CRD 01-17
Session
VIII: Posters
| Multi-decadal
temperature records from New England's coastal waters |
Session
VIII: Posters
Abstract No. VIII-1
POSTER PRESENTATION |
Poster
Cristina
Bascuñán, James Manning, Maureen H. Taylor, and David
G. Mountain
NOAA/NMFS/NEFSC, 166 Water St., Woods Hole, MA 02543-1026
Water temperature has been
collected on a near-daily basis for over a decade at nearly a dozen
locations along the New England coast by various state, federal,
and commercial institutions. These records have now been archived in
a common ORACLE database and are available on the web. While
NMFS labs have made a significant contribution to this set with time
series from Woods Hole beginning in ’60's, Milford in the ’70's,
and Narragansett in the ’80's, there are several other non-NMFS
sites maintained, for example, by the Northeast Utilities power
plants and the states of Massachusetts and Maine. The Division
of Maine Resources in Boothbay Harbor now has nearly a century of data.
Now that these datasets are
merged, how should we analyze the collective set? What does it
say about long-term variability of our coastal waters? Can we
track the transport of Canadian source water as it enters into and
out of the Gulf of Maine and how important is the influx of remote
sources relative to the local runoff and surface heating? These
are questions that we can now begin to address and, while we have barely
begun, there are some interesting preliminary results. The inter-annual
variability of temperature anomalies (after removing seasonal cycles)
is fairly coherent throughout the New England region. The
sites mentioned above all recorded warm periods in ’84, ’91, and ’95
and cold periods in ’87/88, ’93, and ’96. There are some indications
of warming in recent decades that are most evident in the early ’90's
and during the winter months but this trend falls off in very recent
years.
| Shell
size and color of bay scallops from genetic lines as factors
in prey preference by crabs |
Session
VIII: Posters
Abstract No. VIII-2
POSTER PRESENTATION |
Poster
Joseph Choromanski1,
Sheila Stiles1, and Jessica Vinokur2
1NOAA/NMFS/NEFSC, 212 Rogers Ave., Milford, CT 06460-6490
2Vassar College, Poughkeepsie,
NY 12601
In the course of bay scallop
aquaculture research conducted at the National Marine Fisheries Service
Laboratory in Milford, CT, excess scallops were donated to Connecticut
municipal shellfish commissions for free planting in area waters. The
practice of free-planting or tossing seed scallops (10-40 mm) directly
into the water has come under scrutiny because of the observable decreasing
return in the number of adults (>60 mm) caught by recreational fisherman
in the towns that have such policies. Field studies of bay scallops
have suggested a variety of causes for population fluctuations including
habitat loss, genetic inbreeding depression, and predation. It is generally
known that crab predation can be a major factor in survival and growth
of bay scallops for reseeding or stock enhancement efforts, especially
in sites devoid of eel grass which can serve as a refuge for small
scallops.
To evaluate crab predation
on scallops and to test the influence of shell color on predator selection
of prey, an experimental study was conducted with green crabs (Carcinus
maenas) and blue crabs (Callinectes sapidus) in the laboratory. Six
treatment aquaria with ambient flowing seawater were established with
a single crab and 10 scallops. A seventh aquarium, with 10 scallops
and no crab to check for non-predator related mortality, was used as
a control.
Four separate trials were
run with scallops in each of the following size classes: 10, 20, 30
and 40 mm shell height. Trials were duplicated with a second set of
crabs and scallops. Observations were made at 1, 6, 20, and 48 hours
for each study. Results indicated that larger-sized scallops had higher
survival rates, indicating some degree of refuge from predation by
green crabs.
The availability of scallops
with different shell colors from our genetic lines provided an opportunity
to conduct predator preference experiments. With scallops of similar
size (~ 15 mm.) but with shell colors of white, yellow, stripe or brown
there was a tendency for the lighter colored scallops to become the
early meals. This tendency could have a prominent impact on restocking
efforts and is being studied further.
