Aimee A. Keller

A watershed nitrogen and phosphorus balance : the upper Potomac river basin

Nitrogen and phosphorus mass balances were estimated for the portion of the Potomac River basin watershed located above Washington, D.C. The total nitrogen (N) balance included seven input tource terms, six sinks, and one “change-in-storage” term, but was simplified to five input terms and three output terms. The phosphorus (P) balance had four input and three output terms. The estimated balances are based on watershed data from seven information sources. Major sources of nitrogen are amimal waste and atmospheric deposition. The major sources of phosphorus are animal waste and fertilizer. The major sink, for nitrogen is combined denitrification, volatilization, and change-in-storage. The major sink for phosphorus is change-in-storage. River exports of N and P were 17% and 8%, respectively, of the total N and P inputs. Over 60% of the N and P were volatilized or stored. The major input and output terms on the budget are estimated from direct measurements, but the change-in-storage term is calculated by difference. The factors regulating retention and storage processes are discussed and research needs are identified.

EFFECTS OF NUTRIENT ENRICHMENT ON NATURAL POPULATIONS OF THE BROWN TIDE PHYTOPLANKTON AUREOCOCCUS ANOPHAGEFFERENS (CHRYSOPHYCEAE)1

The brown tide picoalga Aureococcus anophagefferens Hargraves et Sieburth was present in approximately equal numbers in 12 large scale (13,000 L) mesocosms at the start of a nutrient addition experiment in June 1985. Increases in abundance in untreated systems mimicked the pattern of bloom development in Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island, the seawater source for the experiment. Aureococcus increased to maximal values of 2.6 × 109 cells. L−1 and persisted at high numbers (108 cells·L−1) for 7–8 weeks. In nutrient addition tanks, the picoalgae bloomed briefly (1–3 weeks) but rapidly declined to the usual level (∼107 cells·L−1) for eukaryotic algae in Narragansett Bay. The decline in picoalgae abundance was followed by an increase in total diatoms in all nutrient treated tanks. Mean picoalgae abundance in the mesocosms and the bay was significantly (P < 0.05) and inversely correlated (r =–0.93) with mean concentration of dissolved inorganic nitrogen. The persistence of the brown tide species in control mesocosms and Narragansett Bay appears related to its ability to grow at very low concentrations of dissolved inorganic nitrogen, levels previously shown to limit diatom growth.

Abundance and distribution of ichthyoplankton in Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island, 1989–1990

An ichthyoplankton survey (18 stations in seven sampling sectors) was conducted in Narragansett Bay in 1990 to provide information on abundance, distribution, and seasonal occurrence of eggs and larvae of estuarine fishes, including seasonal migrants. An additional goal was to examine changes in species composition, abundance, and distribution occurring since the last baywide survey in 1972–73. The taxonomic composition of eggs and larvae in 1990 (41 species in 25 families from 684 plankton samples) and in 1972–73 (43 species in 28 families from 6900 samples) was similar. Maximum abundance of fish eggs occurred in June and larvae in July, minimum abundance in September to February. Species diversity was greatest in May–July and lowest during January in both surveys. However, egg and larval densities in 1990 were considerably lower than in 1972–73. Bay anchovy, tautog, and cunner accounted for 86% of the eggs and 87% of the larvae in the bay in 1990. These three species accounted for only 55% of the eggs and 51% of the larvae in 1972–73, with menhaden accounting for another 18% of the eggs and 34% of the larvae. Searobins, scup, and butterfish eggs were common in 1973 (19%) but rare in 1990 (2%). Ichthyoplankton abundance for several of the most abundant species was significantly lower (p<0.05) in the Providence River, upper bay, and Greenwich Bay in 1990 than in 1972–73. Density of fish eggs and larvae in the lower portions of the bay was lower in 1990 for some species but not others. Distribution data suggested a general down-bay shift in density in 1990. *** DIRECT SUPPORT *** A01BY085 00015

Phytoplankton carbon dynamics during a winter-spring diatom bloom in an enclosed marine ecosystem: primary production, biomass and loss rates

Phytoplankton production, standing crop, and loss processes (respiration, sedimentation, grazing by zooplankton, and excretion) were measured on a daily basis during the growth, dormancy and decline of a winter-spring diatom bloom in a large-scale (13 m3) marine mesocosm in 1987. Carbonspecific rates of production and biomass change were highly correlated whereas production and loss rates were unrelated over the experimental period when the significant changes in algal biomass characteristic of phytoplankton blooms were occurring. The observed decline in diatom growth rates was caused by nutrient limitation. Daily phytoplankton production rates calculated from the phytoplankton continuity equation were in excellent agreement with rates independently determined using standard 14C techniques. A carbon budget for the winter bloom indicated that 82.4% of the net daytime primary production was accounted for by measured loss processes, 1.3% was present as standing crop at the end of the experiment, and 16.3% was unexplained. Losses via sedimentation (44.8%) and nighttime phytoplankton respiration (24.1%) predominated, while losses due to zooplankton grazing (10.7%) and nighttime phytoplankton excretion (2.8%) were of lesser importance. A model simulating daily phytoplankton biomass was developed to demonstrate the relative importance of the individual loss processes.

Production patterns in Massachusetts Bay with outfall relocation

On September 6, 2000, the sewage outfall at the mouth of Boston Harbor was relocated 15 km offshore to alleviate pollution in Boston Harbor. The expected responses for nutrients and water column productivity parameters were for values to decrease at Boston Harbor, to increase at the outfall location, and to remain unchanged at the boundary of the near field region within 5 km of the outfall. Average values ofr water column measurements from 1992 to 2004 indicated these general responses with some exceptions. At the Harbor, nutrients decreased and chlorophyll increased but14C primary productivity remained statistically unchanged. At the new outfall location and at the boundary of the near field, nutrients increased and chlorophyll increased but primary productivity remained unchanged. Physical factors affecting primary production, such as pring water temperature, stratification, and wind, had more affects on productivity patters than nutrients from outfall relocation in the near field. A decrease in summer zooplankton after outfall relocation appeared to be due to a region-wide rather than outfall effluents.

