Life Sciences Commons^™

Water Quality Conditions And Restoration Of Submerged Aquatic Vegetation (Sav) In The Tidal Freshwater James River 2009, Ken Moore, Betty Neikirk, Erin C. Shields, David Parrish

Reports

In 2009, wild celery (Vallisneria americana) and water stargrass (Heteranthera dubia) shoots were transplanted into shallow water sites in the Hopewell region of the tidal James River and sampled for survivorship and growth throughout the SAV growing season. Water quality sampling was conducted at bi-weekly to monthly intervals throughout the year for water column nutrients, chlorophyll a, suspended solids, water transparency and other chemical and physical constituents important for SA V growth. Objectives of this restoration and water quality study were to: 1) expand the SA V transplanted plots within the study areas previously transplanted; 2) conduct water quality sampling …

Evaluation Of Color Imagery And Direct Referencing For Mapping Submersed Aquatic Vegetation In Chesapeake Bay - Final Report, David J. Wilcox, R J. Orth, Jennifer R. Whiting, Anna K. Kenne, Amy L. Owens, Leah S. Nagy

Reports

The VIMS Annual Submersed Aquatic Vegetation (SAV) Monitoring Program has used black and white aerial photography to map SAV in Chesapeake Bay each year from 1984 to the present, with the exception of 1988. In 2008, VIMS initiated a pilot project to address two potential enhancements identified by a recent external program review: color film and direct referencing technology. Simultaneous color and black and white imagery was captured for three regions. In addition, GPS/inertial mapping unit (IMU) direct referencing data was acquired for two of the regions.

Water Quality Conditions And Restoration Of Submerged Aquatic Vegetation (Sav) In The Tidal Freshwater James River 2006, Ken Moore, Betty Neikirk, Britt-Anne Anderson, Jessie C. Jarvis

Reports

No abstract provided.

Water Quality Conditions And Restoration Of Submerged Aquatic Vegetation (Sav) In The Tidal Freshwater James River 2005, Ken Moore, Betty Neikirk, Britt-Anne Anderson

Reports

In 2005, wild celery (Vallisneria americana) whole shoots, seeds and intact seed pods with seeds were transplanted into four sites in the Hopewell region of the tidal James River. The SAV transplants were sampled by the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) for survivorship and growth at bi-weekly to monthly intervals throughout the growing season. Concurrently, water quality sampling was conducted at bi-weekly intervals throughout the year for water column nutrients, chlorophyll a, suspended solids, water transparency and other chemical and physical constituents important for SAV growth. Continuous underway sampling was also conducted along the James River tidal freshwater segments …

Water Quality Conditions And Restoration Of Submerged Aquatic Vegetation (Sav) In The Tidal Freshwater James River: 2003-2004, Ken Moore, Betty Neikirk, Britt Anderson, Jessie Campbell

Reports

In 2003-2004 wild celery (Vallisneria americana) whole shoots and seeds were transplanted into four sites in the Hopewell region of the tidal James River. The SAV transplants were sampled by the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) for survivorship and growth at bi-weekly to monthly intervals throughout the growing season. Concurrently, water quality sampling was conducted at bi-weekly intervals throughout the year for water column nutrients, chlorophyll a, suspended solids, water transparency and other chemical and physical constituents important for SAV growth. Objectives of the study were to: 1) expand the SAV transplanted plots within the study sites previously transplanted; …

Historical Analysis Of Submerged Aquatic Vegetation (Sav) In The Potomac River And Analysis Of Bay-Wide Sav Data To Establish A New Acreage Goal : Final Report, Kenneth Moore, David J. Wilcox, Britt Anderson, Thomas A. Parham, Michael D. Naylor

Reports

Throughout most regions of the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries both direct and anecdotal evidence has indicated that large-scale declines of submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) occurred in the late 1960s and early 1970s (Orth and Moore 1983). These declines have been related to increasing amounts of non-point inputs of nutrients and sediments in the bay system resulting from development of the bay’s shorelines and watershed (Twilley et al. 1985). Currently there are approximately 89,659 acres of SAV in Chesapeake Bay (Orth et al. 2003). Although it has been estimated that this is approximately 15% of the bay’s historical SAV distribution, …

Restoration Of Submerged Aquatic Vegetation (Sav) In The Tidal Freshwater James River: 2002-2003, Ken Moore, Britt Anderson, Betty Neikirk

Reports

No abstract provided.