The inclusion of the blue
crabs to the experiments was due to a visual increase in the population
by divers where we have found our broodstock. The blue crab showed
to be as aggressive a predator as the green crabs and through its size,
allowed very little refuge for any of the scallop prey.
In addition, damage to scallop
shells was manifested in a characteristic appearance which could be
used in identifying mortality by crab predation in the field.
| A
clear case of overfishing in Room 25 |
Session
VIII: Posters
Abstract No. VIII-3
POSTER PRESENTATION |
Gary H. Wikfors and Mark
S. Dixon
NOAA/NMFS/NEFSC, Biotechnology Branch, 212 Rogers Ave., Milford,
CT 06460-6490
Experiences encountered in
aquaculture research can provide unexpected insight into the principles
of fisheries science. One such experience began with the introduction
of a non-native species into an aquaculture environment – brine shrimp
(Artemia) appeared mysteriously in a mass culture tank of microalgal
strain UTEX2341, Nannochloropsis sp. The vector for this introduction
may have involved human error, but we will attribute it to “The Brine
Shrimp Faerie” to avoid controversy. We viewed the presence of a population
of predators in our algal culture as an opportunity to explore the
potential for polyculture, i.e., would it be possible to manage algal
growth, algal removal by feeding brine shrimp, and brine shrimp population
growth and harvest sustainably? Does this question sound vaguely familiar
to anyone?
The experience proceeded
as follows: Milford personnel using brine shrimp to feed larval fish
harvested both algae and brine shrimp on an “as needed” basis, without
benefit of statistical analysis of data. Harvesters recorded removal
of algal culture and brine shrimp, while we recorded additions of new
water and algal nutrients. Fishing mortality (f) and catch per unit
effort (CPUE) were calculated with appropriate modifications for algal
and brine shrimp population dynamics and tracked for 14 weeks. For
the first 3 weeks, f remained below 0.2, and CPUE remained stable in
the range of 0.35-0.75 Artemia per liter of algal culture. When removal
of brine shrimp was accelerated (f>0.2), CPUE fell accordingly. One
ten-day period with no brine shrimp harvest seems to have resulted
in some recovery of the population, but several subsequent large harvests
(f>0.4 in a short time span) resulted in a local extinction of the
brine shrimp. In our case, the tank was drained, washed, re-filled,
and re-inoculated with algae. If only it were this simple everywhere...
| Waquoit
Bay Watershed Ecological Risk Assessment Project: using science
to support management |
Session
VIII: Posters
Abstract No. VIII-4
POSTER PRESENTATION |
Poster
David D. Dow
NOAA/NMFS/NEFSC, 166 Water St., Woods Hole, MA 02543-1026
In 1993 the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) and the Waquoit Bay National Estuarine Research
Reserve (WBNERR) established a partnership to develop a watershed-based
ecological risk assessment case study for this coastal embayment on
Cape Cod, MA. The Waquoit Bay watershed is 53 sq km in size, while
the bay itself encompasses 4 sq km. A conceptual model of the watershed
linked human activities to ecological stressors and their ecological
impacts, identifying the endpoints for evaluating these effects. For
example, residential development (activity) leads to increased nutrient
enrichment (stressor) from septic systems and fertilizer usage which
results in the loss of eelgrass beds/bay scallop populations (ecological
effects) in the bay, with eelgrass habitat being the assessment endpoint
and % eelgrass cover being the measurement endpoint.
Fuzzy set analysis was utilized
to qualitatively evaluate the 8 water-based assessment endpoints (migratory
fish, freshwater biota, wetland habitat, pond trophic status, toxic
contamination, eelgrass habitat, estuarine invertebrates, and estuarine
fish) in relation to the 6 dominant manmade stressors (toxic chemicals,
altered flow, suspended sediments, nutrients, physical habitat alteration,
and harvest pressure). This analysis identified nutrient enrichment,
dissolved phosphorus in the freshwater ponds and dissolved nitrogen
in Waquoit Bay, as the dominant stressor within the watershed. The
Risk Analysis Phase of this project contracted with the Boston University
Marine Program (BUMP) to develop a coupled Nutrient Loading Model (NLM)/Estuarine
Loading Model (ELM) which predicted dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN)
concentrations in the bay from nitrogen loading from the watershed
based on nitrogen input from the atmosphere, fertilizer use, and septic
systems.
