Marine Biology Commons^™

Prey Nutritional Quality Interacts With Chemical Defenses To Affect Consumer Feeding And Fitness, Edwin Cruz-Rivera, Mark E. Hay

Faculty Publications

Numerous studies have assessed the individual effects of prey nutritional quality or chemical defenses on consumer feeding behavior. However, little is known about how these traits interact to affect consumer feeding and performance. We tested the separate and interactive effects of prey chemical defenses and nutritional quality on the feeding behavior and fitness of six sympatric crustacean mesograzers. Natural concentrations of diterpene alcohols (dictyols) from the brown alga Dictyota menstrualis were incorporated, or not incorporated, into lower quality and higher quality foods to create artificial diets mimicking prey of variable value and defense. Five amphipods (Ampithoe longimana, A. valida, Cymadusa …

2001 Coastal Municipal Stormwater Infrastructure Mapping Project, Andrea F. Donlon

PREP Reports & Publications

This final report describes a mapping project and grant program funded by NHEP and administered by DES. A Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between NHEP and DES provided funding to map outfall pipes in the coastal area and created a grant program to provide assistance to coastal communities to develop storm sewer infrastructure maps. As part of the mapping project, DES collected global positioning system (GPS) readings of all outfall pipes in New Castle, Newington, Portsmouth, and parts of Durham and Madbury. For the grant project, DES issued a request for proposals (RFP), chose grant recipients, and managed the contracts. This …

An Education And Monitoring Program For An Ongoing Estuarine Habitat Restoration Project, Teri W. Grizzle

PREP Reports & Publications

No abstract provided.

Tidal Corrections For Topex Altimetry In The Coral Sea And Great Barrier Reef Lagoon: Comparisons With Long-Term Tide Gauge Records, D.M. Burrage, C.R. Steinberg, L.B. Mason, L. Bode

Faculty Publications

[ 1] The well-known capability of TOPEX/Poseidon altimetry to map sea levels precisely in the deep oceans motivates its application to the topographically complex Coral Sea and NE Australian continental margin. We assess several global tidal models for correcting TOPEX altimetry in the Coral Sea and find CSR3.0 offers good overall performance, based on comparisons of model-predicted and tide gauge harmonic constituents. Using CSR3.0 tidal corrections, we evaluate residual Sea Surface Height (SSH) Root Mean Square (RMS) variability and residual M2 tidal alias errors. Away from large reefs and islands, CSR3.0 amplitude and phase errors for M2 are typically less …

Pilot Conservation Commission Circuit Rider Program, Rockingham Planning Commission

PREP Reports & Publications

The purpose of this pilot project was to increase the effectiveness of the three Conservation Commissions in the Exeter River watershed. The Towns of Kensington, Kingston, and Sandown were selected based on their interest in the program and their need for professional planning assistance. Rockingham Planning Commission staff attended monthly meetings of each Conservation Commission to discuss and implement short-term and long-term projects. The three Conservation Commissions selected two natural resource protection projects to work on with RPC assistance. The scope of these projects ranged from very basic, such as establishing a process for record keeping in Kingston, to more …

Technical Assistance And Outreach Program For Landowners And Municipalities In The Upper Reaches Of The Exeter River Watershed, Rockingham Land Trust

PREP Reports & Publications

The Rockingham Land Trust (RLT) is nonprofit organization founded in 1980 to protect land and water resources in Exeter and surrounding communities. Recently, the Board of Directors of the RLT voted to expand the organization’s service region to include all the communities in Rockingham County. This action was taken due to an increased demand for the Trust’s services by municipalities and landowners.

