • Gulf Estuarine Research Society

Science and Products

Conceptual diagram of how Bonnet Carré spillway can influence phytoplankton

Integrating Remote Sensing and Numerical Modeling Technology to Detect and Manage Current and Future Harmful Algal Blooms in Louisiana’s Coastal and Tidal Waters

USGS is collaborating with partners to assess past and current CyanoHABs for the development of a predictive model and forecasting system for Lake Pontchartrain Estuary. This technology can be beneficial for informing future planning of water resource development projects, and the water management of the estuary.
By
Lower Mississippi-Gulf Water Science Center, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center
Integrating Remote Sensing and Numerical Modeling Technology to Detect and Manage Current and Future Harmful Algal Blooms in Louisiana’s Coastal and Tidal Waters

Integrating Remote Sensing and Numerical Modeling Technology to Detect and Manage Current and Future Harmful Algal Blooms in Louisiana’s Coastal and Tidal Waters

USGS is collaborating with partners to assess past and current CyanoHABs for the development of a predictive model and forecasting system for Lake Pontchartrain Estuary. This technology can be beneficial for informing future planning of water resource development projects, and the water management of the estuary.
Learn More
Shrimp boat in the coastal waters of Louisiana

Biological Vulnerability to Hypoxia Under a Warmer Climate in the Northern Gulf

USGS researchers are a developing a modeling framework to assess climate warming impacts on hypoxia-related stress to commercially and recreationally important Gulf species.
By
Wetland and Aquatic Research Center
Biological Vulnerability to Hypoxia Under a Warmer Climate in the Northern Gulf

Biological Vulnerability to Hypoxia Under a Warmer Climate in the Northern Gulf

USGS researchers are a developing a modeling framework to assess climate warming impacts on hypoxia-related stress to commercially and recreationally important Gulf species.
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Image: USGS Measures Flooding Near Bonnet Carre Spillway

A Fresh Set of Tools: New Information for Managing Fisheries During Changes in River Discharge

USGS scientists are conducting research to understand how estuary fisheries are affected by the the timing and/or magnitude of freshwater discharge into Lake Pontchartrain in Louisiana.
By
Wetland and Aquatic Research Center
A Fresh Set of Tools: New Information for Managing Fisheries During Changes in River Discharge

A Fresh Set of Tools: New Information for Managing Fisheries During Changes in River Discharge

USGS scientists are conducting research to understand how estuary fisheries are affected by the the timing and/or magnitude of freshwater discharge into Lake Pontchartrain in Louisiana.
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Louisiana salt marsh

Lower Trophic Level Monitoring to Support Restoration of Living Resources in Barataria Estuary, Louisiana

USGS researchers are collecting information about lower trophic levels in Barataria Estuary to develop a long-term monitoring plan.
By
Wetland and Aquatic Research Center
Lower Trophic Level Monitoring to Support Restoration of Living Resources in Barataria Estuary, Louisiana

Lower Trophic Level Monitoring to Support Restoration of Living Resources in Barataria Estuary, Louisiana

USGS researchers are collecting information about lower trophic levels in Barataria Estuary to develop a long-term monitoring plan.
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Assessing fish habitat and population dynamics of fisheries resources at Kaloko Fishpond

A Fresh Set of Tools: New Information for Managing Fisheries During Changes in River Discharge

The Bonnet Carré spillway (BCS) is a flood-control structure along the Lower Mississippi River designed to prevent flooding in the city of New Orleans by diverting excess water into the nearby Lake Pontchartrain estuary. Alarmingly, the BCS was opened as many times over the past decade (2011–2020) as it had been over the six prior decades combined (1951–2010), with devastating effects on...
By
Climate Adaptation Science Centers
A Fresh Set of Tools: New Information for Managing Fisheries During Changes in River Discharge

A Fresh Set of Tools: New Information for Managing Fisheries During Changes in River Discharge

The Bonnet Carré spillway (BCS) is a flood-control structure along the Lower Mississippi River designed to prevent flooding in the city of New Orleans by diverting excess water into the nearby Lake Pontchartrain estuary. Alarmingly, the BCS was opened as many times over the past decade (2011–2020) as it had been over the six prior decades combined (1951–2010), with devastating effects on the
Learn More
A feedback loop for carbon sequestration, climate mitigation & coastal resilience.

Developing a Decision Support Tool to Inform Louisiana’s Climate Change Adaptation Strategy

In 2020, Governor Edwards of Louisiana issued two executive orders: establishing the Climate Initiatives Task Force to develop the state’s first ever Climate Action Plan to reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and to enhance coastal resilience in the state. Louisiana’s coastal wetlands and natural lands are of vital importance not just for hurricane protection, health and...
By
Climate Adaptation Science Centers
Developing a Decision Support Tool to Inform Louisiana’s Climate Change Adaptation Strategy

Developing a Decision Support Tool to Inform Louisiana’s Climate Change Adaptation Strategy

In 2020, Governor Edwards of Louisiana issued two executive orders: establishing the Climate Initiatives Task Force to develop the state’s first ever Climate Action Plan to reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and to enhance coastal resilience in the state. Louisiana’s coastal wetlands and natural lands are of vital importance not just for hurricane protection, health and wellbeing, and
Learn More

Phytoplankton pigment data collected from surface waters in the Lake Pontchartrain estuary, Louisiana, from November 2024 to May 2025 Phytoplankton pigment data collected from surface waters in the Lake Pontchartrain estuary, Louisiana, from November 2024 to May 2025

Monthly surface water samples were collected at sites in the Lake Pontchartrain estuary to assess the phytoplankton biomass and composition using algal pigment analysis. A total of 27 algal pigments including chlorophyll a and accessory pigments were evaluated from each of the water samples.
By
Wetland and Aquatic Research Center

Plant, soil, and microbial characteristics of marsh collapse in Mississippi River Deltaic wetlands Plant, soil, and microbial characteristics of marsh collapse in Mississippi River Deltaic wetlands

Site, field, and soil data collected from 14 sites along a chronosequence of wetland submergence on 15 – 17 October 2019 in a Louisiana salt marsh in Barataria Basin, part of the Mississippi River Deltaic Plain, along the northern Gulf of Mexico coast.
By
Ecosystems Land Change Science Program, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center

A subset of 2017 Louisiana Coastal Master Plan model output to estimate climate change mitigation potential of Louisiana's coastal area A subset of 2017 Louisiana Coastal Master Plan model output to estimate climate change mitigation potential of Louisiana's coastal area

A subset of the Louisiana's 2017 Coastal Master Plan model output was used to estimate the potential climate mitigation role of Louisiana’s coastal area. Model output of surface water salinity, land/water classification, and area of eight habitats for elapsed years of 6, 11, 16, 26, and 36 were post-processed to estimate habitat areas at years of 2020, 2025, 2030, 2040, and 2050, that...
By
Wetland and Aquatic Research Center

Spatiotemporal dynamics of soil carbon following coastal wetland loss at a Louisiana coastal salt marsh in the Mississippi River Deltaic Plain in 2019 Spatiotemporal dynamics of soil carbon following coastal wetland loss at a Louisiana coastal salt marsh in the Mississippi River Deltaic Plain in 2019

This dataset provides the water content, bulk density, carbon concentrations, nitrogen concentrations, and carbon content of all fourteen cores sampled in coastal Louisiana (CRMS 0224) in October of 2019. Each sample is identified by a unique identifier that corresponds to each site by depth increment combination. The pond age range associated with each site is provided. The depth...
By
Ecosystems Land Change Science Program, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center

