Island Research: Current Projects - Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area (U.S.... Page 1 of 4 National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior Find a Park Discover History Explore Nature Get Involved Working with Communities Teachers Kids About Us National Recreation Area Boston Harbor Islands Massachusetts Explore This Park Park Home Island Research: C u rren t Projects Plan Your Visit History & Culture 2012 Active Research Permits Nature & Science 1. Boston Harbor Islands NRA Salt Marsh Monitoring Protocol Development Principle Investigator: Jim McKenna, Maine Maritime Academy Purpose: This project aims to develop a marine tidal wetland (salt marsh) monitoring protocol for Boston For Teachers Harbor Islands NRA (BOHA). This project will involve adapting existing protocols developed by the NPS Northeast Coastal and Barrier Network for specific application to BOHA. Particular emphasis rests on For Kids developing site specific, cost effective implementation procedures that maintain the scientific rigor and statistical sensitivity necessary for assessing the biological status and trends in salt marsh vegetation News community structure and, where appropriate, incorporate citizen scientist opportunities. Location: Calf Island, Peddocks Island, Snake Island, Thompson Island Management Status: Ongoing. Our Staff & Offices Start Date: September, 2009. End Date: December, 2013. Our Partners Laws & Policies 2. Monitoring Salt Marsh Elevation at Boston Harbor Islands Public Involvement Principal Investigator: Charles Roman, National Park Service Purpose: With sea level rise, marshes increase in vertical elevation and often migrate landward (Redfield 1965, Your Dollars At Work Morris et al. 2002). With accelerated rates of sea level rise predicted (Meehl et al. 2007, Frumhoff et al. 2007), Doing Business With the potential for submergence or loss of salt marsh habitat increases (e.g., Orson et al. 1985). The Park Throughout the northeast region the National Park Service is engaged in long-term monitoring: both to evaluate vertical marsh elevation change in relation to recent rates of sea level rise, and to understand some of Research the factors or processes that are relevant to salt marsh development and maintenance. This monitoring Current Projects program, employing the Surface Elevation Table and Marker Horizon Method (see Cahoon et al. 1999), is ongoing at Assateague Island (MD), Cape Cod (MA), Fire Island (NY) National Seashores and Gateway Science Symposia National Recreation Area (NY and NJ), and now Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area. Documents Location: Calf Island, Peddocks Island, Thompson Island Status: Ongoing. Abstracts Start Date: June, 2010. End Date: December, 2015. Park Planning Jobs 3. Multiregional Evaluation of Pollinator Response To Climate Change in Critical Habitats Service-Wide Support Your Park Principal Investigator: Ann Rodman, National Park Service Purpose: Bees provide a critical ecosystem service, pollination, yet we know little about their abundances and distributions across NPS lands, and even less about the possible effects of climate change on bee populations and the subsequent ramifications for native plant communities. High elevation, coastal, and arid areas are Park Tools particularly vulnerable to climate change and these areas are often hot spots for bee and plant endemism. This project will model the distribution of bee species in these sensitive areas across at least 75 NPS units using View Park Map simple and inexpensive collection methods. The project will yield one of the largest, uniformly collected data sets about the possible effects of climate variation on any fauna. By comparing areas with different climate profiles within each park, we will establish likely effects of climate on these pollinators, share these scenarios FAQs with park managers, and provide educational materials for park visitors and staff. Contact Us Location: (2010) - Grape Island, Langlee Island, Lovells Island, Thompson Island, Peddocks Island, Worlds Site Index End. (2011) - Lovells Island Español Status: Ongoing. Start Date: August, 2010. End Date: September, 2012. 4. New England Aquarium Collecting Permit for Live Plants Principal Investigator: Carolyn Baker, New England Aquarium Purpose: This permit authorizes collection of a small number of live plants for the New England Aquarium Boston Harbor Islands exhibit. The exhibit also features live shorebirds, fishes, invertebrates, eelgrass, and sea algae. The plants are under a natural lighting regime and usually last at least one year. Graphics outside the exhibit explain about the Boston Harbor Islands national park area and encourage Aquarium visitors to http://www.nps.gov/boha/parkmgmt/current-research.htm 9/29/2013 Island Research: Current Projects - Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area (U.S.... Page 2 of 4 explore the islands. A few plants, mostly Spartina, are also put in the salt marsh exhibit that features a wide variety of salt marsh fishes. Location: Calf Island, Great Brewster Island, Middle Brewster Island, Outer Brewster Island Status: Ongoing. Start Date: November, 2010. End Date: December, 2015. 