Analysis Of Histocial Distribution Of Sav In The Eastern Shore Coastal Basins And Mid-Bay Island Complexes As Evidence Of Historical Water Quality Conditions And A Restored Bay Ecosystem, Kenneth A. Moore, David J. Wilcox, Britt Anderson, R J. Orth

Reports

Historical black and white format photographs at scales of approximately 1:20,000, dating from 1952 to 1956 were used to delineate the maximum coverage of SAV in the study region. Coverage of photography from decades before and after this period were found to generally to be of poorer quality and show less SAV presence. Photo-interpretation of the aerial photographs was accomplished using a head-up, on-screen digitizing system at fixed image scale of 1:12,000 and followed as closely as possible the methods currently used to delineate SAV beds throughout the Chesapeake Bay as well as the delineation of historical SAV coverage for …

Restoration Of Submerged Aquatic Vegetation (Sav) In The Tidal Freshwater James River: Year 3, Kenneth A. Moore, Britt Anderson, Betty Neikirk

Reports

No abstract provided.

Analysis Of Historical Distribution Of Submerged Aquatic Vegetation (Sav) In The York And Rappahannock Rivers As Evidence Of Historical Water Quality Conditions, Ken Moore, David J. Wilcox, Britt Anderson, R J. Orth

Reports

Historical black and white format photographs at scales of approximately 1:20,000, dating from 1952 to 1956 were used to delineate the maximum coverage of SAV in the study region. Coverage of photography from decades before and after this period were found to generally to be of poorer quality and show less SAV presence. Photo-interpretation of the aerial photographs was accomplished using a head-up, on-screen digitizing system at fixed image scale of 1:12,000 and followed as closely as possible the methods currently used to delineate SAV beds throughout the Chesapeake Bay as well as the delineation of historical SAV coverage for …

Boat Scarring Effects On Submerged Aquatic Vegetation In Virginia (Year 1), R J. Orth, James R. Fishman, Amy Tillman, Sara Everett, Kenneth A. Moore

Reports

Submerged Aquatic Vegetation (SAV) in Chesapeake Bay has received significant attention in recent decades due to increasing understanding of the importance of these habitats for ecological functions, including fisheries habitat. Yet, SAV in many regions of the bay are at some of the lowest levels of abundance in recorded history. This has led state management agencies to adopt numerous policies and regulations to protect and restore these valuable communities. The Chesapeake Bay 2000 Agreement highlights SAV by recommitting to the goal of protecting and restoring 114,000 acres, revising existing restoration goals and strategies by 2002, and implementing a strategy to …

Restoration Of Submerged Aquatic Vegetation (Sav) In The Tidal Freshwater James River: Year 2, Ken Moore, Kevin Segerblom, Betty Neikirk, James Fishman

Reports

No abstract provided.

Restoration Of Submerged Aquatic Vegetation (Sav) In The Tidal Freshwater James River: 1999 Pilot Study, Ken Moore, R J. Orth, James Fishman

Reports

No abstract provided.

A Preliminary Study Of Predation On Blue Crabs By Three Fish Predators In A Seagrass Bed, R J. Orth, Jacques Van Montfrans, James Fishman

Reports

This report serves as a preliminary assessment of potential feeding impacts on blue crab prey inhabiting a seagrass bed in the York River by three species of recreationally and commercially important fish (striped bass, croaker, and red drum). We also provide an historic perspective indicating possible changes in relative abundance of these predatory fish between the period 1978-1980 and 1998. In no way do we intend for this report to reflect an accurate, bay-wide assessment of these relationships; the extremely limited temporal and spatial scope of this effort precludes such conclusions. However, this report supports the contention that habitat-specific predation …

Analysis Of Historical Distribution Of Submerged Aquatic Vegetation (Sav) In The James River, Ken Moore, David J. Wilcox, R J. Orth, Eva Bailey

Reports

Analyses of historical photography and ground surveys dating from the 1930s indicate that approximately 1645 hectares of SAV have been historically present in shallow water regions throughout the James River. This compares to 77 hectares of vegetation reported in 1997 and a James River Tier I SAV restoration goal of 107 hectares (areas mappped with SAV from 1971- 1991). Overall, the temporal and spatial patterns of loss of SAV populations in the James River suggest declines occurred first in the tidal freshwater regions of the upper James beginning approximately 50 years ago, and then subsequently in the lower James beginning …

Biomass Of Submerged Aquatic Vegetation In The Chesapeake Bay, Kenneth A. Moore, David J. Wilcox, Robert J. Orth