Long-term soil carbon data and accretion from four marsh types in Mississippi River Delta in 2015 Long-term soil carbon data and accretion from four marsh types in Mississippi River Delta in 2015

The Mississippi River Deltaic Plain has extensive marsh habitats (fresh, intermediate, brackish, and saline) where soil cores were collected to a depth of 100 cm at 24 sites to assess long-term carbon accumulation rates and coast-wide burial rates. Each core was sectioned into 2-cm depth intervals, and select intervals were analyzed for percent moisture, bulk density, total carbon, and
By
Ecosystems Land Change Science Program, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center

Short term soil carbon data and accretion rates from four marsh types in Mississippi River Delta collected in 2015 Short term soil carbon data and accretion rates from four marsh types in Mississippi River Delta collected in 2015

Short-term carbon accumulation rates were examined by collecting 10-cm deep soil cores at 24 sites located in marshes spanning the salinity gradient in coastal Louisiana. Percent moisture, bulk density, total carbon content, and the short-term accretion rates obtained with feldspar horizon markers were measured to determine total carbon accumulation and storage rates.
By
Ecosystems Land Change Science Program, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center
a green marsh meets freshwater in Barataria Estuary. Marsh spider lilies can be seen blooming near the rippling waters edge. The sky is blue with scattered clouds.
marsh edge fresh area Barataria EL_Emily (Contractor) L.jpg
marsh edge fresh area Barataria EL_Emily (Contractor) L.jpg
a green marsh meets freshwater in Barataria Estuary. Marsh spider lilies can be seen blooming near the rippling waters edge. The sky is blue with scattered clouds.

marsh edge fresh area Barataria EL_Emily (Contractor) L.jpg

marsh edge fresh area Barataria EL_Emily (Contractor) L.jpg

Marsh edge, with blooming marsh spider lilies, in a freshwater area of Barataria Estuary.

By
Wetland and Aquatic Research Center
a green marsh meets freshwater in Barataria Estuary. Marsh spider lilies can be seen blooming near the rippling waters edge. The sky is blue with scattered clouds.

marsh edge fresh area Barataria EL_Emily (Contractor) L.jpg

marsh edge fresh area Barataria EL_Emily (Contractor) L.jpg

Marsh edge, with blooming marsh spider lilies, in a freshwater area of Barataria Estuary.

By
Wetland and Aquatic Research Center
Two scientists sit in a boat surrounded by coolers and equipment. They both look down at their hands as they take samples from sediment cores collected at the marsh edge. Plants can be seen in the background.
Marsh sediment core collection in Barataria Estuary for lower trophic level monitoring
Marsh sediment core collection in Barataria Estuary for lower trophic level monitoring
Two scientists sit in a boat surrounded by coolers and equipment. They both look down at their hands as they take samples from sediment cores collected at the marsh edge. Plants can be seen in the background.

Marsh sediment core collection in Barataria Estuary for lower trophic level monitoring

Marsh sediment core collection in Barataria Estuary for lower trophic level monitoring

Emily Lain (Cherokee Nation System Solutions [CNSS]) and Brenae Bergeron (CNSS) take samples from sediment cores collected at an emergent vegetated marsh edge station in Barataria Estuary. 

By
Wetland and Aquatic Research Center
Two scientists sit in a boat surrounded by coolers and equipment. They both look down at their hands as they take samples from sediment cores collected at the marsh edge. Plants can be seen in the background.

Marsh sediment core collection in Barataria Estuary for lower trophic level monitoring

Marsh sediment core collection in Barataria Estuary for lower trophic level monitoring

Emily Lain (Cherokee Nation System Solutions [CNSS]) and Brenae Bergeron (CNSS) take samples from sediment cores collected at an emergent vegetated marsh edge station in Barataria Estuary. 

By
Wetland and Aquatic Research Center
Filter Total Items: 23

Hyperspectral retrieval of phytoplankton absorption and community composition from NASA’s PACE-OCI in estuarine–coastal waters using a hybrid framework combining mixture-of-experts and Variational Autoencoder Hyperspectral retrieval of phytoplankton absorption and community composition from NASA’s PACE-OCI in estuarine–coastal waters using a hybrid framework combining mixture-of-experts and Variational Autoencoder

Retrieving the phytoplankton absorption coefficient (aphy; m−1), one of the most spectrally rich inherent optical properties, remains challenging in optically complex coastal waters worldwide. Leveraging NASA's new hyperspectral mission, PACE, we introduce Hyper-MoE-VAE, a deep-learning architecture that integrates a Mixture-of-Experts with a Variational Autoencoder to retrieve high...
Authors
Xingyu Bai, Bingqing Liu, Jiang Li, Yuanheng Xiong, Eurico J. D'Sa, Melissa Millman Baustian, Xiaodong Zhang, Brice K. Grunert, Chisom O. Emeghiebo, Cassie Glasspie, Xu Yuan
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center

Short-term estuarine phytoplankton dynamics in response to hurricanes along the Gulf Coast of America: A Variational Autoencoder (VAE) approach with satellite and bio-optical observations Short-term estuarine phytoplankton dynamics in response to hurricanes along the Gulf Coast of America: A Variational Autoencoder (VAE) approach with satellite and bio-optical observations

Hurricanes drive diverse estuarine phytoplankton responses and can trigger cascading ecological and physicochemical impacts. Capturing these short-term dynamics requires high spatiotemporal resolution. Here, we applied a globally-applicable coastal ocean color algorithm, Variational Autoencoder (VAE), to Sentinel-2 MSI imagery for chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) estimation and validated its strong
Authors
Jiang Li, Bingqing Liu, Jiadong Lou, Xu Yuan, Eurico J. D'Sa, Melissa Millman Baustian, Megan La Peyre, Angelina Freeman, Vitor S. Martins, Emad Habib
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Cooperative Research Units, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center

Phytoplankton biomass dynamics in wet (2019) and dry (2023) years in Lake Pontchartrain estuary, Louisiana from Sentinel 2-MSI and PACE-OCI observations Phytoplankton biomass dynamics in wet (2019) and dry (2023) years in Lake Pontchartrain estuary, Louisiana from Sentinel 2-MSI and PACE-OCI observations

This study provides a comprehensive assessment of phytoplankton biomass dynamics in Lake Pontchartrain, Louisiana, by combining monthly water quality data with multispectral and hyperspectral satellite observations using a machine learning algorithm. A machine learning model based on Variational Autoencoder (VAE), globally applicable, was used to estimate phytoplankton biomass via...
Authors
Shiwani Shrestha, Bingqing Liu, Jiang Li, Wei Huang, Melissa Millman Baustian, Eurico J. D'Sa, Sibel Bargu, Francesca Messina, Ioannis Y. Georgiou, Abhishek Kumar, Angelina Freeman, Scott Mize
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center

Advancing the implementation of coastal restoration in Louisiana through a co-production of science framework Advancing the implementation of coastal restoration in Louisiana through a co-production of science framework

Coastal Louisiana faces complex challenges from the compounding effects of coastal land loss and climate change. The State of Louisiana’s Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority (CPRA) and the RESTORE Act Center of Excellence for Louisiana (LA-COE) have adopted a co-production of science framework to help ensure that scientific research funded through the LA-COE supports the...
Authors
Jacob M. Oster, Jessica R. Henkel, Alyssa Dausman, Eva D. Windhoffer, Bingqing Liu, Melissa Millman Baustian, Denise Reed, Summer Langlois, David C. Lindquist
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center

