River Wetlands Research

 

Dr. Courtney Hackney, Biology Department, has been following changes in wetlands along the Cape Fear River and its associated estuary for many years and heads a long-term study of changes in vegetation, biogeochemistry of soils, fish and invertebrate use, and hydrology.

 

Dr. Steven Emslie,Biology Department, has initiated research on the winter ecology of three species of coastal sparrows, Nelson’s and Saltmarsh Sharp-tailed Sparrows and Seaside Sparrow, that co-inhabit the salt marshes here in winter.  This study involves regular banding of these birds at three marsh sites and the collection of feathers and blood for stable isotope analysis. 

 

Dr. Lynn Leonard, Geology and Geography, researches many aspects of the marshes and tidal creeks of the Cape Fear River.

 

Dr. Craig Tobias of UNCW's Geology and Geography, recent research has focused on removal of groundwater nitrogen loads by coastal salt marshes, constructing estuary-scale nitrogen budgets, examining coupled carbon and oxygen dynamics in alkaline streams, and developing techniques to measure reaction rates in the field across hydraulically active interfaces.

 

Photo Credit Lee Pridgen