Event name: Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC)
Event time and place: September 21, 2024 at SERC
Image from the SERC "Marsh Moment"!
One of SERC's key research projects involves studying coastal wetland restoration and its role in mitigating climate change. Coastal wetlands, such as marshes and mangroves, are critical for carbon sequestration where they capture and store atmospheric carbon dioxide in the soil. SERC scientists are working locally in the Chesapeake Bay area to understand how restoring these wetlands can enhance their ability to sequester carbon and improve water quality.
At the local level, SERC scientists, students, and staff monitor various restored wetland sites to track changes in biodiversity, soil carbon levels, and water filtration capabilities. They use techniques such as sediment coring and plant monitoring to gather data on how well restored wetlands function compared to natural ones. This local research has global implications because wetlands worldwide are crucial in the fight against climate change, and understanding how to restore them effectively can inform broader climate mitigation strategies.
Another significant area of research at SERC focuses on invasive species and their impact on native biodiversity. Locally, SERC scientists are monitoring the spread of invasive species like the invasive earthworms on Hog Island. These species disrupt local ecosystems by outcompeting native species, altering food webs, and degrading habitats.
Estuaries are coastal bodies of water where freshwater from rivers and streams mixes with saltwater from the ocean. These habitats are rich in biodiversity and serve as important nurseries for fish and they specifically mentioned eels. At SERC, the Chesapeake Bay estuary is a key area of study. One significant human impact on estuaries is nutrient pollution, particularly from agricultural runoff and urban development. Excess nitrogen and phosphorus from fertilizers, sewage, and industrial waste enter the estuary, leading to oxygen depletion in the water, creating "dead zones" where aquatic life struggles to survive.
2. Also, we will examine some of the local habitats at SERC. Give examples of two (2) different habitats we see, and for each describe an example of the impacts of human activity (direct or indirect) on that environment.
SERC is home to large expanses of temperate forests that play a critical role in carbon storage, water filtration, and providing habitat for a variety of species. The forest ecosystems at SERC are part of long-term ecological studies to monitor changes over time.
One major human impact on forests is deforestation due to urban development and infrastructure expansion. Even in protected areas like SERC, surrounding human development pressures the forest ecosystem by altering natural habitats, and reducing biodiversity. Indirectly, the rise in CO2 emissions from urbanization also contributes to climate change, affecting forest growth and carbon sequestration capacity.
3. Finally, consider that as a publicly funded institution, SERC has to reach out to the community at large. By what means does SERC do that? Give specific examples of ways that the Research Center tries to educate the community at large about what they do and what they discover (You may wish to discuss this with our host.). Do you think the different means of outreach are effective? Why or why not?
SERC partners with schools to provide environmental education and research opportunities for students of all ages. Through field trips, interactive classroom sessions, and student research internships, SERC offers educational experiences that promote science literacy and inspire future generations of environmental scientists.
These educational collaborations are highly effective as they integrate environmental science into school curriculums and provide early exposure to real-world scientific research. By sparking interest in environmental issues at a young age, SERC helps build a future workforce committed to sustainability.