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Projects Explorer

The NCCOS Project Explorer provides a snapshot of our official, discrete lines of research.
Filter by research category, region, and/or contact.

Interactions between Ocean Acidification and Eutrophication in Chesapeake Bay and Implications for Oysters

Chesapeake Bay, Climate Impacts on Ecosystems, Coastal Change, elizabeth.turner@noaa.gov, Ocean Acidification, Waterbodies
We are supporting research that will determine the current state of acidification in Chesapeake Bay waters and identify areas in the bay that are most ...
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Interactive Effects of Microplastics and Other Chemicals of Emerging Concern in Coastal Ecosystems

Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, paul.pennington@noaa.gov, South Carolina, Stressor Impacts and Mitigation, U.S. States and Territories, Water Quality
The purpose of this project is to examine how microplastic pollution interacts with chemical contamination in coastal ecosystems. We plan to perform a series of ...
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Interannual Variability of PSP Toxicity in Eastern Maine: Testing the Leaky Gyre Hypothesis and Improving Regional Forecasts and Management

Alexandrium, Atlantic Ocean, Canada, ECOHAB, Forecasting, Foreign Countries, Gulf of Maine, harmful algal bloom, Harmful Algal Bloom Detection and Forecasting, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Other Topics, quay.dortch@noaa.gov, Rhode Island, Sponsored Research, Stressor Impacts and Mitigation, U.S. States and Territories, Waterbodies
The Gulf of Maine is impacted annually by Alexandrium fundyense blooms which can result in paralytic shellfish poisoning. Paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) leads to significant ...
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Invasion of Asian Tiger Shrimp along the U.S. Southeastern Coast and Gulf of America

Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of America (formerly Gulf of Mexico), Invasive Species, james.morris@noaa.gov, Stressor Impacts and Mitigation, tiger shrimp, Waterbodies
We investigated the cause and potential impacts of the recent tenfold increase in invasive Asian tiger shrimp sightings along the southeastern U.S. coast and Gulf ...
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Investigating Domoic Acid Biosynthesis and Toxic Bloom Formation Through Pseudo-nitzschia–Marine Bacteria Interactions

Connecticut, Harmful Algal Bloom Detection and Forecasting, john.wickham@noaa.gov, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Stressor Impacts and Mitigation, U.S. States and Territories, Washington
The marine diatom Pseudo-nitzschia (PN) produces domoic acid (DA), a neurotoxin that has caused widespread human poisoning along the northeast and northwest coasts of the ...
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Investigating Mesophotic Coral Reefs in Hawaii

Coral, Ecological and Biogeographic Assessments, Habitat Mapping, Hawaii, kimberly.puglise@noaa.gov, Marine Spatial Ecology, Other Topics, Pacific Ocean, Regional Ecosystem Science, Sponsored Research, U.S. States and Territories, Waterbodies
We investigated Hawaii’s mesophotic coral ecosystems to better understand them and their relationship to shallower reefs. We found reefs off Maui’s southwestern coast at depths ...
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Investigating Total Water Level Information Visualization Needs and Challenges for Stakeholders in Puerto Rico and Coastal Case Study Locations

Assessing Vulnerability and Resilience, Coastal Change, Puerto Rico, rebecca.atkins@noaa.gov, Sea Level Rise, Social Science, trevor.meckley@noaa.gov, U.S. States and Territories, Vulnerability and Risk Assessment
Total water level (TWL) is a way to predict flooding in coastal areas. It works by combining different factors, such as tides, storm surges, sea ...
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Is an Old Dune a More Resilient Dune? Assessing How Dune Formation Affects Coastal Protection from Storms and Sea Level Rise in North Carolina

Climate Impacts on Ecosystems, Coastal Change, Natural and Nature-based Features, North Carolina, Sea Level Rise, trevor.meckley@noaa.gov, U.S. States and Territories
We will evaluate whether naturally vegetated dunes are more resilient to storm surge and erosion than bare or planted human-made dunes. The gradual development of ...
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Karenia brevis Nutrient Dynamics in the Eastern Gulf of Mexico

Florida, Gulf of America (formerly Gulf of Mexico), Harmful Algal Bloom Detection and Forecasting, harmful algal blooms, Karenia brevis, nitrogen, quay.dortch@noaa.gov, red tie, shellfish poisoning, Stressor Impacts and Mitigation, U.S. States and Territories, Waterbodies
In the relatively nutrient-poor offshore waters of the eastern Gulf of Mexico, destructive blooms of Karenia brevis cause environmental and economic destruction. We studied how ...
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Keeping it in the System: Beneficial Use of Dredged Sediment to Increase Resiliency of Coastal Marshes in the Southeast

