PROGRAM
SPRING 2002 MEETING

MAY 9 – 11, 2002
ATLANTIC OAKES BY-THE-SEA
BAR HARBOR, MAINE

Jointly Hosted By
US GEOLOGICAL SURVEY
ACADIA NATIONAL PARK
COLLEGE OF THE ATLANTIC

Co-Sponsored By

HydroLab Corporation
Maine Sea Grant College Program
Maine Coastal Program
Maine Department of Marine Resources
Turner Designs, Inc.
WET Labs, Inc.
Woodlot Alternatives
YSI, Inc.

With Additional Donations Provided By

Aquatic Research Instruments
ENSR International
Normandeau Associates
Northern Ecological Associates
Rockland Boat
Water Monitoring Equipment & Supply
West Marine - Portland
Atlantic Brewing Company
Bar Harbor Brewing Company
Green Mountain Railway Band

SYNOPSIS

Registration desk open: Thursday, 12:00 noon-3:00 p.m. and 5:00-7:00 p.m.; Friday, 8:00 a.m.-12:00 noon

Thursday, May 9
1:00 – 5:00 PM Marine Invertebrate Diversity Initiative Workshop
5:00 – 7:00 PM Social
7:00 PM Buffet Dinner at Atlantic Oakes (Pre-order required)

Friday, May 10
8:20 AM – 5:30 PM Contributed Oral and Poster Presentations
5:30 – 6:00 PM NEERS Business Meeting
6:00 – 11:00 PM Social, Awards Banquet, and Contra Dance at College of the Atlantic

Saturday, May 11
8:00 – 10:00 AM Contributed Oral and Poster Presentations
10:15 AM – 12:30 PM Protected Areas Mini-Symposium
1:30 – 4:00 PM Somes Sound Field Trip

Thursday, May 9^th, 2002

All events take place at the Atlantic Oakes Conference Center:

WORKSHOP:
THE MARINE INVERTEBRATE DIVERSITY INITIATIVE

1:00 Davis, D.S.¹, and P. Larsen^2
1MIDI Society and Nova Scotia Museum of Natural History; ²Bigelow Laboratory
WELCOME

1:15 Pederson, J.
MIT Sea Grant College Program
HITCHHIKE, SWIM, OR WALK: DISPERSAL OF NONINDIGENOUS SPECIES

1:35 Dionne, M.
Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve
INTEGRATED BIOLOGICAL MONITORING OF COASTAL HABITATS IN THE GULF OF MAINE: POTENTIAL APPROACHES AND FIRST STEPS

1:55 Davis, D.S.
MIDI Society and Nova Scotia Museum of Natural History
THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE MARINE INVERTEBRATE DIVERSITY INITIATIVE (MIDI) WEB-SITE AS A TOOL FOR MARINE EDUCATION AND CONSERVATION

2:25 Coffee

2:45 Boudreau, P.
MIDI Society and Canada Department of Fisheries and Oceans
CONSIDERATION OF MARINE INVERTEBRATES IN HABITAT CLASSIFICATION AND ASSESSMENT

3:05 On-line Demonstration: Paul Boudreau

3:35 – 5:00 Plenary Discussion
MIDI’s potential applications: Questions, suggestions, and closing comments

5:00 – 7:00 SOCIAL

7:00 BUFFET DINNER (if pre-ordered)

Friday, May 10, 2002

At the Atlantic Oakes:

At College of the Atlantic:

MORNING CONTRIBUTED PAPER SESSION
Session Chair = Linda Deegan, Marine Biological Laboratory

* denotes presenter, (K) denotes Ketchum Prize candidate

8:20 Welcome and Introductory Remarks - Linda Deegan, NEERS President

8:30 (K) Altieri*, A.H., and J.D. Witman
Dept. of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Brown Univ., Providence, RI 02912
DE-COUPLING OF TOP-DOWN AND BOTTOM-UP CONTROL DUE TO HYPOXIC DISTURBANCE IN NARRAGANSETT BAY, RHODE ISLAND

8:50 (K) Carmichael*, R.H., A.C. Shriver, and I. Valiela
Boston Univ. Marine Program, Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, MA 02543
USING N STABLE ISOTOPES TO LINK GROWTH RESPONSES OF COMMERCIALLY IMPORTANT BIVALVES TO LAND-DERIVED N LOADS