Lower trophic level monitoring implementation plan for Barataria Basin: Protocols and programmatic management Lower trophic level monitoring implementation plan for Barataria Basin: Protocols and programmatic management

Prior work completed by Kiskaddon et al. (2021, 2022b, 2022a) identified critical data gaps for Lower Trophic Level (LTL) organisms in Barataria Basin, Louisiana. A Monitoring and Adaptive Management (MAM) Activity Implementation Plan (MAIP) was subsequently developed to describe a MAM Activity that would address and fill these critical data gaps (hereafter termed the “LTL project”). As...
Authors
Erin P. Kiskaddon, Sibel Bargu, Melissa Millman Baustian, Melissa Carle, Jean Cowan, Jennifer Doerr, Cassandra N. Glaspie, Brittany Jensen, Bingqing Liu, Emelia Marshall, Michael J. Polito, David B. Reeves, Shaye Sable, Malinda Sutor, Ian Zink
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center

Salt marsh habitats and diamondback terrapins in a rapidly changing climate: A review Salt marsh habitats and diamondback terrapins in a rapidly changing climate: A review

The impacts associated with global climate change (e.g., sea-level rise, tropical storms, and warming temperatures) are expected to alter predator–prey interactions, foundation species, and plant community structure in coastal ecosystems. While the complex dynamics of these habitats have been examined under future climate predictions, few ecosystem models incorporate influences from...
Authors
Margaret M. Lamont, Michael J. Osland, Melissa M. Baustian
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center

Current and future potential net greenhouse gas sinks of existing, converted, and restored marsh and mangrove forest habitats Current and future potential net greenhouse gas sinks of existing, converted, and restored marsh and mangrove forest habitats

Marsh and mangrove forest habitats are productive at capturing and storing carbon, thus actions to protect and create coastal blue carbon sinks could help mitigate global warming. Dredged material is often used to create coastal habitats and evaluating the carbon impact of placement alternatives (PA) could help inform restoration and climate policies. Output from a Delft3D-FM...
Authors
Melissa Millman Baustian, Hoonshin Jung, Bingqing Liu, Leland C. Moss, Madeline R. Foster-Martinez, Christopher R. Esposito, Ioannis Y. Georgiou, Martijn C. Bregman, Diana R. Di Leonardo, Brett McMann, Scott A. Hemmerling, Michael D. Miner
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Ecosystems Land Change Science Program, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center

Vegetation-generated turbulence does not impact the erosion of natural cohesive sediment Vegetation-generated turbulence does not impact the erosion of natural cohesive sediment

Previous studies have demonstrated that vegetation-generated turbulence can enhance erosion rate and reduce the velocity threshold for erosion of non-cohesive sediment. This study considered whether vegetation-generated turbulence had a similar influence on natural cohesive sediment. Cores were collected from a black mangrove forest with aboveground biomass and exposed to stepwise...
Authors
Autumn R. Deitrick, David K. Ralston, Christopher R. Esposito, Melissa Millman Baustian, Maricel Beltran Burgos, Andrew J. Courtois, Heidi M. Nepf
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center

Restoring blue carbon ecosystems Restoring blue carbon ecosystems

Mangroves, tidal marshes and seagrasses have experienced extensive historical reduction in extent due to direct and indirect effects of anthropogenic land use change. Habitat loss has contributed carbon emissions and led to foregone opportunities for carbon sequestration, which are disproportionately large due to high ‘blue carbon’ stocks and sequestration rates in these coastal...
Authors
Daniel A. Friess, Zoe I. Shribman, Milica Stankovic, Naima Iram, Melissa Millman Baustian, Carolyn J. Ewers Lewis
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center

Vegetation loss following vertical drowning of Mississippi River deltaic wetlands leads to faster microbial decomposition and decreases in soil carbon Vegetation loss following vertical drowning of Mississippi River deltaic wetlands leads to faster microbial decomposition and decreases in soil carbon

Wetland ecosystems hold nearly a third of the global soil carbon pool, but as wetlands rapidly disappear the fate of this stored soil carbon is unclear. The aim of this study was to quantify and then link potential rates of microbial decomposition after vertical drowning of vegetated tidal marshes in coastal Louisiana to known drivers of anaerobic decomposition altered by vegetation loss...
Authors
Courtney Creamer, Mark Waldrop, Camille Stagg, Kristen L. Manies, Melissa Millman Baustian, Claudia Laurenzano, Tiong Gim Aw, Monica Haw, Sergio Merino, Donald R. Schoolmaster, Sabrina N. Sevilgen, Rachel Katherine Villani, Eric Ward
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Ecosystems Land Change Science Program, Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center

Stable isotopes reveal that foraging strategy dictates trophic response of salt marsh residents to black mangrove Avicennia germinans range expansion Stable isotopes reveal that foraging strategy dictates trophic response of salt marsh residents to black mangrove Avicennia germinans range expansion

Climate warming has facilitated the expansion of black mangrove Avicennia germinans (hereafter ‘Avicennia’) into smooth cordgrass Spartina alterniflora (hereafter ‘Spartina’) salt marshes in southeastern Louisiana (USA). As macrophytes contribute to soil organic matter (SOM) and primary production, this transition could alter the basal energy pathways supporting salt marsh food webs. We...
Authors
Katherine B. Loesser, Christina E. Powell, Brandeus Davis, Melissa Millman Baustian, Michael J. Polito
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center

Preparing for future changes: Louisiana's Coast Preparing for future changes: Louisiana's Coast

Cooperator publication summarizing USGS publications in collaboration with Water Institute that are being used to inform Louisiana coastal policy.
Authors
Timothy Carruthers, Camille Stagg, Melissa Millman Baustian
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center