The purpose of this project was to increase awareness of the Land Trust in towns in the new service area and to work with interested community officials and landowners to increase the amount of land protected by conservation …

Arsenic Concentrations In Private Bedrock Wells In Southeastern New Hampshire, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (Epa New England), New Hampshire Department Of Environmental Services, New Hampshire Estuaries Project, Nh Department Of Health And Human Services

PREP Reports & Publications

The quality of drinking water obtained from private wells in New Hampshire is not regulated; consequently, private wells are often not sampled for arsenic unless individual well owners choose to do so. To provide private well owners and Federal and State environmental and health officials with accurate information on arsenic concentrations from private wells in this region, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) conducted an arsenic occurrence and distribution study, in cooperation with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA New England), New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NHDES), New Hampshire Estuaries Project, and with the New Hampshire Department of Health and …

A Rapid Assessment Of Coral Reefs Near Hopetown, Abaco Islands, Bahamas (Stony Corals And Algae), Joshua Feingold, Susan L. Thornton, Kenneth W. Banks, Nancy J. Gasman, David S. Gilliam, Pamela Fletcher, Christian L. Avila

Marine & Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles

Coral reefs at 13 sites ranging in depth from 1-16 m near Hopetown, Abaco Islands, Bahamas were surveyed utilizing the Atlantic and Gulf Rapid Reef Assessment (AGRRA) benthos protocol. A total of 35 species of scleractinian corals and 2 species of calcareous hydrocorals were observed. The overall coral cover averaged just over 14%. Among corals that were at least 10 cm in diameter, small colonies (< 40 cm diameter) predominated in all sites except for the Fowl Cay pinnacles where 68% were larger than 60 cm in diameter. Large colonies (> 40 cm diameter) were also found in the Lynyard Cay spur-and-groove formations and the Sandy Cay fore reef. Zero-4% of the colonies were affected by disease. Total (recent + old) partial-colony mortality ranged from …

Fisheries Occasional Publication No. 8 - Department Of Fisheries Stakeholder Survey 2002, Tara Baharthah, Neil R. Sumner

Fisheries Occasional Publications

A telephone survey of Department of Fisheries' stakeholders was conducted in November 2002 in order to evaluate their perception of the Department's management of commercial and recreational fishing, pearling and aquaculture, and fish and fish habitat protection. The survey also assessed satisfaction with the level of service provided to stakeholders and their involvement in the decision making process.

The sample comprised of 149 interviews - 40 representing the commercial fishing sector, 40 representing the recreational fishing sector, 40 representing fish and fish habitat protection, and 29 representing aquaculture and pearling.

In general, the stakeholders gave positive responses regarding the Department …

Fisheries Research Contract Report No. 2 - Towards An Assessment Of Natural And Human Use Impacts On The Marine Environment Of The Abrolhos Islands (Phase 1 : Data Consolidation And Scoping - Final Report For Frdc Project 2000/1 66), C. F. Chubb, K. Nardi

Fisheries Research Contract Reports

This project has drawn together existing research data relating to natural and human impacts on the Abrolhos Islands marine habitats. It has surveyed current uses of these habitats and placed anthropogenic impacts within the context of natural perturbations. Through public forum presentation and debate, this work has allowed real issues, not perceptions, to surface and be addressed properly. This was achieved by defining a strategic programme of research through a scientific workshop process involving all community stakeholders. A two volume Fisheries Research Report (WA) summarizes current knowledge and details the workshop proceedings and strategic research plan.

Exeter, A Special Place, Theresa Walker, Gwen English

PREP Reports & Publications

Through the Exeter, A Special Place initiative, a $3 million bond for open space protection was passed at the March, 2003 town meeting, with support from 73% of the voters. Prior to the vote, the bond received 100% approval from the Select board. The success of this initiative was due in large part to the public education and outreach campaign conducted for this project. A brochure and four newsletters were developed to increase public awareness of open space issues in Exeter. A number of media articles were written to publicize the efforts of the Special Place committee, and encourage citizens …

Unh Great Bay Coast Watch Involvement In The New Hampshire Estuaries Project, Bonnie S. Meeker, Ann S. Reid

