Evelyn Gaiser, Florida International University, Florida Coastal Everglades LTER Site
Ecosystem health—like human health—is the result of a combination of chronic and short-term stresses. When will these stresses result in a stronger system, and when will they launch a downward spiral? Researchers at the NSF Florida Coastal Everglades LTER Site combine field work, large-scale experiments, and ecological models to offer new answers. For example, they’re providing evidence that storms such as hurricanes can buffer the effects of increasing sea level rise. It all comes down to resilience, these scientists say.
