1. Annie Cervin Research and Discover, 2010 Faculty Advisor: Dr. Jamie Pringle NASA, International Space Station Science, 5/4/10

2. Background The Mississippi River Delta is either an upstream or downstream edge for many species Using modeling, one can know how disasters impact marine life with different dispersal abilities and growth rates Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer on NASA’s Terra Satellite, 4/30/10

3. Parameters Organisms with planktonic dispersal stages Growth rate (births- deaths) Mean distance larvae recruits downstream of the mother Depends on the current strength and larvae development time Standard deviation of dispersal distance SD Distance Parent’s Location Downstream

4. Different Generations Downstream

5. Simulating the disaster Downstream

6. Measuring the impact of the disaster Downstream

7. Impact of different mean dispersal distances Downstream

8. Impact of different standard deviations Downstream

9. Impact of different growth rates Downstream

10. Why?

11. Future Generations Immediately impacted Not immediately impacted

12. Downstream

13. Recovery for different mean dispersal distances Downstream

14. Recovery for different standard deviations Downstream

15. Recovery for different growth rates Downstream

16. Where should MPAs be placed? Downstream

17. Conclusions Population is most sensitive to disaster at upstream edge, where it is recruitment limited Marine life is most sensitive when mean dispersal distance is high standard deviation is low growth rate is low Need further knowledge of species’ dispersal abilities as well as currents to more accurately model the impact of disasters and help with placement of MPAs

18. Dr. Jamie Pringle Dr. George Hurtt NASA /UNH Research and Discover Program