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FRONT COVER

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ContentsConference Organizers ................................................................................................................... 2

Session Titles, Conveners and Abstracts ......................................................................................... 3-9

Symposia (6) ......................................................................................................................................................... 3

Special Sessions (36) .............................................................................................................................................. 4

Contributed Sessions (13) ..................................................................................................................................... 8

Chesapeake Bay Colloquium (20) ......................................................................................................................... 8

Conference Abstracts .............................................................................................................. 10-203

Author Index ........................................................................................................................ 204-215

Future ERF Biennial Conference Dates ................................................................... Inside Back Cover

ERF Governing Board, 2005-2007 ........................................................................... Inside Back Cover

To the ERF 2005 Sponsors and ContributorsThe Estuarine Research Federation is grateful to the sponsors and contributors who have stepped forward tosupport the 2005 biennial conference through funds or significant in-kind services. Their support testifies to theimportance and relevance of the conference and to the generosity of the estuarine and coastal sciences community

USEPA OWOW, Oceans and Coastal Protection DivisionNOAA Fisheries, Ecosystem Assessment Division

NOAA, CSCOR, Coastal Ocean ProgramVirginia Institute of Marine Science, College of William and Mary

NOAA, NOS, Coastal Services CenterOld Dominion University, College of Sciences

U.S. Geological SurveyVirginia Sea Grant

Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, VA Coastal ProgramThe Nature Conservancy

NOAA, ERD, National Estuarine Research Reserve SystemOld Dominion University, Dept. of Biological Sciences

The Harken FoundationThe Keith Campbell Foundation for the Environment

Hampton Roads Sanitation DistrictYSI Environmental

Nauticus Event SponsorsNOAA Chesapeake Bay Office

Old Dominion University, Ocean,Earth and Atmospheric Sciences Department

ContributorsVirginia Institute of Marine Science,School of Marine Science

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation

Estuarine Research Federation Affiliate Societies· Southeastern Estuarine Research Society· California Estuarine Research Society· New England Estuarine Research Society· Atlantic Estuarine Research Society· Gulf Estuarine Research Society· Pacific Estuarine Research Society· Atlantic Canada Coastal Estuarine Science Society

Women’s Aquatic Network

Salisbury Univerity

In-Kind SponsorsUniversity of Virginia· Department of Environmental Sciences

Old Dominion University· Center for Coastal Physical Oceanography· Ocean, Earth and Atmospheric

Sciences Department· Benthic Ecology Laboratory

East Carolina University· The Thomas Harriot College of Arts and Sciences· Coastal Resources Management PhD Program· Biology Department

Chesapeake Bay Program of Virginia,Department of Environmental Quality

Hampton University, Marine andEnvironmental Science

Rite-in-the-Rain

Thank You!

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Abstract Book 18th International Conference of The Estuarine Research Federation

Conference Abstracts18th Biennial Conference of the Estuarine Research Federation

October 16-20, 2005 · Norfolk, Virginia

This book includes all of the abstracts referenced in the ERF 2003 Program Book. Abstracts are listed in alphabetical order by the first author’slast name. Last names of primary presenting authors are in bold. The index located in the back of the Abstract Book provides an alphabeticallisting of all authors and page numbers of respective abstracts.

Conference OrganizersERF 2005 Conference Organizing Committee

ERF 2005 Conference Chair Linda Blum University of VirginiaScientific Program Co-Chairs Bob Christian East Carolina University

Arnoldo Valle-Levinson Old Dominion UniversityPoster Program Co-Chairs Vic Kennedy University of MD, HPEL

Carl Friedrichs Virginia Inst. of Marine ScienceAbstract Database Manager Becky Deehr East Carolina UniversityPublicity Dave Malmquist Virginia Inst. of Marine ScienceStudent Education Elizabeth Hinchey IL-IN Sea Grant College ProgramStudent Travel Awards Paul Carlson FL Fish & Wildlife Cons. Comm.Student Volunteers Dan Dauer Old Dominion University

Janet Nestlerode EPA Gulf Breeze LabStudent Judging Co-Chairs Chris Swarth Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary

Judith Stribling Salisbury UniversityFund Raising Bob Orth Virginia Inst. of Marine ScienceField Trips Karen McGlathery University of VirginiaInternational Travel Support Anne Giblin Marine Biological LaboratoryChesapeake Research Consortium Kevin Sellner Chesapeake Research ConsortiumComputer Central Cory Christman Old Dominion UniversityPublicity Dave Malmquist Virginia Inst. of Marine ScienceConference Oversight &Workshops Joy Bartholomew ERF HQ

Janet Barnes ERF HQConference & Website Management sg Meeting and Marketing Services

ERF 2005 Scientific Program SubcommitteeEast Carolina University: Lisa Clough, Reide Corbett, Lorry King, Joe Luczkovich, Dave Mallinson, Terry WestOld Dominion University: Eileen Hofmann, Margie Mulholland, Fred Dobbs, Tom Royer, Skip StylesWoods Hole Oceanographic Institute: Rocky Geyer

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Abstract BookEstuarine Interactions: Biological-Physical Feedbacks and Adaptations

Symposia (6)These sessions are created by the abstracts submitted to the Call forSessions. Most presenters are invited by the symposia organizers.Symposia may begin with a 30-minute introductory presentation,last a full day, and feature a high-priority ERF 2005 theme. Sympo-sia are very broadly identified and encourage international participa-tion. The organizers are often committed to publishing the proceed-ings in a journal of their choice.

SYM-01. Use of Observing Systems for Understanding,Monitoring and Predicting Harmful Algal Blooms andHypoxia.Conveners: Quay Dortch (Quay.Dortch@noaa.gov), David Scheurer,Kenric Osgood, Marc Suddleson and Sue Banahan

Oral and poster presentations will focus on how data obtained fromobserving systems currently in use, along with complimentarymethodologies such as new detection methods for toxins andharmful algal bloom (HAB) species, models or regional ecosystemstudies, are leading to better understanding of HABs and hypoxia andinforming management decisions. Presentations in this session willalso describe the role and the contributions to management ofcitizen monitoring groups.

SYM-02. Coastal Invasive Species: Impacts, Managementand the Role of Modified Habitats.Conveners: Mark S. Peterson (mark.peterson@usm.edu), Fred Dobbs(fdobbs@odu.edu), Roger Mann, Martin O’Connell, Aaron Adamsand W. Todd Slack

This session features presentations ranging from invasion biology ofplants and animals to risk-analysis and management strategies intendedto prevent future introductions or minimize the impact of incipientones. The purpose is to provide case studies of efforts to documentthe establishment of invasive species, better understand invasionpathways, assess ecological, economic and cultural impacts, anddevelop predictive impact models in coastal habitats. We hope togenerate a consensus on what determines success or failure inmanaging invasive species across a variety of locations, taxa, andevolutionary histories.

SYM-03. Examining Nutrient Enrichment Effects onCoastal Ecosystems through Comparative EcologicalApproaches and Perspectives.Conveners: Jim Hagy (hagy.jim@epa.gov), Giancarlo Cicchetti(cicchetti.giancarlo@epa.gov), Ruth Carmichael (rcarmichael@maine.edu)and Scott Nixon (snixon@gso.uri.edu)

This session examines how various physical and biological features ofestuarine and lagoon ecosystems influence the nature and extent ofecosystem response to nutrient enrichment and eutrophication,comparing and contrasting ecosystem responses that lead to de-creased production with those that stimulate increased production.Half of the session focuses on ecosystem responses such as nutrientdynamics, primary production, harmful algal blooms, hypoxia, water

Session Titles, Conveners and AbstractsAs of August 24, 2005

clarity, submerged aquatic vegetation, and plankton and benthosdynamics. Additionally, the session focuses on changes in consumerproduction and abundance, food web responses, and integrativeresearch that addresses multiple levels of an ecosystem.

SYM-04. Observing the Coastal and Ocean Environment:Developments in Sensor Technology and the Use of Long-Term Data Sets for Operational Ecology.Conveners: Geno Olmi (Geno.Olmi@noaa.gov), Ken Tenore(tenore@cbl.umces.edu), Bruce Michael (bmichael@dnr.state.md.us)and Tom Malone (T.Malone@ocean.us)

There is an emerging national agenda to develop an integrated oceanobserving system (IOOS) for sustained, long-term monitoring andanalysis of coastal and ocean environments for research and manage-ment purposes. Successful development of IOOS must incorporateand integrate existing observational programs across the land-seainterface, such as state monitoring programs and NSF’s ORION andNEON programs. Another critical need in developing observingsystems is collaboration among research scientists, resource managers,and private sector companies to identify and develop needed sensorand sensor platform technologies, such as is done by programs like theAlliance for Coastal Technologies (ACT).

SYM-05. Connecting Estuarine and Great Lakes Healthand Human Health.Conveners: Paul Sandifer (Paul.Sandifer@noaa.gov),Nathalie Valette-Silver (nathalie.valette-silver@noaa.gov), Carolyn Sotka(Carolyn.Sotka@noaa.gov), J. Trtanj, F. Holland and T. Rowles

The symposium focuses on NOAA’s new Oceans and HumanHealth Initiative (OHHI) and its efforts to elucidate linkagesbetween the condition of estuarine and Great Lakes ecosystems andthe health of human populations that utilize these environments.Participants will address relationships between ocean health andhuman health in several thematic areas such as the following:pathogens and infectious diseases, harmful algal blooms and toxins,chemical pollutants, water quality and beach safety, bioprospecting,sentinel species, seafood safety, land use impacts, ecosystem frame-work, and education and outreach efforts.

SYM-06. Managing River Basins and Estuaries: anInternational Assessment of Approaches and Progress.Conveners: James Latimer (latimer.jim@epamail.epa.gov),Suzanne Bricker (Suzanne.bricker@noaa.gov) and Alice Newton(anewton@ualg.pt)

This symposium integrates leading U.S. and European efforts atmonitoring, assessment, and research to inform and guide manage-ment of nutrient pollution in river basins and estuarine and coastalwaters. It seeks to advance cooperation between EU and USregulatory and management agencies charged with meetingregulatory objectives under the US Clean Water Act and the ECWater Framework Directive and will include progress to date on thedevelopment of acceptable nutrient limits and expected water qualityand ecological outcomes.

