I am a 3rd year Master’s student contributing to the Salt Marsh Ecosystem Dynamics project. The project dovetails with my interest on the impacts of global climate change factors on the pace and dynamics of species evolution, particularly on ecological time scales. I study intraspecific trait variation of a keystone species, Schoenoplectus americanus, whose growth and biomass production is imperative for the persistence of coastal marsh ecosystems of the Chesapeake Bay. My research encompasses ideas from the fields of evolution, ecology, and global climate change to foster a better understanding of the role that trait variation within S. americanus has on marsh accretion, an ecosystem process that is crucial for coastal marsh resilience against sea level rise. These efforts will contribute to the broader understanding of the dynamic relationship between evolution and ecosystem processes with implications for wetland restoration and management.