Dr. Robert Vincent, coastal ecologist at MIT, discusses invasive plant species and the carbon cycle on the dunes of Cape Cod. Vincent works with the US Environmental Protection Agency and the National Park Service to study carbon cycling in coastal dune habitats. Vincent is also exploring the effects of historic peat deposits on the establishment and persistence of invasive plants (Phragmites australis). With the increased risk of erosion from coastal storms exposing the once-buried peat deposits and the challenge of controlling an aggressive invasive species, there is much to learn from Vincent about this dynamic system. Learn how the research findings from the study will inform future conservation efforts in the region and help us gain a deeper understanding of carbon cycling in coastal dunes.
