Use of salt-marsh peat reefs by small juvenile lobsters on Cape Cod,Massachusetts

The habitats utilized by small juvenile (<40 mm carapace length, CL) lobsters (Homarus americanus) are poorly known. We discovered and studied an undescribed juvenile lobster habitat in Nauset Marsh, Cape Cod. Juvenile lobsters (X=26.7 mm carapace length, 6 to 72 mm, n=38) were collected from suction samples primarily 0144 01 in “peat reef” habitats during the period from August 1985 through October 1986. The reefs consisted of large blocks ofSpartina alterniflora peat that had separated from the marsh surface and fallen into adjacent subtidal marsh channels. The smallest lobsters (6 to 7 mm CL) were collected from peat reefs in October 1985, and April and July 1986. In these habitats, juvenile lobster density averaged 2.5 individuals m^?2 (range 0–5.7) in suction samples. Peat reef habitats occur in other salt marshes in the northeastern United States and may be an important nursery habitat for small juvenile lobsters.     

Recruitment failure of the bay scallop,Argopecten irradians concentricus,during the first red tide,Ptychodiscus brevis,outbreak recorded in North Carolina

In the presence of the first recorded red tide (Ptychodiscus brevis) outbreak in North Carolina, autumn 1987 recruitment of bay scallops (Argopecten irradians concentricus) in the state’s most productive scallop beds was a virtual failure. Recruitment averaged across all of Bogue and Back sounds was only 2% of the mean of three previous red tide-free (control) years. Only from central Core Sound northward, where the red tide occurred later and not as intensively, was bay scallop recruitment normal (93% of control years). Mortality of adult scallops from early December 1987 to late January 1988, while red tide was at bloom concentrations but fishing was prohibited, was 21%. No comparable natural mortality data exist for control years because intense fishing mortality in this period is confounded with natural mortality. Data on abundance of articulated pairs of empty shells strongly suggest that the red tide caused mortality of both adult and newly recruited bay scallops. Bay scallop recruitment in autumn 1988 again failed to restock the traditionally productive scallop beds in western Bogue Sound and in Back Sound, perhaps because the only concentrations of spawners surviving the red tide in central Core Sound and further north were too far distant for successful transport of bay scallop larvae in sufficient abundance to these traditional beds. This potential explanation implies continuing impact of the red tide on North Carolina’s bay scallop fishery until spawning populations increase in Back Sound and western Bogue Sound.     

The role of sediment denitrification in reducing groundwater-derived nitrate inputs to Nauset Marsh estuary, Cape Cod, Massachusetts

The Nauset Marsh estuary is the most extensive (9.45 km²) and least disturbed salt marsh/estuarine system within the Cape Cod National Seashore, even though much of the 19 km² watershed area of the estuary is developed for residential or commercial purposes. Because all of the Nauset watershed is serviced by on-site individual sewage disposal systems, there is concern over the potential impact of groundwater-derived nutrients passing from these systems to the shallow receiving waters of the estuary. The purpose of this study was to determine whether denitrification (the bacterial conversion of nitrate to gaseous nitrogen) in estuarine sediments could effectively remove the nitrate from contaminated groundwater before it passed from the watershed to the estuary. Rates of denitrification were measured both in situ and in sediment cores, in areas of active groundwater discharge, in relatively pristine locations, and in areas situated down-gradient of moderate to heavily developed regions of the watershed. Denitrification rates for 47 sediment cores taken over an annual cycle at 5 stations ranged from non-detectable to 47 μmol N₂ m⁻² h⁻. Mean denitrification rates were positively correlated with sediment organic content, and varied seasonally due to changes in sediment organic content and to the effect of water temperatures on sediment oxygen penetration depths. There was no correlation between observed denitrification rates and corresponding nitrate concentrations in groundwater. A comparison of in situ denitrification rates (supported by groundwater nitrate) with denitrification rates observed in sediment cores (supported by remineralized nitrate) showed that groundwater-driven denitrification rates were small, and not in excess of denitrification rates supported by remineralized nitrate. Most of the denitrification in Nauset sediments was apparently fueled by remineralized nitrate through coupled nitrification/denitrification. Denitrification did not contribute significantly to the direct loss of nitrate from incoming groundwater at Nauset Marsh estuary. Groundwater flow was rapid, and much of it occurred in freshwater springs and seeps through very coarse, sandy, well-oxygenated sediments of limited organic content. There was little opportunity for denitrification to occur during groundwater passage through these sediments. These results have important management implications because they suggest that the majority of nitrogen from contaminated groundwater crosses the sediment/water interface and arrives at Nauset Estuary, where it is available to primary producers. Preliminary budget calculations suggest that while denitrification was not an effective mechanism for the direct removal of nitrate in contaminated groundwater flowing to Nauset Marsh estuary, it may contribute to significant nitrogen losses from the estuary itself.     

