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Novel Applications of Technology for Advancing Tidal Marsh Ecology

  • Special Issue: Concepts and Controversies in Tidal Marsh Ecology Revisited
  • Published:
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Abstract

Over the last 20 years, innovations have led to the development of exciting new technologies and novel applications of established technologies, collectively increasing the scale, scope, and quality of research possible in tidal marsh systems. Thus, ecological research on marshes is being revolutionized, in the same way as ecological research more generally, by the availability of new tools and analytical techniques. This perspective highlights current and potential applications of novel research technologies for marsh ecology. These are summarized under several themes: (1.) imagery — sophisticated imaging sensors mounted on satellites, drones, and underwater vehicles; (2.) animal tracking — acoustic telemetry, passive integrated transponder (PIT) tags, and satellite tracking, and (3.) biotracers — investigation of energy pathways and food web structure using chemical tracers such as compound-specific stable isotopes, isotope addition experiments, contaminant analysis, and eDNA. While the adoption of these technological advances has greatly enhanced our ability to examine contemporary questions in tidal marsh ecology, these applications also create significant challenges with the accessibility, processing, and synthesis of the large amounts of data generated. Implementation of open science practices has allowed for greater access to data. Newly available machine learning algorithms have been widely applied to resolve the challenge of detecting patterns in massive environmental datasets. The potential integration on digital platforms of multiple, large data streams measuring physical and biological components of tidal marsh ecosystems is an opportunity to advance science support for management responses needed in a rapidly changing coastal landscape.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Baruch Marine Field Laboratory, University of South Carolina, 2306 Crabhall Road, Georgetown, SC, 29440, USA

    Matthew E. Kimball

  2. Coastal and Marine Research Centre, Australian Rivers Institute, School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Queensland, 4222, Australia

    Rod M. Connolly

  3. Nature Coast Biological Station, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Cedar Key, FL, 32625, USA

    Scott B. Alford

  4. Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management, University of California, Berkeley, 130 Mulford Hall #3114, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA

    Denise D. Colombano

  5. Institute of Environment, Florida International University, 11200 SW 8th Street, AHC5 365, Miami, FL, 33199, USA

    W. Ryan James

  6. Department of Marine and Environmental Sciences, Savannah State University, 3219 College Street, Savannah, GA, 31404, USA

    Matthew D. Kenworthy

  7. Department of Biology, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, New Brunswick, E3B 5A3, Canada

    Gregory S. Norris

  8. Geography and Environment Department, Mount Allison University, 65 York Street, Sackville, NB, E4L 1E4, Canada

    Jeff Ollerhead

  9. Department of Marine Sciences, University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama, 36688, USA

    Sarah Ramsden

  10. Dauphin Island Sea Lab, 101 Bienville Boulevard, Dauphin Island, AL, 36528, USA

    Sarah Ramsden

  11. Earth & Environment Department, Institute of Environment, Florida International University, 11200 SW 8th Street, AHC5 365, Miami, FL, 33199, USA

    Jennifer S. Rehage

  12. Coastal Research and Extension Center, Mississippi State University, 1815 Popp’s Ferry Road, Biloxi, MS, 39532, USA

    Eric L. Sparks

  13. Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium, 703 East Beach Drive, Ocean Springs, MS, 39564, USA

    Eric L. Sparks

  14. Marine Data Technology Hub, College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, 4811, Australia

    Nathan J. Waltham

  15. TropWATER (Centre for Tropical Water and Aquatic Ecosystem Research), College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, 4811, Australia

    Nathan J. Waltham

  16. Conservation Science Group, Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 3QZ, UK

    Thomas A. Worthington

  17. Port Stephens Fisheries Institute, New South Wales Department of Primary Industries, Locked Bag 1, Nelson Bay, New South Wales, 2315, Australia

    Matthew D. Taylor

Authors
  1. Matthew E. Kimball
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  2. Rod M. Connolly
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  3. Scott B. Alford
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  4. Denise D. Colombano
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  5. W. Ryan James
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  7. Gregory S. Norris
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  8. Jeff Ollerhead
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Correspondence to Matthew E. Kimball.

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Conflict of Interest

This perspective arose from a meeting held at the Dauphin Island Sea Lab (DISL) 1–3 November 2019 as part of the Coastal and Estuarine Research Federation (CERF) 2019 Conference Workshop Program. The meeting was funded by grants to R. Baker from the University of South Alabama and DISL, and sponsorship from Mississippi-Alabama-, Georgia-, and Washington-Sea Grants, the Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, the DISL Foundation, and CERF. RMC is supported by the Global Wetlands Project. NJW is funded by Australian Government National Environmental Science Program Tropical Water Quality Hub. TAW was supported by an anonymous grant to The Nature Conservancy.

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Communicated by Kenneth L. Heck

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Kimball, M.E., Connolly, R.M., Alford, S.B. et al. Novel Applications of Technology for Advancing Tidal Marsh Ecology. Estuaries and Coasts 44, 1568–1578 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12237-021-00939-w

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12237-021-00939-w

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