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Ecological Monitoring Program At Vims Esl: Annual Report 2022, Paige G. Ross, Richard A. Snyder

Reports

An Ecological Monitoring Program (EMP) has been established at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science Eastern Shore Laboratory (VIMS ESL) for the coastal environment near the Wachapreague lab. The goals of the initiative are to 1) provide status and trends information to scientists who study and regulators who manage Virginia’s marine resources, 2) provide a scientific context for short-term research and grant proposals 3) provide pedagogical enrichment for educators to use in their classes, and 4) build capacity in staff expertise and training of interns and students at VIMS ESL.

The program formalizes and standardizes data collection for a long-term …

Ecological Monitoring Program At Vims Esl: Annual Report 2021, Paige G. Ross, Richard A. Snyder

Reports

An Ecological Monitoring Program (EMP) has been established at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science Eastern Shore Laboratory (VIMS ESL) for the coastal environment near the Wachapreague lab. The goals of the initiative are to 1) provide status and trends information to scientists who study and regulators who manage Virginia’s marine resources, 2) provide a scientific context for short-term research and grant proposals 3) provide pedagogical enrichment for educators to use in their classes, and 4) build capacity in staff expertise and training of interns and students at VIMS ESL.

The program formalizes and standardizes data collection for a long-term …

Fisheries Landings For The Eastern Shore Of Virginia (Esva) 2021, Richard A. Snyder

Reports

Virginia (VA) landings data were requested from VMRC (Table 1) and analyzed by Richard Snyder at VIMS ESL. Landings data reflect where seafood entered market systems, and so may have different origins that will blur categorizing economic activity ascribed to the act of harvest and the act of processing for market. For example, almost all menhaden are landed in Deltaville, VA, some of the conch/welks and dogfish recorded for Accomack may have originated elsewhere to be processed in Wachapreague, and visiting Maryland crabbers early in the season contribute to blue crab landings. Shellfish data (oysters and clams) are separated as …

Ecological Monitoring Program At Vims Esl : Annual Report 2020, Paige G. Ross, Richard A. Snyder

Reports

An Ecological Monitoring Program (EMP) has been established at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science Eastern Shore Laboratory (VIMS ESL) for the coastal environment near the Wachapreague lab. The goals of the initiative are to 1) provide status and trends information to scientists who study and regulators who manage Virginia’s marine resources, 2) provide a scientific context for short-term research and grant proposals 3) provide pedagogical enrichment to educators for their classes, and 4) build capacity in staff expertise and training of interns and students at VIMS ESL.

The program formalizes and standardizes data collection for a long-term status and …

Ecological Monitoring Program At Vims Esl - Annual Report 2018-2019, Paige G. Ross, Richard A. Snyder

Reports

An Ecological Monitoring Program (EMP) has been established at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science Eastern Shore Laboratory (VIMS ESL) for the coastal environment near the lab. The goals of the initiative are to 1) provide status and trends information to scientists who study and regulators who manage Virginia’s marine resources, 2) provide a scientific context for scientists’ research and grant proposals 3) provide pedagogical enrichment to educators for their classes, and 4) build capacity in staff expertise and training of interns and students at VIMS ESL.

The program formalizes and standardizes data collection for a long-term status and trends …

Leds To Replace Fluorescent Tubes For Growth Of Cultured Algae, Grace Alego, Christopher Bentley, Rebecca Smith, Darian Kelley, Richard Synder

Reports

Fluorescent bulbs are widely used for algal culture stocks and production in aquaculture operations. Metal halide lamps are also used for production tanks with significant electricity demand and heat production. LED technology promises lower operational costs with less energy waste as heat for equivalent light energy production. Re-tooling algal production facilities with new LED fixtures incurs significant expense that must be recaptured in savings over time. The initial cost, added to concerns over the unknown response of algae to LED light sources may both be factors inhibiting incorporation of this new technology. LED replacement tubes are available to retrofit fluorescent …

Recruitment, Substrate Quality And Standing Stock Monitoring In Support Of Noaa-Acoa Oyster Restoration Projects In The Great Wicomico, Rappahannock, Piankatank And Lynnhaven River Basins, 2004-2006 : Supplementary Materials, Mark Luckenbach, Paige G. Ross

Reports

Many factors affect the success of oyster restoration efforts. This supplemental report details the VIMS effort under this NOAA-funded program to monitor some of those factors in the Great Wicomico, Rappahannock, Piankatank and Lynnhaven Rivers. Specifically, it details monitoring of (1) oyster settlement at two reefs in each of those tributaries from May to November from 2004 – 2006, along with additional widespread recruitment monitoring in the Lynnhaven River in 2005 & 2006, (2) substrate condition on the same eight reefs during spring, summer and fall of 2004 – 2006, (3) oyster abundance on Shell Bar reef in the Great …

