Temple, N.A.; Webb, B.M.; Sparks, E.L., and Linhoss, A.C., 0000. Low-cost pressure gauges for measuring water waves. Waves have profound effects on coastal geomorphology, but the understanding of wave climate effects on coastal ecology is limited due, in part, to the high cost of commercial wave gauges. High-cost gauges also limit the scope of coastal wave models and the ability of coastal land managers to design effective restoration, conservation and enhancement projects. To address these limitations, a low-cost do-it-yourself (DIY) wave gauge was constructed using commercial plumbing parts, a pressure sensor, an Arduino^© microcontroller and adapted accessories. Details on gauge construction, coding and an instructional video tutorial are provided. Performance of the DIY gauge was determined by measuring the agreement of raw pressure data recorded by the DIY gauge to a comparable commercial gauge in both a laboratory wave channel study featuring a series of wave tests and in a complementary field test. Agreement of raw pressure data among gauges in the wave channel study was assessed using paired t-tests and by fitting linear models. Field test data agreement was assessed by comparing the total wave field energy recorded by each gauge and by fitting a linear model to recorded raw pressure data. Pressure data agreement between the gauges was excellent in all wave channel tests with mean differences between pressure readings consistently near zero and with 95% of all differences lying within ±63 Pascals (<1 cm static water depth), on average. The greatest variability between readings occurred within tests featuring high-frequency waves, mirroring results reported by others. Still, raw DIY wave gauge data explained, on average, 91% of the variance in raw commercial gauge data in wave channel tests. Field performance testing indicated similar gauge responses with 92% total wave energy agreement. Thus, the DIY wave gauge is a viable alternative to high-cost gauges that could improve the understanding and management of coastal environments.

Climate change is altering species’ range limits and transforming ecosystems. For example, warming temperatures are leading to the range expansion of tropical, cold-sensitive species at the expense of their cold-tolerant counterparts. In some temperate and subtropical coastal wetlands, warming winters are enabling mangrove forest encroachment into salt marsh, which is a major regime shift that has significant ecological and societal ramifications. Here, we synthesized existing data and expert knowledge to assess the distribution of mangroves near rapidly changing range limits in the southeastern USA. We used expert elicitation to identify data limitations and highlight knowledge gaps for advancing understanding of past, current, and future range dynamics. Mangroves near poleward range limits are often shorter, wider, and more shrublike compared to their tropical counterparts that grow as tall forests in freeze-free, resource-rich environments. The northern range limits of mangroves in the southeastern USA are particularly dynamic and climate sensitive due to abundance of suitable coastal wetland habitat and the exposure of mangroves to winter temperature extremes that are much colder than comparable range limits on other continents. Thus, there is need for methodological refinements and improved spatiotemporal data regarding changes in mangrove structure and abundance near northern range limits in the southeastern USA. Advancing understanding of rapidly changing range limits is critical for foundation plant species such as mangroves, as it provides a basis for anticipating and preparing for the cascading effects of climate-induced species redistribution on ecosystems and the human communities that depend on their ecosystem services.

Plastic food service packaging represents a large source of plastic waste and marine debris. Currently, most food service business operators are resistant to changing to environmentally friendly alternatives due to perceived cost and loss of business due to passing these costs onto the consumer. To address these issues, we assessed the willingness of consumers to pay for plastic alternatives in both dine-in and takeout scenarios at restaurants in relation to levels of environmental concern, environmental identity, and demographics through a survey. Data were analyzed using a combination of descriptive statistics, regressions, and exploratory factor analyses. Of the 1371 survey responses, nearly 66% of respondents indicated they would be willing to pay 40 cents or more per person per meal at a restaurant for plastic alternatives and that this preference did not vary between dine-in and takeout scenarios. Additionally, education level and level of caring for the environment were the two most significant factors that increased willingness to pay for plastic alternatives.

The global proliferation of plastics and their degradation into microplastics (<5 mm) have created a pervasive environmental crisis with severe ecological and human health consequences. Despite the exponential growth in microplastic research over the past decade, standardized protocols are still lacking. The absence of consistent sampling, analysis, and reporting methods limits data comparability, interoperability, and harmonization across studies. This study conducted a systematic bibliographic review of 355 peer-reviewed articles published between 2010 and 2022 that investigated microplastics in freshwater as well as marine water and sediment environments. The goal was to evaluate methodological consistency, sampling instruments, measurement units, reported characteristics, and data-sharing practices to identify pathways toward harmonized and FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable) microplastic data. Results show that 80.6% of studies focused on marine environments, 18% on freshwater, and 1.4% on both. This highlights persistent data gaps in freshwater systems, which function as key transport pathways for plastics to the ocean. Most studies targeted water (59%) rather than sediment (41%) and were mostly based on single-time sampling, limiting long-term analyses. Surface layers (<1 m) were predominantly sampled, while deeper layers remain understudied. Nets, particularly Manta, neuston, and plankton nets were the dominant tools for water sampling, whereas grabs, corers, and metallic receptacles were used for sediments. However, variations in mesh size and sampling depth introduce substantial biases in particle size recovery and reduce comparability across studies. The most common units were counts/volume for water and counts/g dry weight for sediments, but more than ten unit expressions were identified, complicating conversions. Only 35% of studies reported all four key microplastic characteristics (color, polymer type, shape, and size), and less than 20% made datasets publicly available. To advance harmonization, we recommend the adoption of consistent measurement units, mandatory reporting of key metadata, and wider implementation of open data practices aligned with the FAIR principles. These insights provide a foundation for developing robust monitoring strategies and evidence-based management frameworks. This is especially important for freshwater systems, where data remain scarce, and policy intervention is urgently needed.