LSU New Orleans biological sciences researcher and professor T. Erin Cox has received a $115,090 grant from the National Science Foundation to study how coastal ecosystems respond to disturbance following a major flood in the state of Hawai‘i.
The project, titled “COLLABORATE RAPID: Interactions Between Pulse and Press Disturbance Following a 1,000 Year Coastal Flood in Hawai‘i,” will examine the resilience and resistance of ecological communities following the extreme flooding event.
The research focuses on tropical intertidal communities, an area that has been studied less extensively than temperate ecosystems. Cox and fellow researchers will examine factors such as primary producer (seaweed) and herbivore abundance pre- and post-flooding and examine the role of an invasive species in shaping community response. The outcomes will provide insight into how these communities respond to environmental change.
The findings will have broader applications for community ecologists studying the effects of disturbances on ecosystems. Researchers also expect the results to help inform understanding of how invasive species significantly alter their environments and affect species’ richness, community composition and species abundance.
The NSF-funded project began Aug. 1, 2026, and will continue through July 31, 2027.