A hypothetical management
application of the NLM/ELM models suggested that nitrogen loading from
the watershed would have to be reduced from the current 28 Kg N/ha
yr to 21 Kg N/ha yr in order to achieve the 30% coverage of eelgrass
in the bay proper which occurred in the early 1970's. Another potential
management application examined the impact of nitrogen loading on the
disappearance of the bay scallop populations in the early 1980's. It
appears that eelgrass cover is a more sensitive indicator of nitrogen
enrichment than is bay scallop harvest levels.
| Salpidae
and Thaliacea on the Northeast Continental Shelf |
Session
VIII: Posters
Abstract No. VIII-5
POSTER PRESENTATION |
Michael
D. Ford1, Sharon A. MacLean2, and Jerome Prezioso2
1NOAA/NESDIS/NODC, 1315 East-West Hwy., Silver Spring, MD 20910
2NOAA/NMFS/NEFSC, 28 Tarzwell Dr., Narragansett, RI 02882-1152
Measurements
of salp (Tunicata, Thaliacea) populations on the Northeast Continental
Shelf have revealed information about the spatial and temporal trends
of these grazers. A long time series of plankton measurements taken
by the National Marine Fisheries Service provided an unprecedented
collection of observations to analyze. Abundance and distribution
of salps (enumerated as Salpidae and Thaliacea) has been determined
from an approximately 24-year time series, from 1977 to the present,
of species abundance measured by Bongo net tows taken on the Northeast
Continental Shelf. Monthly, the highest concentrations of salps occurred
between July and November. The Northeast Continental Shelf study area
(approximately 35N-46N, 66W-77W) was divided into four regions (Middle
Atlantic Bight, Southern New England, George's Bank, Gulf of Maine). A
meridional trend is revealed with higher concentrations in the southern
regions. We find several events of extreme salp concentration throughout
this time series. Some events had a peak salp concentration of ~1
x 104 specimens * m-3. The dynamics (location,
magnitude, and duration) of these events are explored as well as the
relationships between accompanying physical oceanographic measurements.
| Variability
in capture of egg and larval fish species between two pelagic
samplers: bongo versus MOCNESS |
Session
VIII: Posters
Abstract No. VIII-6
POSTER PRESENTATION |
Donna L. Johnson
NOAA/NMFS/NEFSC, 74 Magruder Rd., Highlands, NJ 07732
Gear comparisons were made
of the catching efficiencies between the 1m2 Multiple Opening-Closing
Net and Environmental Sensing System (MOCNESS) and the paired 0.61m
Bongo sampler, as part of the GLOBEC Broadscale surveys on Georges
Bank. Monthly surveys were implemented from January through June of
1996 and 1997. The bank-wide assessment provided the necessary information
on distribution, abundance, growth and mortality/survival estimates
of key ichthyoplankton species.
Differential rates of capture
by year, season, depth, and light regime revealed significant differences
between the two samplers. Ratios of the mean standardized catches
under 10 m2 of sea surface area indicate a 4:1 difference
in capture between the MOCNESS versus Bongo sampler. For all survey
stations in which both sampling gears were deployed, larval fish were
captured at 350 MOCNESS stations (97% occurrence) while the Bongo stations
contained larval fish at 345 stations (96%) occurrence. Analysis of
individual taxa revealed significant differences in the catch ratios
in 13 of the 15 species examined.