5. Investigations to Support Development of a NCBN/NETN Marshbird Monitoring Protocol (in collaboration with SHARP: Conservation of Tidal Marsh Birds Project for BCR 30) Principal Investigator: Carol Trocki Purpose: Due to sea level rise, frequent storm surges, and increased marsh inundation, marsh bird species have become an even more important indicator of tidal marsh health. Tidal marsh bird monitoring was selected as one of the NCBN/NETN vital signs. Recently, as part of an effort to add to and/or enhance the existing monitoring program in light of climate change, marsh birds have again been identified as a high priority for monitoring. Population trends for these species are thought to be declining and therefore they are recognized as species of conservation concern. In 2011, the Northeast Coastal and Barrier Network (NCBN) & selected parks in the Northeast Temperate Network (NETN) began to look at the feasibility of marsh bird monitoring in Network parks with the idea of incorporating this into our long-term monitoring program. The first several years of this effort will be conducted in conjunction with a regional partnership effort investigating marsh bird populations throughout the northeast. This partnership is being led by Greg Shriver (U Delaware), Brian Olsen (U Maine), Chris Elphick (U Conn), Tom Hodgman (State of ME), and Dave Curson (Maryland-DC Audubon) and is supported in part by a State Wildlife Grant (SWG) [see http://www.tidalmarshbirds.org/ for more information]. Location: Thompson Island Status: Ongoing. Start Date: May, 2011. End Date: April, 2013. 6. Survey of Salt Marsh Fucoid Algae in ACAD and BOHA Principal Investigator: Megan Tyrrell, National Park Service Purpose: The purpose of this project is to obtain biomass estimates of the ecad form of rocky shore algae that are free-living in salt marshes. Salt marsh fucoid algae are commonly found at the seaward edge of back- barrier and fringing salt marshes, especially in those with sandy sediments. Location: Peddocks Island, Thompson Island Status: Ongoing. Start Date: May, 2011. End Date: September, 2012. 7. Boston Harbor Soft Shell Clam Enhancement Project Principal Investigator: Christopher Schillaci Purpose: Enhancement of soft shell clam resources on Thompson Island and Snake Island. Subsequent biological monitoring of seeded clams. Location: Thompson Island, Snake Island Status: Ongoing Start Date: July, 2011. End Date: December, 2014. 8. MIT Sea Grant Summer Marine Ecology Internship Principal Investigator: Rachel VanCott Purpose: This study is an annual marine science internship. As an educational tool, this study is designed to help high school students gain an understanding of marine science and build the skills that will help them pursue successful careers in ocean sciences. As a scientific tool, this study is designed to help assess the species assemblages in the Boston Harbor Islands and monitor water quality at those sites for the duration of the study. Location: Lovells Island, Spectacle Island Status: Ongoing. Start Date: July, 2011. End Date: August, 2014. 9. Winter Mammal Survey of Grape Island with a Focus on New England Cottontail Rabbits Principal Investigator: Lauren Nolfo-Clements Purpose: The aim of this project is to observe, record, and catalog both photographic and physical evidence of the mammals that frequent Grape Island in the Boston Harbor during the winter and early spring (January- March). Grape Island was the site of an experimental release of New England Cottontail Rabbits (NEC) in 1985 so our survey will also focus on uncovering any evidence of this species. Location: Grape Island Status: Ongoing. Start Date: January, 2012. End Date: December, 2012. 10. Inundation Risk from Sea Level Rise and Storm Surge in Coastal National Parks Using High Accuracy Geodetic Control. Principal Investigator: Michael Bradley Purpose: This project will use geodetic GPS technology to assess the vulnerability of critical park resources and facilities to sea level rise and storm surge (e.g. historic structures, visitor centers, breeding bird habitats), http://www.nps.gov/boha/parkmgmt/current-research.htm 9/29/2013 Island Research: Current Projects - Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area (U.S.... Page 3 of 4 and establish a GIS 'backbone' that can be used into the future to map the elevation of any location in the park