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Abstract Book 18th International Conference of The Estuarine Research Federation

Special Sessions (36)Special sessions are created by the abstracts submitted to the Call forSessions. They contain a mix of invited and contributed papers.

SPS-01. Retention of Nutrients in Littoral Zone Systemswith Different Physical Regimes.Conveners: Iris Anderson (iris@vims.edu), Karen McGlathery(kjm4k@virginia.edu) and Wayne Gardner (gardner@utmsi.utexas.edu)

This interdisciplinary session will consider interactions betweenbiological and physical processes in regulating the fate of nutrients inlittoral zone systems. Biological processes will include the role ofvarious primary producers, biogeochemical transformations bymicroorganisms and their interactions with meio- and macrofauna.We invite papers by biogeochemists, aquatic and benthic ecologists,physical oceanographers, and modelers.

SPS-02. Restoring and Protecting the World’s Estuaries –Comparing Exemplary Programs.Conveners: Rich Batiuk (Batiuk.Richard@epamail.epa.gov)and Ted Graham (tgraham@mwcog.org)

This session is designed to present a comparison of the managementof exemplary estuary restoration programs around the world.Through a combination of presentations, discussions and aninteractive poster session, participants will learn about key aspects ofeffective estuary restoration and protection programs. This sessionwill help participants exchange ideas and concepts to promote moreeffective estuary management with emphasis on: (1) how restorationgoals are defined; (2) the role of scientific research; (3) managementstructure for planning, program implementation and ensuringcompliance; and (4) funding.

SPS-03. Atmospheric Inputs of Nutrients andContaminants to Estuaries.Conveners: William Ullman (ullman@udel.edu) and Joseph Scudlark(scudlark@udel.edu)

Atmospheric deposition of nutrients and contaminants is increasinglyrecognized as an important input to estuaries, via both direct (to theestuary) and indirect (transmitted through the watershed) pathways.To better understand the linkage between atmospheric, terrestrial,and surface water quality, this session will consider atmospheric (1)emission sources, (2) deposition mechanisms (e.g., wet vs. dry), (3)transport pathways, but will focus on the (4) magnitude and spatialand temporal variability of direct estuarine fluxes, and (5) ecologicalimpacts of these atmospheric inputs.

SPS-04. Identifying, Assessing, and Managing Human andClimatically-Induced Change of Estuarine Ecosystems.Conveners: Hans Paerl (hpaerl@email.unc.edu) and Charles Hopkinson(chopkins@mbl.edu)

With the recent upsurge in landfalling hurricanes along the US Eastand Gulf coasts, issues linking climatic change and anthropogenicinfluences such as eutrophication in estuaries have come to the fore.Scientists and managers must assess which ecosystem impacts areattributable to the generally slower acting stressors associated withhuman activity in the coastal zone and those that result from thesecatastrophic events. This session focuses on mechanisms by whichsuch stressors translate into ecological change and approaches forassessing and managing such change across a range of scales and

media (i.e. land-air-water) in estuarine ecosystems exhibiting varyingsensitivities.

SPS-05. Developing Useful Modeling and Mapping Toolsto Help Managers Address Sea Level Rise.Convener: Carol Auer (Carol.Auer@noaa.gov)

Coastal planners and managers need to mitigate the ecological andeconomic losses caused by unrelenting sea level rise. The scientificchallenge is to develop accurate and easy to use management toolsthat use state-of-the-art technologies to directly meet the mostpressing management needs. This session provides the opportunityfor coastal managers and researchers to critically address the mosteffective means to integrate leading-edge science into existing stateprograms.

SPS-06. Observational and Modeling Studies of ShellfishResponses to Climate Variability.Conveners: Eileen Hofmann (hofmann@ccpo.odu.edu) and Eric Powell(eric@hsrl.rutgers.edu)

This session provides a forum to bring together researchers involvedin observational and modeling studies directed at understanding thepotential effects of climate change on production, disease prevalenceand intensity, recruitment, and survival of marine shellfish popula-tions. Oral and poster presentations that consider linkages betweenenvironmental and biological phenomena at seasonal to decadal timescales, regional and temporal variability in shellfish disease distribu-tion, prevalence, and intensity, shellfish management in response toclimate change, and climate effects on the productivity of marineshellfish populations are encouraged.

SPS-07. Sustainability and Wildlife Management inCoastal Wetlands.Conveners: Ron Brockmeyer (rbrockmeyer@sjrwmd.com)and Doug Scheidt (Scheidm@kscems.ksc.nasa.gov)

There are indications that the physical and hydrological manipula-tions imposed on coastal wetlands as part of wildlife managementregimes may affect the long-term survival and stability of thesehabitats. This session will bring together speakers with expertise inthese habitats and with management practices to illuminate issuesaffecting sustainability.

SPS-08. Truth and Consequences in InterdisciplinaryStudies.Convener: Lauriston King (kingl@mail.ecu.edu)

Despite a multitude of voices calling for interdisciplinary educationand research, just what it means to be inter-, multi- or trans-disciplinary is far from clear. This panel will draw on the experienceof those who have participated in research projects involving severaldisciplines or who have sought to develop interdisciplinary educa-tional programs, to draw on the lessons they have learned and torecommend guidance for those venturing into this complex arena.

SPS-09. Adapting and Transferring Science to Managers -Research, Case Studies and Connections.Conveners: Susan Lovelace (susan.lovelace@noaa.gov) and Denise Sanger(sangerdm@dhec.sc.gov)

This special session highlights research and methods for sciencetransfer to the management audience, and it considers methods for

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Abstract BookEstuarine Interactions: Biological-Physical Feedbacks and Adaptations

managers and scientists to better integrate relevant science towardthe goal of producing informed management decisions at local, state,and national levels. Through new research and case studies thedevelopment of these connections will be explored.

SPS-10. Developing Science-Based Information forCoastal Decision Making.Convener: Kevin Summers (Summers.Kevin@epa.gov)

This session demonstrates the development of environmentalinformation (e.g., monitoring, surveys, research) for environmentaldecision makers to address specific national, regional, state and localcoastal concerns. Presentations will include the development ofcoastal ecosystem monitoring surveys and their implementation, thedevelopment of indices for reporting the information, and thetransformation of scientific results into information.

SPS-11. Research Challenges Resulting from EMAP/NCANational Surveys.Convener: Kevin Summers (Summers.Kevin@epa.gov)

This session assesses new and continuing research challenges resultingfrom the conduct of the National Coastal Assessment (NCA) surveys.The data produced by these surveys raise numerous research questionsranging from development of regional benthic indices to the compara-bility of condition indices across regions to the combination of multipleindicators to characterize overall condition.

SPS-12. Historic and Current Use and Management ofEstuarine Environments by Indigenous, Multi-Generational Colonizers and Pre-Industrial People inWestern Atlantic Nations.Conveners: Sandy Wyllie-Echeverria (zmseed@u.washington.edu) andElizabeth Smith (esmith@falcon.tamucc.edu)

Session participants will characterize estuarine habitats prior toEuro-American colonization along the western Atlantic Ocean inNorth and South America, including the Caribbean Sea and Gulf ofMexico. Participants will also review anthropological and archaeo-logical evidence of pre-colonial, post-colonial, and pre-industrial usesof estuarine plants, animals, and environments to provide insightsinto ethno-ecology and the early management of the estuarine/coastal landscape.

SPS-13. Observing and Forecasting Systems for Urbanand Coastal Ocean Environments.Conveners: Alan Blumberg (ablumber@stevens.edu) and William Boicourt(boicourt@hpl.umces.edu)

The challenge of implementing observing and forecasting systems isparticularly difficult in urban and coastal ocean environments thatare typically shallow coastal areas and estuaries, where oceanographicand atmospheric conditions exhibit high spatial and temporalvariability due to freshwater inflows, combined sewer overflows,tides, micro-climate, and bottom and land topography which issubject to change because of dredging/deepening programs. Thedesign and installation of observing systems in these environments isfurther complicated by the presence of high turbidity, strongstratification, strong currents, fog, vessel traffic and limited shorelineaccess. This session highlights significant advances in our ability tocreate observing systems that acquire data in real time and nowcast/forecast systems that utilize these data in a meaningful fashion.

SPS-14. Temporal and Spatial Changes Within and AmongCoastal Ecosystems.Conveners: Dan Baird (Dan.Baird@upe.ac.za) and Joe Luczkovich(luczkovichj@mail.ecu.edu)

This session focuses on the observed and modeled changes of coastalecosystems over time and space. The comparison of these ecosystemswill have been modeled using analytical methods such as ecologicalnetwork analysis (Ecopath, Netwrk, etc.) and other quantitativemodels. Contributions should preferably adopt a whole systemapproach and refer, where applicable, to management implicationsemanating from systems that have been perturbed by human actions.

SPS-15. Physical and Biological Factors AffectingHorseshoe Crab Abundance and Distribution in CoastalWaters.Convener: Ruth Carmichael (rcarmichael@maine.edu)

This session addresses biological, physical and anthropogenic factorsaffecting horseshoe crab populations and the inherent flexibility inhorseshoe crab biology, physiology, form, and function that hasallowed these remarkable animals to survive 350 million years ofenvironmental change. Specific topic areas include 1) factorsaffecting migration and loyalty to local coastal embayments, timingand location of spawning, and choice of foraging sites; 2) geneticcomposition/isolation of populations; 3) changes in horseshoe crabpopulation dynamics or behavior patterns; and 4) food web structureand effects on/of commercial harvest.

SPS-16. Food Limitation in Estuarine Fauna.Conveners: Wim Kimmerer (kimmerer@sfsu.edu) and Jan Thompson(jthompso@usgs.gov)

Biological responses can be difficult to detect in physically controlledsystems such as estuaries, but evidence of biological interactions suchas food limitation is sometimes strong. We will examine theconditions under which food limitation has been detected in faunaof different functional groups from estuaries of different degrees ofphysical control and trophic status.

SPS-17. Ecological Indicators of Estuarine Change andCondition.Conveners: James Morris (morris@biol.sc.edu) and Chet Rakocinski(chet.rakocinski@usm.edu)

Changes in the condition of estuaries are sometimes dramatic, butare more often subtle, gradual and difficult to detect. Stress factorsmay also be gradual or they may be episodic with lasting effects. Thissession highlights some of the research done under EPA’s STAREaGLes program, which develops indicators useful for evaluating the‘health’ or condition of important coastal natural resources atmultiple scales, ranging from individual communities to coastaldrainage areas to entire biogeographical regions.

