Researchers from UNCW’s Department of Biology and Marine Biology and the Center for Marine Science (CMS) have been awarded almost $400,000 in funding.

The National Estuarine Research Reserve Science Collaborative Grant will allow Jessie Jarvis (pictured at right) and Stephanie Kamel (pictured below) to further their research on seagrasses vital to coastal ecosystems.Their project is entitled, “Evaluating and Enhancing Eelgrass Resiliency and Restoration Potential in a Changing Climate.”

Recently, higher ocean water temperatures have resulted in large-scale diebacks of eelgrass (Zostera marina) meadows in the lower Chesapeake Bay (VA), resulting in a conversion from historically stable, dense meadows to low-density transitory ones, the release stated.

"When seagrasses die back most of the habitat in that area is also lost. If the decline of eelgrass is large enough entire fisheries can be lost at a local level," the release stated. "For species that depend on seagrass as a habitat during their juvenile stages, like blue crabs, this can be particularly detrimental. In contrast, many eelgrass populations in Back Sound (NC) appear to be more resilient to warming water temperatures."

CMS Executive Director Ken Halanych stated in the release, “The Center for Marine Science is proud to have Drs. Jarvis and Kamel undertaking such an important effort that will inform science-based restoration decisions."