Digital Commons Network^™

Analytical Chemistry Of Plastic Debris: Sampling, Methods, And Instrumentation, Robert C. Hale, Meredith E. Seeley, Ashley E. King, Lehuan H. Yu

VIMS Books and Book Chapters

Approaches for the collection and analysis of plastic debris in environmental matrices are rapidly evolving. Such plastics span a continuum of sizes, encompassing large (macro-), medium (micro-, typically defined as particles between 1 μm and 5 mm), and smaller (nano-) plastics. All are of environmental relevance. Particle sizes are dynamic. Large plastics may fragment over time, while smaller particles may agglomerate in the field. The diverse morphologies (fragment, fiber, sphere) and chemical compositions of microplastics further complicate their characterization. Fibers are of growing interest and present particular analytical challenges due to their narrow profiles. Compositional classes of emerging concern include …

Atlantic Coast And Inner Shelf, David E. Krantz, Carl H. Hobbs Iii, Geoffrey L. Wikel

VIMS Books and Book Chapters

The continental margin of Virginia, and of North America more broadly, is the physical transition from the high elevation of the continent to the low of the ocean basin. This transition was created as rifting pulled apart the ancient supercontinent Pangaea to create the Atlantic Ocean basin. Tectonic forces fractured and stretched the bedrock to create a stair-step ramp that subsequently would be mantled with sediment built up by erosion and transport off the continent.

The Coastal Plain and Continental Shelf of Virginia are contiguous and discrete physiographic provinces of the continental margin delimited by the present elevation of sea …

Bivalve Molluscs: Barometers Of Climate Change In Arctic Marine Systems, Roger Mann, Daphne M. Munroe, Eric N. Powell, Eileen E. Hoffmann, John M. Klinck

VIMS Books and Book Chapters

Bivalve mollusks store a complete history of their life in the growth lines in their valves. Through sclerochronology, in combination with isotope signatures, it is possible to reconstruct both post-recruitment growth history at the individual level and commensurate environmental records of temperature and salinity. Growth patterns are integrators of local primary productivity; spatial and temporal changes in growth illustrate commensurate patterns of food availability. Mactrid clams are long-lived, benthic dominant species found on inner continental shelves throughout the Northern Hemisphere where they variously support major fisheries (Spisula solidissima in the Mid-Atlantic Bight, Mactromeris polynyma in eastern Canada, Spisula sachalinensis …

Ecological Role Of Blue Catfish In Chesapeake Bay Communities And Implications For Management, Ryan W. Schloesser, Mary C. Fabrizio, Robert J. Latour, Greg C. Garman, Bob Greenlee, Mary Groves, James Gartland

VIMS Books and Book Chapters

Rapid increase in abundance and expanded distribution of introduced blue catfish Ictalurus furcatus populations in the Chesapeake Bay watershed have raised regional management concerns. This study uses information from multiple surveys to examine expansion of blue catfish populations and document their role in tidal river communities. Originally stocked in the James, York, and Rappahannock River systems for development of commercial and recreational fisheries, blue catfish have now been documented in adjacent rivers and have expanded their within-river distribution to oligo- and mesohaline environments. Range expansions coincided with periods of peak abundance in 1996 and 2003 and with the concurrent decline …

Six Fish And 600,000 Thirsty Folks—A Fishing Moratorium On American Shad Thwarts A Controversial Municipal Reservoir Project In Virginia, Usa, J. E. Olney, Donna M. Bilkovic, Carl Hershner, Lyle M. Varnell, Harry V. Wang, Roger L. Mann

VIMS Books and Book Chapters

Moratoria on fishing directly impact fishers, distributors and marketers of product and can have serious socio-economic implications. Moratoria can impact communities but usually populations closely linked to the banned activity. In an unprecedented example, a moratorium on fishing in Virginia has directly impacted a nonfishing citizenry by thwarting plans for a public utility. In May 2003, a panel empowered to regulate marine resources denied permission to withdraw raw water from a pristine freshwater river, the Mattaponi. The controversial action spoiled a multi-million dollar plan to establish the King William Reservoir, a water source considered essential to future growth and development …

A Comparison Of Structural And Nonstructural Methods For Erosion Control And Providing Habitat In Virginia Salt Marshes, Karen A. Duhring

