Carl H. Oppenheimer

Chapter 2 An Ecological Survey of the Gulf of Naples Area, Conducted During Se1ptember 15 to October 15, 1976, for the Region of Campania

Publisher Summary This chapter presents an ecological survey of the gulf of Naples area, conducted during September 15 to October 15, 1976, for the region of Campania. No data on hydrocarbon concentration of the Bay of Naples waters were found during the preliminary review of the literature. Some information is available on the concentrations of hydrocarbons in industrial effluents and could be related to volumes of water used if these data are available. Studies done by Insola indicate the various pollutants, including hydrocarbons, related to industrial wastes. Normally, the values of hydrocarbons in excess of 50ppm in effluents are considered possible pollutants. The amounts of hydrocarbons as being introduced into the beach waters via the sewage could provide a negative impact. As much of the refining capacity is adjacent to the harbor, most of the hydrocarbons will undoubtedly be added to the harbor waters through the six sewage disposal inlets. The chapter describes the development of an intermediate concept of ocean disposal for sewage and industrial wastes. This intermediate concept is only viable if the continual development of secondary sewage and industrial waste treatment is followed. However, it is possible that future research may show that the ocean outfall concept may provide adequate disposal criteria for many years to come.

A computerized system for the organized retrieval of life history information

This paper describes a computerized system for storage and retrieval of information on life history and environmental limits of organisms, which we have applied to the estuarine and nearshore organisms of the Texas coast. The system uses standard biological nomenclature instead of codes, and provides great flexibility both in search criteria and output format. Each entry for an organism is derived from a separate literature reference. Forty descriptors are used, covering taxonomic identification, environment classification, distribution in time, environmental limits, trophic relationships, and reference identification. The same format is also used to record laboratory experiment derived environmental limits such as LD50 values. An interactive terminal can be used for rapid access to the data base. The system is being used by both coastal zone management planners and estuarine ecologists.

Marine ecosystems : a book prepared by the MNS 354R, 1981 class of the University of Texas at Austin

The book is a compilation of the students efforts in the Fall 1981 course MNS 354R Marine Ecosystems. The course was organized as a student participation exercise. Each student selected or was assigned in pairs to one of the marine ecosystems in the table of contents. The students were required to develop, outline and present before the class, material for a 20 page paper. This included a literature search, preparation of slides and overhead projections, etc. Most students presented two class lectures on their topic. ... The final product is the following material. It has not been corrected, but in some ecosystems a table of contents was added by the Instructor. The final reports were assembled and one copy was distributed to each ecosystem team.

Biological applications for stabilization of dredged material, Corpus Christi area : six month preliminary report

The following is a preliminary report of the first six months of the research project. This included a time period from early summer (June) to early winter (November). Because the normal growing year in this area is from spring to late fall it is not the best time for a summary report. Successful planting establishment would normally be determined in a year following planting under ideal spring conditions. Therefore, this report describes preliminary findings and discusses the progress of the research program to date with the understanding that some of the early findings may be changed after the next phase of the project. The method of study was described in the research proposal. Two study areas were selected on Rincon and Harbor Island dredge material sites. The sites at Rincon included upland, shoreline, and a submergent area , and the sites at Harbor Island included upland and shoreline areas. Control submergent areas were selected at Laguna Madre and a test site selected at Mud Island in Aransas Bay. Plants were collected from various locations in the Corpus Christi Bay area both near and distant from the study sites. Plants were selected from a range of edaphic conditions and were prepared to represent several vegetative stages of development in an effort to determine those effects on transplant viability as well as determining which species are most useful for stabilization purposes.

Computer Demonstration Session

This stage of the Conference was devoted to displays and demonstrations of environmental data systems. We were fortunate in having demonstrations which covered a variety of applications of interest to both environmental scientists and managers. The organizers would like to take this opportunity to again thank those participants who provided displays and demonstrations.

Statistical Theory Appropriate to Environmental Data

Owing to the nature itself of environmental statistics, the environment is not a mere new concern but implies that a new dimension must be taken into account among other classical fields and associated information systems.

Chairman’s Comments and Recommendations

I have taken the liberty to summarize various concepts discussed during the Conference, particularly the last morning of the Conference which is not included in the text. The last morning was a free and open discussion devoted to summarizing, developing the basic concept of an Environmental Data System (EDS), outlining the basic requirements of an EDS and developing a list of recommendations for an EDS which were to be sent to NATO and the United Nations for their information.

Development of the methodology and analysis, Creel census of Corpus Christi Bay area, 1974 summer

A sportfishing creel census of Corpus Christi Bay area was conducted during the summer months of 1974. During the three months June, July, and August, 7,575 interviews of fishing parties with 22,313 persons were made. The data extrapolated to the total area and a full year indicate a catch from the bay of 2.87 million pounds of fish caught per year and a Gulf catch of 0.88 million pounds, Fishing yield per unit effort was greatest for the Gulf because of the summer runs of kingfish. The bay was divided into biotopes and related to fish catch. The poorest area was the fish pass. The most fish per hours fishing were caught in the bay oil platform or bulkhead biotopes, however, the size was small. Speckled trout and redfish were the major fish caught by weight in the Grassflats and shallow bay which is reflected in a large fishing effort. The open bay yielded higher numbers of fish per hour fishing (4.9 fish) than either the grassflat (3.0) or the shallow bay (2.0). If the fishing intensity was equal for the above biotopes the bay should have the best yield. The average boat fishing party lasted four hours. Boat fishing was generally better per party than shore fishing. The weight catch per person in boat fishing was approximately one pound per person per hour, and only 0.4 pounds per person per hour on the same basis for shore fishing. Fish yields in the Corpus area were related to Galveston Bay. The efficiency of various lures was discussed.

Water quality of Texas bays (nutrients, trace elements and toxic compounds)

This manuscript is designed to compare the nutrient balances and trace element significance in Texas Bays and Estuaries. The task of assigning water quality criteria in all estuarine waters rests with the federal Environmental Protection Agency. However, the Texas Bays and Estuaries represent a unique range of environments of the U.S. Coast that stand alone and therefore must be assigned standards appropriate to the environment. Therefore we have compared several Texas Bays relative to nutrients and trace elements through an analysis of data from our files, a life history data bank from literature survey, a study of the Corpus Christi area, personal communication with a wide range of individuals and information from the Texas Water Quality Board, Texas Water Development Board, the U.S. Geological Survey and the State Health Department.

An interim report : sportfishing creel census pilot study, August 1973

The sportfishing creel census project was originated to obtain information relating to the use of the Corpus Christi Bay area for sportfishing, the amount of fish caught and other environmental information relating to the total productivity cycles of the bay system. The Census is to be conducted during the summer months of June, July and August 1974 and the pilot study was made during August 1973. The total catch will be used in a current project to assess carbon, nitrogen, phosporous input and output to the bay system.