Ecosystem impacts of Hurricane Ike on Galveston Island and Bolivar Peninsula: Perspectives of the Coastal Barrier Island Network (CBIN)

摘要

The Coastal Barrier Island Network, an international research group, had its second meeting in Galveston, TX, following Hurricane Ike. The goal of this meeting, as well as the first meeting in Biloxi, MS, following Hurricane Katrina, was to develop a research-management-outreach framework for sustaining coastal barrier ecosystems under global change such as increased storm activity and continued anthropogenic stresses. The Texas location provided an opportunity to observe firsthand post-hurricane damage on the Chenier Plain, the Bolivar Peninsula, and Galveston Island. Here, we discuss the ecosystem impacts of Ike and present six major themes that emerged from the Galveston meeting for identifying critical areas for future research and science-based management decisions to sustain coastal barrier ecosystems.