VIMS Books and Book Chapters

Shoreline stabilization methods that emphasize the use of tidal marshes and riparian vegetation are encouraged as a baseline defense for tidal shoreline erosion in Virginia. The effectiveness of three of these methods in preventing erosion and providing habitat was evaluated, including marsh stabilization structures (marsh toe revetments and sills), planted tidal marshes, and bank grading. This evaluation includes results from a recent field survey of 36 tidal marsh stabilization structures, permitting records, and other monitoring data. Marsh structures effectively reduced erosion of fringing and embayed marshes but were not as effective for gradually disappearing spit marshes. Adverse impacts of restricted …

Landscape-Level Impacts Of Shoreline Development On Chesapeake Bay Benthos And Their Predators, Rochelle D. Seitz, Amanda S. Lawless

VIMS Books and Book Chapters

Within the coastal zone, waterfront development has caused severe loss of shallow-water habitats such as salt marshes and seagrass beds. Little is known about the impact of habitat degradation and ecological value of subtidal shallow-water habitats, despite their prevalence. In coastal habitats, bivalves are dominant benthic organisms that can comprise over 50% of benthic prey biomass and are indicative of benthic production. We examined the effects of shoreline alteration in shallow habitats by contrasting the benthos of the subtidal areas adjacent to natural marsh, riprap, and bulkhead shorelines in three Chesapeake Bay subestuaries that differ in the level of shoreline …

Overview Of Living Shoreline Design Options For Erosion Protection On Tidal Shorelines, Karen A. Duhring

VIMS Books and Book Chapters

The term “living shoreline” was recently associated with particular types of shoreline stabilization methods that emphasize the use of natural habitat features such as deeply rooted riparian vegetation, vegetated wetlands, and sand beaches. This overview of living shoreline design options for tidal tributaries describes six nonstructural and four “hybrid” or structural methods for erosion protection. Structures are included with living shoreline design options to make habitat restoration or creation possible without substantial impacts to tidal exchange or habitat functions. The use and effectiveness of other methods not included in this summary are still under investigation, such as oyster shell reefs …

Current Understanding Of The Effectiveness Of Nonstructural And Marsh Sill Approaches, Bhaskaran Subramanian, Gene Slear, Kevin M. Smith, Karen A. Duhring

VIMS Books and Book Chapters

A panel session at the Living Shorelines Summit in Williamsburg, Virginia was dedicated to the current understanding of the effectiveness of nonstructural erosion protection methods and marsh sills. Four panelists described their professional experience with either design and construction or monitoring of projects in tidal waters of Maryland and Virginia, including marsh edge stabilization (marsh toe revetments), marsh sills with sand fill, and planted marshes. Their collective experience revealed that planted tidal marshes and supporting structures can be effective alternatives to revetments and bulkheads. Site-specific engineering is required to ensure they provide functional ecological benefits, particularly in medium and high …

Mycobacterial Infections In Striped Bass (Morone Saxatilis) From Delaware Bay, Christopher A. Ottinger, J. Jed Brown, Et Al, Martha Rhodes, Howard Kator, David T. Gauthier, Wolfgang K. Vogelbein

VIMS Books and Book Chapters

Much of what is known of mycobacteriosis in wild striped bass from the mid-Atlantic region of the United States is based on our observations from Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries, where high infection prevalence and lesioned fish are frequently observed. Comparatively, the occurrence and severity of mycobacteriosis in striped bass from watersheds adjacent to Chesapeake Bay are relatively unknown. This study represents the first report on mycobacterial infection in striped bass harvested from two sites in Delaware Bay.

Epizootic Mycobacteriosis In Chesapeake Bay Striped Bass: What Is The Fate Of Infected Fish?, Wolfgang K. Vogelbein, John M. Hoenig, David T. Gauthier

VIMS Books and Book Chapters

Striped bass (Morone saxatilis) in Chesapeake Bay, USA, are currently experiencing an epizootic of mycobacteriosis. Visceral disease prevalence in resident fish exceeds 50% and prevalence of skin ulcers can exceed 30% in some areas. Two primary hypotheses regarding emergence of this chronic bacterial disease propose that anthropogenic stressors constitute important underlying modulating factors

The Ecology Of Mycobacteria Infecting Striped Bass (Morone Saxatilis) In Chesapeake Bay: A Research Plan, Howard Kator, Martha Rhodes, David Gauthier

VIMS Books and Book Chapters

The ecology of mycobacteria in estuarine and marine waters remains poorly understood. The current epizootic in Chesapeake Bay striped bass and newly described pathogens Mycobacterium shottsii and M. pseudoshottsii raise ecological questions that if answered can improve our understanding of the pathogenesis of mycobacteriosis in this fish species.