Habitat Affects Survival of Translocated Bay Scallops, Argopecten irradians concentricus (Say 1822), in Lower Chesapeake Bay

Bay scallop (Argopecten irradians) populations existed in Chesapeake Bay until 1933, when they declined dramatically due to a loss of seagrass habitat. Since then, there have been no documented populations within the Bay. However, some anecdotal observations of live bay scallops within the lower Bay suggest that restoration of the bay scallop is feasible. We therefore tested whether translocated adults of the southern bay scallop, Argopecten irradians concentricus, could survive during the reproductive season in vegetated and unvegetated habitats of the Lynnhaven River sub-estuary of lower Chesapeake Bay in the absence of predation. Manipulative field experiments evaluated survival of translocated, caged adult scallops in eelgrass Zostera marina, macroalgae Gracilaria spp., oyster shell, and rubble plots at three locations. After a 3-week experimental period, scallop survival was high in vegetated habitats, ranging from 98% in their preferred habitat, Z. marina, to 90% in Gracilaria spp. Survival in Z. marina was significantly higher than that in rubble (76%) and oyster shell (78%). These findings indicate that reproductive individuals can survive in vegetated habitats of lower Chesapeake Bay when protected from predators and that establishment of bay scallop populations within Chesapeake Bay may be viable.     

Growth of the Bay Scallop,Argopecten irradians,fes an artificial diet rich in protein

Bay scallops had minimal shell growth and lost weight on an artificial diet rich in protein (Purina’ Trout Chow’) even though they ingested the food. Two concentrations of food were used, one simulating natural levels of particulate organic carbon and another approximately 20 times the first concentration. These results and those of others indicate that high protein, artificial diets cannot be assimilated by bivalves even though phytoplankton, their natural food, is high in protein. The data suggest caution in establishing estuarien food chains based only upon food quality, quantity, and ingestion without regard to assimilation or growth.     

Spawning densities,egg densities,size structure,and movement patterns of spawning horseshoe crabs,<Emphasis Type="Italic">Limulus polyphemus</Emphasis>, within four coastal embayments on Cape Cod,Massachusetts

Spawning densities, spawning indices, egg densities, size distributions, and movement patterns of horseshoe crabs (Limulus polyphemus) were quantified for four coastal embayments (Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge, Pleasant Bay, Nauset Estuary, and Cape Cod Bay) on Cape Cod, Massachusetts from 2000 to 2002. Spawning activity was highest from mid May through mid June, but densities varied throughout the Cape Cod region. Average spawning densities (male and female crabs combined), measured using 25-m² quadrats, were lower than 1 crab 25 m^?2, although certain locations had consistently higher densities averaging 2 to 3 crabs 25 m^?2 with individual survey densities recorded as high as 17 crabs 25 m^?2. Spawning densities during night surveys were either similar or slightly higher than day surveys, except at a few sites within Pleasant Bay. Spawning indices were considerably lower ranging from 0 to 1.3 females 25 m^?2 throughout the Cape Cod region. Spawning sex ratios varied from 1∶1.6 to 1∶3.1 (females:males) throughout the region, except within Pleasant Bay where highly male skewed ratios were observed (e.g., 1∶5.8, 3-yr average). Egg densities were low overall (<1 egg cm^?2) throughout Cape Cod and egg densities tended to be higher in deeper sediments (5–20 cm deep) compared to shallow sediments (0–5 cm deep) at most locations. Over 7,800 horseshoe crabs were tagged on Cape Cod from 2000 to 2002. Average size and size frequency distributions of tagged crabs varied among regions. Larger individuals were observed at Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge while the smallest individuals were from Cape Cod Bay. We documented an overall recapture rate of 6.7% and our tag-recapture data indicated that 62% of crabs were recaptured at the original tagging location and 70% of recaptures traveled less than 2 km from the original tagging location, providing evidence for localized populations on Cape Cod. We have observed that horseshoe crabs differ among embayments within a regional area, suggesting the potential need for management plans specific to embayments or subregions depending on the characteristics of a population.     

