Mentor(s)

Joel Singley, Biology, Roger Williams University

Project Location

Roger Williams University

Project Description

Hydrologic conditions in marsh to forest ecotones are interactively controlled by changes in inland hydrologic fluxes as well as mid- to long-term coastal dynamics and events (i.e., storm surges, saltwater intrusion, and sea level rise). This project aims to assess how the sensitivity of trees to past hydroclimatic anomalies has changed in space and time due to sea level rise and to what extent localized land management alters these relationships. We hypothesize that trees will exhibit differential growth responses to inland hydroclimatic vs coastal change depending on their relative location from the marsh boundary to more upland sites, with trees closer to the marsh being less sensitive to events that principally perturb freshwater connectivity and fluxes (i.e., drought) but more sensitive to inter-annual coastal dynamics. We expect that these sensitivities and their spatial patterning will shift in time due to multi-year to decadal changes (i.e., sea level rise).

Additionally, we expect these patterns to differ among tree species as a function of their rooting characteristics and water stress regulation strategies. The specific tasks for a SURF student will include fieldwork, where they will collect core samples from various tree species along the marsh-upland gradient, and subsequent laboratory analysis to examine tree ring patterns and assess growth responses to historical climate variability and recent management interventions. The student will gain training in fieldwork as well as data handling, visualization, and analysis (including coding in R). This project will generate data that can inform broader ecological and environmental research about stressors along coastal-upland interfaces, including improved understanding of the relative risks posed by single and compound stressors in space and among forests with unique community composition.

This project involves field, lab and computational work

Required/Preferred skills

No prior experience with fieldwork, tree coring, coding, or data analysis are required. Rather, enthusiasm and a willingness to learn new techniques and troubleshoot are most important. Fieldwork accommodations, equipment, and strategic planning are available to ensure equitable access for the chosen participant.

Will the project require transportation to field sites? No

Is this project open to Surf Flex? Yes

In which core facilities might student conduct research? None

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