Study to focus on salt marshes

The National Science Foundation has awarded a rapid response grant to scientist Eugene Turner of Louisiana State University and colleagues to measure the impacts of oil and dispersants on Gulf Coast salt marshes. The researchers will track short-term and longer-term exposure to oil and dispersants. The coast of Louisiana is lined with extensive salt marshes whose foundation is two species of Spartina grass. The biologists will document changes in these critically-important grasses, as well as in the growth of other salt marsh plants, and in marsh animals and microbes. The grant is one of many Gulf oil spill-related rapid response awards made by NSF. The agency so far has made more than 60 awards totaling nearly $7 million. (Source: NSF, 08/16/10)