SPS-18. Estuarine Fish Behavior: What Can the FishThemselves Tell Us About Essential Fish Habitat?Conveners: Charles (“Si”) Simenstad (simenstd@u.washington.edu),Carl Young cdyoung@u.washington.edu) and Denise Breitburg(breitburgd@si.edu)

Documenting real-time fish behavior as a research tool in studies ofessential fish habitat is comparatively rare in estuaries. This session

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Abstract Book 18th International Conference of The Estuarine Research Federation

explores the variety of opportunities, techniques and applicationsthat estuarine researchers are using to document individual andschooling fish behavior in real time, and how their interpretationsprovide unique insights into the strength of fish-habitat interactions.These studies include, but are not limited to, visual, active and passiveacoustics, vocalization and other mechanisms to characterize fishbehavior, from micro-habitat to habitat landscape scales and diversehabitat functions, including spawning, foraging and refuge frompredation.

SPS-19. Innovative Techniques for Assessing Fish andInvertebrate Habitat Linkages in Estuaries and CoastalSystems.Conveners: Jason Toft (tofty@u.washington.edu) and Greg Skilleter(g.skilleter@uq.edu.au)

Linking specific habitat types to their direct and indirect effects onassociated fauna is a difficult task, both in natural settings andespecially in estuaries that contain a habitat mosaic of unaltered andmodified shorelines. This session incorporates innovative techniquesto quantify parameters that analyze such habitat-communityrelationships. The session will continue discussions initiated at asession during the recent ECSA Conference “Estuaries and Change,”which took place in Australia, June 2004.

SPS-20. Ecosystem-Based Management.Conveners: Dick Wetzel (dick@vims.edu), Chris Madden(cmadden@swfmd.gov), Raleigh Hood (Raleigh@hpl.umces.edu)and R. Latour

The relatively recent releases of the PEW Oceans Commissionreport on Recommendations for a New Ocean Policy (May 2003)and the preliminary report of the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy(April 2004) both make strong recommendations to move quickly toecosystem-based management and planning. The session addresses thegeneral topic of ecosystem-based management from the standpointof state of the art, new directions, cautions and management needs.Topics addressed include multi-species modeling, data gathering andanalysis, model validation and uncertainty, integration with otherefforts (i.e. modeling and monitoring), and representation from themanagement community.

SPS-21. Indices to Evaluate Estuarine Health.Convener: Jim Wilson (jwilson@mail.tcd.ie)

Increasingly, legislation is demanding more objective and widelyapplicable evaluations of estuarine and coastal status that cancommunicate to a wide range of non-specialists. Many indices havebeen suggested, but none are as yet widely accepted. The goal of thissession is to bring together various approaches to try to findcommon ground and to suggest ways in which this problem may beaddressed.

SPS-22. Estuaries and Ecological Forecasting: Are wemaking progress?Convener: Nathalie Valette-Silver (Nathalie.Valette-Silver@noaa.gov),Gary Matlock, Jean Snider and Don Scavia

Policy makers, natural resources mangers, regulators and the publicoften call on scientists to predict ecological changes caused by naturaland human stressors and to determine how those changes willimpact people and the environment. To develop accurate forecasts ofecological changes we need to: 1) increase understanding of

ecosystem composition, structure, and functioning, 2) expandecosystem monitoring and apply advanced scientific information tomake these complex data widely available, and 3) develop andimprove forecasts and interpretative tools that use a scientific basis toassess the results of management and science policy actions. Thissession will highlight examples of successful ecological forecasts andnew tools that could be used to improve or develop new forecasts.

SPS-23. Geomorphic Features and Ecosystem StateChange: Examples from Mangroves and Salt Marshes.Conveners: Mark Brinson (brinsonm@mail.ecu.edu) and Robert Twilley(rtwilley@lsu.edu)

Mangrove forests and salt marshes are targets of ecological restorationprojects, but little information is exchanged between researchers andrestoration practitioners who work on these two tidal ecosystems.Rising sea level and hydrologic changes in dynamic coastal environ-ments challenge the capacity of restoration projects to effectivelyanticipate future conditions for both wetland types. The session willaddress the role of geomorphic features in mediating changes instructure and function of mangroves and salt marshes.

SPS-24. Ecological Assessment of Water Quality, LivingResources and Habitats of Coastal Lagoons.Conveners: Roman Jesien (science@mdcoastalbays.org)and William Dennison (dennison@ca.umces.edu)

Coastal lagoons are integral parts of barrier island systems thatformed since the last ice age in a complex mix of forces thatincluded sea level rise and long shore sand transport in areas withrelatively small riverine input. The lagoons are typically shallow, havesmall tidal amplitude and experience physical changes due to erosionand building in response to natural processes and human activities.This session addresses the special challenges facing managers ofcoastal lagoons, including eutrophication, biodiversity, and usefulindicators that track health and management objectives.

SPS-25. Coral Diseases: An Increasing Threat to CoralReefs Worldwide.Conveners: Caroline Rogers (caroline_rogers@usgs.gov)and Cheryl Woodley (cheryl.woodley@noaa.gov)

Coral diseases are increasing in number, severity and distribution andare contributing to the worldwide decline of coral reefs. A group ofdiseases referred to as the “white diseases” (including white plague,white pox, and white band) are of particular concern because theyhave caused extensive loss of major reef-building corals, particularlyin the Caribbean. This session examines research that involvesecological, microbiological, genetic, molecular and biomedicalapproaches to coral diseases.

SPS-26. Interactions through Estuarine Hydrology.Conveners: William Nuttle (wnuttle@eco-hydrology.com)and Frank Marshall (fmarshall@ectinc.com)

This session explores the nature and role of hydrologic processes inmediating changes in structure and function of estuarine and near-shore ecosystems. Estuarine hydrology deals with the fluxes of freshwater, such as stream flow, groundwater, rainfall and evaporation andthe variation in these fluxes related to climate, sea level and humanactivities. Presentations in this session will trace the ecologicalresponse to the driving processes that control the quantity, quality,timing and distribution of fresh water fluxes to the coast.

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Abstract BookEstuarine Interactions: Biological-Physical Feedbacks and Adaptations

SPS-27. Recruitment Processes in Estuarine Fishes.Conveners: Fred Scharf (scharff@uncw.edu) and Jeff Buckel(jeffrey_buckel@ncsu.edu)

This session highlights current areas of fishery research in estuarinesystems. Specific topics will include identification of essential fishhabitat, scaling up from individual processes to population dynamics,movement and transport between estuaries and the coastal ocean,and the role of estuaries in shaping annual cohort success and fisheryrecruitment.

SPS-28. Interdisciplinary Approach to Research in TropicalSeagrass and Mangrove Ecosystems.Conveners: Ilka (Candy) Feller (felleri@si.edu) and William Dennison(dennison@ca.umces.edu)

Increases in nutrient loading to tropical coastal waters provide animpetus to develop a better holistic understanding of the responses ofmangrove and seagrass ecosystems. Presentations in this sessioninvestigate linkages within and between these ecosystems and willexamine the effects of nutrient over-enrichment on ecologicalprocesses.

SPS-29. Hydrodynamics of Coral Reefs and Seagrass Beds:Implications for Ecological Function, Management andRestoration.Conveners: Greg Piniak (greg.piniak@noaa.), Shay Viehman(shay.viehman@noaa.gov), M. Fonseca, J. Kenworthy and H. Lenihan

This session seeks to develop a greater understanding of theinfluence of hydrodynamics on the structure and performance ofcoral reefs and seagrass beds. Hydrodynamics affect ecologicalfunction at multiple levels, from the physiological (primary produc-tion, nutrient uptake/mass transfer, prey capture by corals) to theindividual (larval dispersal and condition, recruitment, growth, andsurvival, effects of bleaching) to the community (disturbance, stability,resilience, recovery, and connectivity) to the biophysical (wavedissipation, sediment resuspension and light transmissivity, etc.). Thissession will also provide a special emphasis for lessons for appliedconservation (e.g. management and restoration design).

SPS-30. Estuarine Science at Primarily UndergraduateInstitutions: Opportunities for Teaching and Research.Conveners: Drew Ferrier (dferrier@hood.ecu) and Bob Paul(rwpaul@smcm.edu)

This session focuses on innovative approaches for engaging under-graduate students in the principles and processes of estuarine science.Presenters will share models for teaching and undergraduate researchthat involve classroom, laboratory, or field experiences that exploreaspects of estuarine science in ways that are appealing to students.Topics could include the use of estuarine organisms as laboratorymodels, the use of web-based databases in the classroom, short- andlong-term field experiences for undergraduates, and successful modelsfor student-faculty research and inter-institutional collaborations.

SPS-31. Estuarine Exchange and Innovative Technology.Conveners: Chunyan Li (cli@lsu.edu), Bob Chant(chant@imcs.rutgers.edu) and Parker MacCready(parker@ocean.washington.edu)

The estuarine – coastal ocean exchange of water, energy andwaterborne materials, including chemicals, suspended sediments and

biota, is the subject of decades of research. Of great interest toresearchers of exchange, and the subject of this session, is the use ofinnovative methodologies, including observational techniques thattake advantage of technological advances, new data analysis tech-niques, and the development of high-resolution numerical models.

SPS-32. Utility of Residence Time and Related Concepts inEstuarine Studies.Conveners: Edward Dettmann (dettmann.edward@epamail.epa.gov),Merryl Alber (malber@uga.edu) and Joan Sheldon (jsheldon@uga.edu)

Exchange and transport time scales (residence time and relatedconcepts) have been used to quantify transfers of water, dissolvedmaterials, inorganic particles and even planktonic organisms withinestuaries and across the seaward boundary, as well as the amount oftime for which these substances reside in the estuary. This sessionexplores the range of applications of these concepts. A facilitateddiscussion will address the strengths and limitations of the conceptsof exchange and transport times as well as an attempt to synthesizethe often-confusing terminology into a coherent framework.