Non-USGS Publications**

Beltrán-Burgos, M., C. R. Esposito, H. M. Nepf, M. M. Baustian, and D. R. Di Leonardo. 2023. Vegetation-driven seasonal sediment dynamics in a freshwater marsh of the Mississippi River Delta. Journal of Geophysical Research: Biogeosciences https://doi.org/10.1029/2022JG007143.
Hemmerling SA, DeMyers C, Parfait J, Piñero E, Baustian MM, Bregman M, Di Leonardo D, Esposito C, Georgiou IY, Grismore A, Jung H, McMann B and Miner MD (2023), A community-informed transdisciplinary approach to coastal restoration planning: Maximizing the social and ecological co-benefits of wetland creation in Port Fourchon, Louisiana, USA. Front. Environ. Sci. 11:1105671. doi: 10.3389/fenvs.2023.1105671
Mavrommati, G. and Baustian, M.M. 2022. Linking water purification and waste treatment to human wellbeing. In: DellaSala, D.A., Goldstein, M.I. (Eds.). Imperiled: The Encyclopedia of Conservation.Vol. 3. Elsevier. Pp. 139-144. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-821139-7.00116-1
La Peyre, M.K., Sable, S., Taylor, C., Kiskaddon, E., and M.M. Baustian. 2021. Effects of sample gear on estuarine fish assemblage assessments and food web models. Ecological Indicators. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2021.108404
Wiesenburg, D.A., Shipp, B. Wilson, C., Fodrie, J., Powers, S., Latrigue, J., Darnell, K.M., Baustian, M.M., Ngo, C., Valentine, J.F. and, K. Wowk. 2021. Prospects for Gulf of Mexico environmental recovery and restoration. Oceanography. https://doi.org/10.5670/oceanog.2021.124
Barra, M., Hemmerling, S., and M.M. Baustian. 2020. A model controversy: Using environmental competency groups to inform coastal restoration planning in Louisiana. Professional Geographer. https://doi.org/10.1080/00330124.2020.1777574
N.N. Rabalais and Baustian, M.M. 2020. Historical shifts in benthic infaunal diversity in the northern Gulf of Mexico since the appearance of seasonally severe hypoxia. Diversity. https://doi.org/10.3390/d12020049
Baustian, M.M., Brooks, Y.M., Baskaran, M., Liu, B., Ostrom, N.E., Stevenson, R.J., and J.B. Rose. 2020. Paleo-environmental examination of human-driven ecosystem change in Lake St. Clair region of Laurentian Great Lakes basin. Journal of Paleolimnology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10933-019-00108-x
Baustian, M.M, Jung, H., Bienn, H., Barra, M., Hemmerling, S. Wang, Y., White, E., and E. Meselhe. 2020. Engaging coastal community members about natural and nature-based solutions and assessing their ecosystem functions. Ecological Engineering. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoena.2019.100015
Meselhe, E., Wang, Y., White, E., Jung, H., Baustian, M.M., Hemmerling, S.A., Barra, M., and H. Bienn. 2020. Knowledge-Based predictive tools to assess effectiveness of natural and nature-based solutions for coastal restoration and protection planning. Journal of Hydraulic Engineering 146(2): https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)HY.1943-7900.0001659
Hemmerling, S.A., Barra, M., Bienn, H.C., Baustian, M.M., Jung, H., Meselhe, E., Wang, Y., and E. White. 2019. Elevating local knowledge through participatory modeling: Active community engagement in restoration planning in coastal Louisiana. Journal of Geographical Systems. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10109-019-00313-2
Baustian, M.M. Meselhe, E., Jung, H., Sadid, K, Duke- Sylvester, S., Visser, J., Allison, M., Moss, L., Ramatchandirane, C, van Maren, B., Jeuken, M., and S. Bargu. 2018. Development of an Integrated Biophysical Model to represent morphological and ecological processes in a changing deltaic and coastal ecosystem. Environmental Modeling and Software. 109:402-419. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsoft.2018.05.019
Baustian, M.M., Bargu, S., Rabalais, N.N, and W.L. Morrison. 2018. The polychaete, Paraprionospio pinnata, is a likely vector of domoic acid to the benthic food web in the northern Gulf of Mexico. Harmful Algae. 79:44-49. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hal.2018.06.002
Baustian, M.M., Clark, R. Jerabek, A.S., Wang, Y. Bienn, H.C., and E.D. White. 2018. Modeling current and future freshwater inflow needs of a subtropical estuary to manage and maintain forested wetland ecological conditions. Ecological Indicators. 85:791-807. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X17306295
Price, A., Baustian, M.M., Turner, R.E. Rabalais, N.N., and G. Chmura. 2017. Dinoflagellate cysts track eutrophication in the northern Gulf of Mexico. Estuaries and Coasts. 41:1322-1336. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12237-017-0351-x
Brooks, Y.M., Baustian, M.M., Baskaran, M., Ostrom, N.E. and J.B. Rose. 2016. Historic associations of fecal indicator marker concentrations to anthropogenic activities and climate in freshwater sediment cores. Environmental Science and Technology. 50:6902-6911. http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/acs.est.6b01372
Price, A., Baustian, M.M., Turner, R.E. Rabalais, N.N., and Chmura, G. 2016. Melitasphaeridium choanophorum – a living dinoflagellate cyst fossil in the Gulf of Mexico. Palynology. 41:351-358. http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/01916122.2016.1205676
Bargu, S., Baustian, M.M., Rabalais, N.N., Del Rio, R., Von Korff, B., and R.E. Turner. 2016. Influence of the Mississippi River on Pseudo-nitzschia spp. abundance and toxicity in Louisiana coastal waters. Estuaries and Coasts. 39:1345-1356. http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12237-016-0088-y
Baustian, M.M., Hansen, G., de Kluijver, A., Robinson, K., Henry Norton, E., Knoll, L., Rose, K, and C. Carey. 2014. Linking the bottom to the top in aquatic ecosystems: mechanisms and stressors of benthic-pelagic coupling. Invited Eco-DAS X chapter for Association for Sciences of Limnology and Oceanography e-book. http://www.aslo.org/books/ecodas10/ecodas10_025.pdf
Monk, M.H., Baustian, M.M., Saari, C.R., Welsh, S., D’Elia, C., Gaston, S., and J.E. Powers. 2014. EnvironMentors: mentoring at-risk high school students through university partnerships. International Journal of Environmental and Science Education. 9:385-397. http://www.ijese.com/ijese.2014.223a.pdf
Hansen, G.A., Sadro, S., Baustian, M.M., and B. Stauffer. 2014. Shifting career pathways of Ph.D. ecologists: Is it time to redefine the “alternative” career? Limnology and Oceanography Bulletin. 23:2-5. http://aslo.org/bulletin/issues/14_v23_i1.pdf
Baustian, M.M., Mavrommati, G., Dreelin, E.A., Esselman, P., Schultze, S., Qian, L. Aw, T.G Luo, L. and J.B. Rose. 2014. A one hundred year review of the socioeconomic and ecological systems in Lake St. Clair, North America. Journal of Great Lakes Research. 40:15-26. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jglr.2013.11.006
Mavrommati, G., Baustian, M.M. and E. Dreelin. 2013. Coupling Socioeconomic and Lake Systems for Sustainability: A Conceptual Analysis Using Lake St. Clair Region as a Case Study. Ambio 43:275-287. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s13280-013-0432-4
Baustian, M.M., Rabalais, N.N., Morrison, W.L. and R.E. Turner. 2013. Microphytobenthos along the Louisiana continental shelf during mid-summer hypoxia. Continental Shelf Research.52:108-118. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.csr.2012.10.014
Baustian, M.M., Rabalais, N.N., Morrison, W.L. and R.E. Turner. 2011. Seasonal microphytobenthos on the hypoxic northern Gulf of Mexico continental shelf. Marine Ecology Progress Series. 436:51–66. http://dx.doi.org/10.3354/meps09262
Qian, S.S., Craig, J.K., Baustian, M.M. and N.N. Rabalais. 2009. A Bayesian hierarchical modeling approach for analyzing observational data from marine ecological studies. Marine Pollution Bulletin. 58:1916–1921. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2009.09.029
Baustian, M.M., Craig, J.K. and N.N. Rabalais. 2009. Effects of summer 2003 hypoxia on macrobenthos and Atlantic croaker foraging selectivity in the northern Gulf of Mexico. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology. 381:S31-S37. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jembe.2009.07.007
Baustian, M.M. and N.N. Rabalais. 2009. Seasonal composition of benthic macroinfauna exposed to hypoxia in the northern Gulf of Mexico. Estuaries and Coasts. 32:975–983. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12237-009-9187-3
Baustian, M.M., Bentley, S.J. and J.H. Wandersee. 2008. Innovative assessment tools for a short, fast-paced, summer field course. Journal of College Science Teaching. 37:37-43. http://learningcenter.nsta.org/product_detail.aspx?id=10.2505/4/jcst08_037_06_37
Millman, M., Teichberg, M, Martinetto, P and I. Valiela. 2002. Response of shrimp populations to land-derived nitrogen in Waquoit Bay. Biological Bulletin. 203:263-264. http://www.biolbull.org/content/203/2/263.full.pdf+html

