CERF 2011 21St Biennial Conference of the Coastal and Estuarine Research Federation ABSTRACTS
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CERF 2011 21st Biennial Conference of the Coastal and Estuarine Research Federation ABSTRACTS Ocean's Eleventh Hour by Paul Balicker SOCIETIES, ESTUARIES & COASTS: Adapting to Change 6-10 November 2011 • Daytona Beach, Florida, USA www.erf.org United States Environmental Protection Agency, National Estuary Program a network of voluntary community-based programs that safeguards the health of important coastal ecosystems across the country. Proud Sponsor of CERF 2011 Abstracts Book Daytona Beach, FL 6 - 10 November, 2011 Visit our Website at: http://water.epa.gov/type/oceb/nep Conference Abstracts 21st Biennial Conference of the Coastal and Estuarine Research Federation 6 - 10 November 2011 Daytona Beach, Florida, USA This book includes all of the abstracts referenced in the CERF 2011 Program Book. Abstracts are listed in alphabetical order by the first author's last name. The index in the back of the Abstract Book provides an alphabetical listing of all authors and page numbers of respective abstracts. CERF 2011 Conference Leadership Team Student Activities Conference Co-Chairs Chair Jim Fourqurean, Florida International University Amanda Kahn, University of North Carolina, Wilmington Holly Greening, Tampa Bay Estuary Program Student Career Event Scientific Program Leanna Heffner, University of Rhode Island Co-Chair David Rudnick, South Florida Water Management District Student Travel Awards Paul Carlson, Florida Marine Research Institute Co-Chair David Yoskowitz, Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Student Presentation Judging/Awards Studies (SEERS) Southeastern Estuarine Research Society Poster Chair Conference Oversight Linda Walters, University of Central Florida Joy Bartholomew, CERF HQ Alejandra Garza, CERF HQ Plenary and Synthesis Sessions Bill Nuttle, Eco-Hydrology Webmaster Chris Schneider, The Schneider Group Regional Issues Bob Virnstein, St. John’s River Water Management District Administration Helen Schneider-Lemay, The Schneider Group International Issues Nuria Marba IMEDEA, Institut Mediterrani d’Estudis Avancats Conference Committee Advisory Karl Haven, Florida Sea Grant and University of Florida International Issues Victor Rivera-Monroy, Louisiana State University Blue Ribbon Panel Chris D’Elia, Dean, School of Coast and Environment, LSU Workshops Karl Haven, Director, Florida Sea Grant Ruth Carmichael, Dauphin Island Sea Lab Mike Heithaus, Director, School of Environment and Society, Florida International University Abstract Database Manager Sue Chalifoux, New Hampshire Sea Grant Scientific Program Advisory Committee Susan Bell • Joe Boyer • Daniel Conley • Peter Doering • Carlos Field Trips Duarte Lori Morris, St. John’s River Water Management District Ernie Estevez • Bob Howarth • Chris Madden • Walt Nelson Ron Brockmeyer, St. John’s River Water Management District Fred Sklar • Quinton White Communications/Publicity Bob Chamberlain, St. John’s River Water Management District Facebook Page Leanna Heffner, University of Rhode Island Regional Fundraising Jay Zieman University of Virginia Societies, Estuaries & Coasts: Adapting to Change Abstract Book Abdelrhman, M. A., US EPA, Narragansett, RI, USA, [email protected]; ecosystem productivity is achieved at moderate perturbations. The results from this study Campbell, D., US EPA, Narragansett, RI, USA, [email protected] help understand the relation between mangroves and hurricane frequency and intensity and provide insight into the effect of a changing climate on mangrove productivity. Although it is TIDAL PRISM MODELING OF PHYTOPLANKTON AND NITROGEN still unclear whether hurricanes and rainfall will increase or decrease in the Yucatan CONCENTRATIONS IN NARRAGANSETT BAY AND ITS SUB-EMBAYMENTS Peninsula, our results show that either change will impact the productivity of mangroves in the region. A tidal prism model was developed to calculate temporal changes in the spatially averaged concentration of three state variables: phytoplankton, dissolved inorganic nitrogen, and Adamowicz, S. C., Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge, Wells, ME, USA, detritus. Our main objective was to develop a model to help us understand the causes of [email protected]; phytoplankton and nutrient responses to temporal changes in nutrient loading and Burdick, D. M., University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH, USA, [email protected]; environmental factors. The physical part of the model includes water volume, water depth, Kramer, J., Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge, Wells, ME, USA, tidal forcing, exchanges at the seaward boundary, freshwater inflow, detritus settling to the [email protected]; bottom, and the effects of seawater on salinity (for calibration). The chemical