SPS-33. Impact of Direct Groundwater Inputs to EstuarineStudies.Conveners: Douglas Miller (dmiller@udel.edu) and Thomas McKenna(mckennat@udel.edu)

This session seeks to integrate ecological and hydrogeological perspec-tives on the impact of groundwater inputs to estuarine ecosystems. Wewelcome presentations on a wide variety of topics including, but notlimited to, instrumentation, monitoring networks, measurement andsurvey techniques, biogeochemical process studies, pathways andmagnitudes of fluxes, coupling or decoupling of biological and hydro-logical processes, groundwater bioindicators, influences on speciesrecruitment, physiological processes, and food-web dynamics, humanactivities and management alternatives.

SPS-34. Assessment and Management of PAHContaminated Sediments.Conveners: Sue Kane Driscoll (driscols@menziecura.com)and Charles Menzie (camenzie@menziecura.com)

This session provides an overview of our current understanding ofthe toxicity mechanisms of poly-aromatic-hydrocarbons (PAH) toaquatic organisms and explores ways in which this knowledge can beused to develop measures of exposure and effect. How can thisinformation be used to make risk-based decisions about themanagement of contaminated sediment?

SPS-35. Extreme Sediment Biogeochemistry:Observational and Experimental Results fromHypereutrophic Ecosystems.Conveners: Eva Bailey (bailey@cbl.umces.edu) and Mike Owens(owens@hpl.umces.edu)

Estuarine water quality and habitat conditions are directly affected byfluxes of oxygen and nutrients to and from sediments. Observationaland experimental measurements of sediment processes in veryenriched ecosystems are often difficult to obtain and yield varied andsurprising results. This session will focus on observational andexperimental measurements of sediment biogeochemical processesand characteristics in hypereutrophic ecosystems and the resultanteffects on water quality conditions.

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Abstract Book 18th International Conference of The Estuarine Research Federation

SPS-36. Physical and Biogeochemical Processes in theAlbemarle-Pamlico Estuarine System.Conveners: Reide Corbett (corbettd@mail.ecu.edu) and Stan Riggs(riggss@mail.ecu.edu)

The North Carolina coastal system consists of a vast complex series ofecosystems (inner continental shelf, barrier islands, estuarine and riverinesystem, wetlands) with extreme variability in environmental processesand dynamics. Each ecosystem is a product of the intimate interactionbetween coastal processes, changing climatic patterns, and the underly-ing geologic framework. This session brings together scientists studyingmodern and geologic processes to advance understanding of estuarine/barrier island dynamics and quaternary research.

Contributed Sessions (13)Topics and papers are all created after the call for abstracts. None areindividually invited.

CPS-01. Ecosystems and Trophic Dynamics.Conveners: Terry West (westt@mail.ecu.edu), Mike Sullivan(mjsulliv@fsu.edu), Elizabeth Canuel (ecanuel@vims.edu),and Joe Boyer (boyerj@fiu.edu)

CPS-02. Population and Community Dynamics.Conveners: John Fleeger (zoflee@lsu.edu), Troy Alphin(alphint@uncwil.edu), Nancy Rabalais (nrabalais@lumcom.edu)and Tracy Buck (tracy@belle.baruch.sc.edu)

CPS-03. Environmental Physiology and Behavior.Conveners: Mike Durako (durakom@uncw.edu) and Marshall Pregnall(pregnall@vassar.edu)

CPS-06. Fish Ecology and Fisheries.Conveners: Carole McIvor (Carole_McIvor@usgs.gov) and Julie Christian(jc1077@hotmail.com)

CPS-07. Habitat and Habitat Selection.Conveners: Lori Morris (lmorris@sjrwmd.com) and Lawrence Rozas(Lawrence.rozas@noaa.gov)

CPS-08. Biogeochemistry (organic and inorganic).Conveners: Todd Kana (kana@hpl.umces.edu) and Rachel Michaels(rem8f@virginia.edu)

CPS-09. Nutrients.Conveners: Eugene Turner (euturne@lsu.edu) and Scott Neubauer(scott@belle.baruch.sc.edu)

CPS-10. Estuarine Sediment Dynamicsand Morphodynamics.Conveners: Larry Sanford (lsanford@hpl.umces.edu) and Carl Friedrichs(cfried@vims.edu)

CPS-11. Hydrodynamics of Estuaries.Conveners: Jim O’Donnell (james.odonnell@uconn.edu)and Arnoldo Valle-Levinson (Arnoldo@ccpo.odu.edu)

CPS-13. Impacts of Climate Variability.Conveners: Carlos Duarte (cduarte@uib.es) and Irving Mendelssohn(imendel@lsu.edu)

CPS-14. Physical and Biological Interactions.Conveners: Lynette Cardoch (Lynette.Cardoch@parsons.com)and Dan Childers (childers@fiu.edu)

CPS-17. Patterns, Response and ManagementImplications to Large-Scale Phenomena.No Conveners. Poster Hall Session.

CPS-20. Scientist-Community Group Interactions inRestoration Efforts for Estuaries and their Watersheds.Conveners: Holly Greening (hgreening@tbep.org) and David Nemerson(dnemerson@aqua.org)

Chesapeake Bay Colloquium (20)Proposed and convened by members of the Chesapeake ResearchConsortium, a non-profit partnership of six major research institu-tions around the Chesapeake Bay (CRC, www.chesapeake.org), the2-day Colloquium provides the opportunity for presentations ofregional research, management and policy activities.

COL-21. Plenary: What’s the future for the Chesapeake:A model for other estuaries?Convener: K. Sellner

COL-01. Estuaries Under Siege: Options for the Future.Convener: D. Boesch

COL-02. Estuarine Implications of the Impending Shift inEstuarine Food Production.Conveners: A. Hines & M. Luckenbach

COL-03. Productivity and Diversity of Estuarine Planktonand Fish Resources: Scale-Dependent Interactions fromWatershed to Sea.Convener: M. Roman

COL-04. Integrated Observing Systems and theirApplications.Convener: W. Ball

COL-05. Managing our Lands for Reducing Loads.Convener: T. Simpson

COL-06. Challenges To & Prospects For Large MarineEcosystem-based Fisheries Management.Conveners: M. McBride & K. Sherman

Effective approaches to management of fisheries for bay-dependentcoastal species that cross-jurisdictional boundaries must includecoordinated actions by agencies charged with management of bothfisheries and fish habitat. It must also address national ecosystem-based management goals and objectives. Using the Northeast U.S.

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Abstract BookEstuarine Interactions: Biological-Physical Feedbacks and Adaptations

Continental Shelf Large Marine Ecosystem (LME) as the relevantmanagement unit for effective implementation of the ChesapeakeBay Fisheries Ecosystem Plan, this session will advance the Nationalgoal of ecosystem-based management of fishery resources.

COL-07. Waterbirds of the Chesapeake Bay and Vicinity:Harbingers of Change.Convener: M. Erwin

This session focuses on the status, distribution, trends, and threats towaterbirds (waterfowl, colonial waterbirds, marsh birds, eagles, andospreys) within the Chesapeake Bay and vicinity. Issues of contami-nants, marsh and island loss, sea-level rise, human disturbance, andresource harvesting have had varying influences on this diverse arrayof species over the past century. While many population declineshave taken place, a surprising number of population expansions havealso occurred and will be examined.

COL-08. Innovative Technological Applications for Scienceand Management in the Basin.Conveners: M.Trice & C. Heyer

COL-09. Managing the Bay: Meeting the Mandates ofChesapeake 2000.Convener: R. Batiuk

COL-11. Basin Eutrophication and Public HealthConvener: L. Grattan

COL-12. Harmful Algal Blooms in the Chesapeake Bay andCoastal Bays.Convener: P.Glibert

COL-13. New Understandings in HABs and OtherPlankton, Benthos and Nekton from the Chesapeake.Convener: D. Stoecker

COL-14. Ecosystem-Based Approaches to Managementand Restoration of Estuarine Fisheries.Convener: M. Luckenbach

COL-15. Basin Modeling for Researchand Management.Conveners: R. Hood & T. Gross

COL-16. Identifying Priorities for Legislative andExecutive Activity in Basin Restoration.Convener: W.A Stiles

COL-17. Innovation in Agriculture Conservation for theChesapeake Bay.Convener: C. Musgrove

COL-18. The Importance of Non-Tidal Lands and Waters inBasin Dynamics.Convener: R. Brooks

COL-19. Benthic-Pelagic Couplings and ManagingDissolved Oxygen in the Chesapeake and Coastal Bays.Convener: I. Anderson

COL-20. Restoration in Highly Urbanized Estuaries.Convener: J. Rieger

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Abstract Book 18th International Conference of The Estuarine Research Federation

Abu Hena , M. k., University of Chittagong, Chittagong, Bangladesh, hena71@yahoo.com;Haque, M. N., University of Chittagong, Chittagong, Bangladesh, N/A

COASTAL ESTUARINE RESOURCES OF BANGLADESH

The coastal area of Bangladesh includes a number of seas and bays into which different typesof rivers empty, creating estuarine ecosystem adjacent to the shore. The estuarine ecosystemcomprise mangroves, salt marshes, salt bed, seaweeds, deltas and coral reef The extension ofestuarine environment in the seas varies according to the volume of discharge of the riverand tidal ranges, and surveys as a feeding, breeding and nursery grounds for a variety ofanimals. Draught conditions exits during the winter months and effective rainfall is confinedto the monsoon period. Water low salinity and high turbidity changes depend on annualrainfall cycle. The colors of almost estuaries water are tea brown or brown due to heavydownward stream during monsoon. The tidal mixing and river discharge governed thedistribution of the hydrological parameters. The pH of this water is reported to be slightlyalkaline (>7.66) and dissolved oxygen (

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Abstract BookEstuarine Interactions: Biological-Physical Feedbacks and Adaptations

Albaugh, R. L., Hood College, Frederick, USA, albaugh@hood.edu;Foley, M. J., Hood College, Frederick, USA, seadragon_lady@yahoo.com;Ferrier, M. D., Hood College, Frederick, USA, dferrier@hood.edu

ENHANCING STUDENT LEARNING EXPERIENCES BY INTEGRATINGCOMMUNITY-BASED RESEARCH WITHIN AN ESTUARINE STUDIESPROGRAM

A curriculum appropriate to the teaching of estuarine science must contain more thanclassroom understanding and laboratory skills. In addition to traditional courses and sciencecontent, the Hood College Coastal Studies Program has developed site-specific, community-based research projects to provide students with experiences that exemplify and reinforceclassroom learning. Moreover, students invest in the pedagogical process because theoutcome has meaning beyond the classroom. These projects are a joint effort among students,faculty, and community resource persons. The process begins by listing pertinentcontemporary problems and/or issues which potentially foster connections between thetraditional course objectives and collaborative projects unique to the location. Following areview of the literature, consideration is given to student skill level, overall time frame, andthe means by which the project can be integrated into the curriculum and assessed. Theobjective is to produce a tangible product in a timely manner. This format is ideal forintegrating service learning opportunities that provide immediate feedback to stakeholders.Students become part of an active learning environment which intensifies their educationalexperience. The results are meaningful explorations which broaden student understanding,build communication skills, and encourage authorship.