|
Distribution
and variability of zooplankton biomass of the U.S. Northeast
Shelf Ecosystem |
Session
VIII: Posters
Abstract No. VIII-7
POSTER PRESENTATION |
Joseph Kane
NOAA/NMFSNEFSC, 28 Tarzwell Dr., Narragansett, RI 02882-1152
Zooplankton plays a key role
in marine ecosystems, both as a link between primary producers and
higher trophic levels and as a major prey item of larval fishes. This
poster presents information describing the distribution, annual cycle,
and interannual variability of zooplankton biomass within the Northeast
Shelf ecosystem for the years 1977 – 2000. Additionally, early spring
zooplankton standing stock levels from 1972 -2000 were compared to
the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO), an index of atmosphere variability
over the North Atlantic Ocean.
| RNA
concentration as an indicator of growth in young-of-the-year
winter flounder (Pseudopleuronectes americanus) and tautog (Tautoga
onitis) |
Session
VIII: Posters
Abstract No. VIII-8
POSTER PRESENTATION |
Catherine A. Kuropat1,
Renee Mercaldo-Allen1, Elaine M. Caldarone2,
Ronald Goldberg1, Beth A. Phelan3, and Frederick
P. Thurberg1
1NOAA/NMFS/NEFSC, 212 Rogers Ave., Milford, CT 06460-6490
2NOAA/NMFSNEFSC, 28 Tarzwell Dr., Narragansett, RI 02882-1152
3NOAA/NMFS/NEFSC, 74 Magruder Rd., Highlands, NJ 07732
This study evaluates white
muscle tissue RNA concentration as an indicator of short-term fish
growth. Young-of-the-year winter flounder (Pseudopleuronectes americanus) and
tautog (Tautoga onitis) were grown in short-term caging experiments
(1994-1995) within three north Atlantic estuaries and five habitat-types.
RNA concentration (mg/mg wet tissue wt.) was significantly correlated
with instantaneous growth rate in winter flounder, measured as length
(r=0.83) and weight (r=0.79) and in tautog, measured as length (r=0.69)
and weight (r=0.73). Estuary-and habitat-specific differences in growth
rate, as determined by RNA concentration, were similar to those determined
by measuring instantaneous growth. These results validate the use of
RNA concentration as an indirect measure of growth in young-of-the-year
winter flounder and tautog.
| Critical
Sightings Program placard |
Session
VIII: Posters
Abstract No. VIII-9
POSTER PRESENTATION |
Poster
Amy Renner1, Tim
V.N. Cole1, Dana L. Hartley2, Blair
Mase3, and Pat Gerrior2
1NOAA/NMFS/NEFSC, 166 Water St., Woods Hole, MA 02543-1026
2NOAA/NMFS/NERO, 166 Water St., Woods Hole, MA 02543-1026
3NOAA/NMFS/SEFSC, 75 Virginia Beach Dr., Miami, FL 33149
The Critical Sightings Program
(CRISP) placard has been developed to facilitate more comprehensive
and real-time reporting of offshore sightings of right whales, and
entangled or dead whales of any species. The placard was designed
primarily for use by the U.S. Coast Guard. However, it is available
to other federal and state agencies whose activities are likely to
encounter marine mammals, including the Department of Defense Marine
Mammal Awareness Program (where the placard is posted on their website). The
placard is not intended for use by merchant or other civilian vessels.
The placard is laminated
with information on both sides about reporting strategies and identifying
whales. We have an agreement from the U.S. Coast Guard to keep the
placard on the bridge of all Coast Guard vessels and Coast Guard Stations
from Maine to Texas. The placard is also being distributed to any
interested state and research organizations.
| Applications
of age and measurement data for Atlantic salmon scales using
image analysis |
Session
VIII: Posters
Abstract No. VIII-10
POSTER PRESENTATION |
Poster
Erin Livensparger and
Ruth E. Haas-Castro
NOAA/NMFS/NEFSC, 166 Water St., Woods Hole, MA 02543-1026
Accurate age and growth information
is essential for the successful management of any fish population.
