Publications
Explore WARC's science publications.
Filter Total Items: 3551
Description of multiple cryptic species of Obovaria Rafinesque, 1819 (Bivalvia: Unionida) from the Mississippi Embayment and Gulf coastal rivers of North America Description of multiple cryptic species of Obovaria Rafinesque, 1819 (Bivalvia: Unionida) from the Mississippi Embayment and Gulf coastal rivers of North America
The freshwater mussel genus Obovaria (Bivalvia: Unionidae) has long been recognized as taxonomically challenging due to plastic shell morphology, historical misidentifications, and incomplete geographic sampling across the southeastern United States. Using an integrated approach combining shell morphology, comparative conchology, geographic distribution, and molecular phylogenetic...
Authors
Kentaro Inoue, John L. Harris, Nathan Johnson
Forecasting marsh resilience in the Plum Island Estuary: Integrating uncertainty to inform coastal management Forecasting marsh resilience in the Plum Island Estuary: Integrating uncertainty to inform coastal management
Salt marshes provide critical ecosystem services yet face increasing threats from accelerated relative sea-level rise (SLR). The long-term persistence of these habitats depends on their ability to vertically accrete and laterally migrate into adjacent uplands. Predicting the location and viability of these future marsh corridors is therefore a primary challenge for coastal managers; one...
Authors
Ramin Familkhalili, Nicholas M. Enwright, Jordan E. Cosgrove, Christine A. Buckel
Incorporating wetland drowning thresholds to assess the spatiotemporal variability in potential wetland migration and submergence from sea-level rise Incorporating wetland drowning thresholds to assess the spatiotemporal variability in potential wetland migration and submergence from sea-level rise
In the coming decades sea-level rise rates could exceed the upper bounds of coastal wetland vertical movement leading to wetland submergence. Consequently, understanding the spatiotemporal variability of wetland migration and submergence at regional and national scales can inform decision making. In this study, we developed an approach that addresses elevation error in digital elevation...
Authors
Nicholas M. Enwright, Michael J. Osland, Jena A. Moon, Bethanie M. Simons, Joseph D. Lancaster, Sarah E. Lehnen, Colt R. Sanspree, Camille L. Stagg, Barry C. Wilson
Towards a refined definition of “tidal influence” for the coastal wetland sciences Towards a refined definition of “tidal influence” for the coastal wetland sciences
The astronomical tide relates to lunar (and to a lesser extent solar) influences on rising and falling water bodies, and is a key control of many coastal processes. However, tides manifest along coastal margins in different ways to muddle application beyond Sir Isaac Newton’s first descriptions. Here, we argue that tide, or specifically “tidal,” has not been adequately defined for the...
Authors
Ken W. Krauss, Laura S. Brophy, Judith Z. Drexler, Jeffrey A. Kelleway, Janine B. Adams, Havalend E. Steinmuller, Gregory B. Noe, Michael J. Osland, Jamie A. Duberstein, Kurt P. Kowalski, Amanda L. McCutcheon, Kaile'a M. Annandale, Daniel A. Friess, Eric E. Grossman, Kristin B. Byrd, Kevin J. Buffington, Joel A. Carr, Nicholas M. Enwright, Camille L. Stagg, Davina L. Passeri, Stephanie S. Romanach, Glenn R. Guntenspergen, James B. Grace, Christopher G. Smith, Justine A. Neville, Karen M. Thorne, Brian J. Roberts
Predator hunting modes induce varied selection pressures on prey personality Predator hunting modes induce varied selection pressures on prey personality
Consistent individual differences in animal behavior—ie, personalities—have been documented in many taxa to have important fitness consequences in the context of predator-prey interactions. Multiple mechanisms have been suggested to maintain variation in prey personality traits, including life-history tradeoffs and divergent selection pressures from predators with different hunting...
Authors
Rebecca K. McKee, Storm Miller, Carl N. Keiser, Marin P. Chester, Kristen M. Hart, Robert A. McCleery
Sediment dredging influences the seasonal biomass and community composition of microphytobenthos on a sandy shoal Sediment dredging influences the seasonal biomass and community composition of microphytobenthos on a sandy shoal
Microphytobenthos on sand shoals of continental shelves support biogeochemical cycles and trophodynamics and can be affected by sediment dredging. Therefore, our goal was to assess seasonal (spring, summer, fall) microphytobenthic biomass and composition over two years (2021 and 2022) at three areas (reference, relic dredged pit, and new dredged pit) of Ship Shoal off the coast of...