Distribution, Habitat Characteristics, Prey Abundance And Diet Of Surf Scoters (Melanitta Perspicillata) And Long-Tailed Ducks (Clangula Hyemalis) In Polyhaline Wintering Habitats In The Mid-Atlantic Region: A Comparison Of Shallow Coastal Lagoons And Chesapeake Bay Environs, Paige G. Ross, Mark W. Luckenbach

Reports

To the best of our knowledge there are no published data on sea duck winter habitat use in the higher salinity portion of the lower Chesapeake Bay or in adjacent coastal bays along the Atlantic margin of the Delmarva (Delaware, Maryland, Virginia) peninsula. Within these regions both SUSC and LTDU have been observed in shallow water environments (Ross, pers. obs.), yet little is known about their habitat use or feeding habits in these areas. Importantly, these two adjacent areas, which are separated by as little as 20 km, differ in several key environmental components.

In this study we documented the …

Population Assessment Of Eastern Oysters (Crassostrea Virginica) In The Seaside Coastal Bays, Paige G. Ross, Mark Luckenbach

Reports

Declines of oyster populations and commercial harvest from the Virginia seaside coastal bays have followed similar patterns, though not as severe, as those in Chesapeake Bay. High prevalence of Dermo disease (Perkinsus marinus) and MSX disease (Haplosporidium nelsoni) coupled with over harvest and habitat destruction have dramatically reduced populations. Nevertheless, there are several promising signs that significant enhancement of the population could be achieved with well conceived restoration efforts. Oyster habitat and population distribution were examined in the coastal bay system on the seaside of the Eastern Shore of Virginia. This system is composed of barrier islands, salt marshes, broad …

Settlement And Survival Of The Oyster Crassostrea Virginica On Created Oyster Reef Habitats In Chesapeake Bay, Janet A. Nestlerode, Mark W. Luckenbach, Robert J. Diaz

Reports

Efforts to restore Crassostrea virginica oyster reef habitats in Chesapeake Bay typically begin with the placement of hard substrata, such as oyster shell, in the form ofthreedimensional mounds on the seabed to serve as a base for oyster recruitment and growth. A shortage of sufficient volumes of oyster shell for creating large-scale reefs has led to widespread use of other materials, such as surf clam (Spisula solidissima) shell, as a substitute for oyster shell. We monitored oyster recruitment, survival, and growth on intertidal and subtidal reefs constructed shucked oyster and surf clam shell. Results indicate that oyster settlement occurred on …

Annual Report Of The Virginia Institute Of Marine Science Eastern Shore Laboratory 2002, Eastern Shore Laboratory

Reports

No abstract provided.

Comparative Study Of Seed From Northern And Southern Hatcheries, Joshua Merritt, Paige G. Ross

Reports

Seed from Northern and Southern (hereafter called local) hatcheries was procured in May 2000. Oysters delivered by the Northern hatchery were on time and of the desired size ~3mm). Seed from the local hatchery, however, arrived several days later and were too small to go into field nursery containers and were subsequently held in upwellers and then transferred to the field nursery gear. Figure 1 shows growth as measured by mean shell height (mm) for both strains. Note that the local seed took N20 days longer to reach grow-out size (indicated by first sieve).

Population Structure Of The Arkshell Clams Noetia Ponderosa And Anadara Ovalis In The Oceanside Lagoons And Tidal Creeks Of Virginia And Implications For Fisheries Management, Kay A. Mcgraw, Michael Castagna, Sally D. Dennis

Reports

Two species of arkshell (blood) clams, Noetia ponderosa and Anadara ovalis, have · recently been targeted by watermen on the Eastern Shore of Virginia for sale to east coast markets. Until 1991 fishermen caught both species in conjunction with the harvest of oysters and hard clams and considered them of little value. Very little is known about either species, and preliminary data from our pilot study in 1993 indicated that blood clams were being overfished. In September, 1994 we conducted a survey in the oceanside lagoon system along the Eastern Shore and collected data on density, abundance, habitat preference, and …

Evaluation Of Dredge Fishing Activity On The Seaside Of Virginia's Eastern Shore, December 1994 - November 1995, Mark W. Luckenbach, James E. Wesson

Reports

Dredging has a long history in Virginia's commercial fisheries. In general, dredges are scraping or digging apparatuses that harvest as they are towed behind boats under power. Mechanical dredges have been used with sail power to harvest oysters since the mid- l 800's. Crabs have been harvested by power dredges since at least 1900, while dredge fishing of clams, which reside deeper in the substrate, began somewhat later. Individual crab dredges in Virginia can be a maximum of 8 ft wide and are usually pulled in pairs for a maximum total width of 16 ft. The dredge has a scraping …

Vims Hatchery Operations Manual, Mary Gibbons, Kenneth Kurkowski, Michael Castagna

Reports

No abstract provided.

Manual For Growing The Hard Clam Mercenaria, Michael Castagna, John N. Kraeuter

Reports

No abstract provided.