The NEFSC's Atlantic Salmon Research and Conservation Task (ASRC) uses
Optimas 6.5.1 to efficiently extract growth and age information from
Atlantic salmon scales. Optimas is an image analysis software program
that enables measurements to be extracted from digital or real time
video images. For endangered Atlantic salmon populations we typically
age the fish using scales and
then quantify scale growth by extracting a series of measurements including
circuli spacing, annuli spacing, and focus morphology (the center portion of
the scale). These variables are used in studies involving comparative growth
and maturation, discrimination between naturally reared and hatchery reared
fish, and stock discrimination. The ASRC Image Analysis lab provides a means
to quantify the age and growth data collected from Atlantic salmon populations.
This information is essential for understanding the age structure, life history,
and ecology of these fish to better manage and restore these depleted populations.
|
Sirolpidium
zoophthorum, new evidence of its effects on larval bay
scallops
|
Session
VIII: Posters
Abstract No. VIII-11
POSTER PRESENTATION |
Poster
Christopher Martin
NOAA/NMFS/NEFSC, 212 Rogers Ave., Milford, CT 06460-6490
First observed in bivalve
mollusc larvae at Milford over forty years ago this phycomycetous fungus
appears to be endemic in cultures of bay scallop larvae at this laboratory.
It completes its brief life cycle in affected larvae. Biflagellate
zoospores released from mature thalli are infective. Clonal cultures
have been obtained from scallop larvae and maintained successfully
on enriched seawater agar. In limited experiments, this fungus appears
to cause heavy mortality under simulated hatchery conditions.
|
Restoration
and assessment of urban salt marsh habitat damaged by a severe
oil spill |
Session
VIII: Posters
Abstract No. VIII-12
POSTER PRESENTATION |
David B. Packer1,
Joseph J. Vitaliano1, and Carl Alderson2
1NOAA/NMFS/NEFSC, 74 Magruder Rd., Highlands, NJ
07732
2Salt Marsh Restoration Team, Natural Resources Group,
New York City Parks, 200 Nevada Ave., Staten Island, NY 10306
Few scientific studies have
focused on restored salt marshes (restored because of a severe
environmental impact) as opposed to created or constructed marshes
(created in response to mitigation). In 1990, a 576,000-gallon oil
spill seriously damaged marshes of the Arthur Kill, the strait separating
Staten Island, NY from NJ. The Salt Marsh Restoration Team of NYC Parks
implemented a multi-year restoration and monitoring project to restore
marshes directly impacted by the 1990 spill. To date, restoration activities
included the successful reintroduction of over 9 acres of Arthur Kill-propagated
salt marsh cordgrass, Spartina alterniflora. SMRT has been monitoring
several parameters in oiled marshes that were replanted and oiled marshes
left for natural recovery, including Spartina biomass/density,
ribbed mussel (Geukensia demissa) density, fish abundance/diversity,
frequency/duration of feeding of wading birds, and sediment total petroleum
hydrocarbons (TPH) in replanted and unplanted sites. In 1996 the National
Marine Fisheries Service’s James J. Howard Marine Sciences Laboratory
extended the study by characterizing and assessing the structure and
function of replanted, unplanted, and reference marshes. Studies included
sediment chemistry, contaminant analyses, macrobenthic surveys, and
stomach content analyses of mummichogs (Fundulus heteroclitus).
Results are presented from the two investigations. A quantitative assessment
of these marshes may allow us to evaluate our ability to restore this
habitat’s functional attributes, and identify indicators of habitat
and living resource health and recovery within a heavily urbanized
and degraded estuary.