Epizootiology Of Mycobacteriosis In Chesapeake Bay Striped Bass (Morone Saxatilis): Large-Scale Field Survey, David T. Gauthier, Robert Latour, Wolfgang K. Vogelbein

VIMS Books and Book Chapters

Striped bass in Virginia and Maryland waters of Chesapeake Bay are experiencing an ongoing epizootic of mycobacteriosis. Visceral disease prevalence exceeding 50% has been reported in several locations by various authors, and skin lesion prevalence exceeding 30% has been observed. The high prevalence of skin lesions observed in Chesapeake Bay striped bass is unusual and has not, to our knowledge, been reported previously in wild fishes.

An Unprecedented Scientific Community Response To An Unprecedented Event: Tropical Storm Agnes And The Chesapeake Bay, M. P. Lynch

VIMS Books and Book Chapters

In June 1972, the remnants of Hurricane Agnes brought destructive floods to the watershed of the Chesapeake Bay basin. Unlike Hurricane Isabel, Agnes did not strike Chesapeake Bay directly, but deposited a record amount of rainfall on the watershed. The evening that the Agnes rainfall began in earnest coincided with a meeting of the Citizens Program for the Chesapeake Bay. The directors of the three largest Chesapeake Bay research institutions, Drs. Donald W. Pritchard, L. Eugene Cronin, and William J. Hargis Jr., were in attendance at this meeting. The potential magnitude of the Agnes rainfall was readily apparent at the …

Isabel's Silent Partners: Seasonal And Secular Sea Level Change, J. D. Boon

VIMS Books and Book Chapters

Tidal conditions fail to explain a paradoxical similarity in water level extremes induced by Hurricane Isabel on 18 September 2003, and the 23 August 1933 storm of record at Hampton Roads, Virginia. Storm surge peaks occurred near astronomical high tide during both storms, but Isabel arrived during neap tides while tides during the 1933 storm were nearer to spring. In addition, Isabel produced a lesser storm surge, yet she yielded a storm tide, or high-water mark, roughly equal to that of the 1933 hurricane. The answer to the paradox lies in observed sea level—water level measured relative to the land—and …

What Has Been Learned About Storm Surge Dynamics From Hurricane Isabel Model Simulation?, Harry V. Wang, J. Cho, Jian Shen, Y. P. Wang

VIMS Books and Book Chapters

An unstructured grid hydrodynamic model was used to study storm surge in the Chesapeake Bay during Hurricane Isabel. The model-simulated, storm-induced water level compared reasonably well with the measured data collected around the Bay. Calibrated water level was extracted from the model to further analyze the dynamics of the surge as it formed and propagated along the mainstem Chesapeake. Based on time-series analysis, formation of the surge due to the pumping of coastal waters (hereafter called the primary surge) into the Chesapeake was first identified at the Bay mouth with a peak height of 1.5 m above mean sea level …

Introduction: Management Of Sharks And Their Relatives (Elasmobranchii), John A. Musick

VIMS Books and Book Chapters

This publication describes the scientific principles and techniques used for resource management of elasrnobranch fisheries with emphasis on the particular context of elasmobranchs. The management characteristics of these fishes are described - their common bycatch character and their biological constraints on productivity (low growth rate, late maturity and Tow fecundity). Stock assessment of elasrnobranchs is described in the context of rnanagement objectives in a wide management context. Special attention is given to accurate species identification given the prevalent aggregating of landings data across species, genera and often families in this group. Techniques and experiences for tagging elasmobranchs for population estimation …

Shark Utilization, John A. Musick

VIMS Books and Book Chapters

Sharks and their relatives provide a multitude of usable products including: meat, fins, liver, skin, cartilage and jaws and teeth. Unfortunately, tens of millions of sharks taken in fisheries each year have their fins removed and their carcasses discarded overboard (Fowler and Musick, 2002). This practice, called finning, represents a considerable waste as the fins on average make up only about 5 % of the total weight of a shark (Vannuccini, 1999). Such waste is contrary to the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries (Article 7.2.2 (g)) which stresses the importance of avoiding …

Mortality Estimation, Colin A. Simpfendorfer, Ramon Bonfil, Robert J. Latour

VIMS Books and Book Chapters

Mortality is an essential parameter in understanding the dynamics of any population and sharks are no exception. Without knowledge of how fast individuals are removed from a population it is impossible to model the population dynamics or estimate sustainable rates of exploitation or other useful management parameters.