**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.

Science and Products

Conceptual diagram of how Bonnet Carré spillway can influence phytoplankton

Integrating Remote Sensing and Numerical Modeling Technology to Detect and Manage Current and Future Harmful Algal Blooms in Louisiana’s Coastal and Tidal Waters

USGS is collaborating with partners to assess past and current CyanoHABs for the development of a predictive model and forecasting system for Lake Pontchartrain Estuary. This technology can be beneficial for informing future planning of water resource development projects, and the water management of the estuary.
By
Lower Mississippi-Gulf Water Science Center, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center
Integrating Remote Sensing and Numerical Modeling Technology to Detect and Manage Current and Future Harmful Algal Blooms in Louisiana’s Coastal and Tidal Waters

Integrating Remote Sensing and Numerical Modeling Technology to Detect and Manage Current and Future Harmful Algal Blooms in Louisiana’s Coastal and Tidal Waters

USGS is collaborating with partners to assess past and current CyanoHABs for the development of a predictive model and forecasting system for Lake Pontchartrain Estuary. This technology can be beneficial for informing future planning of water resource development projects, and the water management of the estuary.
Learn More
Shrimp boat in the coastal waters of Louisiana

Biological Vulnerability to Hypoxia Under a Warmer Climate in the Northern Gulf

USGS researchers are a developing a modeling framework to assess climate warming impacts on hypoxia-related stress to commercially and recreationally important Gulf species.
By
Wetland and Aquatic Research Center
Biological Vulnerability to Hypoxia Under a Warmer Climate in the Northern Gulf

Biological Vulnerability to Hypoxia Under a Warmer Climate in the Northern Gulf

USGS researchers are a developing a modeling framework to assess climate warming impacts on hypoxia-related stress to commercially and recreationally important Gulf species.
Learn More
Image: USGS Measures Flooding Near Bonnet Carre Spillway

A Fresh Set of Tools: New Information for Managing Fisheries During Changes in River Discharge

USGS scientists are conducting research to understand how estuary fisheries are affected by the the timing and/or magnitude of freshwater discharge into Lake Pontchartrain in Louisiana.
By
Wetland and Aquatic Research Center
A Fresh Set of Tools: New Information for Managing Fisheries During Changes in River Discharge

A Fresh Set of Tools: New Information for Managing Fisheries During Changes in River Discharge

USGS scientists are conducting research to understand how estuary fisheries are affected by the the timing and/or magnitude of freshwater discharge into Lake Pontchartrain in Louisiana.
Learn More
Louisiana salt marsh

Lower Trophic Level Monitoring to Support Restoration of Living Resources in Barataria Estuary, Louisiana

USGS researchers are collecting information about lower trophic levels in Barataria Estuary to develop a long-term monitoring plan.
By
Wetland and Aquatic Research Center
Lower Trophic Level Monitoring to Support Restoration of Living Resources in Barataria Estuary, Louisiana

Lower Trophic Level Monitoring to Support Restoration of Living Resources in Barataria Estuary, Louisiana

USGS researchers are collecting information about lower trophic levels in Barataria Estuary to develop a long-term monitoring plan.
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Assessing fish habitat and population dynamics of fisheries resources at Kaloko Fishpond

A Fresh Set of Tools: New Information for Managing Fisheries During Changes in River Discharge

The Bonnet Carré spillway (BCS) is a flood-control structure along the Lower Mississippi River designed to prevent flooding in the city of New Orleans by diverting excess water into the nearby Lake Pontchartrain estuary. Alarmingly, the BCS was opened as many times over the past decade (2011–2020) as it had been over the six prior decades combined (1951–2010), with devastating effects on...
By
Climate Adaptation Science Centers
A Fresh Set of Tools: New Information for Managing Fisheries During Changes in River Discharge

A Fresh Set of Tools: New Information for Managing Fisheries During Changes in River Discharge

The Bonnet Carré spillway (BCS) is a flood-control structure along the Lower Mississippi River designed to prevent flooding in the city of New Orleans by diverting excess water into the nearby Lake Pontchartrain estuary. Alarmingly, the BCS was opened as many times over the past decade (2011–2020) as it had been over the six prior decades combined (1951–2010), with devastating effects on the
Learn More
A feedback loop for carbon sequestration, climate mitigation & coastal resilience.

Developing a Decision Support Tool to Inform Louisiana’s Climate Change Adaptation Strategy

In 2020, Governor Edwards of Louisiana issued two executive orders: establishing the Climate Initiatives Task Force to develop the state’s first ever Climate Action Plan to reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and to enhance coastal resilience in the state. Louisiana’s coastal wetlands and natural lands are of vital importance not just for hurricane protection, health and...
By
Climate Adaptation Science Centers
Developing a Decision Support Tool to Inform Louisiana’s Climate Change Adaptation Strategy

Developing a Decision Support Tool to Inform Louisiana’s Climate Change Adaptation Strategy

In 2020, Governor Edwards of Louisiana issued two executive orders: establishing the Climate Initiatives Task Force to develop the state’s first ever Climate Action Plan to reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and to enhance coastal resilience in the state. Louisiana’s coastal wetlands and natural lands are of vital importance not just for hurricane protection, health and wellbeing, and
Learn More

Phytoplankton pigment data collected from surface waters in the Lake Pontchartrain estuary, Louisiana, from November 2024 to May 2025 Phytoplankton pigment data collected from surface waters in the Lake Pontchartrain estuary, Louisiana, from November 2024 to May 2025

Monthly surface water samples were collected at sites in the Lake Pontchartrain estuary to assess the phytoplankton biomass and composition using algal pigment analysis. A total of 27 algal pigments including chlorophyll a and accessory pigments were evaluated from each of the water samples.
By
Wetland and Aquatic Research Center

Plant, soil, and microbial characteristics of marsh collapse in Mississippi River Deltaic wetlands Plant, soil, and microbial characteristics of marsh collapse in Mississippi River Deltaic wetlands

Site, field, and soil data collected from 14 sites along a chronosequence of wetland submergence on 15 – 17 October 2019 in a Louisiana salt marsh in Barataria Basin, part of the Mississippi River Deltaic Plain, along the northern Gulf of Mexico coast.
By
Ecosystems Land Change Science Program, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center

A subset of 2017 Louisiana Coastal Master Plan model output to estimate climate change mitigation potential of Louisiana's coastal area A subset of 2017 Louisiana Coastal Master Plan model output to estimate climate change mitigation potential of Louisiana's coastal area

A subset of the Louisiana's 2017 Coastal Master Plan model output was used to estimate the potential climate mitigation role of Louisiana’s coastal area. Model output of surface water salinity, land/water classification, and area of eight habitats for elapsed years of 6, 11, 16, 26, and 36 were post-processed to estimate habitat areas at years of 2020, 2025, 2030, 2040, and 2050, that...
By
Wetland and Aquatic Research Center

Spatiotemporal dynamics of soil carbon following coastal wetland loss at a Louisiana coastal salt marsh in the Mississippi River Deltaic Plain in 2019 Spatiotemporal dynamics of soil carbon following coastal wetland loss at a Louisiana coastal salt marsh in the Mississippi River Deltaic Plain in 2019

This dataset provides the water content, bulk density, carbon concentrations, nitrogen concentrations, and carbon content of all fourteen cores sampled in coastal Louisiana (CRMS 0224) in October of 2019. Each sample is identified by a unique identifier that corresponds to each site by depth increment combination. The pond age range associated with each site is provided. The depth...
By
Ecosystems Land Change Science Program, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center

Long-term soil carbon data and accretion from four marsh types in Mississippi River Delta in 2015 Long-term soil carbon data and accretion from four marsh types in Mississippi River Delta in 2015