| Seasonal
abundance of Temora longicornis on the Northeast Continental
Shelf of the United States based on 24 years of ecosystem monitoring
data |
Session
VIII: Posters
Abstract No. VIII-13
POSTER PRESENTATION |
Poster
Presentation
Jerome Prezioso and Joseph
Kane
NOAA/NMFSNEFSC, 28 Tarzwell Dr., Narragansett, RI 02882-1152
Seasonal abundance of Temora
longicornis from four regions of the northeast continental shelf
were plotted with Surfer using MARMAP and Ecosystem Monitoring Bongo
tow data from the years 1977-2000. Maximum abundance for this neritic
species was in the coastal waters of the Middle Atlantic Bight (MAB)
in the late spring. Temora longicornis also reached peak
abundance during late spring in Southern New England, (SNE) Georges
Bank, (GB) and Gulf of Maine, (GOM) but with the numbers decreasing
with increasing latitude. The lowest abundances were found in early
autumn in the MAB and SNE, in winter on GB and in early spring in
the GOM.
|
NOAA
CoastWatch remote sensing applications for the NMFS Northeast
Region
|
Session
VIII: Posters
Abstract No. VIII-14
POSTER PRESENTATION |
Grayson Wood
NOAA/NMFSNEFSC, 28 Tarzwell Dr., Narragansett, RI 02882-1152
For 11 years, the NOAA CoastWatch
Program has processed and distributed NOAA’s satellite remote sensing
products to researchers and environmental managers throughout the continental
U.S., Alaska and Hawaii. Given the wide range of environmental conditions
and ecological issues that occur within U.S. coastal waters, 8 regional
CoastWatch nodes were established where the further development of
remote sensing products would address local management concerns.
With advancements in computer
hardware and software, and the cumulative expertise within the CoastWatch
Program, environmental satellite data and image products have reached
a high level of quality, versatility and timely production. This poster
presents a sample of the products that have been developed for the
northeast U.S. coastal ecosystem and descriptions of how they are being
used.
|
Axial
skeletal deformities in winter flounder from Boston Harbor
and Georges Bank |
Session
VIII: Posters
Abstract No. VIII-15
POSTER PRESENTATION |
John J. Ziskowski1,
Holly Hansen2, Jose J. Pereira1, Marianne Farrington3,
Jay M. Burnett4
1NOAA/NMFS/NEFSC, 212 Rogers Ave., Milford, CT 06460-6490
2Secaucus, NJ
3New England Aquarium, Boston, MA
4NOAA/NMFS/NEFSC, 166 Water St., Woods Hole, MA 02543-1152
An X-ray study of 390 winter
flounder collected from Boston Harbor and Georges Bank in 1989, 1992,
and 1995 has revealed the presence of eight types of deformities of
the vertebral columns of affected fish: accessory processes, spinal
curvature, complex-vertebrae, reduced-accessory processes, fused vertebrae,
deformed centra, deformed accessory processes, and reduced centra.
LOGISTIC REGRESSION testing of the overall axial skeletal anomaly prevalence,
done simultaneously for the predictor variables: LOCATION, SEX, AND
AGE shows that the 33.1% prevalence in Boston Harbor flounder is significantly
higher than the 14.7% prevalence found in Georges Bank fish (P = 0.000). Only
the first four deformities listed above, however, occur at significantly
higher prevalences within Boston Harbor fish; i.e., at P < 0.05
levels. Although an excess number of deformed flounder were found
in Boston Harbor, we explored the contributions of SEX and AGE as predictor
variables since flounder catches from both locations were composed
of fish with differing ages and sex, introducing statistical bias. Fitting
a CLASSIFICATION TREE to this multi-variate date base elucidated relationships
between DEFORMITY OCCURRENCE, LOCATION, SEX AND AGE, showing that older
female flounder from Boston Harbor were most affected by axial skeletal
deformities. A DISEASE INTENSITY INDEX based on the deformity “counts”
and “types” for affected fish was determined. Using POISSON REGRESSION
testing as well as fitting REGRESSION TREES to this multi-variate data
base, it was found that DEFORMITY INTENSITY INDICES are not necessarily
higher within Boston Harbor flounder compared to fish collected on
Georges Bank. Index values are higher in younger males from Boston
Harbor, but the magnitude of the deviance of the POISSON REGRESSION
is too great and the variables DISEASE INDEX, LOCATION, SEX, AND AGE
are not well-modeled, in this case.