Contrasting Growth Patterns of Suspension-Feeding Molluscs (Mercenaria mercenaria, Crassostrea virginica, Argopecten irradians, and Crepidula fornicata) Across a Eutrophication Gradient in the Peconic Estuary, NY, USA

While many coastal ecosystems previously supported dense meadows of seagrass and dense stocks of bivalves, the impacts of overfishing, eutrophication, harmful algal blooms, and habitat loss have contributed to the decline of these important resources. Anthropogenic nutrient loading and subsequent eutrophication has been identified by some researchers as a primary driver of these losses, but others have described potential positive effects of eutrophication on some estuarine resources. The Peconic Estuary, Long Island, NY, USA, offers a naturally occurring nutrient-loading gradient from eutrophic tidal creeks in its western reaches to mesotrophic bays in the eastern region. Over 2 years, we conducted an experiment across this gradient to examine the effects of eutrophication on the growth of estuarine species, including juvenile bivalves (northern quahogs (Mercenaria mercenaria), eastern oysters, (Crassostrea virginica), and bay scallops (Argopecten irradians)) and slipper limpet (Crepidula fornicata). Water quality and phytoplankton community biomass and composition were concurrently monitored at each site, and the effects of these variables on the growth of estuarine species were analyzed with multiple regression model. Eutrophication seemed to impact shellfish through changes in the quality of food and not the quantity since the growth rates of shellfish were more often correlated with densities of specific cell types or quality of seston rather than bulk measures of phytoplankton and organic seston. Northern quahogs and eastern oysters grew maximally within eutrophic locales, and their growth was positively correlated with high densities of autotrophic nanoflagellates and centric diatoms in these regions (p?<?0.001). The growth rates of northern quahogs were also positively correlated with relative water motion, suggesting an important role for tidal currents in delivering seston to suspension feeders. Bay scallops and slipper limpets were negatively impacted by eutrophication, growing at the slowest rate at the most eutrophic sites. Furthermore, bay scallop growth was negatively correlated with densities of dinoflagellates, which were more abundant at the most eutrophic site (p?<?0.001). These results suggest that nutrient loading can have significant but complex effects on suspension-feeding molluscs with select species (e.g., oysters and clams) benefiting from eutrophication and other species performing poorly (e.g., scallops and slipper limpets). Future management approaches that seek to restore bivalve populations will need to account for the differential effects of nutrient loading as managers target species and regions to be restored.     

Mineral dissolution in the Cape Cod aquifer, Massachusetts, USA: I . Reaction stoichiometry and impact of accessory feldspar and glauconite on strontium isotopes, solute concentrations, and REY distribution