PREP Reports & Publications

The Great Bay Coast Watch (GBCW) is a volunteer estuarine monitoring program established in 1989 that includes teachers, students, and local citizens with a diversity of backgrounds. Volunteers participate in a variety of training programs that enable them to monitor water quality parameters in Great Bay and coastal areas, sample for marine phytoplankton along coastal New Hampshire and conduct shoreline surveys and habitat evaluations. Since 1997 the New Hampshire Estuaries Project (NHEP) has relied on the ability of GBCW to recruit and train volunteers to assist with the implementation of its plan to protect, restore and manage the state’s estuarine …

Storm Drain Stenciling To Build Stormwater Awareness In Nh’S Estuarine Communities, Julia Peterson

PREP Reports & Publications

Storm drain stenciling is a community-based activity during which volunteers paint stenciled messages on the street next to stormwater grates indicating where the water entering those storm drains discharges. One of the biggest threats to water quality nationwide is stormwater runoff which enters storm drains and flows untreated to local water bodies. The purpose of this project is to educate stenciling volunteers, neighborhood residents and passers-by about the environmental connection between neighborhood streets and local waterbodies.

Stratham (Nh) Well Survey, Theresa Walker, George Miller

PREP Reports & Publications

At Town Meeting in 1996, Stratham residents authorized the establishment of a Water Commission in response to the proposal of the first commercial large volume groundwater withdrawal within the Town. The Stratham Board of Selectmen appointed members to the Commission in the spring of 2002 and charged the Commission with monitoring current water issues and forecasting the future water needs of the community. With no municipal water and sewer system, Stratham’s 7,500 residents and numerous commercial and industrial sites rely on wells to supply water. Very little data existed on these existing wells, making it difficult for the Water Commission …

Nhep Year 8 Workplan, New Hampshire Estuaries Project

PREP Reports & Publications

No abstract provided.

Water Quality Outreach, Phyllis E. Duffy

PREP Reports & Publications

The Town of Exeter was interested in creating an education program for nonpoint source pollution. Exeter was not designated as a small municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4) with the first group of Seacoast towns, but realized we had some of the same concerns and may be designated in the future. We partnered with other seacoast towns to create a video on storm water runoff. The video is an excellent tool for storm water education. We wanted to supplement the video with a hands-on activity. Storm drain stenciling created an excellent opportunity to get the public involved. The grant provided …

Squamscott Project Stratham Ad Hoc Conservation Bond Subcommittee To The Conservation Committee, Tracy Degnan

PREP Reports & Publications

Through the Stratham Ad Hoc Conservation Bond Subcommittee to the Conservation Committee (Ad Hoc Committee) the objectives under the Squamscott Project were to educate the citizens of Stratham on conservation options and estate planning, and to create a natural resource prioritization and criteria ranking for critical areas in town in need of protection efforts. The Ad Hoc Committee contracted with the Rockingham County Conservation District to assist with these efforts and to provide assistance with the preparation of funding applications to leverage the existing open space bond fund.

Squamscott Project Newfields Open Space Committee, Tracy Degnan

PREP Reports & Publications

Through the Newfields Open Space Committee (NOSC) the objectives under the Squamscott Project were to educate the citizens of Newfields on conservation options and estate planning, the goals and objectives of the NOSC, and to finalize a natural resource prioritization for critical areas in town in need of protection efforts. The NOSC contracted with the Rockingha m County Conservation District to assist with these efforts, and to provide assistance with the coordination of conservation projects and the preparation of funding applications to leverage the existing open space bond fund.

Restoration Strategies For Oysters And Soft-Shell Clams, Phil Trowbridge

PREP Reports & Publications

No abstract provided.

