Student Research Symposium Program Portal: Submission #190

Submission information
Submission Number: 190
Submission ID: 9038
Submission UUID: 38b67488-d62e-4e7b-b208-c984f070912e

Created: Thu, 01/29/2026 - 10:39 AM
Completed: Thu, 01/29/2026 - 10:47 AM
Changed: Thu, 01/29/2026 - 10:47 AM

Remote IP address: 146.201.10.2
Submitted by: Anonymous
Language: English

Is draft: No
Primary Student Contact First Name Anastasia
Primary Student Contact Last Name Adams
Pronouns she/her
Primary Student Contact FSU Student Email aa24t@fsu.edu
Photo of all individuals presenting this work FSU photo ID.jpg
Major(s) of all individuals presenting this work Anastasia Adams
Bio of all individuals presenting this work My name is Anastasia Adams and I am in the undergraduate psychology program here at Florida State University in Panama City, FL. Although my center of focus is psychology, I am passionate about conservation. When I took the biology lab for non-majors in the fall, professor Sarah Wofford-Mares taught me much about coastal erosion. I was honored when she offered me this opportunity to present the research we did last semester. The focus of the project was to determine how much shoreline armoring, or man-made infrastructure such as sea walls and jetties, affects coastal erosion and biodiversity.
Poster Title Shoreline Armoring: Is it Good? Bad? Or Ugly?
Abstract Natural shorelines are increasingly favored over armored shorelines in Florida due to concerns about the ecological impacts of shoreline hardening. This study examined three armored and six natural shorelines at the Florida State University campus in Panama City, Florida, to evaluate whether hardened structures contribute to localized coastal erosion. Over a four-month period, slope changes, wave energy, and biodiversity indicators (including invertebrate and vegetation richness and evenness) were measured at each site using standardized field methods. The results showed that natural shorelines located adjacent to armored structures experienced elevated erosion rates. Additionally, notable differences in biodiversity and wave energy were observed between shoreline types, with armored sites exhibiting reduced biological diversity and altered wave conditions. These patterns suggest that shoreline armoring may have physical and ecological effects that extend beyond the structure itself. In particular, the study highlights how even small-scale shoreline modifications can influence sediment transport, habitat structure, and long-term ecological resilience across adjacent coastal areas. Overall, the findings provide important insight into how shoreline design influences coastal stability and ecological health. These findings reinforce the need for shoreline designs that balance human use with ecological function, particularly as coastal communities face increasing environmental pressures. Hurricanes and other natural disasters pose significant risks to coastal communities, compounding the natural processes of erosion that continue despite human intervention. By highlighting the trade offs associated with hardened versus natural shoreline approaches, this study offers valuable guidance for future restoration planning, permitting decisions, and coastal management strategies along Florida’s increasingly vulnerable coastline.
Research Mentor Name Sarah Wofford-Maref
Research Mentor's College (or High School) Florida State University Panama City, Fl
Research Mentor's Department (or Subject) Biology
Research Mentor's Email sw22ba@fsu.edu
Additional Research Mentor(s)
Co-presenter(s)
Keywords Conservation, Shoreline Management, Biodiversity
Poster Session/Number
Work Complete
Presentation Modality Face to Face Poster session
Poster PDF
Poster Thumbnail
I will be printing my poster No
Year 2026
Annual description 5th annual Undergraduate Research Symposium, April 17, 2025
Update URL https://pc.fsu.edu/student-research/symposium/research-symposium-program-portal?element_parents=elements/student_photo&ajax_form=1&_wrapper_format=drupal_ajax&token=NEO8CktJoozwX_UY2hNCzMLADpIH9Lco7pzYb2-IIYI