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Mailing and Contact Information:
3257 Energy, Coast & Environment Building
Wetland Biogeochemistry Institute
Department of Oceanography and Coastal Sciences
Louisiana State University
Baton Rouge, LA - 70803
Tel:225-578-8810
Fax:225-578-6423
E-mail: rtwilley@lsu.edu
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Robert Reece Twilley
Professor
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Education:
- Ph.D., University of Florida, 1982; Plant Ecology/Systems Ecology
- M.S., East Carolina University, 1976; Biology
- B.S., East Carolina University, 1974; Biology
- Postdoc, University of Maryland, 1982 Horn Point Laboratory, Coastal Oceanography,
Research Interests:
My research has focused on systems ecology and biogeochemistry of coastal wetlands both in the Gulf of Mexico and throughout Latin America. Through this research I try to develop fundamentals of ecosystem science by describing biogeochemical processes (denitrification, nutrient burial, benthic nutrient fluxes) that determine the function of coastal ecosystems as either a source or sink of primary nutrients to near shore environments. I use modeling, field manipulations, and mesocosm techniques to test hypotheses of nutrient cycling in coastal ecosystems. A large part of my career has been spent determining the role of mangroves in the fate of carbon and nutrients in tropical estuaries, again using conceptual and simulation models along with field experimentation. I have been involved with the restoration and nutrient dynamics of coastal ecosystems of the Florida Coastal Everglades/LTER program funded by NSF as another experimental test of these hypotheses. Presently, I am a member of the Louisiana Framework Development Team that is developing a comprehensive restoration plan for the Louisiana Coastal Area. My current focus is developing ecosystem models, both conceptual and simulation, to forecast the rehabilitation of coastal and wetland ecosystems.
Grants:
National Science Foundation/LTER Program. FCE/LTER - Florida Coastal Everglades. Subcontract with FIU. March 2000 to February 2006. $299,366
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US Department of Agriculture/Environmental Protection Agency, NUMAN – Utilizing Mississippi River Diversions for Nutrient Management in a Louisiana Coastal Watershed. August 2002 through July 2005. Funded. $190,500.
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Environmental Protection Agency, Use of Science in Gulf of Mexico Decision Making Involving Climate Change. October 2002 through September 2005. Funded. $375,424.
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EPSCOR/EPA, Modeling Impacts of Climate Change on Wetland Ecosystems. June 2002 through June 2004. Funded. $42,186.
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LA Department of Natural Resources, Conceptual Ecological Models for Planning and Evaluating the Louisiana Coastal Area Restoration Plan. R.R. Twilley, PI. June 2002 to March 2005. Funded. $1,273,469.
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National Park Service. Conceptual Model Development for the National Park Service Units of the Gulf Coast Network. January 2004 to September 2004. Funded. $79,341.
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NASA Earth Science Enterprise. “Large scale assessment of landscape changes and recovery in forest structure of mangrove wetlands subject to human (shrimp mariculture, silviculture, agricultural chemicals), freshwater diversion, and natural disturbances (hurricanes, other severe storms, climate and sea level change) using enhanced Shuttle Radar Topography Mission data” Victor Rivera-Monroy, PI, R.R. Twilley, Co-PI. March 2004 to March 2006. Funded. $83,474.
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National Park Service. “Nutrient Biogeochemistry of the Mangrove Transition Zone: I. Role of Denitrification and Tidal Exchange in Mangrove Sediments as Nutrient Sinks in Taylor and Shark River Sloughs.’ V. Rivera-Monroy and R.R. Twilley. CESI Everglades Research Program, NPS. $242,813, 2004-2006, Pending
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Evaluating the effect of hydroperiod and soil fertility on the productivity and structure of mangrove forests in South Florida: A Mesocosm Experiment. V. Rivera-Monroy and R.R. Twilley. South Florida Water Management District. $70,000. 2004-2005. Pending.
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