Yet current land-use policies and practices often fail to adequately protect these sensitive areas. Shoreline development poses an increasing threat, and wetland mitigation strategies can overlook unique wetland qualities and functions. Thus many decisions often result in loss of natural wetlands. Such a tool will facilitate decision-making and enhance the state's coastal wetlands policy. Despite the many benefits that wetlands provide, Great Lakes coastal wetlands continue to be threatened by numerous processes.
Sedimentation is one of the more subtle forms of habitat degradation in wetlands.
Accelerated rates of sedimentation, commonly caused by erosion, are especially harmful and can compromise wetland habitat and function. One interaction that is not well understood is the effect of sedimentation on microbial processes, which assist in decomposition. Project researchers will quantify the interaction between sedimentation and decomposition using a network of enclosed study units. Project results will help clarify the impact of sedimentation on coastal wetland processes, which will have important implications for wetland management. Robert Neely Biology Dept.