Ultraviolet-B radiation enhancement does not affect marine trophic levels during a winter-spring bloom

Abstract:Elevated UV-B radiation levels (~100% above ambient) generally failed to produce significantly different effects at different trophic levels in well-mixed mesocosms during the winter spring bloom period. Although not significantly different, several consistent trends were noted. Phytoplankton abundance, measured as total cell counts, and biomass, measured as in vivo fluorescence, tended to be reduced in UV-B enhanced treatments. Effects were significantly different for fluorescence (p < 0.05) during the bloom event but not abundance (p = 0.29) and not over the entire experiment. There was a tendency for the ratio of nanoplankton to microplankton biomass to be lower in UV-B enhanced systems (p = 0.16). Total copepod abundance (adults, copepodites and nauplii) and abundance of the dominant species, Acartia hudsonica (Giesbrecht), also tended to be lower in the treatment mesocosms. Significant differences (p < 0.05) in copepod abundance between controls and treatments were observed in the adult stag...

Mesocosm studies of DCMU-enhanced fluorescence as a measure of phytoplankton photosynthesis

When measurements of in-vivo fluorescence are used to estimate photosynthesis in the field, the marked temporal and spatial variations in phytoplankton populations, and their nutrient and light histories, have produced varied results. Natural phytoplankton populations in large, flow-through mesocosms with different controlled nutrient and sewage sludge additions were sampled weekly from June to September 1984. Good correlations were observed between the increase in fluorescence upon the addition of DCMU (ΔF) and both in-situ production and the parameters (Pm and α) of the photosynthesis-irradiance curve for these phytoplankton populations. Good correlations were also obtained between DCMU-enhanced fluorescence (FDCMU) and chlorophyll a concentrations. The relationship between ΔF and in-situ14C production was consistent among mesocosms even in the face of major shifts from diatom-dominated to dinoflagellate-dominated populations. On the other hand, the FDCMU:Chl a relationship was significantly different between mesocosms and related to species composition. It was concluded that ΔF offers the possibility of rapidly and accurately indexing both in-situ production and the photosynthetic capacity of mixed phytoplankton populations.

VARIATION IN DCMU-ENHANCED FLUORESCENCE RELATIVE TO CHLOROPHYLL A: CORRELATION WITH THE BROWN TIDE BLOOM1

DCMU–enhanced fluorescence and extracted chlorophyll a were simultaneously measured in Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island and the MERL (Marine Ecosystems Research Laboratory) mesocosms during the 1985 brown tide bloom. Marked differences in the relationship between these variables were observed as the phytoplankton community shifted from dominance by picoalgae to diatoms. The fluorescence to chlorophyll a ratio was significantly (P< 0.05) higher in the mesocosms and the bay when the brown tide species (Aureococcus anophagefferens Hargraves et Sieburth) dominated the phytoplankton community compared with other taxa. Although several factors could have affected the relationship we believe the high ratios are related to the pigment composition and/or small size of the brown tide organism.

Large-Scale Genotyping-by-Sequencing Indicates High Levels of Gene Flow in the Deep-Sea Octocoral Swiftia simplex (Nutting 1909) on the West Coast of the United States.

Deep-sea corals are a critical component of habitat in the deep-sea, existing as regional hotspots for biodiversity, and are associated with increased assemblages of fish, including commercially important species. Because sampling these species is so difficult, little is known about the connectivity and life history of deep-sea octocoral populations. This study evaluates the genetic connectivity among 23 individuals of the deep-sea octocoral Swiftia simplex collected from Eastern Pacific waters along the west coast of the United States. We utilized high-throughput restriction-site associated DNA (RAD)-tag sequencing to develop the first molecular genetic resource for the deep-sea octocoral, Swiftia simplex. Using this technique we discovered thousands of putative genome-wide SNPs in this species, and after quality control, successfully genotyped 1,145 SNPs across individuals sampled from California to Washington. These SNPs were used to assess putative population structure across the region. A STRUCTURE analysis as well as a principal coordinates analysis both failed to detect any population differentiation across all geographic areas in these collections. Additionally, after assigning individuals to putative population groups geographically, no significant FST values could be detected (FST for the full data set 0.0056), and no significant isolation by distance could be detected (p = 0.999). Taken together, these results indicate a high degree of connectivity and potential panmixia in S. simplex along this portion of the continental shelf.

Early Induction of Spawning of Tautogs and Comparison of Growth Rates of Larvae from Early and Normally Spawned Broodstocks

Abstract A reliable broodstock of spawning fish must be available year-round for finfish aquaculture to be a commercially viable venture. Two independent laboratory trials were conducted at Milford, Connecticut, and Narragansett, Rhode Island, to investigate spawning adult tautogs Tautoga onitis outside their normal spawning season by manipulating temperature and photoperiod. The spawning date for adult tautogs was successfully advanced by 2 months in each trial. Egg production rates were similar between the two trials, the peak numbers of eggs produced per day occurring between 5 and 8 d after spawning began. Although the methods used were slightly different at each laboratory, the results were similar, viable embryos being successfully hatched and cultured in each trial. Larval growth from the Rhode Island early-spawned fish was similar to that of larvae from fish spawned during the normal spawning season. The results of both trials indicate the possibility of maintaining multiple broodstocks and induci...