Alber, M., Dept. of Marine Sciences, Univ. of Georgia, Athens, USA, malber@uga.edu;Pomeroy, L. R., Dept. of Ecology, Univ. of Georgia, Athens, USA,

lpomeroy@ecology.uga.edu;Sheldon, J. E., Dept. of Marine Sciences, Univ. of Georgia, Athens, USA, jsheldon@uga.edu;Schaefer, S. C., Dept. of Ecology, Univ. of Georgia, Athens, USA, sylvia@uga.edu

FORTY YEARS OF WATERSHED NITROGEN INPUTS AND ESTUARINERESPONSE IN THE ALTAMAHA RIVER (GEORGIA, USA)

Between the 1950s and 1990s, the average concentration of NO3 + NO2 in the AltamahaRiver estuary increased 4-fold (from 2.9 to 12.7 µM) while chlorophyll a more than tripled(from 3.0 to 10.6 µg L-1). However, the nitrogen load from the river has not increasedsignificantly since the 1970s, when standardized water quality sampling began. We presentnitrogen budgets for 1954 to 1992 that show a 33% increase in inputs to the watershed.Interestingly, all of the increase occurred between 1954 and 1974, and there was actually anet decrease between 1974 and 1992. Source patterns have also shifted: the contribution ofnitrogen from human waste continues to increase whereas that from fertilizer peaked in thelate 1970s. Chicken waste is increasing rapidly but has only replaced cattle at this point. Theseresults show that, even with a fast transit time (generally < 1 week), increased nutrientloading translated into an increase in phytoplankton concentration in this system. They alsoshow the value of extending the baseline further back in time when evaluating changes inloading, and they contrast with patterns observed in other areas (e.g. Mississippi River,Potomac River), where the largest increases have occurred more recently.

Allen, D. M., Univ. of South Carolina, Baruch Marine Field Laboratory, Georgetown, USA,dallen@belle.baruch.sc.edu;

Dame , R. F., Coastal Carolina Univ., Dept. of Marine Science, Conway, USA,dame@coastal.edu;

Young, R., Coastal Carolina Univ., Dept. of Marine Science, Conway, USA,ryoung@coastal.edu

NEKTON AS MATERIAL PROCESSORS AND TRANSPORTERS OFNUTRIENTS WITHIN A MARSH-ESTUARINE ECOSYSTEM

Nekton are widely recognized for the roles they play as producers and redistributors ofbiomass within marsh-estuarine ecosystems, but their production of dissolved inorganicmaterials as byproducts of metabolism has been largely overlooked. Laboratory experimentsand measurements in intertidal salt marsh creeks indicate that the summer assemblage ofnekton in a Southeast estuary comprises a major source of dissolved nitrogen andphosphorus. Bioturbation, prey handling, and excretion account for releases of nutrientswhen migratory fauna occupy flooded intertidal landscapes. In the first phase of a studyaimed at determining the magnitude and timing of nutrient production in various intertidalsubsystems, increasing nutrient levels in intertidal pools during low tide were associated withthe presence of residual nekton. Differences were demonstrated between pools with naturaldensities of nekton and pools without nekton. In the next phase, high precisionmeasurements of water and material fluxes in the marsh, mudflat, oyster reef, and subtidalchannel subsystems will provide information on spatial and temporal variations in nektoncontributions of dissolved nutrients. By providing inorganic nutrients, nekton contributedirectly to the high productivity of these natural systems, and they may be potentially keypositive feedback components within the ecosystem.

Allen, G. W., USEPA, Annapolis, USA, allen.greg@epa.gov

PRIORITIZING TOXICS REDUCTIONS IN THE CHESAPEAKE BAY

Discusses methods for prioritizing chemical load reductions based on an analysis of load,persistence, and observed effects for specific chemicals. Demonstrates how ecological effectscharacterization, load estimates, and other criteria can be used to prioritize restoration effortsfor toxic organics and metals in Chesapeake Bay. Reviews application of prioritized chemicallist in finding the proper balance of applying resources to toxics issues as opposed to nutrients.

Allen, T. R., Old Dominion University, Norfolk, USA, tallen@odu.edu;Tolvanen, H., University of Turku, Turku, Finland, hatato@utu.fi;Oertel, G. F., Old Dominion University, Norfolk, USA, goertel@odu.edu;McLeod, G., Old Dominion University, Norfolk, USA, gmcleod@odu.edu

SPATIAL ANALYSIS AND ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS OF TIDAL FLUSHINGAND WAVE EXPOSURE IN CHINCOTEAGUE BAY, VIRGINIA, USA

Waves and tides profoundly impact ecological processes and landforms in coastal bays andlagoons. Spatial analysis of wave and tide processes would inform studies of several problemsaffecting Mid-Atlantic coastal bays, including seagrass restoration, shellfish resources, andeutrophication. This study focused on developing of spatial techniques for tidal prism andwave exposure assessment for understanding lagoon spatial ecology. The tidal prism wasanalyzed three-dimensionally to characterize the extent and dynamics of flushing, particularlyfrequently flushed vs. stagnant areas. A geographic information system was used to model thetidal prism from benchmark locations and water level observations. Multitemporal LandsatTM/ETM+ and MODIS satellite data were used to assess the extent of flood tidepenetration. Image composites in both optical and thermal wavelengths were enhanced toassess the tidal flushing, mixing, and penetration areas from inlet to interior bay. We alsocharacterized the openness and wave exposure of Chincoteague Bay. Fetch analysis wascarried out in a GIS to relate wave fetch to shoreline characteristics and evaluate thepotential for modeling wave energy. Our spatial analysis products, openness, tidal flushing,and bathymetry, were integrated for comparison with in situ studies of lagoon biota andshoreline change.

Allison, J., University of West Florida, Pensacola, USA, jallison@uwf.edu;Wagner, M., University of West Florida, Pensacola, USA, mwagner@uwf.edu;Ederington-Hagy, M., University of West Florida, Pensacola, USA, mhagy@uwf.edu;Lepo, J., University of West Florida, Pensacola, USA, jlepo@uwf.edu;Snyder, R., University of West Florida, Pensacola, USA, rsnyder@uwf.edu

BENTHIC MICROALGAL PRODUCTION AS AN INDICATOR OF ESTUARINECONDITION

Benthic production is very important to the overall production and function of estuarineecosystems. Eutrophication increasingly limits the areal extent of benthic production byincreasing water column turbidity, and ultimately increasing bottom water hypoxia andanoxia that results in loss of benthic production. This research project will characterize in situactivity of the shallow benthos of a northeastern Gulf of Mexico estuary, Pensacola Bay, FL,and relate these measures to benthic periphyton growth on artificial substrates for use as astandardized benthic indicator. Both spatial (by compensation depth) and temporal (seasonal)extent of benthic production/respiration is estimated by changes in oxygen in replicateacrylic domes. The compensation depth of benthic microalgae is determined with shadecloths of varying opacity over chambers. Biomass of benthic algae is quantified by totalchlorophyll a in core samples. Seven day-old periphyton biofilms grown on glass slides at thestudy site are treated in parallel with the chambers by placing slides in vials and incubatingthem in situ to determine production/respiration rates and enzymatic activities (N-fixation,dentrification, esterase, phosphatase). Preliminary results show production estimates of winterbiofilms to be 0.09 mgCm-2hr-I compared to benthic primary production estimates fromchambers at 1.57mgCm-2hr-1.

Alphin, T. D., UNC-Wilmington, Wilmington, USA, alphint@uncw.edu;Posey, M. H., UNC Wilmington, Wilmington, USA, poseym@uncw.edu

EFFECTS OF DROUGHT ON ESTUARINE INFAUNAL AND NEKTONCOMMUNITIES

Salinity changes may have significant effects on community composition. However, logisticconsiderations have limited the number of studies that have examined community responsesto chronic, directional changes in salinity at multiple trophic levels over multiple years. Weexamined tidal freshwater and oligohaline infaunal and nekton community responses in 3tributary systems of the Cape Fear estuary, North Carolina, during a 4 year period ofincreasing salinity. Oligohaline sites were expected to exhibit strongest responses to salinitychanges because of physiological thresholds for many taxa. Infaunal diversity and abundancedeclined as salinity increased, with strongest changes in the final year of the study. Nektondiversity and abundance did not decrease in response to salinity changes; but, communitysimilarity analysis indicated a shift to more oligohaline taxa in formerly freshwater areas andmesohaline taxa in lower sites. For the infaunal communities, some characteristics respondedquickly to salinity stress, reflecting loss of susceptible taxa, but changes in dominants mayoccur over longer periods. This study demonstrates that there may be differing short-termand long-term responses to salinity alteration and that different trophic levels maydemonstrate varying patterns of response.

