February 3, 2020 — As of Feb. 1, a new batch of research projects are underway through the N.C. Sea Grant. The research and education organization, headquartered at N.C. State in Raleigh, facilitates funding for projects up and down the coast, and considers those that will be of importance to the whole state, said Katie Mosher, spokeswoman for N.C. SeaGrant.
Among the ten new projects for 2020-2022, a few could have special importance to Southeastern North Carolina. Here are some of the questions that researchers are trying to answer.
Blue Crabs and Climate
Jessie Jarvis, a coastal plant ecologist at the University of North Carolina Wilmington, is the lead researcher taking a closer look at one way that North Carolina, which is a transition zone between temperate and tropical climates, could be affected by changing temperatures. Jarvis’ research interests include underwater grasses, or submerged aquatic vegetation. It’s predicted that subtropical vegetation species will increase their range into local waters, and the potential impacts are unknown, especially for important species such as blue crabs. She plans to look at different vegetation meadow types and how they may impact different species, which could inform how these fisheries are managed and conserved.