Danielle Perry
School: University of Rhode Island
Degree: Ph.D., Ecology & Ecosystem Sciences
Advisor: Carol Thornber
Expected completion date: May 2020
Research: Macroalgae is often seen deposited on salt marsh environments covering the vegetation. Macroalgal coverage can potentially prevent vegetation from receiving needed sunlight and nutrients. I studied the effects of two algal types, bloom-forming Ulva and salt marsh Fucus, on the salt marsh plant, Spartina alterniflora and associated greenhouse gas fluxes. Preliminary results suggested that bloom forming Ulva has negative effects on Spartina alterniflora stem density and emits more greenhouse gas fluxes than salt marsh Fucus. As macroalgal blooms are expected to increase due to climate change, negative impacts of macroalgal accumulation is expected to increase as well.
Rhode Island EPSCoR is funded by the National Science Foundation under EPSCoR Research Infrastructure Improvement Award #OIA-1655221 (Sept. 2017-Aug. 2022). Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.