Barrier Islands: Coupling Anthropogenic Stability with Ecological Sustainability

Authors

Rusty A. Feagin, Texas A & M University - College StationFollow
William K. Smith, Wake Forest UniversityFollow
Norbert P. Psuty, Rutgers University
Donald R. Young, Virginia Commonwealth UniversityFollow
Marisa Luisa Martínez, Instituto de EcologíaFollow
Gregory A. Carter, University of Southern MississippiFollow
Kelly L. Lucas, University of Southern MississippiFollow
Noam Levin, Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Jane N. Gemma, University of Rhode Island
Richard E. Koske, University of Rhode Island

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

11-1-2010

Department

Coastal Sciences, Gulf Coast Research Laboratory

Abstract

Barrier islands provide a host of critical ecosystem services to heavily populated coastal regions of the world yet they are quite vulnerable to ongoing sea level rise and a potential increase in the frequency and intensity of oceanic storms These islands are being degraded at an alarming rate in part because of anthropogenic attempts at stabilization In this article we outline a possible sustainability strategy that incorporates the natural degree of substrate instability on these sedimentary landscapes We recommend placing the focus for managing barrier islands on maintaining ecosystem function and process development rather than emphasizing barrier islands as structural impediments to wave and storm energy

Publication Title

Journal of Coastal Research

Volume

26

Issue

6

First Page

987

Last Page

992

Recommended Citation

Feagin, R. A., Smith, W. K., Psuty, N. P., Young, D. R., Martínez, M. L., Carter, G. A., Lucas, K. L., Levin, N., Gemma, J. N., Koske, R. E. (2010). Barrier Islands: Coupling Anthropogenic Stability with Ecological Sustainability. Journal of Coastal Research, 26(6), 987-992.
Available at: https://aquila.usm.edu/fac_pubs/828