Lead: Eric Dammann, Shane Daiek
Counselors: Jorge Lorenzo-Trueba, Klaus Keller

In collaboration with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), MACH researchers are assessing how the shape and structure of barrier islands, often altered by sea-level rise, storms, and coastal engineering, affect shorebird habitat, especially for the piping plover. The piping plover is of specific interest because it is listed as a federally threatened species and depends on dynamic coastal habitats that are particularly vulnerable to change. This collaborative research effort aims to support adaptive conservation and management strategies that balance ecological function with coastal protection along the coast of New Jersey. Eric Dammann is leading the development of a numerical model that links barrier island change with habitat suitability metrics. This model enables researchers to project how future changes under different coastal management scenarios—such as dune construction, beach nourishment, or marsh restoration—may influence the availability and quality of the piping plover's nesting habitat over time. To complement this work, Shane Daiek is developing a machine learning–based mapping tool that uses drone-based imagery, including standard color photos (RGB) and LiDAR (a laser-based method that maps surface elevation in detail), to generate high-resolution, species-specific vegetation datasets. These data are critical for quantifying current habitat conditions and for calibrating and validating the model. Together, these efforts create a spatially explicit platform to support USFWS and other stakeholders in making informed decisions about habitat conservation, land acquisition, and long-term coastal adaptation.