November 2022 Newsletter
November 2022 Newsletter
Welcome to the Southeast Climate Adaptation Science Center’s November 2022 Newsletter.
For news and upcoming events related to the Southeast Climate Adaptation Science Center, subscribe to our monthly newsletter
SE CASC News | Resources | Publications | Tribal News | Partner News | Webinars | Events | Opportunities
Southeast Climate Adaptation Science Center News
SE CASC Global Change Fellows hosted their first fall Global Change Seminar on Oct. 19, NOAA’s New Agenda for a Climate Ready Nation, with speaker Ko Barrett, NOAA. Read a summary and watch the recording.
TODAY! Join their next Global Change Seminar, Indigenous Leadership in Conservation from Yellowstone to Yukon, featuring panelists Adam Linnard, Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative; Elliot Fox, Blackfoot Confederacy Native Trout Recovery Project; Latasha Calf Robe (english name), Niitsítapi Water Protectors, on Nov. 16, 3:30 PM ET. Learn more & register.
Next in our Fall/Winter Science Seminar Series will be a presentation on Southeast Regional Invasive Species and Climate Change, by Brett Scheffers (University of Florida), Deah Lieurance (University of Florida), and Wesley Daniel (USGS), on Dec. 13, 10AM ET. Learn more and register for the event.
A recording of the first in our Fall/Winter Science Seminar Series on Nov. 10 by Georgina Sanchez (NC State University) on Improving Projections of Societal Responses to Sea Level Rise and Frequent Flooding is available here. Visit the series page.
Join the Southeast Regional Invasive Species and Climate Change Management Network for a webinar on Nov. 17 at 1PM ET, Predicting the spread of invasive Burmese pythons in South Florida. Learn more.
Explore the 2021-22 Global Change Fellows media products featuring expert interviews and important avenues of climate research.
SE CASC Science Communication Fellow, Brittany Salmons was featured in an article on the NOAA Climate Program Office website for her work with the Carolinas Collaborative on Climate, Health, and Equity. Learn more & read the article.
2021-22 Global Change Fellow, Courtney Hotchkiss is lead author to Strategies for meaningful engagement: A commentary on collaboration in archaeological climate adaptation planning. Read a post written by Courtney here.
SE CASC Research Ecologist, Mitch Eaton & 2015-16 Global Change Fellow, Georgina Sanchez co-authored Integrating principles and tools of decision science into value-driven watershed planning for compensatory mitigation.
Global Change Fellow, Murry Burgess has a new children’s book coming soon called, “Sparrow Learns Birds.” Learn more.
Applications open Dec. 1 for the USGS Science to Action Fellowship. Learn from former Global Change Fellows Megan Johnson and Lise Montefiore about their experience as S2A fellows.
SE CASC Faculty Affiliate, Jared Bowden co-authored Climate Change and Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems in the Coastal Carolinas: Perspectives from Wastewater Managers. View the corresponding story map.
SE CASC Researcher, Ken Krauss co-authored Mangroves provide blue carbon ecological value at a low freshwater cost.
SE CASC Consortium PI, Lydia Olander (Duke), along with the Council on Environmental Quality in the Executive Office of the President, co-authored Opportunities to Accelerate Nature-Based Solutions: A Roadmap for Climate Progress, Thriving Nature, Equity, and Prosperity and Nature-Based Solutions Resource Guide.
Conservation Corridor: Which approach is best for including connectivity in conservation planning?
Project Spotlight
Assessing the Climate Vulnerability of Wild Turkeys Across the Southeastern U.S.
Wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) is a culturally and economically important game species that has shown dramatic declines in abundance through most portions of the southeastern U.S. Researchers are using >10 years of reproduction data for wild turkeys from six states to explore the combined effects of climate and hunter harvest on wild turkeys to help guide localized harvest regimes (e.g., timing of the hunting season) across the region. They are assessing the relative importance of short-term weather events, longer-term weather shifts, and extreme weather events like hurricanes on the variation in timing of nest initiation and the survival of nests across the entire region and for over a decade. In the face of ongoing climate change and the projected future weather extremes for the Southeast, the results will help managers make predictions about the overall influence of climate on reproduction in wild turkeys, directing adjustment of the timing of hunter harvest and bag limits if needed. Learn more about this SE CASC project.