Phytoplankton Response To Intrusions Of Slope Water On The West Florida Shelf: Models And Observations, John J. Walsh, Robert H. Weisberg, Dwight A. Dieterle, Ruoying He, Brian P. Darrow, Jason K. Jolliff, Kristen M. Lester, Gabriel A. Vargo, Gary J. Kirkpatrick, Kent A. Fanning, Tracey Sutton, Ann E. Jochens, Douglas C. Biggs, Bisman Nababan, Chuanmin Hu, Frank E. Muller-Karger

Marine & Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles

Previous hypotheses had suggested that upwelled intrusions of nutrient-rich Gulf of Mexico slope water onto the West Florida Shelf (WFS) led to formation of red tides of Karenia brevis. However, coupled biophysical models of (1) wind- and buoyancy-driven circulation, (2) three phytoplankton groups (diatoms, K. brevis, and microflagellates), (3) these slope water supplies of nitrate and silicate, and (4) selective grazing stress by copepods and protozoans found that diatoms won in one 1998 case of no light limitation by colored dissolved organic matter (CDOM). The diatoms lost to K. brevis during another CDOM case of the models. In …

Phytoplankton Response To Intrusions Of Slope Water On The West Florida Shelf: Models And Observations, John J. Walsh, Robert H. Weisberg, Dwight A. Dieterle, Ruoying He, Brian P. Darrow, Jason K. Jolliff, Kristen M. Lester, Gabriel A. Vargo, Gary J. Kirkpatrick, Kent A. Fanning, Tracy T. Sutton, Ann E. Jochens, Douglas C. Biggs, Bisman Nababan, Chuanmin Hu, Frank E. Muller-Karger

Marine Science Faculty Publications

Previous hypotheses had suggested that upwelled intrusions of nutrient‐rich Gulf of Mexico slope water onto the West Florida Shelf (WFS) led to formation of red tides of Karenia brevis. However, coupled biophysical models of (1) wind‐ and buoyancy‐driven circulation, (2) three phytoplankton groups (diatoms, K. brevis, and microflagellates), (3) these slope water supplies of nitrate and silicate, and (4) selective grazing stress by copepods and protozoans found that diatoms won in one 1998 case of no light limitation by colored dissolved organic matter (CDOM). The diatoms lost to K. brevis during another CDOM case of the models. In …

Local And Deep-Ocean Forcing Contributions To Anomalous Water Properties On The West Florida Shelf, Robert H. Weisberg, Ruoying He

Marine Science Faculty Publications

Material property distributions on continental shelves result from the mixing and modifications of estuarine and deep-ocean source waters. How this occurs depends on the momentum and buoyancy that are input either locally on the shelf or from the deep-ocean at the shelf break. We address this question of local versus deep-ocean forcing for the West Florida Shelf (WFS) using in situ data and a numerical circulation model. The spring and summer seasons of 1998 and 1999 show distinctively different water properties on the shelf and at the shelf break. We account for these differences by a combination of local forcing, …

Millennial- To Century-Scale Variability In Gulf Of Mexico Holocene Climate Records, R. Z. Poore, H. J. Dowsett, S. Verardo, Terrence M. Quinn

Marine Science Faculty Publications

Proxy records from two piston cores in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM) provide a detailed (50–100 year resolution) record of climate variability over the last 14,000 years. Long‐term (millennial‐scale) trends and changes are related to the transition from glacial to interglacial conditions and movement of the average position of the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) related to orbital forcing. The δ¹⁸O of the surface‐dwelling planktic foraminifer Globigerinoides ruber show negative excursions between 14 and 10.2 ka (radiocarbon years) that reflect influx of meltwater into the western GOM during melting of the Laurentide Ice Sheet. The relative abundance of the …

Ambient Water Quality And Shellfish Tissue Monitoring In New Hampshire Estuaries 2001 And 2002, Natalie Landry

PREP Reports & Publications

The Department of Environmental Services received funding from the New Hampshire Estuaries Project (NHEP) to conduct monitoring activities in 2001 and 2002. The monitoring activities involved water monitoring in tidal tributaries and estuarine waters and tissue monitoring of mussels, clams and oysters. These monitoring activities were a direct result of recommendations made by the NHEP Technical Advisory Committee and the Monitoring Plan and were completed with the overall purpose of improving the understanding of water quality trends and the concentrations of toxic contaminants in shellfish tissue. The Department of Environmental Services, in cooperation with the University of New Hampshire Jackson …

