A5025046870- Coastal wetland ecosystem dynamics
- Marine and coastal plant biology
- Coastal and Marine Dynamics
- Marine Biology and Ecology Research
- Aeolian processes and effects
- Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
- Coral and Marine Ecosystems Studies
- Peatlands and Wetlands Ecology
- Isotope Analysis in Ecology
- Plant and Fungal Species Descriptions
- Plant responses to water stress
- Tropical and Extratropical Cyclones Research
- Geology and Paleoclimatology Research
- Coastal and Marine Management
- Aquatic Invertebrate Ecology and Behavior
- Marine and coastal ecosystems
- Marine and fisheries research
- Environmental Conservation and Management
- Fire effects on ecosystems
- Land Use and Ecosystem Services
- Botany, Ecology, and Taxonomy Studies
- Tree Root and Stability Studies
- Marine Bivalve and Aquaculture Studies
- Biocrusts and Microbial Ecology
- Wildlife-Road Interactions and Conservation
Texas A&M University at Galveston
2015-2024
Ecological Society of America
2020
Texas A&M University
2016-2020
John Wiley & Sons (United States)
2020
Florida International University
2004-2012
University of California, Los Angeles
2004-2009
Landscape-level shifts in plant species distribution and abundance can fundamentally change the ecology of an ecosystem. Such are occurring within mangrove-marsh ecotones, where over last few decades, relatively mild winters have led to mangrove expansion into areas previously occupied by salt marsh plants. On Texas (USA) coast western Gulf Mexico, most cases been documented specific bays or watersheds. Based on this body small-scale work broader global patterns expansion, we hypothesized...
Tropical cyclones drive coastal ecosystem dynamics, and their frequency, intensity, spatial distribution are predicted to shift with climate change. Patterns of resistance resilience were synthesized for 4138 time series from n = 26 storms occurring between 1985 2018 in the Northern Hemisphere predict how ecosystems will respond future disturbance regimes. Data grouped by (fresh water, salt terrestrial, wetland) response categories (biogeochemistry, hydrography, mobile biota, sedentary...
Abstract. The carbon sequestration potential in coastal soils is linked to aboveground and belowground plant productivity biomass, which turn, directly indirectly influenced by nutrient input. We evaluated the influence of long-term near-term input on accumulation seagrass beds, using a enrichment (nitrogen phosphorus) experiment embedded within naturally occurring, gradient phosphorus availability Florida Bay (USA). measured organic stocks above- biomass after 17 months experimental...
Abstract Global changes are causing broad‐scale shifts in vegetation communities worldwide, including coastal habitats where the borders between mangroves and salt marsh flux. Coastal provide numerous ecosystem services of high economic value, but consequences variation mangrove cover poorly known. We experimentally manipulated large plots to test a set linked hypotheses regarding effects cover. found that had strong on microclimate, plant community, sediment accretion, soil organic content,...
Abstract Near the tropical‐temperate transition zone, warming winter temperatures are expected to facilitate poleward range expansion of freeze‐sensitive tropical organisms. In coastal wetlands eastern and central North America, woody plants (mangroves) expand northward into regions currently dominated by freeze‐tolerant herbaceous salt marsh plants. To advance understanding mangrove expansion, there is a need refine temperature thresholds for freeze damage, mortality recovery. We integrated...
Abstract Climate change is altering species’ range limits and transforming ecosystems. For example, warming temperatures are leading to the expansion of tropical, cold-sensitive species at expense their cold-tolerant counterparts. In some temperate subtropical coastal wetlands, winters enabling mangrove forest encroachment into salt marsh, which a major regime shift that has significant ecological societal ramifications. Here, we synthesized existing data expert knowledge assess distribution...
Over the last several decades, distribution of black mangrove Avicennia germinans in Gulf Mexico has expanded, part because it can survive occasional freeze events and high soil salinities characteristic area. Vessel architecture may influence chilling salinity tolerance. We surveyed populations A. throughout to determine if vessel was linked field environmental conditions. measured density, hydraulically weighted diameter, potential conductance capacity, maximum tensile fracture stress. At...
Abstract Tropical cyclones play an increasingly important role in shaping ecosystems. Understanding and generalizing their responses is challenging because of meteorological variability among storms its interaction with We present a research framework designed to compare tropical cyclone effects within across ecosystems that: a) uses disaggregating approach that measures the individual ecosystem components, b) links response components at fine temporal scales meteorology antecedent...
Abstract Despite overall global declines, mangroves are expanding into and within many subtropical wetlands, leading to heterogeneous cover of marsh–mangrove coastal vegetation communities near the poleward edge mangroves’ ranges. Coastal wetlands globally important carbon sinks, yet effects shifts in mangrove on organic‐carbon ( OC ) storage remains uncertain. We experimentally maintained black Avicennia germinans or marsh patches n = 1,120, 3 × m) along a gradient (0–100%) wetland plots 10...
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Sigren, J.M.; Figlus, J.; Highfield, W.; Feagin, R.A., and Armitage, A.R., 2018. The effects of coastal dune volume vegetation on storm-induced property damage: Analysis from Hurricane Ike.In response to numerous recent high-profile cases tropical storm hurricane damage communities, there has been increasing attention the protection services provided by ecosystems. However, substantial knowledge gaps exist regarding quantitative economic benefits such services, particularly for vegetated A...
We tested the hypothesis that mangroves provide better coastal protection than salt marsh vegetation using 10 1,008-m2 plots in which we manipulated mangrove cover from 0 to 100%. Hurricane Harvey passed over 2017. Data erosion stakes indicated up 26 cm of vertical and 970 horizontal 70 months plot with 0% cover, but relatively little other plots. The hurricane did not increase erosion, decreased after passed. drone images 196 m2 plot, plots, ongoing hurricane. Transects through levee (near...
Abstract Habitat restoration can partially compensate for the extensive loss of coastal wetlands, but creation functional habitat and assessment success remain challenging tasks. To evaluate wintering shorebird use restored we quantified assemblages behavior selected focal species at five sites paired reference in Mugu Lagoon, southern California, United States. The Shannon–Wiener index diversity (for all birds order Charadriiformes) was higher than portion three sites, a fourth site,...