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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 …

Soft Shell Clam Mya Arenaria, Patrick K. Baker, Roger L. Mann

VIMS Books and Book Chapters

Large populations of soft shell clams persist only in relatively shallow, sandy, mesohaline portions of the Chesapeake Bay. These areas are mostly in Maryland, but also occur in the Rappahannock River, Virginia. In some other portions of the Bay, especially polyhaline portions, low populations of soft shell clams persist subtidally. Restricted populations persist intertidally.

Soft shell clams grow rapidly in the Chesapeake Bay, reaching commercial size in two years or less. They reproduce twice per year, in spring and fall, but probably only fall spawnings are important in maintaining population levels. Major recruitment events do not occur in most years, …

Impacts Of Alum Sludge On Tidal Freshwater Streams, Morris H. Roberts, Robert J. Diaz

VIMS Books and Book Chapters

Alum sludge, generated in the processing of surface water .for drinking water supplies, has traditionally been discharged into nearby streams in Virginia and elsewhere. Alum sludge contains aluminum in an insoluble and non-toxic form. There remains concern, however, that alum sludge may have a negative impact on receiving waters.

Evaluating Impacts On Continental Shelf Environments, Concepts And Prospects, Donald F. Boesch

VIMS Books and Book Chapters

New and expanding activities on the continental shelf including disposal of wastes and dredged material, deepwater ports, floating nuclear power plants, mining, and oil and gas exploitation, have spawned increased interest in the ecology of continental shelf ecosystems and the environmental effects of these activities. Changing patterns of historical uses of the shelf environment, i.e., fishing and transportation, and as yet hypothetical new uses, such as tapping energy from the ocean's currents and gradients, will undoubtedly further increase our concern for the coastal oceans.

Modern And Holocene Formanifera In The Chesapeake Bay Region, Robert L. Ellison, Maynard M. Nichols

VIMS Books and Book Chapters

Estuaries are highly variable coastal ecosystems. Some of the variation is seasonal and some is longitudinal along the environmental gradient from the river to the sea. Foraminifera are tuned to the periodicity, and a progressive change in the composition and structure of foraminiferal faunas parallels the longitudinal ecocline, identified by the gradient in salinity.

In marshes and tributary estuaries where water is fresh, thecamoebinids comprise the microfauna. Three other marsh faunas are composed chiefly of the agglutinate species: Ammoastuta salsa, Miliammina fusca, Arenoparrella mexicana, Alllmobaculites crassus and species of Haplophragmoides and Trochammina. Their distribution is influenced by salinity and exposure. …

The Effect Of Tropical Storm Agnes As Reflected In Chlorophyll A And Heterotrophic Potential Of The Lower Chesapeake Bay, Paul L. Zubkoff, J. Ernest Warriner Iii

VIMS Books and Book Chapters

A hydrographic station (Station Y) at the mouth of the York River (37°14.6'N, 76°23.4'W) was under biological surveillance for one year prior to the arrival of Tropical Storm Agnes. For one full year following this storm, these measurements were continued. In addition, the chlorophyll a and heterotrophic potential measurements were incorporated into an ongoing zooplankton sampling program of the lower Chesapeake Bay below 37°40'N latitude.