@article{theuerkauf_puckett_theuerkauf_theuerkauf_eggleston_2017, title={Density-dependent role of an invasive marsh grass, Phragmites australis, on ecosystem service provision}, volume={12}, ISSN={["1932-6203"]}, DOI={10.1371/journal.pone.0173007}, abstractNote={Invasive species can positively, neutrally, or negatively affect the provision of ecosystem services. The direction and magnitude of this effect can be a function of the invaders’ density and the service(s) of interest. We assessed the density-dependent effect of an invasive marsh grass, Phragmites australis, on three ecosystem services (plant diversity and community structure, shoreline stabilization, and carbon storage) in two oligohaline marshes within the North Carolina Coastal Reserve and National Estuarine Research Reserve System (NCNERR), USA. Plant species richness was equivalent among low, medium and high Phragmites density plots, and overall plant community composition did not vary significantly by Phragmites density. Shoreline change was most negative (landward retreat) where Phragmites density was highest (-0.40 ± 0.19 m yr-1 vs. -0.31 ± 0.10 for low density Phragmites) in the high energy marsh of Kitty Hawk Woods Reserve and most positive (soundward advance) where Phragmites density was highest (0.19 ± 0.05 m yr-1 vs. 0.12 ± 0.07 for low density Phragmites) in the lower energy marsh of Currituck Banks Reserve, although there was no significant effect of Phragmites density on shoreline change. In Currituck Banks, mean soil carbon content was approximately equivalent in cores extracted from low and high Phragmites density plots (23.23 ± 2.0 kg C m-3 vs. 22.81 ± 3.8). In Kitty Hawk Woods, mean soil carbon content was greater in low Phragmites density plots (36.63 ± 10.22 kg C m-3) than those with medium (13.99 ± 1.23 kg C m-3) or high density (21.61 ± 4.53 kg C m-3), but differences were not significant. These findings suggest an overall neutral density-dependent effect of Phragmites on three ecosystem services within two oligohaline marshes in different environmental settings within a protected reserve system. Moreover, the conceptual framework of this study can broadly inform an ecosystem services-based approach to invasive species management.}, number={2}, journal={PLOS ONE}, author={Theuerkauf, Seth J. and Puckett, Brandon J. and Theuerkauf, Kathrynlynn W. and Theuerkauf, Ethan J. and Eggleston, David B.}, year={2017}, month={Feb} }
 @article{theuerkauf_eggleston_theuerkauf_puckett_2017, title={OYSTER DENSITY AND DEMOGRAPHIC RATES ON NATURAL INTERTIDAL REEFS AND HARDENED SHORELINE STRUCTURES}, volume={36}, ISSN={["1943-6319"]}, DOI={10.2983/035.036.0111}, abstractNote={ABSTRACT The ubiquitous loss of natural intertidal oyster reefs and associated ecosystem services has fueled restoration efforts throughout the world. Effective restoration requires an understanding of the distribution, density, and demographic rates (growth and survival) of oysters inhabiting existing natural reefs and how these may vary as a function of landscape-scale factors, such as tidal range and fetch distances. Furthermore, natural intertidal habitats are increasingly being replaced with hardened shoreline structures that may be colonized by oysters, yet little is known about habitat quality (as indexed by oyster density and demographic rates) of these hardened structures relative to natural habitats. The present study sought to compare oyster density, demographic rates, and population estimates (1) across estuarine landscape settings to inform natural intertidal oyster reef restoration (i.e., comparing natural intertidal reefs within adjacent water bodies that vary in tidal regimes and fetch distances) and (2) across natural habitats and human-made structures to assess variation in habitat quality between natural reefs and hardened shorelines. Oyster density, growth rates, and population estimates on natural intertidal reefs were greatest within the smaller, more tidally influenced Core Sound versus the larger, wind-driven Pamlico Sound, with no significant difference in survivorship identified between the two water bodies. Natural intertidal reefs and hardened shoreline structures were compared within Pamlico Sound only, with natural intertidal reefs hosting three to eight times higher oyster densities than hardened shoreline structures. When mean oyster density/m2 was multiplied by reef area to estimate population size, natural intertidal reefs within Pamlico Sound hosted considerably greater populations of oysters relative to hardened shorelines. The present study fills an existing need to understand oyster density and demographic rates on natural intertidal reefs and hardened shorelines to better inform future restoration and shoreline management scenarios.}, number={1}, journal={JOURNAL OF SHELLFISH RESEARCH}, author={Theuerkauf, Seth J. and Eggleston, David B. and Theuerkauf, Kathrynlynn W. and Puckett, Brandon J.}, year={2017}, month={Apr}, pages={87–100} }
 @article{theuerkauf_eggleston_puckett_theuerkauf_2017, title={Wave Exposure Structures Oyster Distribution on Natural Intertidal Reefs, But Not on Hardened Shorelines}, volume={40}, ISSN={["1559-2731"]}, DOI={10.1007/s12237-016-0153-6}, number={2}, journal={ESTUARIES AND COASTS}, author={Theuerkauf, Seth J. and Eggleston, David B. and Puckett, Brandon J. and Theuerkauf, Kathrynlynn W.}, year={2017}, month={Mar}, pages={376–386} }