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September 2021 Newsletter

September 2021 Newsletter


Welcome to the Southeast Climate Adaptation Science Center’s September 2021 Newsletter.

For news and upcoming events related to the Southeast Climate Adaptation Science Center,
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SE CASC News | Resources | Publications | Tribal News | Partner News | Webinars | Events | Opportunities


Photo Credits: Alan Cressler, USGS

Southeast Climate Adaptation Science Center News

Little River Canyon, AL
Image Credit: Alan Cressler

Plan to join us March 29-31, 2022 in Gulf Shores, AL for the second SE CASC Regional Science Symposium! Updates will be posted to the symposium webpage.

These science expert videos created by the 2020–2021 cohort of SE CASC Global Change Fellows communicate the state of the science of various landscape conservation challenges related to global change in the southeastern United States.
Are you caught up on our SE CASC Science Seminar recordings? Dr. Gregory Steyer presented the final webinar in our Summer Science Seminar Series, Structured Decision Making as a Tool for Coastal Restoration: A Case Study on Ship Island, MS, on August 17 and Dr. Michelle Moorman presented a Special Science Seminar, Will the Coastal Wetlands Stay or Will They Go? Coastal Wetland Transformations in the South Atlantic Basin, on Sept. 16.
Students at SE CASC Consortium universities recently completed case studies using ecosystem services mapping to address issues of relevance to different resource managers and stakeholders in the Southeast. Read their project summaries and delve into their Story Maps and check back for more additions.
SE CASC Researchers Erin Seekamp, Xiao Xiao, Max Post van der Berg, and Mitch Eaton published Testing the Transferability of the Optimal Preservation Model at Gulf Islands National Seashore, extending work of SE CASC project Protecting Cultural Resources in the Face of Climate Change. Learn more.
Spring 2018 Global Change Fellow Jared Balik is lead author and Faculty Affiliate Brad Taylor a co-author to Animal-Driven Nutrient Supply Declines Relative to Ecosystem Nutrient Demand Along a Pond Hydroperiod Gradient.
Spring 2018 Global Change Fellow Devon Gaydos is lead author and Faculty Affiliate Ross Meetenmeyer a co-author to Evaluating online and tangible interfaces for engaging stakeholders in forecasting and control of biological invasions.
Spring 2018 Global Change Fellow Sarah Parsons and Faculty Affiliate Elsa Youngsteadt are investigating insect conservation in urban habitats. Learn more.
Faculty Affiliate Pubs & Publicity
SE CASC Principal Investigator Ryan Emanuel, Values-Based Scenarios of Water Security: Rights to Water, Rights of Waters, and Commercial Water Rights.
SE CASC Principal Investigator Nils PetersonNCWF Natural Resources Scientist of the Year.
SE CASC Researcher Jared Bowden, Regional Temperature-Ozone Relationships Across the U.S. Under Multiple Climate and Emissions Scenarios.
Faculty Affiliate Justin Baker, Projecting the Impact of Socioeconomic and Policy Factors on Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Carbon Sequestration in U.S. Forestry and Agriculture.
Faculty Affiliate Gavin Smith, New Urbanism and the Hazard Transect Overlay District: Improving the Integration of Disaster Resilience and Design in Coastal Areas.
SE CASC Researcher Jared Bowden, quoted in Transportation design with resilience in mind goal of effort.
Faculty Affiliate K.C. Busch, NSF CAREER Grant to Develop Model and Metrics for Community Level Scientific Literacy.
Faculty Affiliate Zakia Leggett, quoted in Researchers Incorporate Marginalized Voices in Climate Change Solutions.
Conservation Corridor: The economic cost of conservation strategies under climate change.


Resources


FEATURED RESOURCE

The Status of Tribes and Climate Change (STACC) Report
The Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals Tribes and Climate Change Program and and the STACC Working Group collaborated to develop this report for Tribal managers, leaders, and community members to provide an understanding of climate change impacts that U.S. Tribes are experiencing, solutions are being implemented, and opportunities to support Tribes in adapting to global change.
More information.


Building Alliances for Equitable Resilience. This resource was developed by the Resilient Nation Partnership Network to encourage and inspire diverse sectors to implement resilient practices into their work. More information.
Climate Change Communication and the IPCC. This topical collection in the journal “Climatic Change” includes research papers about communication and public understanding of climate change and reflection of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. More information.
Climate Change and Social Vulnerability in the United States. This Environmental Protection Agency report provides information about the degree to which four socially vulnerable populations may be more exposed to the highest impacts of climate change. More information.
Fire Science Success Stories. The Southern Fire Exchange and the Joint Fire Science Program have developed this webpage to showcase collaborative projects that have solved problems, advanced knowledge, saved money, and improved fire management programs throughout the Southeast. More information.
In the Media
California Copying Florida To Stop Huge Wildfires. NPR
Climate Change Forcing National Parks to Choose Between Species. Newsweek
Common High Ground, How Charleston’s Artists are Responding to Climate Change. Bitter Southerner
EXPLAINER: How wetlands can help buffer Louisiana storms. AP NEWS
‘The Water’s Coming In’: How Grand Isle Residents are Coping as Their Home Washes Into The Sea. Southerly