Reproductive Biology, Christina L. Conrath

VIMS Books and Book Chapters

Several reproductive specializations are found within the elasmobranchs. All elasmobranchs fertilize internally and produce a relatively small number of large eggs. Elasmobranch fecundity generally ranges from one to two offspring produced a year up to a maximum of 300 in the whale shark (Compagno, 1990; Joung et al., 1996). Elasmobranch reproductive strategies include oviparity, aplacental viviparity and placental viviparity (Wourms, 1977). Oviparous species enclose eggs in an egg case and deposit them into the environment, where embryos develop external to the body of the mother . .Embryos remain in the egg case to develop for a period ranging from less …

Physical Response Of The York River Estuary To Hurricane Isabel, L. H. Brasseur, A. C. Trembanis, J. M. Brubaker, Carl T. Friedrichs

VIMS Books and Book Chapters

After making landfall on the North Carolina coast on the morning of 18 September 2003, Category 2 Hurricane Isabel tracked northward parallel to and slightly west of the Chesapeake Bay. At Gloucester Point, near the mouth of the York River estuary, strong onshore winds with speeds in excess of 20 m⋅s-1 persisted for over 12 hours and peak winds reached over 40 m⋅s-1, causing a sustained up-estuary wind stress. Storm surge exceeded 2 m throughout most of the lower Chesapeake Bay. A 600 kHz acoustic Doppler current profiler (ADCP), deployed at a depth of 8.5 m off Gloucester Point, provided …

Effects Of Hurricanes On Atlantic Croaker (Micropogonias Undulatus) Recruitment To Chesapeake Bay, M. M. Montane, H. M. Austin

VIMS Books and Book Chapters

Few studies have focused on the effects of climatic perturbations, such as hurricanes, on finfish recruitment and behavior. The Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) Trawl Survey has sampled continuously throughout the Virginia portion of Chesapeake Bay for 50 years. While hurricanes have impacted Chesapeake Bay during this time, three periods of hurricane activity— September and November 1985 (hurricanes Gloria and Juan), September 1989 (Hurricane Hugo), and September 2003 (Hurricane Isabel)—coincided with the largest spikes in juvenile recruitment of Atlantic croaker (Micropogonias undulatus) for half a century. The fall (October–December) croaker young-of-year indices for 1985, 1989, and 2003 were seven, …

Impacts Of Tropical Cyclone Isabel On Shallow Water Quality Of The York River Estuary, W. G. Reay, Ken Moore

VIMS Books and Book Chapters

Water quality impacts from Tropical Cyclone Isabel on the York River estuary were assessed based on long-term, near-continuous, shallowwater monitoring stations along the York River proper (poly- and mesohaline regimes) and its two tidal tributaries—the Mattaponi and Pamunkey rivers (oligohaline and tidal freshwater regimes). Regional rainfall from 18 to 19 September 2003 ranged from 5.8 to 11.7 cm. Peak mean daily stream flow occurred on 21 September 2003 and represented a 20- and 30-fold increase over prestorm conditions on the Mattaponi and Pamunkey rivers, respectively. Isabel produced a storm surge of 1.7 m near the mouth of the estuary and …

Simulation Of Hurricane Isabel Using The Advanced Circulation Model (Adcirc), Jian Shen, W. Gong, Harry V. Wang

VIMS Books and Book Chapters

Hurricane Isabel made landfall near Drum Inlet, about 240 km south of the Chesapeake Bay mouth, on the Outer Banks of North Carolina at 17:00 UTC (GMT 12:00), 18 September 2003. Hurricane Isabel is considered one of the most significant tropical cyclones to affect portions of northeastern North Carolina and east-central Virginia. The ADvanced CIRCulation Model (ADCIRC) model was applied to the Chesapeake Bay to simulate Hurricane Isabel. High-resolution grids were placed inside the Bay and tributaries; coarse grids were placed outside the Bay. The spatial grid resolution in the Bay mainstem is about 200–1000 m and the spatial grid …