A Study Of The Commercial And Recreational Fisheries Of The Eastern Shore Of Virginia, Accomack, And Northampton Counties: History Review And Recommendations For Improvements, V. G. Burrell Jr., M. Castagna, R. K. Dias

Reports

No abstract provided.

Economic Potential Of Clam Operation, Michael Castagna

Reports

The following estimates are based on the premise that the clam operation will be in an area where clam culture techniques will work. This means the seawater available t_o the hatchery is of suitable quality for this operation at least during the period that the clam larvae and juveniles are in that system. The food growing method (Glancy method) has been successfully used from Canada to Florida so should not be a problem.

Spawning And Rearing The Bay Scallop Vims Laboratory Methods, Michael A. Castagna, William P. Duggan, David Garten

Reports

No abstract provided.

The Economic History Of The Fisheries Of The Eastern Shore Of Virginia, John B. Pleasants

Reports

The economic history of the Eastern Shore has been greatly affected by both its natural characteristics and its location. Each has had both good and bad effects, with the very advantages carrying with them serious disadvantages in a bewildering juxtaposition. For instance, the sea and bay provide a boundless resource of commercially desirable species, yet lead to isolation from major markets of the area. The very isolation 0£ the Eastern Shore and its low population density lessens the possibility of pollution, thus preserving the environment on which estuarine animals are dependent. (...)

Hard Clam Culture Method Developed At Vims, Michael A. Castagna, Lawrence W. Mason, Fred C. Biggs

Reports

No abstract provided.

Drill Control Studies With Formulations Of Polystream And Sevin For 1963, Dexter S. Haven, Michael Castagna, Et Al

Reports

During 1963 , the Virginia Institute of Marine Science conducted a series of tests on oyster drill control with formulations of "Polystream", a chlorinated hydrocarbon and "Sevin", an insecticide .

The utility of these two compounds had previously been investigated by the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service in Long Is land Sound, in the laboratory and in field trials on commercial beds. Several of these earlier fie ld studies indicated that the treatment prescribed was effective in drill control. Consequently, application was made to the U. S. Department of Agriculture for an " experimental permit." The permit was granted …

Evidence Of A Naturally Occurring Inhibitor Possibly Limiting Dermocystidium Marinum In Virginia, H. Dickson Hoese

Reports

Dermocystidium marinum, a fungus parasite common in oysters on the eastern shore of Chesapeake Bay, suddenly dissapeared at the beginning of the marsh and bay system of' the outer Virginia coast. No D. marinum was found on the outer coast (Seaside) although temperatures and salinities seem to be optimal. Introduction of populations of infected oysters seem to lose the dieease, but individuals do not. What seems to be a water derived inhibitor was found in a few water samples collected at Wachapreague on the Seaside. Comparable inhibition was not found in Chesapeake Bay water. The inhibitor is difficult to demonstrate …

Winter Mortalities Of Oysters On The Eastern Shore Of Virginia, 1959-1961, H. Dickson Hoese

Reports

During the winter of 1960-61 exceptional mortalities occurred among certain oysters on the Virginia Seaside. These mortalities were greatest among James River oysters held intertidally and South Carolina imports placed below low tide level. Intertidal native oysters suffered small mortalities but among subtidal native or James River oysters only the very oldest, with extensive disease histories, showed any winter mortality. (...)

Studies On Oyster Scavengers And Their Relation To The Fungus Disease Dermocystidium Marinum, H. Dickson Hoese

Reports

Within the past decade there have been several studies on the biological structure of oyster reefs. These studies, however, gave few insights into the dynamics of oyster communities. The extensive studies of Hedgpeth (1953) , Gunter (1955), and Parker (1955, 1969) in Texas and Korringa (1951) in Holland were largely concerned with sessile forms, and the highly motile fishes went almost unnoticed. While these studies clearly emphasized imrmotile organisms, the present study leans in the opposite direction.

This study started from casual observations of oyster fishes, and progressed to comparisons of mortality of oysters with activity of other members in …

Studies On The Mud Crabs (Xanthidae) Of The Eastern Shore Of Virginia, H. Dickson Hoese

Reports

Small xanthid crabs are among the most abundant members of estuarine communities, and doubtless they have important influence in several communities. In Chesapeake Bay and environs mud crabs are one of the most conspicious members of the oyster community, and they must comprise a large biomass, despite their small size.

Collections and observations were made at 11 localities visited at least once a month on the Eastern Shore of Virginia from August 1959 through November 1960, with some scattered study until August 1961.

Preliminary Observations On The Fauna And Flora Of Eastern Shore Oyster Beds, 1960, Sewell H. Hopkins

Reports

During the period June 20 -- August 18, 1960, the writer was engaged in survey of the ecological makeup of oyster communities on both the bay side and the sea side of the two Eastern Shore counties of Virginia. Most field studies were made during the regular trips to check mortality in oyster trays at 3 sea side and 6 bay side stations. Some collections were also made during trips to examine planter's beds, or on special collecting trips. Records of previous collections by Mr. H. D. Hoese are also included. Most of the material collected during the current summer …