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Abstract Book 18th International Conference of The Estuarine Research Federation

Ames, D. V., East Carolina University, Greenville, USA, amesd@mail.ecu.edu;Riggs, S. R., East Carolina University, Greenville, USA, riggss@mail.ecu.edu

RELATIONSHIP OF STORMS AND STORM FREQUENCY TO SHORELINECHANGE, ISLAND ELEVATION, AND VEGETATION DEVELOPMENT, CAPELOOKOUT TO OCRACOKE INLET: CORE BANKS, NC

The objective is to evaluate barrier island processes based upon changes along 77 profilesestablished by the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) on Core Banks. East CarolinaUniversity (ECU) 1960-2001 survey builds upon USACE 1960-1961 and 1961-1962 andGodfrey and Godfrey (G&G) 1971 surveys. The USACE surveys record island response toHurricane Donna and the Ash Wednesday nor’easter. G&G 1962-1971 survey captured thesubsequent nine-year period with no major storms. This was followed by 30 years ofincreasing storm activity. ECU 1960-2001 survey characterized this mixed period of stormsand non-storms and was then compared with the NC Division of Coastal Management(NCDCM 1946-1998) data. Integration of the USACE, G&G, ECU, NCDCM shorelineerosion data reveals the following conclusions. 1) The USACE short-term data demonstratethat storms result in large-scale erosion and accretion. 2) The G&G short-term, non-stormyperiod accretion data demonstrate that given time between storms, shorelines can recover. 3)Normally post-storm recovery is not complete before the next storm, resulting in low ratesof long-term net erosion as demonstrated by the ECU and NCDCM data. 4) Storm-drivenshoreline erosion on natural barriers is associated with increased island elevation andassociated vegetation changes through time.

An/Soonmo, S., Dept. of Marine Science, Pusan National University, Busan, Republic OfKorea, sman@pusan.ac.kr

TIGHT COUPLING BETWEEN ORGANIC MATTER INPUT AND SEDIMENTOXYGEN DEMAND (SOD) IN ESTUARINE TIDAL FLAT SEDIMENTS

Masan Bay is one of the most polluted estuaries in Korea. High organic matter and metalinput from nearby cities and limited water exchange with open ocean caused eutrophicationsymptoms (red tide and suboxic water body) from 70 th . Sediment oxygen demand anddenitrification were measured in tidal flats along the Masan Bay seasonally from September2001 to February 2004. The SOD (average=27 mmole m -2 d -1 ) were comparable tosubtidal (12.5-38.1 mmole m -2 d -1 ; Seike et al., 1989) and salt marsh (28 mmole m -2 d -1

;Mackin and Swider, 1989) sediments. Seasonal trend was not evident, instead, the SODmatched well with variations of terrestrial organic matter input into the bay inferred fromprecipitation data in watershed area. The result was not expected since tidal flat isdepositional environments and replete in organic matter. In separate sediment incubationexperiments,organic carbon (glucose) and nitrogen (peptone) spike enhanced SOD anddenitrification. The result implies although tidal flat sediment is rich in organic matter, thereminrealization activity may be controlled by labile organic matter rather than theavailability of electron acceptor in this estuary.

Anastasiou, C. J., SW Florida Water Management District, SWIM Program, Tampa, USA,chris.anastasiou@swfwmd.state.fl.us;

Johansson, R., City of Tampa, Bay Study Group, Tampa, USA, ;Avery, W., City of Tampa, Bay Study Group, Tampa, USA,

A METHOD FOR DETERMINING SEAGRASS LIGHT-DEPTH REQUIREMENTSUSING BEAM-SPECIFIC LIGHT ATTENUATION IN TAMPA BAY, FLORIDA

Diffuse light attenuation is often calculated from measurements taken with a Secchi disk andunderwater PAR sensors. These methods have inherent limitations in clear shallow watersthat can be overcome with a transmissometer. Typically, Secchi disk and PAR do not workwell in waters less than 1.5m. With a transmissometer, measurements can be taken, in-situ, inwater depths as shallow as 10cm. In addition, it can be used in the laboratory on field-collected samples taken at any depth. We used a 660nm transmissomiter to derive beamattenuation in the seagrass beds of Tampa Bay, Florida. Caution should be exercised whenusing beam attenuation to develop optical models because transmittance is beam specific anddoes not take into account the behavior of light at other wavelengths. Furthermore, beamattenuation is not directly comparable to diffuse attenuation and should not be thought of asa replacement but rather as a supplement to existing methods. Nevertheless, this method canbe very useful in determining seagrass light-depth requirements in estuaries.

Anderson, B. A., Virginia Institute of Marine Science, School of Marine Science, College ofWilliam and Mary, Gloucester Point, USA, britt@vims.edu;

Moore, K. A., Virginia Institute of Marine Science, School of Marine Science, College ofWilliam and Mary, Gloucester Point, USA, moore@vim.sedu;

Orth, R. J., Virginia Institute of Marine Science, School of Marine Science, College ofWilliam and Mary, Gloucester Point, USA, jjorth@vims.edu;

Wilcox, D., Virginia Institute of Marine Science, School of Marine Science, College ofWilliam and Mary, Gloucester Point, USA, dwilcox@vims.edu;

Kenne, A. K., Virginia Institute of Marine Science, School of Marine Science, College ofWilliam and Mary, Gloucester Point, USA, kenne@vims.edu;

Neikirk, B. B., Virginia Institute of Marine Science, School of Marine Science, College ofWilliam and Mary, Gloucester Point, USA, betty@vims.edu;

Marion, S., Virginia Institute of Marine Science, School of Marine Science, College ofWilliam and Mary, Gloucester Point, USA, smarion

SEAGRASS RESTORATION RESPONSE TO WATER QUALITY CONDITIONS: ACOMPARISON OF COASTAL LAGOON AND ESTUARINE SYSTEMS

Restoration of eelgrass populations in the lower Chesapeake Bay and the seaside CoastalBays has resulted in various degrees of success. Although seagrass populations have been longabsent from many coastal lagoons in this region, restoration efforts have been much moresuccessful there compared to sites within polyhaline regions of the bay. In large part this hasbeen due to better water quality conditions in restoration areas of coastal lagoons. Enhancedwater quality monitoring using both high spatial and temporal water quality samplingtechniques has been used to characterize the differences in water quality conditionsassociated with transplant response. Typically the Virginia Coastal Bays have lower chlorophylllevels than the lower Chesapeake Bay and therefore the contribution of phytoplankton tolight attenuation is smaller. Although total suspended solids (TSS) can be quite high,principally due to re-suspension of bottom sediments, the events are short-lived and the TSSspecific attenuation is lower resulting in greater light availability for seagrass growth.

Anderson, G. H., U.S. Geological Survey, St. Petersburg, USA, gordon_anderson@usgs.gov;Tiling, G., ETI Professionals, St. Petersburg, USA, gtiling@usgs.gov;Smith III, T. J., U.S. Geological Survey, St. Petersburg, USA, tom_j_smith@usgs.gov

MANGROVE PEAT HYDRODYNAMICS AND MORPHOLOGY ALONG THEHARNEY RIVER, SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

The Harney River is a mangrove estuary on the southwest coast of Florida, EvergladesNational Park. Our study transect is located �10 km upstream from the river mouth on thenorth bank of a large coastal island (�1400 ha). The 300 m transect bisects a riverine fringemangrove forest (Avicennia, Laguncularia, and Rhizophora ) into an interior coastal marsh(Cladium ). The river channel is 3 m deep, has a bare limestone bottom and steep mangrovepeat banks. The mangrove-marsh vegetation overlies autochthonous peat deposits. We probedpeat depth (n=15) and observed an increasing peat layer from 2.5 m in the marsh to 3 mnear the river, indicating an underlying limestone slope of 0.2% to the river. However, ourmicro-topographic survey (n=1700) indicated an average surface peat elevation that variedonly by 3 cm. Our preliminary macroscopic peat morphology shows a dominant Rhizopherapeat horizon with a less permeable layer of peat 35-75 cm below the peat surface. Fieldsaturated hydraulic conductivity mean values (K[EMAIL]fs[/EMAIL]) in the upper rootzone (30cm) were 20.9 µ m/s (s.d. 16.02).

Anderson, I. C., Virginia Institute of Marine Science, Gloucester Point, USA,iris@vims.edu;

Schaffner, L. C., Virginia Institute of Marine Science, Gloucester Point, USA,linda@vims.edu;

Stanhope, J. W., Virginia Institute of Marine Science, Gloucester Point, USA, jwu@vims.edu

RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN BENTHIC ECOSYSTEM STRUCTURE ANDFUNCTION AT HIGH VS. LOW ENERGY SHALLOW SITES

A variety of indicators of ecosystem function and community structure have been used toassess the biotic integrity of benthic sites, yet there is little information concerning therelationship between such indicators. Ecosystem process rates, including gross sedimentprimary production (GPP), respiration, net sediment metabolism (NSM), nutrient cycling,gross mineralization, and denitrification were measured along with benthic macrofaunal andfood web metrics at shallow water sites located along a disturbance gradient in the lowerChesapeake Bay. Benthic microalgae play an important role in benthic primary productionand nutrient cycling at these sites. Sampling was stratified between near-field sites located inembayments with fine-grained sediments and shielded from physical but not chemicaldisturbance and far-field sites with coarse-grained sediments and exposed to higher levels ofphysical but less chemical disturbance. NSM was driven primarily by GPP; respirationtended to be similar at all sites. Macrofaunal density and GPP were positively related at farfield but negatively related at near-field sites, suggesting resource limitation of macrofauna atfar-field but not near-field sites. Gross mineralization and ammonium fluxes were positivelyrelated to both NSM and macrofaunal density. Results thus far demonstrate a strongrelationship between macrofaunal community structure and ecosystem function.

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Abstract BookEstuarine Interactions: Biological-Physical Feedbacks and Adaptations

Anderson, J. T., Chesapeake Biological Laboratory, Solomons, USA,janderso@cbl.umces.edu;

Boynton, W. R., Chesapeake Biological Laboratory, Solomons, USA,boynton@cbl.umces.edu;

Jordan, T. E., Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, Edgewater, USA,jordanth@si.edu;

Cornwell, J. C., Horn Point Laboratory, Cambridge, USA, cornwell@hpl.umces.edu

PHOSPHORUS FLUXES AND TRANSPORT IN THE MIDDLE PATUXENTESTUARY, MARYLAND

In many estuaries, >90% of riverine phosphorus input is particulate, and thereforeunavailable to most biota. However, exposure to salinity and hypoxia can facilitate the releaseof reactive orthophosphate from these sediment particles, and dramatically alter nutrientstoichiometry. To examine the temporal and spatial patterns in phosphorus availability, a boxmodel of the middle Patuxent estuary was developed. The Patuxent was chosen because of itswell-defined gradient from fresh to oligohaline waters and wealth of backgroundinformation from previous and ongoing research. The box model consists of six zones,ranging from tidal fresh to mesohaline, and specifically tracks salinity, suspended solids, andthe transport of dissolved and particulate forms of phosphorus. Data for the model werederived from the EPA Chesapeake Bay Program’s water quality data (1985-2003) and theUSGS river input monitoring program. Box concentrations of dissolved inorganicphosphorus (DIP) suggest a major internal source of phosphate in the oligohaline andmesohaline zones. Based on the modeled fluxes and transports, the most likely source of thisDIP is the sediments. Other spatial and temporal trends of the model results and theirimplications on phosphorus availability in this and other estuaries will be discussed.

