Tidal Flat

The Marsh’s Sweet Spot: The elevation where marshes are the most productive

Read part 1 here.

Mina Surprenant is the N.C. Coastal Reserve and National Estuarine Research Reserve’s 2024-2026 Margaret A. Davidson fellow. This two-year fellowship funds a graduate student's research that addresses a key reserve management need, helping scientists and communities understand coastal challenges. Mina, a PhD student in the University of North Carolina - Wilmington’s Wetland Ecology Lab, is studying the effects of sea-level rise on our tidal marshes using drones to visualize change. 

Teachers on the Estuary

Playing games? Learning about science? And receiving a stipend for it? That’s what 13 North Carolina teachers got to do for two days in June at the Rachel Carson Reserve in Beaufort, N.C.  

Comparing oyster restoration methods and parasites as ecosystem indicators

Each year, North Carolina Sea Grant and the North Carolina Coastal Reserve & National Estuarine Research Reserve team up to award an NC graduate student the Coastal Research Fellowship. Grace Loonam, a Masters student with Drs. April Blakeslee and Rachel Gittman at East Carolina University, wrapped up her fellowship in May 2025 and shared her research and experience with us.

2025 Summer Intern Welcome

Please join us in welcoming our 2025 summer interns!

Community Science Month: How to Participate

So, you want to be a scientist? What if I said you can, and that it’s easy?! I’m talking about participating in community science, regardless of age, background, or experience. Anyone, including you, can be a community scientist. 

Field site students conduct research at the Rachel Carson Reserve in Beaufort for their capstone project.

Research was conducted on the east end of Carrot Island, one of five islands that make up the Rachel Carson Reserve. Experiments were conducted in the maritime forest, salt marsh, shorelines and on the living shoreline structure. (Photograph by Josh Himmelstein)

How do birds cope with extreme temperatures?

How do birds adjust to stay cool on 100-degree summer days? What about during the winter when it can reach below freezing? Juan Zuluaga is on a mission to find out.

In Fond Memory of John O. Fussell III

The North Carolina Coastal Reserve & National Estuarine Research Reserve is thankful for John’s friendship and long-term unwavering service to the preservation and appreciation of North Carolina’s coastal natural resources. We are particularly grateful for his professional and volunteer work on Reserve sites, and to honor him, we would like to reflect on highlights of his years of work in these natural areas.

Madison Lytle: Researching the impacts of climate change on seagrasses around the Rachel Carson Reserve

The N.C. Sea Grant and N.C. Coastal Reserve Coastal Research Fellowship funds student research at the North Carolina Coastal Reserve & National Estuarine Research Reserve. As a fellow, Madison’s research focused on the seagrasses within the Rachel Carson Reserve in Beaufort, NC. 

Summer 2025 Internship Opportunities

Spread the word! The North Carolina Coastal Reserve & National Estuarine Research Reserve has three internship positions open. Interested applicants can learn more about the Reserve on our website and our social media channels.