The Mississippi River Deltaic Plain has extensive marsh habitats (fresh, intermediate, brackish, and saline) where soil cores were collected to a depth of 100 cm at 24 sites to assess long-term carbon accumulation rates and coast-wide burial rates. Each core was sectioned into 2-cm depth intervals, and select intervals were analyzed for percent moisture, bulk density, total carbon, and
By
Ecosystems Land Change Science Program, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center

Short term soil carbon data and accretion rates from four marsh types in Mississippi River Delta collected in 2015 Short term soil carbon data and accretion rates from four marsh types in Mississippi River Delta collected in 2015

Short-term carbon accumulation rates were examined by collecting 10-cm deep soil cores at 24 sites located in marshes spanning the salinity gradient in coastal Louisiana. Percent moisture, bulk density, total carbon content, and the short-term accretion rates obtained with feldspar horizon markers were measured to determine total carbon accumulation and storage rates.
By
Ecosystems Land Change Science Program, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center
a green marsh meets freshwater in Barataria Estuary. Marsh spider lilies can be seen blooming near the rippling waters edge. The sky is blue with scattered clouds.
marsh edge fresh area Barataria EL_Emily (Contractor) L.jpg
marsh edge fresh area Barataria EL_Emily (Contractor) L.jpg
a green marsh meets freshwater in Barataria Estuary. Marsh spider lilies can be seen blooming near the rippling waters edge. The sky is blue with scattered clouds.

marsh edge fresh area Barataria EL_Emily (Contractor) L.jpg

marsh edge fresh area Barataria EL_Emily (Contractor) L.jpg

Marsh edge, with blooming marsh spider lilies, in a freshwater area of Barataria Estuary.

By
Wetland and Aquatic Research Center
a green marsh meets freshwater in Barataria Estuary. Marsh spider lilies can be seen blooming near the rippling waters edge. The sky is blue with scattered clouds.

marsh edge fresh area Barataria EL_Emily (Contractor) L.jpg

marsh edge fresh area Barataria EL_Emily (Contractor) L.jpg

Marsh edge, with blooming marsh spider lilies, in a freshwater area of Barataria Estuary.

By
Wetland and Aquatic Research Center
Two scientists sit in a boat surrounded by coolers and equipment. They both look down at their hands as they take samples from sediment cores collected at the marsh edge. Plants can be seen in the background.
Marsh sediment core collection in Barataria Estuary for lower trophic level monitoring
Marsh sediment core collection in Barataria Estuary for lower trophic level monitoring
Two scientists sit in a boat surrounded by coolers and equipment. They both look down at their hands as they take samples from sediment cores collected at the marsh edge. Plants can be seen in the background.

Marsh sediment core collection in Barataria Estuary for lower trophic level monitoring

Marsh sediment core collection in Barataria Estuary for lower trophic level monitoring

Emily Lain (Cherokee Nation System Solutions [CNSS]) and Brenae Bergeron (CNSS) take samples from sediment cores collected at an emergent vegetated marsh edge station in Barataria Estuary. 

By
Wetland and Aquatic Research Center
Two scientists sit in a boat surrounded by coolers and equipment. They both look down at their hands as they take samples from sediment cores collected at the marsh edge. Plants can be seen in the background.

Marsh sediment core collection in Barataria Estuary for lower trophic level monitoring

Marsh sediment core collection in Barataria Estuary for lower trophic level monitoring

Emily Lain (Cherokee Nation System Solutions [CNSS]) and Brenae Bergeron (CNSS) take samples from sediment cores collected at an emergent vegetated marsh edge station in Barataria Estuary. 

By
Wetland and Aquatic Research Center
Filter Total Items: 23

Hyperspectral retrieval of phytoplankton absorption and community composition from NASA’s PACE-OCI in estuarine–coastal waters using a hybrid framework combining mixture-of-experts and Variational Autoencoder Hyperspectral retrieval of phytoplankton absorption and community composition from NASA’s PACE-OCI in estuarine–coastal waters using a hybrid framework combining mixture-of-experts and Variational Autoencoder

Retrieving the phytoplankton absorption coefficient (aphy; m−1), one of the most spectrally rich inherent optical properties, remains challenging in optically complex coastal waters worldwide. Leveraging NASA's new hyperspectral mission, PACE, we introduce Hyper-MoE-VAE, a deep-learning architecture that integrates a Mixture-of-Experts with a Variational Autoencoder to retrieve high...
Authors
Xingyu Bai, Bingqing Liu, Jiang Li, Yuanheng Xiong, Eurico J. D'Sa, Melissa Millman Baustian, Xiaodong Zhang, Brice K. Grunert, Chisom O. Emeghiebo, Cassie Glasspie, Xu Yuan
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center

Short-term estuarine phytoplankton dynamics in response to hurricanes along the Gulf Coast of America: A Variational Autoencoder (VAE) approach with satellite and bio-optical observations Short-term estuarine phytoplankton dynamics in response to hurricanes along the Gulf Coast of America: A Variational Autoencoder (VAE) approach with satellite and bio-optical observations

Hurricanes drive diverse estuarine phytoplankton responses and can trigger cascading ecological and physicochemical impacts. Capturing these short-term dynamics requires high spatiotemporal resolution. Here, we applied a globally-applicable coastal ocean color algorithm, Variational Autoencoder (VAE), to Sentinel-2 MSI imagery for chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) estimation and validated its strong
Authors
Jiang Li, Bingqing Liu, Jiadong Lou, Xu Yuan, Eurico J. D'Sa, Melissa Millman Baustian, Megan La Peyre, Angelina Freeman, Vitor S. Martins, Emad Habib
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Cooperative Research Units, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center

Phytoplankton biomass dynamics in wet (2019) and dry (2023) years in Lake Pontchartrain estuary, Louisiana from Sentinel 2-MSI and PACE-OCI observations Phytoplankton biomass dynamics in wet (2019) and dry (2023) years in Lake Pontchartrain estuary, Louisiana from Sentinel 2-MSI and PACE-OCI observations

This study provides a comprehensive assessment of phytoplankton biomass dynamics in Lake Pontchartrain, Louisiana, by combining monthly water quality data with multispectral and hyperspectral satellite observations using a machine learning algorithm. A machine learning model based on Variational Autoencoder (VAE), globally applicable, was used to estimate phytoplankton biomass via...
Authors
Shiwani Shrestha, Bingqing Liu, Jiang Li, Wei Huang, Melissa Millman Baustian, Eurico J. D'Sa, Sibel Bargu, Francesca Messina, Ioannis Y. Georgiou, Abhishek Kumar, Angelina Freeman, Scott Mize
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center

Advancing the implementation of coastal restoration in Louisiana through a co-production of science framework Advancing the implementation of coastal restoration in Louisiana through a co-production of science framework

Coastal Louisiana faces complex challenges from the compounding effects of coastal land loss and climate change. The State of Louisiana’s Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority (CPRA) and the RESTORE Act Center of Excellence for Louisiana (LA-COE) have adopted a co-production of science framework to help ensure that scientific research funded through the LA-COE supports the...
Authors
Jacob M. Oster, Jessica R. Henkel, Alyssa Dausman, Eva D. Windhoffer, Bingqing Liu, Melissa Millman Baustian, Denise Reed, Summer Langlois, David C. Lindquist
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center

Lower trophic level monitoring implementation plan for Barataria Basin: Protocols and programmatic management Lower trophic level monitoring implementation plan for Barataria Basin: Protocols and programmatic management