Angulo, N., Facultad de Ciencias Marinas, Universidad Autonoma de Baja California,Ensenada, Mexico, nidiangulo@yahoo.com.mx;

Durazo, R., Facultad de Ciencias Marinas, Universidad Autonoma de Baja California,Ensenada, Mexico, rdurazo@uabc.mx;

Souza, A. J., Proudman Oceanographic Laboratory, Liverpool, United Kingdom,ajso@pol.ac.uk

HYDRODYNAMICS OF SAN QUINTIN BAY, BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO.

San Quintin Bay is considered one of the most important coastal Lagoons in Mexico,because of its highly productive ecosystem and because it homes probably the largest oystergrounds in Mexico, thus the strong interest in understanding the hydrodynamic. Tounderstand how San Quintin Bay interacts with the upwelling pulses of the neighbouringPacific two observational campaigns have been planed for April-June and September-November 2005, during this periods we had time series of velocity profile at the mouth andat the beginning of each of its two branches as well temperature time series all along the Bay.This time series were supplemented by quasi-synoptic CTD surveys and drifter buoys, whilelocal meteorological parameters were measured locally.

These observations show that the Bay is vertically mixed with strong horizontal densitygradients. The Bay has strong response to tides and the residual currents show strong on thespring-neap cycle with weak outflow during neap tides and stronger inflow spring tides.

Apodaca, A. M., Department of Biological Sciences, California State University LongBeach, Long Beach, USA, mapodaca@csulb.edu;

Wijte, A., Department of Biological Sciences, California State University Long Beach, LongBeach, USA, wijte@csulb.edu

FOUR AND SEVEN YEAR PLANT COVER AND DIVERSITY DEVELOPMENTIN CONSTRUCTED SALT MARSHES IN LONG BEACH, CA, AS COMPARED TOBOTH A NATURAL AND A DEGRADED MARSH

Recently salt marsh restoration efforts have expanded to urbanized areas. Unfortunately,these project are often deemed unsuccessful because of unsatisfactory vegetation density ordiversity that resulted from inappropriate hydrological, sediment, or nutrient conditions. Thegoal of this study was to gain an understanding of the plant community dynamics at four saltmarshes in and around Long Beach, California: a four year-old constructed salt marsh (JackDunster Marine Biological Reserve: JD), a seven year-old constructed salt marsh (GoldenShores Marine Biological Reserve: GS), a naturally occurring salt marsh (Los CerritosWetlands: LC), and a degraded salt marsh section (DS). Percent vegetative cover and plantdiversity were determined monthly in each marsh using a 1 m 2 quadrat. The percentvegetative cover values for LC and GS were not significantly different from each other, butwere significantly higher than at JD, which in turn had a higher plant cover than the DS. LosCerritos had the highest species diversity, followed by JD, GS, and the DS. The resultsindicate that the condition of the plant communities in the constructed marshes areprogressing toward that of the mature salt marsh vegetation, and that at this time, they aremore similar to the plant community of the natural marsh than to the vegetation present inthe degraded salt marsh section.

Arhonditsis, G. B., Duke University, Durham, USA, georgear@duke.edu;Paerl, H. W., University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill , Morehead City, USA, ;Valdes-Weaver, L. M., University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill , Morehead City, USA, ;Stow, C. A., University of South Carolina , Columbia, USA, ;Reckhow, K. H., Duke University, Durham, USA,

EXPLORING THE NEUSE RIVER ESTUARY PHYTOPLANKTONCOMMUNITY DYNAMICS: DELINEATION OF THE SPATIAL AND TEMPORALPATTERNS OF NITROGEN AND PHOSPHORUS LIMITATION

We introduce a Bayesian Structural Equation Modeling framework that determines theoptimal level of resolution when studying phytoplankton community structures, and allowsseveral taxonomic groups of variant degree of observed correlation to be amalgamated intosingle entities. The Neuse River Estuary is used as a case study for testing the ability of thismethodology to explore the spatiotemporal phytoplankton community patterns. The modelconsiders the regulatory role of the physical environment (flow, salinity, and light availability),nutrients (oxidized forms of inorganic nitrogen, phosphate, and total dissolved inorganicnitrogen), and temperature on total phytoplankton biomass and phytoplankton communitystructure. Generally, the model gave plausible results and enabled the identification of thelongitudinal role of the abiotic factors on the observed phytoplankton dynamics. River flowfluctuations and the resulting salinity and light availability changes (physical environment)dominate the up-estuary processes and loosen the coupling between nutrients andphytoplankton. The relationship between nutrients and phytoplankton community becomesmore apparent as we move to the down-estuary sections. Finally, we were able to delineatethe spatiotemporal overlaps of N and P limitation and associate their role with the dominantphytoplankton taxonomic group dynamics.

Armitage, A. R., Florida International University, Miami, USA, anna_armitage@mail.com;Fourqurean, J. W., Florida International University, Miami, USA, fourqure@fiu.edu

SHORT-TERM HERBIVORE IMPACTS AND LONG-TERM IMPLICATIONS OFNUTRIENT ENRICHMENT ON SEAGRASS SPECIES DISTRIBUTION

Species distribution can be regulated by factors including consumer preferences and theability to compete for resources. We examined how herbivores and nutrient availabilityaffected the distribution of two seagrass species relative to patch reefs in the Florida KeysReef Tract. We transplanted Halodule wrightii sprigs into caged and uncaged plots in aThalassia testudinum bed near a patch reef. Nutrients (N and P) were added to half of theexperimental plots. After three months, we measured changes in seagrass shoot density,above- and belowground biomass, and tissue nutrient content of both species. Within fivedays of transplantation, herbivory reduced the density of uncaged H. wrightii by over 80%,resulting in a decrease in above- and belowground biomass of nearly an order of magnitude.T. testudinum density was not affected by herbivory, but aboveground biomass was higherwithin cages. Nutrient addition did not alter herbivory rates or biomass of either species overthe short-term duration of this study. Herbivory and nutrients influence seagrass speciesdistribution at different temporal and spatial scales. Nutrients may regulate speciesdistribution over longer time scales, particularly in refuges from herbivory, including seagrassbeds further away from patch reefs.

Arnold, G. L., East Virginia Company, LLC, Belle Haven, USA,gretchen@eastvirginiacompany.com;

Wang, T., Virginia Institute of Marine Science, Gloucester Point, USA, tpwang@vims.edu;Shen, J., Virginia Institute of Marine Science, Gloucester Point, USA, shen@vims.edu;Luckenbach, M. W., Virginia Institute of Marine Science, Wachapreague, USA,

luck@vims.edu;Wang, H. V., Virginia Institute of Marine Science, Gloucester Point, USA,

PREDICTING CHANGES IN COASTAL WATER QUALITY ASSOCIATED WITHTHE CONVERSION OF AGRICULTURAL LAND TO RESIDENTIAL ANDCOMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENTS

On the Eastern Shore of Virginia along the Chesapeake Bay, agriculture dominates thelandscape; however, large residential developments have been initiated and interest indeveloping commercial and residential areas of this region continues. Changes in land use,particularly increases in human populations and impervious surface, could affect waterquality, the ecosystem, and aquaculture industries that rely on local tidal creeks. The authorityto limit land use change lies partially with local government officials, who currently lack themeans to evaluate the effects on coastal water quality from such changes in land use. Thepurpose of this project is to provide the local government and the public with an unbiasedevaluation of some of the potential impacts on a tidal creek from various developmentscenarios using a watershed modeling approach. We generated two development scenarios: 1)a build-out scenario based on the current local zoning ordinance (population increase sixtimes over current), and 2) a build-out based on a quantitative analysis of a nearby case studyarea (population increase 10 times over the present). Together with hydrodynamic, waterquality models and GIS-based watershed specific data, these scenarios provide predictions ofthe changes in nutrient loadings and impacts on the tidal creek.

14

Abstract Book 18th International Conference of The Estuarine Research Federation

Arrington, D. A., Perry Institute for Marine Science, Jupiter, USA,aarrington@perryinstitute.org;

Layman, C. A., Yale, New Haven, USA, craig.layman@yale.edu;Valentine, L., University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, USA, sublimechic33@yahoo.com;Cherry, J. A., National Wetlands Research Center, Lafayette, USA, jcherry@usgs.gov

BAHAMIAN TIDAL CREEKS AS ESSENTIAL FISH HABITAT: HYDROLOGICFRAGMENTATION IMPERILS SUSTAINABILITY

Caribbean tidal creeks provide critical back-reef habitats, e.g. they provide shelter andforaging opportunities for numerous economically important species (e.g. Nassau grouper,queen conch, bonefish). Unfortunately, tidal creeks are being degraded throughout theCaribbean by hydrologic fragmentation, i.e. the reduction of connectivity between marineand inland waters. Here we show that hydrologic fragmentation results in: (1) diminishedaquatic habitat, (2) significant reduction in seagrass and macroalgal cover, (3) altered fishassemblage structure (i.e. lowered species richness), and (4) lowered production of targetfisheries species (e.g. mangrove snapper). For example, in relatively small tidal creeks our datasuggest that snapper production may be as much as 17x higher in unfragmented thanfragmented systems. We are currently restoring some of the most degraded estuaries in theBahamas by installation of bridges or culverts, i.e. increasing hydrologic connectivity. Datafrom these projects show significant increases in the species density and biomass of fish thatutilize previously isolated wetland areas following restoration efforts. In these projects localcommunity members are empowered as stakeholders and decision makers, and are integratedinto our long-term monitoring efforts. Based on projects conducted over the last two years,we suggest the involvement of local community members will increase the long-termsustainability of our restoration efforts.

