Through funding from NASA's MUREP program, research was done on the resilience of Great Lakes coastal wetlands to environmental disturbance and how wetland behavior impacts Great Lakes nearshore water quality. In particular, the ability of wetlands to retain nutrients was assessed under different inundation levels using the Mondrian ecosystem model, revealing that nutrient retention is significantly reduced under flooded conditions. The impact of nutrient retention on water quality was then assessed using satellite remote sensing. This analysis revealed that flooding leads to high dissolved organic matter loading in the nearshore environment, but relationships with chlorophyll-a concentration and submerged aquatic vegetation presence varied by site, baseline nutrient conditions and wetland condition. This work integrated in situ sampling, ecosystem modeling, and remote sensing analysis to assess the vulnerability of Great Lakes aquatic ecosystems, providing a framework for future integrated research. Further, it helped to increase the engagement of underrepresented groups in research, providing unique educational opportunities for a cohort of students from Texas State University who were able to get direct experience with remote sensing, data science, simulation modeling, and field sampling.
