The South Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve (Reserve) established Sentinel Sites in the reserve to understand the local effects of sea level rise on tidal wetland plant communities, including emergent marshes and eelgrass beds. The intern will work closely with the Reserve science staff to collect field-based data including marsh and eelgrass biomonitoring, sediment dynamics information (surface elevation and sediment accretion), and groundwater level and tide level data at multiple sites in the estuary.

From this internship, the student will gain experience in field, laboratory, and professional office settings. The intern will gain knowledge of a variety of field equipment and techniques related to wetland monitoring including: percent cover and density metrics for wetland plant communities, plant identification, rod surface elevation tables (R-SETS), feldspar marker horizons, estuary water level and groundwater level instruments, and groundwater well installation. This opportunity may also include data analysis using newly collected data to characterize trends over time. The intern will collaborate with the Reserve science team, and have opportunities to participate in other Reserve science and education projects.

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