Reports

Information provided in existing field biomass and ground truth surveys of Chesapeake Bay submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) were quantified along with 1985 to 1996 annual aerial surveys of SAV distribution and abundance to determine the community type and aboveground biomass for each SAV bed mapped in the bay during this 12 year period. Using species identifications provided through over 10,000 SAV ground survey observations the 17 most abundance SAV species found in the bay were clustered into four species associations: ZOSTERA, RUPPIA, POTAMOGETON and FRESHWATER. In addition, monthly aboveground biomass values were assigned to each bed based upon biomass models …

Evidence Of Widespread Destruction Of Submersed Aquatic Vegetation (Sav) From Clam Dredging In Chincoteague Bay, Virginia, Kenenth A. Moore, Robert J. Orth

Reports

Beds of submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) are important natural resources which are critical habitats for life stages of many commercially and recreationally important species of fish, crabs and shellfish in Virginia. SAV is comprised of rooted flowering plants which have historically grown throughout the Chesapeake Bay and Eastern Shore coastal lagoons in subtidal areas where water depths are less than 6 feet (Orth and Moore 1983). The presence of SAV in an area is indicative of water quality conditions which are low in nutrient enrichment and turbidity (Dennison et al. 1993). Given this relationship between water quality and growth, SAV …

Ecosystem Process Modeling Of Submerged Aquatic Vegetation In The Lower Chesapeake Bay, R. L. Wetzel, M. B. Meyers

Reports

No abstract provided.

Distribution Of Submerged Aquatic Vegetation In The Chesapeake Bay And Tributaries And Chincoteague Bay - 1993, Robert J. Orth, Judith F. Nowak, Gary F. Anderson, Jennifer R. Whiting

Reports

No abstract provided.

Trends In The Distribution, Abundance, And Habitat Quality Of Submerged Aquatic Vegetation In Chesapeake Bay And Its Tidal Tributaries: 1971 To 1991, Robert J. Orth, Richard A. Batiuk, Judith F. Nowak

Reports

This report builds on two decades of aerial and ground survey SA V distribution data, as well as development of SA V habitat requirements, establishment of SAV restoration goals and targets, compilation of historical water quality data, and implementation of a baywide monitoring program. The objectives of this report are to:

• describe trends in SAV distribution and abundance in Chesapeake Bay and its tidaf tributaries from 1 971 to 1991 ;

• relate SAV distribution over time with tiered distribution restoration goals and targets;

• compare trends in SAV distribution with corresponding trends in water quality; and • correlate …

Submerged Aquatic Vegetation : Distribution And Abundance In The Lower Chesapeake Bay And The Interactive Effects Of Light, Epiphytes, And Grazers Final Report, Robert J. Orth, Kenneth A. Moore, Jacques Van Monfrans

Reports

This final grant report is subdivided into two major sections. the first section describes the distribution and abundance of submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) in the lower Bay. Baseline information for SAV was collected in 1978 and supplemented with additional information from 1979. Subsequently, in 1980 and 1981, overflights were conducted of all polyhaline and mesohaline areas mapped for SAV in 1978 and photographs were taken from which aerial coverage of the vegetation was measured. The data from 1978 through 1981 were analyzed for short term changes in SAV distribution and abundance. This information was combined with historical data from six …

Distribution And Abundance Of Submerged Aquatic Vegetation In The Lower Chesapeake Bay, Virginia, Robert J. Orth, Kenneth A. Moore, Hayden H. Gordon

Reports

The distribution and abundance of submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) in the lower Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries were delineated with color aerial photography and surface information. Over 8500 hectares of SAV were identified on 31 topographic quadrangles. To enable computer retrieval of the aerial resource information, all information from the 1978 mapping effort was entered into a data base based on the Universal Transverse Mercator coordinate system.

The greatest concentrations of SAV were found at the mouths of the largest tidal rivers and creeks along the Chesapeake Bay shoreline, and to the east of Tangier and Great Fox Islands. Freshwater …

Remote Sensing Of Submerged Aquatic Vegetation In The Lower Chesapeake Bay : Final Report To National Aeronautical And Space Administration Langley Research Center, Robert J. Orth, Hayden H. Gordon

Reports

Kodak's experimental water penetration film and black and white near infrared film were used to study the distribution of submerged aquatic vegetation in the lower Chesapeake Bay. The water penetration film was very useful in this study compared to the black and white N1R. Optimal results from this film were obtained with the camera aperture closed 1/2 stop from suggested settings. Detailed description of the grass beds were obtained by flying at an altitude of 5,000 feet, at low tide when wind conditions were minimal.

There was a 36% reduction in the amount of submerged aquatic vegetation in the lower …