Coastal Change, Coastal Change, dredging, Florida, Habitat, Natural and Nature-based Features, North Carolina, Other Topics, Restoration, Sea Level Rise, sea level rise, sediment, Sponsored Research, trevor.meckley@noaa.gov, U.S. States and Territories
We are developing a framework and process for matching dredging needs with opportunities for beneficial use of the sediment at local marshes, to help marshes ...
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Lakebed Mapping and Assessing Ecological Resources off Wisconsin’s Lake Michigan Coast

charles.menza@noaa.gov, Ecological and Biogeographic Assessments, ecological assessment, Great Lakes, Habitat Mapping, invasive mussels, Invasive Species, Lake Michigan, Lake Michigan mapping, Lake Michigan National Marine Sanctuary, Marine Spatial Ecology, maritime heritage, Proposed Wisconsin-Lake Michigan National Marine Sanctuary, resource map, shipwreck, shipwrecks, Stressor Impacts and Mitigation, U.S. States and Territories, Waterbodies, Wisconsin, Wisconsin
We worked with NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries and local partners to map and assess important lake resources in Lake Michigan offshore of Wisconsin ...
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Lakebed Mapping in Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary, Lake Huron

charles.menza@noaa.gov, Ecological and Biogeographic Assessments, Habitat Mapping, Marine Spatial Ecology
NCCOS, in close collaboration with sanctuary partners, will map high-priority areas of lakebed within the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Why We Care Lakebed maps ...
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Land and Sea Characterization of St. Croix East End Marine Park

Caribbean Sea, chris.jeffrey@noaa.gov, Coral, dan.dorfman@noaa.gov, Ecological and Biogeographic Assessments, Habitat Mapping, Land and Sea Characterization, Marine Spatial Ecology, Social Science, St. Croix, St. Croix East End Marine Park, Stressor Impacts and Mitigation, U.S. States and Territories, U.S. Virgin Islands, USVI, Waterbodies
Established in 2003, St. Croix East End Marine Park was the first multi-use marine park in the U.S. Virgin Islands. The park’s ecosystem and the ...
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Land Based Sources of Pollution in Faga’alu Bay, Tutuila, American Samoa

American Samoa, Biological Effects of Contaminants and Nutrients, dave.whitall@noaa.gov, Stressor Impacts and Mitigation, U.S. States and Territories
Land based sources of pollution (LBSP) have the potential to adversely impact coral reef ecosystem, either by directly affecting coral health and reproduction, or by ...
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Land to Sea: Assessing Urban Impacts on Coastal Water Quality in Charleston, South Carolina

maggie.broadwater@noaa.gov, South Carolina, Stressor Impacts and Mitigation, U.S. States and Territories, Water Quality
Charleston’s coastal waters face growing challenges from intense storms, rising temperatures, and rapid land development. In partnership with Charleston Waterkeeper, this project will develop cutting-edge ...
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Land Use and Ecosystem Health: Decision-making Tools for Coastal Planning in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed

Assessing Human Use, Biological Effects of Contaminants and Nutrients, Chesapeake Bay, Delaware, john.jacobs@noaa.gov, Maryland, Social Science, Stressor Impacts and Mitigation, U.S. States and Territories, Virginia, Waterbodies
We studied how land-use decisions affect the health of an area’s ecosystem. We built models that show the consequences of land-use choices on the Chesapeake ...
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Land-based Pollution Impacts on Ecosystem Services and Environmental Health within National Estuarine Research Reserves of the Southeastern U.S. and Selected Chesapeake Bay Watersheds

Biological Effects of Contaminants and Nutrients, coastal pollution, estuaries, Florida, Georgia, jeff.guyon@noaa.gov, Marine Spatial Ecology, North Carolina, population growth, runoff, South Carolina, Stressor Impacts and Mitigation, U.S. States and Territories
Environmental conditions in the coastal zone are in decline due to increased coastal development and pollution. Using land-use modeling and environmental observations, we are determining ...
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LEOFS-Hypoxia: Operational Lake Erie Hypoxia Forecasting for Public Water Systems Decision Support

CHRP, felix.martinez@noaa.gov, Great Lakes, Hypoxia, hypoxia, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Stressor Impacts and Mitigation, U.S. States and Territories, Waterbodies
Deep waters of Lake Erie’s central basin have areas of low dissolved oxygen. Weather conditions can determine if this low oxygen (hypoxic) water will be ...
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Leveraging Partnerships to Define Ecological Indicators, Status and Trends for Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary

bryan.costa@noaa.gov, Climate Impacts on Ecosystems, Coastal Change, jenny.waddell@noaa.gov, Marine Spatial Ecology, Pacific Ocean, Regional Ecosystem Science, U.S. States and Territories, Washington, Waterbodies
In 2019, Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary (OCNMS) began evaluating the condition of marine resources inside its boundaries. This collaborative project is supporting this process ...
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Life and Death of Karenia brevis Blooms in the Eastern Gulf of America

ECOHAB, Florida, Forecasting, Gulf of America (formerly Gulf of Mexico), Gulf of Mexico, harmful algal bloom, Harmful Algal Bloom Detection and Forecasting, Karenia brevis, marc.suddleson@noaa.gov, Other Topics, Sponsored Research, Stressor Impacts and Mitigation, U.S. States and Territories, Waterbodies
An extensive bloom of the brevetoxin-producing Karenia brevis occurred from 2017 to 2019 in Florida. The economic, environmental, and human health impacts were quite severe ...
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Life and Death of a Karenia Bloom in the Western Gulf of Mexico

Forecasting, Gulf of America (formerly Gulf of Mexico), harmful algal bloom, Harmful Algal Bloom Detection and Forecasting, IFCB, Karenia brevis, marc.suddleson@noaa.gov, Other Topics, Sponsored Research, Stressor Impacts and Mitigation, Texas, TOAST, U.S. States and Territories, Waterbodies
Harmful algal blooms (HABs) are increasing in frequency and pose a threat to human and environmental health. Blooms of Karenia brevis occur nearly annually along ...
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