PeopleFacultyJoseph C (Jay) Zieman

Joseph C (Jay) Zieman
Professor of Environmental Sciences

Regions of Interest:
South Florida, Eastern Shore of Virginia

Research:
Marine ecology, ecology of seagrass ecosystems, ecology of tropical coastal systems.

My major research interests are concerned with dynamic ecosystem processes in coastal ecosystems, such as succession and nutrient dynamics. Of primary interest are seagrass ecosystems and salt marshes, although I worked with coral reefs and mangroves. Coastal ecosystems are highly dynamic, and much of my current research is involved with partitioning the relative roles of anthropogenic impact verses natural climatic change as drivers of ecosystem change. In addition, with other colleagues, I am exploring the use of modern tracers, such as stable isotopes, as indicators of ecosystem processes.

Much of my research focuses on the seagrass meadows of South Florida, with much effort devoted to studying the effects of the dieoff of tens of thousands of acres of seagrasses. Other research there is more specifically concerned with relating seagrass distribution and growth to nutrients and light field dynamics. I also have an active research program in the salt marshes of the Virginia eastern shore, studying the biogeochemistry of the region. A central focus of this work concerns the role of the dieoff of the temperate seagrass in the 1930's, and the lasting effects of this major ecosystem state change.