Potomac EnvironmentalResearch and Education Center
Belmont Bay
Prince William County, Virginia
An Environmental Research and Education Center
for the Potomac River Basin
Department of Environmental Science and Policy
George Mason University
Our Mission
To utilize the tools of scientific research, restoration, education, and policy analysis to help society understand and sustain natural processes in ecosystems, watersheds, and landscapes.
Potomac Environmental Research and Education Center
Specific Research Foci
• Restoration of Potomac River & Chesapeake Bay
• Sustainability of Natural Ecosystems in Suburban Areas
• Impact of Global Climate Change on Management of Aquatic Ecosystems
Restoration of the Potomac River and Chesapeake Bay
• New Bay Agreement• Important research
questions remain:– The effect of nutrients on
Bay organisms– Greater understanding of
tidal freshwater & oligohaline ecosystems
– The role of wetlands in protecting the Bay
– The recovery of Bay communities when stresses are removed
Suburban Sustainability
• Northern Virginia is one of the most rapidly growing regions of the Country– How does this rapid growth
impact our ecosystems?
– What are the growth and development strategies that can lessen that impact and allow us to retain a greater variety of organisms?
Global Climate Change and Management of Natural Ecosystems
• Impacts of climate change on aquatic ecosystems
• Linkages between climate change, hydrology, and aquatic ecology
• Using managed landscapes and wetlands to store carbon & carbon credits
Belmont: A Great Opportunity for Environmental Science and Policy
• At the mouth of the tidal Occoquan River
• 30 minute drive from the Fairfax campus
• Convenient to eastern PW, so. Fairfax, Spring- field, Alexandria, Mount Vernon, & points south
Immediate Vicinity
• Adjacent to Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge & Virginia Science Museum site
• Near Mason Neck, PW Forest National Park and other natural areas
• Convenient to I-95, Rt. 1, Rt. 123, Fairfax Campus
• Adjacent to VRE commuter rail station
• In mixed use development including retail, convention center, housing
Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge
• 580 acres of tidal marshes and upland meadows
• A wide variety of plants and animals
• Access for class field trips, observational research
Facilities Anticipated at Belmont• 8 research labs
(with viewing walls)
• 4 teaching lab• 14 support rooms• 3 Lecture Rooms
(30-50 seat)• 1 Large Assembly
Room (80 seat)• 10 Offices
Facilities Anticipated at Belmont
• Library/Resources Center
• GIS/Graphics Facility
• Conference Room
• Classrooms for general university courses
Education Programs• Serve as a focus of activity
for Environmental programs at GMU– Graduate programs in
Environmental Science and Public Policy
– Certificates in Environmental Management
– Courses in Biology, Chemistry, Geology, Geography, Human Ecology
– General Education course in Environmental Science
K-12 and Community Programs
• Work with local schools to implement watershed and bay ecology educational programs incorporated into basic science curriculum
• Conduct ecology camps
• Serve as a resource for local government and citizens
Status of PEREC
• Website is up:– http://perec.cos.gmu.edu
• Inaugural Seminar Series Underway
• Planning proceeding for temporary and permanent space at Belmont Bay
• Research and educational activities initiated
Current Funded ResearchPotomac Environmental Research and Education Center
• Gunston Cove Ecosystem Study– Now in its 25th year, over $2 million in external
funding, mostly from Fairfax County– Long-term study of the tidal Potomac River just north
of Belmont• Geospatial Analysis of Fairfax County Natural
Areas • Compendium of Watershed Assessment Methods
– http://assessmentmethods.nbii.gov/• Tidal Potomac Teacher Training Workshop
Recovery of a Tidal Freshwater Embayment from Eutrophication:A Long-Term Study
R. Christian JonesDepartment of Environmental Science and Policy
Potomac Environmental Research and Education CenterGeorge Mason University
Fairfax, Virginia, USA
Since 1983/84, water quality, plankton, fish and benthos have been monitor-ed on a generally semimonthly basis at a number of sites in the Gunston Cove area.