Prior work completed by Kiskaddon et al. (2021, 2022b, 2022a) identified critical data gaps for Lower Trophic Level (LTL) organisms in Barataria Basin, Louisiana. A Monitoring and Adaptive Management (MAM) Activity Implementation Plan (MAIP) was subsequently developed to describe a MAM Activity that would address and fill these critical data gaps (hereafter termed the “LTL project”). As...
Authors
Erin P. Kiskaddon, Sibel Bargu, Melissa Millman Baustian, Melissa Carle, Jean Cowan, Jennifer Doerr, Cassandra N. Glaspie, Brittany Jensen, Bingqing Liu, Emelia Marshall, Michael J. Polito, David B. Reeves, Shaye Sable, Malinda Sutor, Ian Zink
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center

Salt marsh habitats and diamondback terrapins in a rapidly changing climate: A review Salt marsh habitats and diamondback terrapins in a rapidly changing climate: A review

The impacts associated with global climate change (e.g., sea-level rise, tropical storms, and warming temperatures) are expected to alter predator–prey interactions, foundation species, and plant community structure in coastal ecosystems. While the complex dynamics of these habitats have been examined under future climate predictions, few ecosystem models incorporate influences from...
Authors
Margaret M. Lamont, Michael J. Osland, Melissa M. Baustian
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center

Current and future potential net greenhouse gas sinks of existing, converted, and restored marsh and mangrove forest habitats Current and future potential net greenhouse gas sinks of existing, converted, and restored marsh and mangrove forest habitats

Marsh and mangrove forest habitats are productive at capturing and storing carbon, thus actions to protect and create coastal blue carbon sinks could help mitigate global warming. Dredged material is often used to create coastal habitats and evaluating the carbon impact of placement alternatives (PA) could help inform restoration and climate policies. Output from a Delft3D-FM...
Authors
Melissa Millman Baustian, Hoonshin Jung, Bingqing Liu, Leland C. Moss, Madeline R. Foster-Martinez, Christopher R. Esposito, Ioannis Y. Georgiou, Martijn C. Bregman, Diana R. Di Leonardo, Brett McMann, Scott A. Hemmerling, Michael D. Miner
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Ecosystems Land Change Science Program, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center

Vegetation-generated turbulence does not impact the erosion of natural cohesive sediment Vegetation-generated turbulence does not impact the erosion of natural cohesive sediment

Previous studies have demonstrated that vegetation-generated turbulence can enhance erosion rate and reduce the velocity threshold for erosion of non-cohesive sediment. This study considered whether vegetation-generated turbulence had a similar influence on natural cohesive sediment. Cores were collected from a black mangrove forest with aboveground biomass and exposed to stepwise...
Authors
Autumn R. Deitrick, David K. Ralston, Christopher R. Esposito, Melissa Millman Baustian, Maricel Beltran Burgos, Andrew J. Courtois, Heidi M. Nepf
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center

Restoring blue carbon ecosystems Restoring blue carbon ecosystems

Mangroves, tidal marshes and seagrasses have experienced extensive historical reduction in extent due to direct and indirect effects of anthropogenic land use change. Habitat loss has contributed carbon emissions and led to foregone opportunities for carbon sequestration, which are disproportionately large due to high ‘blue carbon’ stocks and sequestration rates in these coastal...
Authors
Daniel A. Friess, Zoe I. Shribman, Milica Stankovic, Naima Iram, Melissa Millman Baustian, Carolyn J. Ewers Lewis
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center

Vegetation loss following vertical drowning of Mississippi River deltaic wetlands leads to faster microbial decomposition and decreases in soil carbon Vegetation loss following vertical drowning of Mississippi River deltaic wetlands leads to faster microbial decomposition and decreases in soil carbon

Wetland ecosystems hold nearly a third of the global soil carbon pool, but as wetlands rapidly disappear the fate of this stored soil carbon is unclear. The aim of this study was to quantify and then link potential rates of microbial decomposition after vertical drowning of vegetated tidal marshes in coastal Louisiana to known drivers of anaerobic decomposition altered by vegetation loss...
Authors
Courtney Creamer, Mark Waldrop, Camille Stagg, Kristen L. Manies, Melissa Millman Baustian, Claudia Laurenzano, Tiong Gim Aw, Monica Haw, Sergio Merino, Donald R. Schoolmaster, Sabrina N. Sevilgen, Rachel Katherine Villani, Eric Ward
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Ecosystems Land Change Science Program, Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center

Stable isotopes reveal that foraging strategy dictates trophic response of salt marsh residents to black mangrove Avicennia germinans range expansion Stable isotopes reveal that foraging strategy dictates trophic response of salt marsh residents to black mangrove Avicennia germinans range expansion

Climate warming has facilitated the expansion of black mangrove Avicennia germinans (hereafter ‘Avicennia’) into smooth cordgrass Spartina alterniflora (hereafter ‘Spartina’) salt marshes in southeastern Louisiana (USA). As macrophytes contribute to soil organic matter (SOM) and primary production, this transition could alter the basal energy pathways supporting salt marsh food webs. We...
Authors
Katherine B. Loesser, Christina E. Powell, Brandeus Davis, Melissa Millman Baustian, Michael J. Polito
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center

Preparing for future changes: Louisiana's Coast Preparing for future changes: Louisiana's Coast

Cooperator publication summarizing USGS publications in collaboration with Water Institute that are being used to inform Louisiana coastal policy.
Authors
Timothy Carruthers, Camille Stagg, Melissa Millman Baustian
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center

