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Ecosystem Overview
NCCOS concentrates its work in four broadly defined ecosystems: coastal estuaries (including the subset of National Estuarine Research Reserves), coastal oceans (all ocean areas within 200 miles of the coastline—i.e., the Exclusive Economic Zone—that are not in one of the other categories), coral reef ecosystems, and National Marine Sanctuaries. Scientists at the Hollings Marine Laboratory (an NCCOS research facility) conduct research to better understand the processes occurring in these important and dynamic ecosystems.
Estuaries
Estuaries are among the most biologically productive ecosystems on the planet. More than two thirds of the fish and shellfish we eat spend some part of their lives in estuaries. These ecosystems also provide many other important ecological functions; they act as filters for terrestrial pollutants and provide protection from flooding. There are 155 recognized estuaries in the contiguous United States. The 26 National Estuarine Research Reserves (which includes the ACE Basin Reserve in South Carolina) are a network of protected areas established for long-term research, education, and stewardship. Learn more »
Coastal Oceans
The coastal ocean encompasses a broad range of saltwater ecosystems, including estuaries, coral reefs, rocky shores, gravel shores, sandy shores, mud flats, marshes and mangrove forests. These ecosystems exist where streams and rivers meet the sea and where tides and coastal currents mix. HML scientists investigate how to maintain ecosystems at sustainable levels, determine how human activities will affect the coast, and mitigate successfully the effects of natural events on coastal ecosystems. Learn more »
Coral Reef Ecosystems
Coral reefs are Earth's largest biological structures, consisting of millions of coral communities, each comprised of tiny interconnected corals. The U.S. has jurisdiction over coral reefs covering an estimated 7,607 square miles in the tropical-subtropical belt around the equator. These reefs are vital to fisheries production and coastal protection. Unfortunately, symptoms such as decreases in hard coral covers, proliferation of algae, increases in coral bleaching, and disease outbreaks indicate that almost 60% of the world's reefs and the resources they support are at risk. Learn more »
National Marine Sanctuaries
There are 13 designated national marine sanctuaries, which encompass deep ocean gardens, nearshore coral reefs, whale migration corridors, deep sea canyons, and even underwater archeological sites. While some activities are regulated or prohibited in sanctuaries to protect resources, multiple uses such as recreation, commercial fishing, and shipping, are encouraged. HML researchers are investigating the benthic fauna at Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary off the coast of Georgia in order to learn more about the ecosystem in this region.