Resources
Climate Mapping for Resilience and Adaptation (CMRA) portal. The Biden-Harris Administration in partnership with NOAA and DOI jointly launched a new website to help communities across the nation understand the real-time climate-related hazards in their area, analyze projected long-term exposure to those hazards, and identify federal funds to support climate resilience projects for their communities. Learn more.
Climate Quick Reference Guides. The USDA’s Southwest Climate Hub and Natural Resources Conservation Service created climate guides that can be viewed at the state or county level. The tool provides easy access to climate information for federal employees, agricultural producers, teachers, etc. Learn more and view the map.
Engaged Research for Environmental Grand Challenges: Accelerating Discovery and Innovation for Societal Impacts. The National Science Foundation published this report to provide clarity for funding agencies and researchers on conducting engaged research. Learn more.
State Climate Summaries. This 2022 version of the State Climate Summaries, produced by NOAA, provides new information and extends the historical climate record to 2020 for each state. The summaries cover historical climate variations and trends, future climate model projections of climate conditions during the 21st century, and past and future conditions of sea level and coastal flooding. Learn more.
Resilience Analysis and Planning Tool (RAPT). FEMA recently updated RAPT, an award-winning web map that allows users to visualize resilience in their community. The update includes new resilience indicators, the latest data from the U.S Census Bureau, and improved analysis tools. Learn more.
In the Media
Draft Report Offers Starkest View Yet of U.S. Climate Threats | New York Times
State of Change | PBS North Carolina
Satellites Help Scientists Track Dramatic Wetlands Loss in Louisiana | NASA Global Climate Change
Finding safe haven in the climate change future: The Southeast | Yahoo News
Notable Publications
A Conceptual Framework to Integrate Biodiversity, Ecosystem Function, and Ecosystem Service Models
Abstract. Global biodiversity and ecosystem service models typically operate independently. Ecosystem service projections may therefore be overly optimistic because they do not always account for the role of biodiversity in maintaining ecological functions. We review models used in recent global model intercomparison projects and develop a novel model integration framework to more fully account for the role of biodiversity in ecosystem function, a key gap for linking biodiversity changes to ecosystem services. We propose two integration pathways. The first uses empirical data on biodiversity–ecosystem function relationships to bridge biodiversity and ecosystem function models and could currently be implemented globally for systems and taxa with sufficient data. We also propose a trait-based approach involving greater incorporation of biodiversity into ecosystem function models. Pursuing both approaches will provide greater insight into biodiversity and ecosystem services projections. Integrating biodiversity, ecosystem function, and ecosystem service modeling will enhance policy development to meet global sustainability goals. Link to article.
Carbon accumulation rates are highest at young and expanding salt marsh edge
Salt marsh restoration is a potential avenue for accumulating carbon credits to offset emissions and is especially important due to increases in land-use change. However, salt marsh carbon accumulation rates vary, creating uncertainty in the precise value of restoration. The authors hypothesize that the uncertainty in salt marsh carbon accumulation rates, due to inconsistent spatial and temporal measurements, has masked relevant patterns in salt marsh ontogeny, landscape setting, and relative sea level rise. To test this, the researchers collected cores from seven salt marshes in North Carolina with a consistent method for measuring carbon accumulation rates. The results of the study show that spatial and temporal patterns exist and are directly related to salt marsh growth and development. The authors further found that carbon accumulation rates are increasing with sea level rise and are highest at young and expanding marsh edges. The results of this study are important for carbon pricing and restoration initiatives going forward. Link to article.
