Research Areas and Sub-Specialties
Ecology and Restoration of Salt Marshes, Oyster Reefs, and Coral Reefs
Salt
marshes, oyster reefs, and coral reefs are highly productive nearshore
marine ecosystems. Salt marshes are primary nursery areas
for larval and juvenile stages of a multitude of marine and estuarine
finfish and shellfish, providing food and cover from predators.
Oyster reefs not only provide humans with a valuable food source,
but provide a structural and nutritional habitat for many estuarine
organisms in otherwise open sand and mud flats. In addition,
oyster reefs serve as natural filters to cleanse waters of suspended
particles, bacteria, and excess phytoplankton. Coral reefs
serve as habitat and feeding grounds for many nearshore marine fishes,
and provide a critical food source to
humans in some areas of the 
world ocean. All of these systems are presently suffering
from habitat loss, overfishing, nutrient pollution, and other human-caused
impacts. Restoration of these habitats is a high ecological
priority that involves not only scientific expertise but the ability
to collaborate with government agencies, elected officials,
and concerned public interest groups. Many of the coral reef related
research projects at UNCW have the objective of advancing coral
reef restoration. For example, attempts are being to apply new information
gained from basic studies of coral larval early life history to
the re-seeding of coral reef damaged by either natural or man-made
events. Studies of fish and coral molecular genetics serve to test
hypotheses regarding the function of marine reserves.
Faculty researching this area include:
 Alina Szmant |
 Martin Posey |
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