Authors
Melissa Millman Baustian, Emily J. Lain, James L. Pinckney, Stacy Calhoun-Grosch, Brian J. Roberts
Classifying and mapping wetland vegetation assemblages in coastal Louisiana with Landsat imagery, 1985-2025 Classifying and mapping wetland vegetation assemblages in coastal Louisiana with Landsat imagery, 1985-2025
The tidal wetlands of Louisiana comprise about 25% of those found throughout the conterminous United States yet estimates of wetland loss rates in the region between 1932 and 2016 have exceeded 60 km2 yr-1. To mitigate further degradation and wetland loss in the region, a globally unprecedented $50B, 50-year plan for coastal Louisiana is driving restoration efforts, and demand exists...
Authors
Gregg Snedden, Brady Couvillion, Donald R. Schoolmaster
Successes and opportunities for solutions-oriented conservation research: Lessons learned from avian science Successes and opportunities for solutions-oriented conservation research: Lessons learned from avian science
Conservation science struggles with an ongoing divide between research and action. Given its history of broad public engagement and multi-scale management coordination, avian conservation typifies many of the challenges, successes, and opportunities across the broader field of conservation and is rich with examples that may guide solutions-oriented conservation science. In semi...
Authors
Rachel T. Buxton, Miguel F. Jimenez, Aalia I. Khan, Tori D. Bakley, Lisha L. Berzins, Barbara Frei, Elizabeth A. Gow, Autumn-Lynn Harrison, Osvel Hinojosa-Huerta, Andrea R. Norris, Brendon Samuels, Douglas C. Tozer, Eric M. Wood, Theodore J. Zenzal, Paul A. Smith, Catherine Jardine, Mark S. Woodrey, Bradley P. Wilkinson, Angeles Raymundo, Bryan B. Lenz
Integrating habitat suitability and climate constraints to predict nonnative fish invasion risk for U.S. streams and inland lakes Integrating habitat suitability and climate constraints to predict nonnative fish invasion risk for U.S. streams and inland lakes
Introduction: Nonnative fishes in streams and inland lakes can substantially alter aquatic ecosystems by degrading habitat conditions, competing with native species, and restructuring food webs. Identifying invasion hotspots can inform proactive management and prevention of nonnative species establishment. Methods: In this study, we identified streams and lakes across the conterminous...
Authors
Hao Yu, Arthur R. Cooper, Jared A. Ross, Wesley Daniel, Emily M. Dean, Dana M. Infante
Tracing mercury from land to river: Global sources, retention, and implications for sustainability Tracing mercury from land to river: Global sources, retention, and implications for sustainability
Mercury (Hg) pollution in river systems is a global sustainability challenge. Yet the transport, transformation, and retention of Hg within global rivers remain poorly quantified, particularly in regions with sparse observations such as Southeast Asia and Africa, hindering effective pollution mitigation and reinforcing geographic inequities in scientific knowledge and environmental...
Authors
Peng Dong, Zeli Tan, Peipei Wu, Ruirong Chang, Shaojian Huang, Peng Zhang, Yujuan Wang, Zhengcheng Song, Yanxu Zhang, Ting Lei, Maodian Liu, Beth Middleton, Jianhua Gao, Junguo Liu, Guangchun Lei, Shu Tao
Co-producing coastal bird research on the Gulf Coast through structured decision making (SDM) and constructed value of information (CVoI) Co-producing coastal bird research on the Gulf Coast through structured decision making (SDM) and constructed value of information (CVoI)
Conservation practitioners face the complex challenge of addressing global biodiversity threats within social-ecological systems with multiple jurisdictions, numerous interest groups, and changing environmental conditions. Bridging the research-to-implementation gap between scientists and managers, which integrates diverse perspectives that represent the variety of considerations...
Authors
Jennifer L. Fuller, Nicole L. Michel, Kerry E. Grimm, Ashley A. Dayer, Evan M. Adams, Abigail J. Darrah, Auriel M. Fournier, Jeffrey S. Gleason, Jacquelyn K. Grace, Erik I. Johnson, Terri J. Maness, Mary Ann Ottinger, Sarah P. Saunders, Caz M. Taylor, Theodore J. Zenzal
Modification of rod surface elevation tables for monitoring extreme elevation shifts in wetlands Modification of rod surface elevation tables for monitoring extreme elevation shifts in wetlands
Rod surface elevation tables (RSETs) are effective tools for measuring changes in ground surface height, but these are not designed to withstand large changes in height (e.g., ±50 cm). After extreme changes in elevation due to erosion or accretion, RSET sites may be deemed unusable; however, this equipment usually can function indefinitely with in-situ modifications. Here, we provide a
Authors
Ting Lei, John L. David, Beth A. Middleton