Tagging Methods And Associated Data Analysis, Robert J. Latour

VIMS Books and Book Chapters

Tagging methods have a long history of use as tools to study animal populations. Although the first attempts to mark an animal occurred sometime between 218 and 201 B.C. (a Roman officer tied a note describing plans for military action to the leg of a swallow and when the bird was released it returned to its nest, which was in close proxiD?ity to the military outpost in need of the information), it is uncertain when fish :"ere first marked (McFarlane, Wydoski and Prince, 1990). An early report published 1? The_ Comp/eat Angler in 1653 by Isaak Walton described how private …

Can We Predict Joint Effects Of Hypoxia And Metals On Fish Survival?, Michael C. Newman

VIMS Books and Book Chapters

Fish are suddenly exposed to hypoxic conditions during diverse events such as seiche- or turnover-related water movements, bottom water release from reservoirs, ice-over of eutrophic arctic lakes, and rapid shifts in respiration: photosynthesis associated with cultural eutrophication. In each case, chemical equilibria established under hypoxic conditions that result in metal dissolution and accumulation suddenly shift toward chemical equilibria of oxic conditions. Critical changes in speciation include those determining the free ion activity that, as expressed by the Free Ion Activity Model (FIAM), is often the most bioactive form of a dissolved metal. Metal phase can also change rapidly and, in …

Constraints On Sustainable Marine Fisheries In The United States: A Look At The Record, John A. Musick, Julia K. Ellis

VIMS Books and Book Chapters

The factors that may either constrain or contribute to sustainable marine fisheries were examined by reviewing and analyzing the history and current status of several U.S. fisheries. Among major factors under consideration are inherent vulnerability (vulnerability in some species is high because of low intrinsic rates of increase and/or naturally infrequent recruitment); environmental degradation (fisheries may collapse because of anthropogenic habitat destruction); availability of data (information necessary co conduce accurate stock assessments may be inadequate for some species); quality of the scientific advice (inappropriate models or scientifically inaccurate assessments may be used); and effectiveness of management decisions (managers may disregard …

A Global Perspective On The Effects Of Eutrophication And Hypoxia On Aquatic Biota And Water Quality, Robert J. Diaz, Janet Nestlerode, Minnie L. Diaz

VIMS Books and Book Chapters

Development associated with human populations has led to the globalization of many environmental problems. In marine systems, the most serious of these problems are directly related to the process of eutrophication. The increased production of organic matter in these marine systems associated with eutrophication is the primary factor impacting species abundance and composition and dissolved oxygen budgets. Oxygen, which is essential to maintaining balance in ecosystem processes through its role in mediating microbial and metazoan activities, has declined to critically low levels in many systems, which has led to the development of hypoxia (/l) and anoxia (0 ml O2/l). Currently, …

Tradeable Property Rights And Overcapacity: The Case Of The Fishery, Dale Squires, Yongil Jeon, R. Quentin Grafton, James E. Kirkley

VIMS Books and Book Chapters

In fisheries, overcapacity is a critical problem that reduces rents and jeopardizes the sustainability of stocks. Using data from the British Columbia (BC) halibut fishery, before and after tradeable property rights were adopted in the harvesting sector, the paper tests for the effects of private rights on capacity and capacity utilization. The results indicate that tradeable property rights can be effective, even in the short-term, at reducing capacity per vessel per day and provide incentives to help overcome the "Tragedy of the Commons".

Capacity And Capacity Utilization In Fishing Industries, James E. Kirkley, Dale Squires

VIMS Books and Book Chapters

The definition and measurement of capacity in fishing and other natural resource industries possess unique problems because of the stock-flow production technology, in which inputs are applied to the natural resource stock to produce a flow of output. In addition, there are often multiple resource stocks, corresponding to different species, with a mobile stock of capital that can exploit one or more of these stocks. In turn, this leads to three unique issues: (1) multiple stocks of capital and the resource; (2) that of aggregation or how to define the industry and resource stocks to consider; and (3), that of …