Non-USGS Publications**

Beltrán-Burgos, M., C. R. Esposito, H. M. Nepf, M. M. Baustian, and D. R. Di Leonardo. 2023. Vegetation-driven seasonal sediment dynamics in a freshwater marsh of the Mississippi River Delta. Journal of Geophysical Research: Biogeosciences https://doi.org/10.1029/2022JG007143.
Hemmerling SA, DeMyers C, Parfait J, Piñero E, Baustian MM, Bregman M, Di Leonardo D, Esposito C, Georgiou IY, Grismore A, Jung H, McMann B and Miner MD (2023), A community-informed transdisciplinary approach to coastal restoration planning: Maximizing the social and ecological co-benefits of wetland creation in Port Fourchon, Louisiana, USA. Front. Environ. Sci. 11:1105671. doi: 10.3389/fenvs.2023.1105671
Mavrommati, G. and Baustian, M.M. 2022. Linking water purification and waste treatment to human wellbeing. In: DellaSala, D.A., Goldstein, M.I. (Eds.). Imperiled: The Encyclopedia of Conservation.Vol. 3. Elsevier. Pp. 139-144. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-821139-7.00116-1
La Peyre, M.K., Sable, S., Taylor, C., Kiskaddon, E., and M.M. Baustian. 2021. Effects of sample gear on estuarine fish assemblage assessments and food web models. Ecological Indicators. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2021.108404
Wiesenburg, D.A., Shipp, B. Wilson, C., Fodrie, J., Powers, S., Latrigue, J., Darnell, K.M., Baustian, M.M., Ngo, C., Valentine, J.F. and, K. Wowk. 2021. Prospects for Gulf of Mexico environmental recovery and restoration. Oceanography. https://doi.org/10.5670/oceanog.2021.124
Barra, M., Hemmerling, S., and M.M. Baustian. 2020. A model controversy: Using environmental competency groups to inform coastal restoration planning in Louisiana. Professional Geographer. https://doi.org/10.1080/00330124.2020.1777574
N.N. Rabalais and Baustian, M.M. 2020. Historical shifts in benthic infaunal diversity in the northern Gulf of Mexico since the appearance of seasonally severe hypoxia. Diversity. https://doi.org/10.3390/d12020049
Baustian, M.M., Brooks, Y.M., Baskaran, M., Liu, B., Ostrom, N.E., Stevenson, R.J., and J.B. Rose. 2020. Paleo-environmental examination of human-driven ecosystem change in Lake St. Clair region of Laurentian Great Lakes basin. Journal of Paleolimnology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10933-019-00108-x
Baustian, M.M, Jung, H., Bienn, H., Barra, M., Hemmerling, S. Wang, Y., White, E., and E. Meselhe. 2020. Engaging coastal community members about natural and nature-based solutions and assessing their ecosystem functions. Ecological Engineering. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoena.2019.100015
Meselhe, E., Wang, Y., White, E., Jung, H., Baustian, M.M., Hemmerling, S.A., Barra, M., and H. Bienn. 2020. Knowledge-Based predictive tools to assess effectiveness of natural and nature-based solutions for coastal restoration and protection planning. Journal of Hydraulic Engineering 146(2): https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)HY.1943-7900.0001659
Hemmerling, S.A., Barra, M., Bienn, H.C., Baustian, M.M., Jung, H., Meselhe, E., Wang, Y., and E. White. 2019. Elevating local knowledge through participatory modeling: Active community engagement in restoration planning in coastal Louisiana. Journal of Geographical Systems. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10109-019-00313-2
Baustian, M.M. Meselhe, E., Jung, H., Sadid, K, Duke- Sylvester, S., Visser, J., Allison, M., Moss, L., Ramatchandirane, C, van Maren, B., Jeuken, M., and S. Bargu. 2018. Development of an Integrated Biophysical Model to represent morphological and ecological processes in a changing deltaic and coastal ecosystem. Environmental Modeling and Software. 109:402-419. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsoft.2018.05.019
Baustian, M.M., Bargu, S., Rabalais, N.N, and W.L. Morrison. 2018. The polychaete, Paraprionospio pinnata, is a likely vector of domoic acid to the benthic food web in the northern Gulf of Mexico. Harmful Algae. 79:44-49. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hal.2018.06.002
Baustian, M.M., Clark, R. Jerabek, A.S., Wang, Y. Bienn, H.C., and E.D. White. 2018. Modeling current and future freshwater inflow needs of a subtropical estuary to manage and maintain forested wetland ecological conditions. Ecological Indicators. 85:791-807. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X17306295
Price, A., Baustian, M.M., Turner, R.E. Rabalais, N.N., and G. Chmura. 2017. Dinoflagellate cysts track eutrophication in the northern Gulf of Mexico. Estuaries and Coasts. 41:1322-1336. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12237-017-0351-x
Brooks, Y.M., Baustian, M.M., Baskaran, M., Ostrom, N.E. and J.B. Rose. 2016. Historic associations of fecal indicator marker concentrations to anthropogenic activities and climate in freshwater sediment cores. Environmental Science and Technology. 50:6902-6911. http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/acs.est.6b01372
Price, A., Baustian, M.M., Turner, R.E. Rabalais, N.N., and Chmura, G. 2016. Melitasphaeridium choanophorum – a living dinoflagellate cyst fossil in the Gulf of Mexico. Palynology. 41:351-358. http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/01916122.2016.1205676
Bargu, S., Baustian, M.M., Rabalais, N.N., Del Rio, R., Von Korff, B., and R.E. Turner. 2016. Influence of the Mississippi River on Pseudo-nitzschia spp. abundance and toxicity in Louisiana coastal waters. Estuaries and Coasts. 39:1345-1356. http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12237-016-0088-y
Baustian, M.M., Hansen, G., de Kluijver, A., Robinson, K., Henry Norton, E., Knoll, L., Rose, K, and C. Carey. 2014. Linking the bottom to the top in aquatic ecosystems: mechanisms and stressors of benthic-pelagic coupling. Invited Eco-DAS X chapter for Association for Sciences of Limnology and Oceanography e-book. http://www.aslo.org/books/ecodas10/ecodas10_025.pdf
Monk, M.H., Baustian, M.M., Saari, C.R., Welsh, S., D’Elia, C., Gaston, S., and J.E. Powers. 2014. EnvironMentors: mentoring at-risk high school students through university partnerships. International Journal of Environmental and Science Education. 9:385-397. http://www.ijese.com/ijese.2014.223a.pdf
Hansen, G.A., Sadro, S., Baustian, M.M., and B. Stauffer. 2014. Shifting career pathways of Ph.D. ecologists: Is it time to redefine the “alternative” career? Limnology and Oceanography Bulletin. 23:2-5. http://aslo.org/bulletin/issues/14_v23_i1.pdf
Baustian, M.M., Mavrommati, G., Dreelin, E.A., Esselman, P., Schultze, S., Qian, L. Aw, T.G Luo, L. and J.B. Rose. 2014. A one hundred year review of the socioeconomic and ecological systems in Lake St. Clair, North America. Journal of Great Lakes Research. 40:15-26. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jglr.2013.11.006
Mavrommati, G., Baustian, M.M. and E. Dreelin. 2013. Coupling Socioeconomic and Lake Systems for Sustainability: A Conceptual Analysis Using Lake St. Clair Region as a Case Study. Ambio 43:275-287. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s13280-013-0432-4
Baustian, M.M., Rabalais, N.N., Morrison, W.L. and R.E. Turner. 2013. Microphytobenthos along the Louisiana continental shelf during mid-summer hypoxia. Continental Shelf Research.52:108-118. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.csr.2012.10.014
Baustian, M.M., Rabalais, N.N., Morrison, W.L. and R.E. Turner. 2011. Seasonal microphytobenthos on the hypoxic northern Gulf of Mexico continental shelf. Marine Ecology Progress Series. 436:51–66. http://dx.doi.org/10.3354/meps09262
Qian, S.S., Craig, J.K., Baustian, M.M. and N.N. Rabalais. 2009. A Bayesian hierarchical modeling approach for analyzing observational data from marine ecological studies. Marine Pollution Bulletin. 58:1916–1921. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2009.09.029
Baustian, M.M., Craig, J.K. and N.N. Rabalais. 2009. Effects of summer 2003 hypoxia on macrobenthos and Atlantic croaker foraging selectivity in the northern Gulf of Mexico. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology. 381:S31-S37. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jembe.2009.07.007
Baustian, M.M. and N.N. Rabalais. 2009. Seasonal composition of benthic macroinfauna exposed to hypoxia in the northern Gulf of Mexico. Estuaries and Coasts. 32:975–983. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12237-009-9187-3
Baustian, M.M., Bentley, S.J. and J.H. Wandersee. 2008. Innovative assessment tools for a short, fast-paced, summer field course. Journal of College Science Teaching. 37:37-43. http://learningcenter.nsta.org/product_detail.aspx?id=10.2505/4/jcst08_037_06_37
Millman, M., Teichberg, M, Martinetto, P and I. Valiela. 2002. Response of shrimp populations to land-derived nitrogen in Waquoit Bay. Biological Bulletin. 203:263-264. http://www.biolbull.org/content/203/2/263.full.pdf+html

**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.

*Disclaimer: Listing outside positions with professional scientific organizations on this Staff Profile are for informational purposes only and do not constitute an endorsement of those professional scientific organizations or their activities by the USGS, Department of the Interior, or U.S. Government

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