Oscillations are the rule in coastal marsh. Tides sweep back and forth through marsh soils, and the green marsh plants pull water from the soil on a daily basis. But how this constantly pulsing environment shapes and even dictates rhythmic interactions among plant roots, microbes, and soil-water chemistry is the question. This question is important, because these interactions drive coastal marsh ecosystem functions on which humanity increasingly depends. The research will be conducted through a cluster of seven linked project awards, lead by Zoe Cardon at the Woods Hole Marine Biological Lab.