Notable Publications


A Global Assessment of Coastal Marine Heatwaves and Their Relation With Coastal Urban Thermal Changes. This study analyzed marine heatwaves (MHWs)–abnormally warm and prolonged periods of ocean temperature–and associated coastal urban environments to investigate the temporal and spatial trends of coastal MHWs at a global scale and the behavior of urban thermal environments in coastal regions during coastal MHWs. They showed a growing number of more severe, more frequent, and longer-lasting coastal MHWs in the past four decades, especially in the temperate zone during warmer months. Statistical relationship between intensity, occurrence, and duration of coastal MHWs and concurrent changes of urban thermal conditions of 38 coastal cities during the warm months indicated a close connection between heatwaves over the lands and coastal oceans. Link to article.
Divergent, plausible, and relevant climate futures for near- and long-term resource planning. Researchers use a case study at Big Bend National Park to exemplify work done with NPS resource managers using a scenario planning process to develop strategies for climate change adaptation. Scenario planning, which can incorporate the significant, irreducible uncertainty associated with climate change, starts with developing “climate futures,” which describe physical attributes of climates that could plausibly occur in the future. Climate futures representing the broadest possible range of plausible conditions are detailed, along with the continuum of potential resource responses to climate change, allowing development of strategies robust to that range. Authors describe three approaches to developing divergent climate futures – using a Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP)-ensemble, a quadrant-average, and an individual-projection approach – and compare divergence in projected precipitation and temperature at different future planning periods. They conclude that the individual-projection approach supports decision makers seeking to understand the broadest potential characterization of future conditions. Link to article.
Global decline in capacity of coral reefs to provide ecosystem services. Journal Summary: Coral reefs worldwide are facing impacts from climate change, overfishing, habitat destruction, and pollution. The cumulative effect of these impacts on global capacity of coral reefs to provide ecosystem services is unknown. Here, we evaluate global changes in extent of coral reef habitat, coral reef fishery catches and effort, Indigenous consumption of coral reef fishes, and coral-reef-associated biodiversity. Global coverage of living coral has declined by half since the 1950s. Catches of coral-reef-associated fishes peaked in 2002 and are in decline despite increasing fishing effort, and catch-per-unit effort has decreased by 60% since 1950. At least 63% of coral-reef-associated biodiversity has declined with loss of coral extent. With projected continued degradation of coral reefs and associated loss of biodiversity and fisheries catches, the well-being and sustainable coastal development of human communities that depend on coral reef ecosystem services are threatened. Link to article
Identifying marine invasion hotspots using stacked species distribution models. Researchers identified present and future sites at risk of invasive species for marine invertebrates and algae in nearshore habitats of the northwest Atlantic and northeast Pacific. Monitoring data, occurrence data, and stacked species distribution models predict that climate change is likely to cause increase, expansion, and shifting of hotspots in the Pacific with similar but less significant results for the Atlantic coast. Early detection of these marine “hotspots” and the associated maps resulting from this project can guide managers in their monitoring and policy decisions for these marine ecosystems to reduce risk of invasion. Link to article
Transformational ecology and climate change. Journal Abstract: Ecosystem transformation is emerging as a global threat under climate change. Conversion of conifer forest to shrubland, steppe, and other ecosystems is underway from Mexico to Alaska . Shrub steppe and chaparral are giving way to non-native annual grassland in the western United States. Floodplain forests are yielding to savanna in Amazonia, shrubs and trees are invading Arctic tundra, reef corals are being replaced by macroalgae, and geographic shifts in pelagic marine species are creating unprecedented combinations. Climate change is a primary driver of these transformations. Rapid ecological change is receiving increased scientific attention, much of which is focused on identifying tipping points between alternative stable states, tying into powerful theoretical and conceptual frameworks. However, ecological transformation can occur gradually, as incremental changes in dominant species populations accumulate and species ranges shift under changing climate. Developing a science of transformational ecology is timely in view of ongoing and imminent changes. Link to article.

Tribal News


Visit USET Climate Change Headlines for updates on information regarding climate science events, funding opportunities, best practices, and highlights from across the USET region.
The Status of Tribes and Climate Change Report incorporates direct narratives from Tribes and Indigenous peoples about their integration of Traditional Knowledges and Western science into their approaches to addressing global change challenges that Tribes face and their search for solutions. Learn more about the report. The Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals is hosting a STACC report webinar on Sept. 22 from 1:30 PM – 2:45 PM EDT. Learn more.
The Indigenous Environmental Network and Oil Change International recently released the Indigenous Resistance Against Carbon report. Learn more.
National Integrated Drought Information System is accepting applications for FY22 funding for the Coping With Drought Building Tribal Drought Resilience research competition. Full proposals can be submitted here until Oct. 18.