To compare relative reaction rates of mineral dissolution in a mineralogically simple groundwater aquifer, we studied the controls on solute concentrations, Sr isotopes, and rare earth element and yttrium (REY) systematics in the Cape Cod aquifer. This aquifer comprises mostly carbonate-free Pleistocene sediments that are about 90% quartz with minor K-feldspar, plagioclase, glauconite, and Fe-oxides. Silica concentrations and pH in the groundwater increase systematically with increasing depth, while Sr isotopic ratios decrease. No clear relationship between ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr and Sr concentration is observed. At all depths, the ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratio of the groundwater is considerably lower than the Sr isotopic ratio of the bulk sediment or its K-feldspar component, but similar to that of a plagioclase-rich accessory separate obtained from the sediment. The Si-⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr-depth relationships are consistent with dissolution of accessory plagioclase. In addition, solutes such as Sr, Ca, and particularly K show concentration spikes superimposed on their respective general trends. The K-Sr-⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr systematics suggests that accessory glauconite is another major solute source to Cape Cod groundwater. Although the authigenic glauconite in the Cape Cod sediment is rich in Rb, it is low in in-grown radiogenic ⁸⁷Sr because of its young Pleistocene age. The low ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios are consistent with equilibration of glauconite with seawater. The impact of glauconite is inferred to vary due to its variable abundance in the sediments. In the Cape Cod groundwater, the variation of REY concentrations with sampling depth resembles that of K and Rb, but differs from that of Ca and Sr. Shale-normalized REY patterns are light REY depleted, show negative Ce anomalies and super-chondritic Y/Ho ratios, but no Eu anomalies. REY input from feldspar, therefore, is insignificant compared to input from a K-Rb-bearing phase, inferred to be glauconite. These results emphasize that interpretation of groundwater chemistry, even in relatively simple aquifers, may be complicated by solute contributions from “exotic” accessory minerals such as glauconite. To detect such peculiarities, groundwater studies should combine the study of elemental concentration and isotopic composition of several solutes that show different geochemical behavior.     

The application of ground‐penetrating radar to a coastal prehistoric archaeological site,Cape Henlopen,Delaware, USA

Cape Henlopen, Delaware is a coastal spit complex located at the confluence of Delaware Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. This region was occupied by prehistoric peoples throughout the evolution of ancestral Cape Henlopen. A ground‐penetrating radar (GPR) survey was conducted at one of the prehistoric archaeological sites (7S‐D‐30B) located within the Cape Henlopen Archaeological District. The site was in a remote location in the center of a tide dominated back‐barrier marsh. Ground‐penetrating radar waves penetrated to depths of 7 m, and four major sets of reflections were observed. Three sets were interpreted to be GPR images of geomorphic units associated with the spit complex, and the fourth was identified as the GPR image of a shell midden deposit. The GPR survey was used to determine the approximate dimensions of the shell midden, including its depth below ground surface (up to 2.1 m) and horzontal extent (∼250 m²), and to establish the paleoenvironmental setting and antecedent topography of the site prior to occupation. The GPR data suggests that the shell midden was initially deposited upon an aeolian dune surface and the antecedent topography at the site included an up to 1 m deep trough located 5 m to the north of, and trending parallel to, the axis of a present‐day topographic high. This survey illustrates that GPR is a useful, noninvasive, tool that may be implemented at archaeological sites in coastal areas. It provides constraints on the environmental setting and topography of the terrain which prehistoric peoples inhabited, and it can be used in planning excavations at sites in coastal geomorphic settings. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

The coastal transition at the mouth of a small mountainous river in Taiwan

The Tseng-wen River is a small mountainous river in southern Taiwan that has distinct dry and flood seasons. Several lines of evidence have revealed that the depositional system at the mouth of the river has transformed from a deltaic system to an estuarine system. The evidence includes long to short-term shoreline changes, geomorphology of the river mouth, mixed sediment sources inside the river mouth, mixing and suspended sediment characteristics inside the river mouth, and the grain-size distribution patterns on the river bed. Unlike the long-term evolution of many other coastal systems, the transformation at the Tseng-wen River mouth is largely caused by the building of a reservoir in the middle reaches of the river. The present study provides an example that coastal environments can be influenced by human activities farther inland on a time scale much faster than what would occur naturally.     

