Coastal Conservation & Restoration

In the Coastal Conservation and Restoration group, our interest in healthy habitats includes examining the response of organisms to changing environmental conditions. Our research has a strong field-based component and is supported by laboratory analyses and statistical approaches. We develop tools, including benefit-cost analyses and restoration suitability indices, to support natural resource management decision-making. We examine the proficiency of restored habitats in replacing lost ecological functions, including water filtration, provision of nursery and feeding habitat for fish and invertebrates, shoreline stabilization, and enhancement of biodiversity.

Because healthy habitats support productive coastal environments and resilient coastal communities, our team conduct extensive field research in oyster reef, salt marsh, Serpulid worm reef, and offshore oil platform habitats. Dr. Pollack also co-leads HRI’s Sink Your Shucks Oyster Recycling Program, a plate to bay restoration program that collects used shell from restaurants and processors to rebuild oyster reefs and monitor their success.