Regional Partner News


Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies announces 2021 Climate Adaptation Leadership Awards.

NASA: A Changed Landscape in Southern Louisiana.
NOAA Sea Grant: NOAA Sea Grant Liaisons address critical research areas across federal agencies.
Southeast Conservation Adaptation Strategy: Aligning Southeast State Wildlife Action Plans (SWAPs).
U.S. Forest Service: Climate Adaptation Actions for Urban Forests and Human Health.
USGS Land Management Research Program: U.S. Geological Survey Landscape Science Strategy 2020–2030.


Webinars


Find more upcoming events in our calendar.
Sept. 22 | 1:30pm – 2:45pm | ITEP’s Status of Tribes & Climate Change (STACC) Report
Sept. 23 | 3pm – 4:30pm | A Sense of Place: Indigenous Perspectives on Earth and Sky
Sept. 29 | 1pm – 2pm | NEPA & Tribal Work with Endangered Species
Sept. 29 | 2pm – 3pm | Flash Drought Webinar: Emerging Tools for Flash Drought Monitoring and Prediction
Sept. 30 | 12pm – 1pm | Ocean acidification effects on Eastern oysters, surfclams, and Atlantic sea scallops: Commonalities and differences?
Oct. 6 | 12pm – 2pm | Alliances for Climate Action Series
Oct. 6 | 2pm – 3pm | Coastal Salinity Index: Real-Time Gage Expansion Across the Gulf of Mexico and Eastern Seaboard
Oct. 7 | 9am – 10am | Climate and Conservation Coffee
Oct. 12 | 10am – 11am | Southeast Climate Monthly Webinar
Oct. 14 | 3pm – 4pm | ​​Like Wildfire: How Climate Justice Should Change Disaster Response


Upcoming Events

Sept. 28 – 29 | Salazar Center 2021 International Symposium on Conservation Impact | Virtual
Sept. 28 – 30 | Climate Stewardship: The Role of Outreach and Service Programs | Virtual
Oct. 4 – 7 | 2021 NAFWS 38th Annual National Conference | Spokane, WA
Oct. 14 – 16 | Inclusive SciComm Symposium | Virtual
Oct. 14 – 28 | ASAP Climate Service Providers Academy | Virtual
At NC State
Oct. 13 | Research with Tribes: A Suggested Framework for the Co-production of Knowledge | Hybrid


Opportunities


Student Announcements
Massachusetts Sea Grant is accepting applications for a 2022-2024 Graduate Research Fellowship. Applications are being accepted here until Oct. 1, 2021.
University of Florida is offering Student Diversity Scholarships to attend the 2022 UF Water Institute Symposium. Students can apply here by Oct. 6.
North Carolina Sea Grant and the Albemarle-Pamlico National Estuary Partnership are accepting graduate student applications for the National Estuary Partnership Fellowship. Apply here by Oct. 29.
Hiring Announcements
USGS National Climate Adaptation Science Center is seeking a student or recent graduate to assist with science communications activities. Apply here by Oct. 1.
National CASC is hiring an ORISE Fellow to synthesize Effects of Climate on Human-Wildlife Conflict. Apply by Oct. 1. More details and to apply.
National CASC is hiring an ORISE Fellow to synthesize Research in Urban Ecology and Native Plants. Apply by Oct. 11. More details and to apply.
Aspen Global Change Institute is seeking a Climate Adaptation and Assessment Fellow. Applications are being accepted here until a suitable candidate is selected.
Utah State University’s Department of Environment and Society is accepting applications for an Assistant or Associate Professor with expertise in Human Dimensions of Environmental Change. Apply here.
NOAA Sea Grant has a number of current job openings. Learn more.
Research Grants
Natural Hazards Center has announced a special call for proposals for studies focused on Strengthening Community Resilience in U.S. Territories. Proposals can be submitted here until Sept. 30.
Lincoln Institute of Land Policy invites proposals for research on the intersection of land-based approaches to climate change adaptation with property values and municipal finance. Apply here by Oct. 6.
North Carolina’s Water Resources Research Institute and Sea Grant are accepting applications from graduate students to research issues that affect water quality. Apply here by Nov. 12.
Department of Defense’s Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration Program is accepting project proposals for the 2022 REPI Challenge Program. Pre-proposals can be submitted here until Nov. 22.
Miscellaneous
University of Florida is providing Extension Scholarships for county and regional extension agents to attend, present and/or judge at the 2022 UF Water Institute Symposium. Applications will be accepted here until Oct. 6.
South Central CASC is offering a free virtual course on Climate Modeling, Downscaling, and Assessments from Oct. 11 – Nov. 12. Register here.
Southeast Florida Regional Climate Change Compact is seeking user feedback for the Regional Climate Action Plan 2.0. Fill out the survey here.