Fisheries Occasional Publications No. 4 - Research Project Assessment - A Decision Framework, W. J. Fletcher, J. W. Penn, H. G. Brayford

Fisheries Occasional Publications

Determining the relative priority for research proposals within an agency such as the Department of Fisheries, particularly when they are from different program areas, is a difficult task to achieve effectively. Traditionally within the Department, this task has been completed by a sub-group of the executive who have used their combined understanding of the broader issues and their experience of what has been done before and what is most likely to succeed. Such a system, while it has produced satisfactory outcomes, suffers from a lack of transparency and may be at longer-term risk when personnel changes occur and corporate knowledge …

Towards Sustainability Of Data-Limited Multi-Sector Fisheries: Australian Society For Fish Biology Workshop Proceedings September 2001 - Fisheries Occasional Publication No. 5, Stephen J. Newman, Daniel J. Gaughan, Gary Jackson, Michael C. Mackie, Brett W. Molony, Jill St John, Patricia Kailola

Fisheries Occasional Publications

No abstract provided.

Nh Department Of Environmental Services Shellfish Program Activities, January 2002 – June 2003, Chris Nash

PREP Reports & Publications

This report summarizes the activities of the NHDES Shellfish Program for the period of January 2002 to June 2003. The NHDES Shellfish Program conducts a number of activities to minimize the health risks associated with consuming shellfish, and to continue to comply with National Shellfish Sanitation Program guidelines. Basic program functions included program administration, routine water quality monitoring (more than 700 samples collected at over 70 sites in 2002), “red tide” monitoring at two sites (49 weekly samples in 2002), pollution source identification and evaluation (233 properties inspected, and 106 new potential pollution sources identified in 2002), and a number …

Protecting Wildlife And Significant Habitat In Coastal New Hampshire, Nature Conservancy

PREP Reports & Publications

The Great Bay Resource Protection Partnership (“Partnership”) consists of organizations and agencies that are committed to protecting the important habitats of the Great Bay area. The Nature Conservancy has contracted with Dea Brickner-Wood of Blue Sky Associates to serve as the Coordinator of the Great Bay Partnership. The Great Bay Coordinator provided services to the overall operations of the Partnership, as outlined in this report.

Energetic Baroclinic Super-Tidal Oscillations On The Southeast Florida Shelf, Alexander Soloviev, Mark E. Luther, Robert H. Weisberg

Marine & Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles

Historical and recent data reveal a very energetic regime on the shelf off southeast Florida. In addition to spin off eddies, large-amplitude tidal velocity fluctuations with amplitudes exceeding 0.5 ms⁻¹ are observed. Recent exploratory measurements conducted as a part of the South Florida Ocean Measurement Center (SFOMC) show that the time scale of these oscillations is about 10 hrs. This period does not coincide either with the inertial period (27 Hrs) or with the semidiurnal M₂ (12.42 hrs) or S₂ (12 hrs) tidal constituents. In addition, these internal oscillations appear to be modulated seasonally. A possible explanation …

Environmental Indicator Report: Land Use And Development, Phil Trowbridge

PREP Reports & Publications

During the fall and winter of 2001-2002, the New Hampshire Estuaries Project’s Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) developed a suite of environmental indicators to track progress toward the NHEP’s management goals and objectives. These indicators were fully described in terms of their performance criteria, statistical methods, and measurable goals in the NHEP’s Monitoring Plan, which was most recently updated in March 2003 (NHEP, 2003). The next step is to use these indicators to produce an updated “State of the Estuaries” report by mid-2003. The TAC decided to break this task into three sections: shellfish indicators in the fall of 2002; water …