part of the Wagner, L., Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge, Wells, ME, USA, model considers concentration, transformation, recycling, and bottom fluxes of inorganic [email protected]; nitrogen. The biological part examines phytoplankton growth under the effects of nitrogen, Franklin, J., Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada, [email protected]; temperature, and light limitations, and phytoplankton mortality (including grazing). Also Hazelton, E., Utah State University, Logan, UT, USA, [email protected]; included are the organic carbon storages and flows in phytoplankton and detritus, which are Argow, B., Wellesley College, Wellesley, MA, USA, [email protected]; related to nitrogen using the carbon to nitrogen ratio. This single box model is formulated on Hughes, Z., Boston University, Boston, MA, USA, [email protected] a spread sheet and it can quickly simulate behavior in well-mixed systems over extended periods of time. It identifies the effects of parameter values on the state variables using a LONG-TERM EFFECTS OF DITCH PLUGGING ON SALT MARSHES AND THE time increment of one tidal cycle. The model was calibrated for Narragansett Bay, RI, USA, SUBSEQUENT DEVELOPMENT OF INNOVATIVE RESTORATION TECHNIQUES and simulated for the bay and two nested sub-systems, Greenwich Bay and Greenwich Cove over a four-year period. Comparison with field observations verified that the model Most East Coast salt marshes have been ditched since Colonial times either for salt haying or performed reasonably when checked against weekly and monthly data. mosquito control. These ditches drain both surface and subsurface water from the marsh in order to increase salt hay production or reduce mosquito-breeding areas. One consequence Adamack, A. T., University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA, [email protected]; of ditching is the loss of surface water habitat suitable for waterfowl, wading birds and shore Mason, D. M., NOAA-GLERL, Ann Arbor, MI, USA, [email protected] birds as well as fish and crustaceans. Other consequences include changes in vegetation community structure. Ditch plugging, has been employed widely in East Coast Spartina DEVELOPMENT OF AN ATLANTIS ECOSYSTEM-BASED MODEL FOR THE marshes as a means of increasing surface water habitat on previously ditched marshes. Ditch LOUISIANA-TEXAS CONTINENTAL SHELF plugs are formed by excavating peat from the surface of a salt marsh and packing it in a narrow portion of a ditch. Water then is impounded in the ditch channel on the upstream side The Louisiana-Texas continental shelf experiences extensive seasonal hypoxia that is of the plug. Small u-shaped berms or “wings” have also been employed to increase a plug’s predicted to cause declines in the production of commercially and recreationally valuable holding capacity and area of impounded water. We examined 2 physical soil parameters fish and shellfish. Thus far, fishery declines across the continental shelf due to hypoxia have (bulk density, percent organic matter), interstitial hydrogen sulfide concentrations, not appeared or have been limited in scope. In some areas of the shelf, relative fish biomass groundwater levels, vegetation community, and above-ground biomass at ditched and has increased by up to four-fold following reductions in shrimping efforts due to a unditched marshes at 2 sites each in Maine, Massachusetts and Connecticut in 2005. The combination of high fuel prices and cheap imported shrimp. To better understand the effects study was repeated in 2009 with the addition of 1 unditched marsh (with natural creeks) in of hypoxia and other natural and anthropogenic forcing factors on fish population dynamics southern Maine. Ditch plugs were installed from 1 to 11 years prior to the study except at 1 in this complex ecosystem we are developing an Atlantis ecosystem-based model for the Connecticut site where ditches had filled in naturally over a period of decades. Results are Louisiana-Texas continental shelf. The model will track up to 60 groups including multiple given in light of long-term consequences for maintaining peat integrity and salt marsh benthic and pelagic fish groups, sea turtles, marine mammals, brown and white shrimp, accretion processes in the face of sea level rise. As a result of the failure of ditch plugging to squid, and multiple groups of benthic invertebrates. Model simulations will examine the maintain high quality salt marsh traits, innovative, more self-sustaining restoration direct and indirect effects, relative to the spatial and temporal extent of hypoxia, on fish techniques were developed and are now in pilot application. Preliminary findings from the community structure and biomasses. Here we provide an update of the model development. 2010-2011 pilot seasons will also be reviewed here. Adame, M., CINVESTAV-IPN, Unidad Mérida, Merida, Mexico, Aijun,