Plant Cover,Herbivory, and Resiliency in a Cape Cod Salt Marsh: Multi-year Responses and Recovery Following Manipulation of Nutrients and Competition

To assess responses and recovery of salt marsh grass species, we manipulated external nutrient supply and removed shoots of Spartina alterniflora or Spartina patens from fertilized and control plots in a Massachusetts marsh. The pulse-and-recovery experiment included treatments for 5 years, and recovery for an additional 7 years. Responses of these potential competitors sensitively depended on local contingencies of elevation and nutrient dose, and, moreover, the differences in outcomes were emphasized at longer time scales. Local contingencies became manifest as differences in responsiveness and resiliency of the different grass species, with differing time courses and longer-term outcomes as to what species were present. These features might explain the diverse results obtained in shorter-term salt marsh experiments, and provide a view of the complex suite of species-specific and external environmental variables that may control competitive interactions in general.     

Seawater intrusion and associated processes in a small coastal complex aquifer (Castell de Ferro,Spain)

An attempt to identify the hydrogeochemical processes that accompany current or past intrusion of seawater in the Castell de Ferro coastal aquifer (SE Spain) was made using ionic deltas, ionic ratios and saturation indices. Alluvial and coastal Quaternary sediments and Triassic marbles constitute this complex aquifer. Cation exchange, dolomitization, and calcite dissolution were identified as operating in the aquifer. The cation exchange processes in the detrital materials are different from those in the marbles. In addition, it was determined that while the processes of marine intrusion associated with periods of low groundwater levels still persist in the detrital aquifer, in the carbonate sector the flushing process characteristic of wetter conditions has begun.     

Life cycle and population structure of the polychaeteFicopomatus enigmaticus (Serpulidae) in Mar Chiquita coastal lagoon,Argentina

Ficopomatus enigmaticus, a polychaete inhabiting the subtidal zone in the Mar Chiquita coastal lagoon, builds reef-like aggregates that facilitate silt accumulation. To describe the life cycle, samples were take monthly from September 1984 to September 1985. In contrast with other polychaetes, it has two oocyte generations per year; maturation of the oocytes takes approximately 4 mo. Temperature level and day length regime do not appear as environmental signals to the onset of oogenesis, although they possibly affect oogenesis growth. Two periods of spawning and recruitment were observed in November–December and April–May, when water temperature is above 18°C. Hermaphroditic individuals were not found. Sex ratio was male-biased in all months, significantly in November, February, and August (p<0.001). Monthly size-frequency distributions show distinct year-classes with early (November–December) and late (April–May) recruitment. Early recruited cohorts have two spawning periods during a 24-mo lifespan. Late cohorts have one spawning period during their 20-mo lifespan. The life cycle of this species can be summarized as follows: annual iteroparous—1 to 2 batches of small eggs per female during each lifespan, free spawning, planktotrophic larvae, sedentary suspension-feeder worms.     

The fauna and overall interpretation of the “Cutting 10” Acheulean site at Elandsfontein (Hopefield), southwestern Cape Province,South Africa

The Cutting 10 site at Elandsfontein (Hopefield), southwestern Cape Province, South Africa, is one of only three sites in southern Africa where bones and Acheulean artifacts have been documented together in primary or near primary context and the only such site where the association is in the open air. The Cutting 10 bones belong to a minimum of 15 mammalian species, which together suggest both a mid-Pleistocene age for the site and a vegetational setting in which grasses played a much more important role than they did historically. The absence of evidence for hearths, windbreaks, and other features, the composition of the artifact assemblage, the relatively sparse scatter of bones and artifacts, the relatively high bone to artifact ratio, the species composition of the fauna, and the numbers of different kinds of skeletal elements represented all indicate that the Cutting 10 occurrence was more a butchering site than a campsite. Although people are probably responsible for most of the bones, some of them probably come from animals that were killed by large carnivores or that died naturally.     

Coastal environmental injustice in Ghana: the activities of coastal sediment miners in the Elmina,Cape Coast and Moree area

Human impact has increased stunningly during the last century with coastal problems being one manifestation of environmental injustice with ecological, economic, and social dimensions on coastal resources. The study sought to assess the residents’ perception of coastline changes in the milieu of the rampant sand mining activities along the Elmina, Cape Coast and Moree coastline of Ghana. The study employed the purposive sampling technique: 100 respondents were engaged from the selected study areas through simple random sampling method. Interviews, Focus group discussions, observations and questionnaire were the main instruments used. The study revealed that beach sand mining is widespread across the Elmina-Cape Coast-Moree coastline and takes place in several forms, with the magnitude of sand taken from the beach being dependent on the transportation medium and the purpose to which sand is to be put. It is considered that the 1995 National Environmental Policy has become outdated and the sections dedicated to the coastal zone are irrelevant due to new research data and trends in administration. The time is right for a concerted national policy dedicated to only the coastal zone that takes into consideration the multiplicity of use of the zone and adopts an integrated management approach.     

