Carpinteria Salt Marsh Reserve’s Macroalgae Blooms: A Longitudinal Study

Keywords: saltmarsh,algae,algaeblooms,wetlands,remotesensing,drone,harmfulalgaebloom,HAB
Abstract Type: Poster Abstract

Abstract

Coastal wetlands are rapidly declining, with 65% of coastal wetlands in the contiguous United States severely degraded by excessive nutrient inputs. Excessive nutrient input may result in a harmful algae bloom (HAB). One of these coastal wetlands, the Carpinteria Salt Marsh Reserve (CSMR), is one of the few living wetlands left in California and is experiencing macro algae blooms. Therefore, studying how HABs behave overtime is critical to efforts to save the CSMR in the face of the Anthropocene and climate change.

The objective of my study is to conduct a time transgressive study of the spatial distribution of algae blooms and analyze the correlation between algae bloom area and water quality data, using data from unmanned aerial vehicle based remote sensing and water quality testing for Nitrate and Nitrite. The results are expected to show positive correlation between levels of Nitrate and Nitrite and increases in algae mass.

My project is the first of its kind within the CSMR and provides important baseline data. Future research on algae and water quality will be able to use the results of this study in aiding research. Overall, this will contribute to the study of algae and its influence in coastal wetlands, which are heavily affected by it. The continued warming of the globe will further exacerbate the effect algae plays on many aquatic ecosystems. Therefore, it becomes pertinent to build as much data on the phenomena to monitor and mitigate the effects of harmful algae blooms on coastal wetland systems.