Exceeding 1.5°C global warming could trigger multiple climate tipping points
Climate tipping points, or the point at which changes in the climate system become self-perpetuating are becoming more of a reality as we get farther and farther from one degree celsius of global warming. This article provides an assessment of the most important tipping elements and their tipping points using evidence from paleoclimate data, observations, and modeling. The authors identify global “core” tipping elements and regional “impact” tipping elements which contribute to environmental and human welfare. The core tipping elements include Greenland ice sheet collapse, West Antarctic ice sheet collapse, Atlantic M.O. circulation collapse, Amazon rainforest dieback, Boreal permafrost collapse, East Antarctic ice sheet collapse, Arctic winter sea ice collapse, and Labrador sea/SPG convection collapse. Regional impact elements include Boreal forest southern dieback, Sahel and W. African Monsoon greening, Low-latitude coral reefs die-off, Mountain glacier loss, Boreal Forest northern expansion, and Barents sea ice loss. This article highlights the importance of limiting the amount of global warming as soon as possible. Link to article.
When Do Climate Services Achieve Societal Impact? Evaluations of Actionable Climate Adaptation Science
Science that directly supports policy and decision making is known as actionable science and is the goal of many climate scientists today. Understanding the societal impacts of climate services (climate data and information) is an emerging challenge in creating actionable science, as traditional measurements of research success do not capture societal impacts. This article uses the South Central and North Central CASCs projects as a case study to better understand how the discipline of evaluation can be used to measure climate services outcomes. The authors introduce concepts from the field of evaluation and applications of evaluation. An example of this is looking at stakeholder engagement and participation in different projects. Results show that stakeholders prefer to be engaged in projects early, often, and consistently, and need more time to implement adaptation plans once they get them. The authors argue that evaluation design and implementation is needed for these types of projects to better understand the societal impacts projects are having. Link to article.
Noah’s Ark in a Warming World: Climate Change, Biodiversity Loss, and Public Adaptation Costs in the United States
The relationship between climate change costs and threatened biodiversity is not well understood in the United States. This study developed models of Endangered Species Act (ESA) listing and spending and combined them with projections of increased risk of extinction under climate change, ESA spending, and species that are threatened due to climate change but that are unlisted. The authors did this to combine the costs associated with climate change driven biodiversity loss. In other words this was an assessment of unmitigated climate change driven costs. The researchers found that climate change will increase spending under the ESA with further costs coming from restrictions on land use associated with new listings. The article shows how uncertain the costs of ecosystem disruption and decline, associated with unmitigated climate change, are. The authors argue that this understanding of environmental economics is essential to informing a collective response to these issues. 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 USET Office of Environmental Resource Management Climate Change Resilience Program has announced a Graduate Student Internship for calendar year 2023. The intern will collaborate with the Climate Science team to provide professional level support to USET Member Tribal Nations. Apply by Dec. 15. Learn more.
Drought.gov Launches New Map Feature for Tribal Nations. NOAA’s National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS) announced a new map customization feature for Tribal Nations. Developed in collaboration with NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), this feature allows users to display reservation boundaries on any map on Drought.gov. Learn more.
The Center for Native Peoples and the Environment at the State University of New York’s College of Environmental Science & Forestry is recruiting students for graduate study in diverse environmental science fields, including ecology, sustainability, conservation biology, restoration, environmental engineering, and more. Learn more.
Landscape Scale Restoration Grant Program for Tribes, U.S. Forest Service. The Program draws on several State and Private Forestry programs and authorities to accomplish land management objectives. Projects are developed in partnership with diverse stakeholders. Learn more & apply by Dec. 15.
The Wildlife Society opened applications for the Native American Research Assistantship Program on Nov. 15. The program offers annual summer research assistantships for Native undergraduate or graduate students who will be mentored by USFS and USGS scientists. Learn more.
Regional Partner News
National Fish and Wildlife Foundation: NFWF, Federal Agencies and Private Partners Announce $91 Million in Grants from America the Beautiful Challenge
Southeast Conservation Adaptation Strategy: Southeast Conservation Blueprint 2022 is now available!