88 centimetres of coastal erosion per year: The case of Kildare (Alberton), Prince Edward Island,Canada

Conclusion This short article has made it possible to determine the current conditions of erosion in one sector of the coast of Prince Edward Island, as well as to calculate, with as great a degree of accuracy as possible, the speed at which the ocean is destroying the shoreline of this sector. The intensity of shoreline erosion has varied over the years (Dubois and Longhurst 1984). The variation may perhaps be explained in part by the fact that water temperature varies in the same proportion as the temperature of the surrounding air (Trites 1984), and that over a period of several decades, the air temperature, and the climate in general, do vary (Trites 1984). Thus a study of the correlation between coastline erosion and climatological variations over several decades would certainly be a useful aid for predicting the future state of the coastline. There is also a need for a map of the various sectors of the PEI coast, showing their degree of susceptibility to various systems of erosion. Such a map would be extremely useful both for land management purposes (construction, roads, agriculture) and for security reasons (civil protection, ocean recreation.     

Effects of climate change on shallow landslides in a small coastal catchment in southern Italy

In different areas of the world, shallow landslides represent a remarkable hazard inducing fatalities and economic damages. Then, the evaluation about potential variation in frequency of such hazard under the effect of climate changes should be a priority for defining reliable adaptation measurements. Unfortunately, current performances of climate models on sub-daily scales, relevant for heavy rainfall events triggering shallow landslides, are not reliable enough to be used directly for performing slope stability analysis. In an attempt to overcome the constrains by gap in time resolution between climate and hazard models, the paper presents an integrated suitable approach for estimating future variations in shallow landslide hazard and managing the uncertainties associated with climate and sub-daily downscaling models. The approach is tested on a small basin on Amalfi coast (southern Italy). Basing on available basin scale critical rainfall thresholds, the paper outlines how the projected changes in precipitation patterns could affect local slope stability magnitude scenarios with different relevances as effect of investigated time horizon and concentration scenario. The paper concludes with qualitative evaluations on the future effectiveness of the local operative warning system in a climate change framework.     

Production and life cycle of the gastropodHydrobia truncata,with notes onSpurwinkia salsa in Massachusetts salt marsh pools

Two hydrobiid gastropods are important components of the salt marsh pool invertebrate community at the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge near Rowley, Massachusetts.Hydrobia truncata was found to be the dominant snail in the two higher salinity pools, withSpurwinkia salsa becoming the more important at lower salinities.H. truncata began to reproduce between May 19 and June 9. Cohorts lasted about 14 months, and 99% of production occurred during the first 12 months. Shell height inH. truncata was greater in pool 2 which had a much lower density than pool 1 on all dates of the 1980 growing season. Snail densities were positively correlated with the presence of floating algal mats of the genusCladophora, but the snails apparently do not graze on this alga.H. truncata production, calculated by four methods, ranged from 41.0 to 78.1 and averaged 60.5 g m^?2 cohort^?1 for pool 1, but were estimated to be less than 10% of these values in pool 2. In pool 1,H. truncata was estimated to assimilate 55% of net primary production or 28% of total pool energy income when detritus income was included. When found in the same pool asH. truncata, Spurwinkia salsa ordinarily comprised less than 0.5% of the total snail population.S. salsa veligers did not metamorphose into juveniles until July and were partitioned fromH. truncata by size durig their first growing season. The main separation between the two species, however, appeared to be spatial, on a salinity gradient. TheS. salsa cohort lasted about 19 months with a few individuals surviving to 27 months in their third summer.