Monitoring Site Key:
● water quality and plankton
▲fish trawl
■ fish seine
Summary of Phytoplankton, Light, Submersed Macrophyte Response
• Improvements in water clarity related to P-limitation and decline of phytoplankton were correlated with an increase in submersed macrophyte coverage in Gunston Cove
• Since 1 m colonization depth was achieved (2004), macrophyte coverage has increased strongly
Inner Cove SAV Coverage vs. Secchi and Chlorophyll
0
50
100
150
200
250
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
Inn
er C
ove
SA
V (
ha)
&
Ch
l a
(ug
/L)
at S
ta 7
0102030405060708090
Sec
chi
Dep
th (
cm)
at S
ta 7
SAV CoverageSecchi DepthChlorophyll a
Temperature Rising in Gunston Cove?
• An interesting pattern of increasing summer water temperatures has emerged in our data
• Could this signal a persistent trend of increasing water temperature and what effect might this have on the ecosystem?
Station 7: June - Sept
1980 1990 2000 2010Year
15
20
25
30
35
Tem
pe
ratu
re (
oC
)
Department of Environmental Science and Policy
• Other climate change activities– Coral reef dynamics– Changes in autumn leaf color timing– Impact of climate change on indigenous
peoples of Siberia– Survey research on attitudes regarding climate
change– International Marine Conservation Congress at
Mason – May 20-24, 2009
Robert JonasPat GillevetEsther PetersGeoff CookKaren SantoraMasoumeh SikaroodiStaci Lewis
W support of Flower Garden BanksNational Marine Sanctuary
http://flowergarden.noaa.gov/
May 2006 March 2007
March 2007East BankFlower Garden BanksBuoy #2 (E201)
March 2006East BankFlower Garden BanksBuoy #2 (E201)
May 2006East BankFlower Garden BanksBuoy #2 (E201)
Predicting Changes in Autumn Leaf Color in N. Va. Mtn. Plant Communities and Relation to Insect Communities
Rebecca Forkner, PI
• Measure leaf flush time, leaf color changes, leaf drop time, phenolic content of leaves, and insect abundance and leaf damage
• Simulate herbivory, shading, and UV damage effects in the lab
• Use results to predict effects of global climate change on autumn leaf color timing and intensity
Assessing Knowledge, Resilience & Adaptation and Policy Needs in Viliui Sakha Villages Experiencing Unprecedented Climate Change
Susan Crate, PI
Document community observations/ perceptions of, /adaptation to GCC
Document elder observations/ perceptions of, /adaptation to GCC
Evaluate existence and effectiveness of current local, regional and state GCC interventions
Inform with circumpolar (ITC, ICC, Snowchange) and global projects (Many strong voices, Sharing knowledge…)
-Model(s) of household- & community-level GCC knowledge and adaptation;-Integrative GCC education dossier of western & IP knowledge;- Policy rec’s to inform existing GCC policy initiatives and bolster local adaptation.
BUILDING RESILIENCE
APPROPRIATING KNOWLEDGE
SURVEYING CAPACITY
Integrate community and elder knowledge to address contemporary GCC needs
Fill knowledge gaps using appropriate regional, national & GCC data
GMU Students’ attitudes to global warming & sustainability
Ashley Sitar-Gonzales
Undergraduate
Supervisor: ECM Parsons
Is Global Warming caused by Humans?
58%
4%
38%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
Yes No Partially
Per
cent
of p
artici
pant
s
Global Warming Leads to..
94% 93%80%
95% 95% 97% 95%86%
97%
74%92% 92%
65%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
120%
Flo
ods
Roden
t/in
sect
Dis
ease
s
An
imal
mig
rati
on
Pro
ble
ms
Farm
ing
pro
ble
ms
Local
incre
ase
s in
tem
pera
ture
Incre
ase
in
storm
sfr
equen
cy
An
ice A
ge
Pe
ce
nt
th
at
be
lie
ve
GW
ca
n C
au
se
Should GMU use renewable energy?
86%
13%
1%0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
Yes No Did Not Answer
International Marine Conservation Congress (IMCC) 2009
• Mason will host this international meeting bringing together the world’s experts on marine conservation to address these pressing issues
• Plenary talks, contributed papers, symposia, and workshops
• Global Climate change is one of 4 major themes• http://conbio.org/IMCC
Potential Collaborations