NOAA-ECSC Ecological Processes and Indicators of Ecosystem Health
ECSC research in the Ecological Processes and Indicators of Ecosystem Health Thematic Area align with NOAA’s ecosystem approach to management. The research foci are Ecosystem Status and Health and Integrated Ecosystem Modeling
Biogeochemical Conceptual Model:
Ecosystem Status and Health research has been designed to produce the data needed to effectively model ecosystem dynamics. This research focus incorporates studies in the following topical areas: a) biogeochemistry, e.g., water quality, production dynamics (primary production, trophic transfer, and microbial processes), energy flow (production exchange across interfaces), contaminant loading and cycling, ecosystem responses to disturbances (e.g., changes in salinity regime, DO, sediment loading, shifts in community structures); and b) bioindicators, including harmful algal blooms, invasive species, pathogens, biodiversity, microbial community structure
Integrated Ecosystem Modeling research will enhance and develop forecasting modeling tools to improve the understanding of transport processes (i.e., physical, chemical, and biological) as well as assess effects of stressors on estuarine systems. This research focus incorporates studies in the following areas: a) runoff and loadings from watershed; b) hydrodynamics; c) estuarine transport processes; d) ecological modeling, e.g., population dynamics, contaminant uptake and transfer; and e) risk assessment and scenario/consequence analyses
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