Asmus, H., AWI Wadden Sea Station Sylt, 25992 List, Germany, hasmus@awi-bremerhaven.de;

Asmus, R. M., AWI Wadden Sea Station Sylt, 25992 List, Germany, rasmus@awi-bremerhaven.de;

Baird, D., University of Port elizabeth, Port elizabeth 6000, South Africa,Dan.Baird@upe.ac.za

SPATIAL AND TEMPORAL PATTERNS OF ENERGY FLOW IN THE SYLT-RØMØ BIGHT: A NETWORK ANALYSIS APPROACH

A detailed annually averaged energy flow model consisting of 56 living and 3 non livingcompartments was assembled for the intertidal area of the Sylt-Rømø Bight. The modeldepicts the biomass of each compartment, carbon flow between the compartments, importsand exports, as well as an energy budget for each. The food web was analysed by means ofnetwork analysis which showed that about 17% of the total daily flow through the system isrecycled through a complex cycling structure consisting of 1197 cycles. The different benthiccommunities are, however, spatially separated with strong seasonal differences in them interms of biomass and productivity. Each community thus exhibits distinct difference insystem properties, such as cycling, from each other over spatial and temporal scales. Wepresent results on the energy flow in and system properties, as derived from network analysis,for each of the four benthic communities over different seasons. We illustrate differences inseasonal and spatial aspects of system behaviour that are otherwise masked by an annualaveraged model.

Aswani, S., University of California, Santa Barbara, USA, aswani@anth.ucsb.edu

INTEGRATING INDIGENOUS ECOLOGICAL KNOWLEDGE AND SEATENURE WITH NATURAL AND SOCIAL SCIENCE RESEARCH FORDESIGNING MARINE PROTECTED AREAS IN ESTUARINE AREAS

This presentation reviews our efforts to establish a network of marine protected areas in thelagoons of the Western Solomon Islands and summarizes the social and biological strategiesemployed for setting multiple small reserves within a biogeographical region. Using theSolomons example, I outline some lessons learned and the necessary steps to take forattaining a committed level of community participation and support. More generally, I showhow the practical integration of social and natural science with indigenous ecologicalknowledge and sea tenure (and other local management systems) in MPA design andexecution can yield promising results in Pacific Island nations.

Atilla, N., Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium, Chauvin, USA, natilla@lumcon.edu;Rabalais, N. N., Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium, Chauvin, USA,

nrabalais@lumcon.edu;Dortch, Q. F., NOAA/NCCOS/CSCOR, Silver Spring, USA, quay.dortch@noaa.gov;Mendenhall, W. A., Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium, Chauvin, USA,

wmendenhall@lumcon.edu;Thessen, A. E., University of Maryland, Cambridge, USA, athessen@hpl.umces.edu;Turner, R. E., Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, USA, euturne@lsu.edu

PHYTOPLANKTON COMMUNITIES IN THE BARATARIA ESTUARY(LOUISIANA, USA) REFLECT GRADIENTS OF NUTRIENTS AND SALINITY

Barataria Basin Estuary is composed of multiple connected water bodies that range fromoligotrophic to hypereutrophic depending on the nutrient loading from local runoff,Mississippi River water exchange with the seaward end of the estuary, and Mississippi Riverwater diverted into the upper end of the estuary. Monthly samples from a longitudinal

transect were analyzed for their phytoplankton composition using pigment HPLC and cellcounts and volumes in 2001-2003. Dinoflagellates (peridinin) were mostly present in thelower basin while cyanobacteria (zeaxanthin, canthaxanthin, echinenone) and chlorophytes(lutein, Chlorophyll b) dominated the upper basin. In 2001, cyanobacterial blooms in Julyand November in the upper basin caused chlorophyll a concentrations of nearly 180 µg/L,while the yearly average was 14.6 µg/L. In 2002, the chlorophyll a concentration averaged18.3 µg/L. In 2003, two bloom events were observed: diatoms in March in mid-basin andcyanobacteria in June and November, upper basin. Chlorophyll a concentration averaged 26µg/L in 2003. Higher concentrations of chlorophyll a followed higher nutrientconcentrations, suggesting changes in phytoplankton composition reflects Mississippinutrient loads, at the seaward end, and in the upper end where high nutrient loads indischarged river water enter low nutrient receiving waters.

Atkinson, B. K., The Wetlands Institute, Stone Harbor, USA,benjaminkatkinson@yahoo.com

SKELETOCHRONOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF A NORTHERN DIAMONDBACKTERRAPIN POPULATION (MALACLEMYS TERRAPIN ) ON THE CAPE MAYPENINSULA OF SOUTHERN NEW JERSEY

Counting growth rings on shell scutes is the ususal technique to age turtles since it is a non-invasive, non-destructive practice. However, there are problems with this method, includingthe deposition of multiple annuli per year, and their tendency to wear smooth in olderturtles. In recent years, skeletochronology has become an alternative method for determiningage estimates in turtles and other reptiles. Skeletochronology involves cutting a thin-sectionof bone (typically from the humerus or femur) and observing the presence of periosteallayers, especially lines of arrested growth (LAGs). LAGs reflect times of minimal or nogrowth and appear as dark rings within the bone. Their counterparts, marks of skeletalgrowth (MSGs) appear as wider, light bands and are records of rapid or steady growth. Thenorthern diamondback terrapin is a subspecies that experiences dramatic seasonal change,hibernating for several months of each year, thereby depositing both MSGs and LAGs. This isideally suited for skeletal analysis. Skeletochronology provides a clearer picture of the lifehistory of diamondback terrapins and ultimately contributes to their conservation.

Atkinson, L. P., Old Dominion University, Norfolk, USA, latkinso@odu.edu;Malone, T., University of Maryland, Cambridge, USA, t.malone@ocean.us

IOOS & OCEAN.US: LINKS FROM ESTUARIES TO COASTAL OCEANS

The planned Integrated Ocean Observing System promises to provide better environmentalinformation to the researcher and the decision maker. The Commission on Ocean Policy, thePresident’s Ocean Action Plan and Congress recognize the importance of better oceanobserving. IOOS is based on the assessment of user needs and the development of systems tomeet those needs. To date the development of IOOS in coastal waters has focused more oncoastal waters and less on estuaries. As the Regional Associations form estuarine researchersand managers must take an active role in the decision making process within the RAs. In theChesapeake Bay there is a historic tradition of collaboration for observing. The EPA BayProgram combined with the federal and academic components of the Chesapeake BayObserving System will collaborate with the Middle Atlantic Regional Coastal OceanObserving System. Within the Chesapeake Bay the many interest groups must also collaborateso their information needs can be addressed by IOOS.

Avery, G. B., University of North Carolina Wilmington, Wilmington, USA,averyg@uncw.edu;

Kieber, R. J., University of North Carolina Wilmington, Wilmington, USA,kieberr@uncw.edu;

Willey, J. D., University of North Carolina Wilmington, Wilmington, USA,willeyj@uncw.edu;

Shank, G. C., US EPA NERL, Athens, USA, Shank.Chris@epamail.epa.gov;Whitehead, R. F., University of North Carolina Wilmington, Wilmington, USA,

whiteheadrf@uncw.edu

THE IMPACT OF HURRICANES ON THE FLUX OF RAINWATER AND CAPEFEAR RIVER WATER DISSOLVED ORGANIC CARBON TO LONG BAY,SOUTHEASTERN UNITED STATES

The hurricane flux of rain and river water dissolved organic carbon (DOC) to Long Baylocated on the southeastern coast of the United States was determined for four hurricanesthat made landfall in the Cape Fear region of North Carolina. Riverine flux of DOCfollowing hurricanes Fran (1996) and Floyd (1999) represented 1/3 and ½ of the entireannual river flux of DOC to Long Bay, respectively. The majority of this DOC wasrecalcitrant and not available for biological consumption. High riverine DOC fluxes wereobserved following hurricane Fran but not hurricanes Bertha (1996) and Bonnie (1998). Thewesterly path of Fran deposited rain inland along the Cape Fear River water shed causinghigh river flow conditions while Bonnie and Bertha took an eastern path resulting in aminimal effect the Cape Fear River flow rates. The rainwater flux of total DOC to Long Bayfrom the four hurricanes was not as dramatic as that observed for riverine fluxes. However,unlike riverwater DOC that is refractory, rainwater DOC is highly labile. Rainwater fromthe four hurricanes deposited 3 to 9% of the entire annual budget of bioavailable DOC toLong Bay likely spurring short-term secondary productivity following the hurricanes.

15

Abstract BookEstuarine Interactions: Biological-Physical Feedbacks and Adaptations

Avery, S. K., Savannah State UniversityGardiner, O., Savannah State University, Savannah, USAPride, C., Savannah State University, Savannah, USACurran, C., Savannah State University, Savannah, USA

RELATIVE ABUNDANCE OF DIATOMS AND DINOFLAGELLATES FOUND INCOUNTRY CLUB CREEK, SAVANNAH, GA.

Abstract The purpose of this study was to observe the relative abundance of dinoflagellateand diatom genera in an estuarine tidal creek (Country Club Creek, Savannah, GA) duringdifferent tidal stages. Diatoms and dinoflagellates are important phytoplankton thatsupplements detritus as the base of the estuarine food web. Several plankton tows wereconducted at different tidal stages (high and low tides under spring and neap tide conditions)throughout the months of January, February, and March of 2005. In all samples, diatomsgreatly outnumbered the dinoflagellates. Skeletonema represented (24%) of the communityand had the highest relative abundance during low tides. Skeletonema also had the greatestrelative abundance (31%) during spring tides and was present in every tow sample. Duringhigh tides, the diatom Pleurosigma was found to have the highest relative abundance (33 %).During neap tide conditions, Chaetoceros had the highest relative abundance (21 %). Thedifferences in the diatom community during different tidal stages suggest that care needs tobe taken in long term phytoplankton monitoring studies to ensure consistent timing ofsampling relative to high and low tide and that the moon phase needs to be recorded andconsidered in interpreting results.

Aveytua-Alcazar, L., Instituto de Investigaciones Oceanologicas, Universidad Autonomade Baja California, Ensenada, Mexico, laveytua@uabc.mx;

Camacho-Ibar, V. F., Instituto de Investigaciones Oceanologicas, Universidad Autonoma deBaja California, Ensenada, Mexico, vcamacho@uabc.mx;

Souza, A. J., Proudman Oceanographic Laboratory, Liverpool, Uni