Native American Fish and Wildlife Society: NAFWS Awarded $170,000 For National Tribal Climate Resilience Work
National Park Service: Climate change vulnerability assessments in the National Park Service: An integrated review for infrastructure, natural resources, and cultural resources
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration: NOAA awards over $15 million for climate science, community resilience
Environmental Protection Agency: Biden-Harris Administration Announces $53 Million for 132 Community Air Pollution Monitoring Projects Across the Nation
Webinars
Nov. 16 | 1pm-2pm | Woody Invasive Species Impacting the Southeast
Nov. 16 | 3:30pm-5pm | Global Change Seminar – Indigenous Leadership in Conservation from Yellowstone to Yukon
Nov. 17 | 11am-12pm | South Central CASC Webinar: Southern Plains Climate Science with Dr. Camille Stagg
Nov. 17 | 1pm-2pm | Predicting the spread of invasive Burmese pythons in South Florida
Nov. 30 | 3pm-4pm | GOMA Wednesday Webinar: Gulf of Mexico Open Data Platform Update
Dec. 1 | 9am-10am | Climate and Conservation Coffee
Dec. 5 | 5:30pm-7pm | Extreme Weather and Climate Change: What’s the Connection
Dec. 13 | 10am-11am | SE CASC Science Seminar – Southeast Regional Invasive Species and Climate Change Management Network
Upcoming Events
Dec. 4-8 | Restore America’s Estuaries 2022 Coastal & Estuarine Summit | New Orleans, LA
Dec. 12-15 | ACES: A Community on Ecosystem Services | Washington, DC
Feb. 6-9 | Planning for Coastal GeoTools 2023 | Charleston, SC
Opportunities
Student Announcements
ORISE and USFS announced a fellowship opportunity for recent or soon-to-be Master or PhD graduates with the USDA Northwest Climate Hub, to focus on integrating climate change research into national forest management in the Pacific Northwest. Apply by Nov. 22.
The Partnership for Public Service is actively recruiting for the summer 2023 cohort of the Future Leaders in Public Service Internship Program. The program brings diverse young talent to government and offers students the opportunity to apply their educational training to work at a federal agency. Candidates can apply here until Nov. 27.
NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries is seeking applications for the Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship Program. Applications are due Dec. 22 here. View the Notice of Funding Opportunity.
2023 NOAA Climate & Global Change Postdoctoral Fellowship application is open. The program appoints fellows that are hosted by a mentoring scientist at a U.S. university or research institution to work in an area of mutual interest. Learn more and apply by Jan. 4.
Hiring Announcements
The Program for Local Adaptation to Climate Effects: Sea-Level Rise (PLACE:SLR) is seeking a Climate Resilience Extensions Specialist to conduct extension, outreach, and applied research. Open until filled. Learn more.
The Climate Impacts Group (CIG) at the University of Washington is hiring a full-time Research Scientist with a focus on ecosystems and invasive species. The position will support co-produced research and synthesis projects led by CIG’s senior scientists and work with the Northwest Climate Adaptation Science Center to coordinate the Northwest Regional Invasive Species and Climate Change Network. Learn more & apply.
The University of Michigan Biological Station is looking for a Marketing and Communication Specialist to translate, communicate, and engage in science with research, undergraduate, alumni and northern MI communities. Learn more & apply by Nov. 21.
NOAA’s Office for Coastal Management is hiring an Economic Data Scientist to integrate and manage economic data to support projects focused on impacts of development and conservation on community economies and natural resources in coastal areas. Learn more.
Funding Opportunities
The NOAA RESTORE Science Program and National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis announced the first Call for Proposals for the Gulf Ecosystem Initiative. The goal of this initiative is to fund synthesis research to understand the Gulf of Mexico ecosystem in a holistic manner. Learn more & apply by Jan. 31.
NASA released the A.40 Earth Science Applications: Ecological Conservation (formerly Ecological Forecasting) solicitation. This program element solicits proposals that would enable: 1) Decision-making to combat the spread of invasive species; 2) Advance the use of ecosystem service assessment for decision-making; and 3) Inform management, establishment, or protection of protected areas. Notices of intent are requested by Mar. 14. More information.
NSF is calling for planning proposals focused on catalyzing innovative and inclusive wildland fire science through collaboration among diverse stakeholders and rights holders. Proposals should be submitted no later than May 31 for consideration during Fiscal Year 2023. Learn more.
Miscellaneous
A draft version of the Fifth National Climate Assessment (NCA5) is now available for a 12-week public review and comment period. The U.S Global Change Research Program is hosting two free webinars for people interested in learning more about NCA5, the importance of public participation, and how to submit comments on the draft report. Learn more.
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