9:10 (K) Shriver*, A.C., R.H. Carmichael, and I. Valiela
Boston Univ. Marine Program, Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, MA, 02543
GROWTH, CONDITION, REPRODUCTIVE POTENTIAL, AND MORTALITY OF BAY SCALLOPS, ARGOPECTEN IRRADIANS, IN RESPONSE TO EUTROPHIC- DRIVEN CHANGES IN FOOD RESOURCES

9:30 (K) Keats*, R.A.¹, L.J. Osher², H.A. Neckles³, and B. Kopp^3
1Ecology and Environmental Sciences Program, Univ. of Maine, Orono, ME 04469;
²Dept. of Plant, Soil and Environmental Sciences, Univ. of Maine, Orono, ME 04469;
³USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Augusta, ME 04330
THE EFFECT OF NUTRIENT LOADING ON AN ESTUARINE FOOD WEB: A STABLE ISOTOPE APPROACH

9:50 (K) Fulweiler*, R.W., S. W. Nixon, B. Buckley, and S. L. Granger
Univ. of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography, Narragansett, RI 02882
QUANTIFYING NUTRIENT LOADING FROM THE PAWCATUCK WATERSHED TO LITTLE NARRAGANSETT BAY

10:10 BREAK

10:30 (K) Gazda*, S.K., and R.C. Connor
Dept. of Biology, Univ. of Massachusetts Dartmouth, Dartmouth, MA 02747
EVIDENCE OF ROLE SPECIALIZATION AMONG FORAGING BOTTLENOSE DOLPHINS (TURSIOPS TRUNCATUS) OFF CEDAR KEY, FLORIDA

10:50 (K) Gullo*, A.M., and J.R. Moring
Maine Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Univ. of Maine, Orono, ME 04469
THE VALUE OF ROCKWEED (ASCOPHYLLUM NODOSOM) AS HABITAT FOR TIDEPOOL FISHES

11:10 (K) Kim*, A.K., and N.J. O'Connor
Dept. of Biology, Univ. of Massachusetts Dartmouth, Dartmouth, MA 02747
THE ASIAN SHORE CRAB, HEMIGRAPSUS SANGUINEUS, AS A NOVEL FOOD SOURCE FOR THE STRIPED KILLIFISH, FUNDULUS MAJALIS

11:30 (K) Taylor, D.L.
Univ. of Rhode Island, Graduate School of Oceanography, Narragansett, RI 02882
DETECTING JUVENILE WINTER FLOUNDER IN THE STOMACHS OF INVERTEBRATE PREDATORS WITH THE _UCHTERLONY IMMUNOASSAY

11:50 (K) Rutecki*, D.A., R.H. Carmichael, and I. Valiela
Boston Univ. Marine Program, Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, MA 02543.
THE MAGNITUDE AND EFFECT OF COMMERCIAL HARVEST ON HORSESHOE CRABS, LIMULUS POLYPHEMUS, IN PLEASANT BAY, MA.

12:10-1:30 LUNCH (Buffet at Atlantic Oakes if pre-ordered)

AFTERNOON CONTRIBUTED PAPER SESSION
Session Chair = Marshall Pregnall, Vassar College

1:30 Short*, F.T.¹, R.G. Coles², M.D. Fortes³, and E.W. Koch^4
1Dept. of Natural Resources, Jackson Estuarine Lab., Univ. of New Hampshire, Durham, NH ²Dept. of Primary Industries Queensland, Northern Fisheries Centre, Cairns, Qld 4870 Australia; ³Marine Sci. Institute CS, Univ. of the Philippines, Diliman Quezon City 1101 Philippines; ⁴Horn Point Lab., Univ. of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, Cambridge, MD
SEAGRASSNET: ASSESSING A CRITICAL COASTAL RESOURCE WORLD WIDE

1:50 (K) Evans*, N.T., and F.T. Short
Dept. of Natural Resources, Jackson Estuarine Lab., Univ. of New Hampshire, Durham, NH
USING FUNCTIONAL TRAJECTORIES TO ASSESS THE SUCCESS OF TRANSPLANTED EELGRASS BEDS IN THE GREAT BAY ESTUARY, NH

2:10 (K) Gaeckle*, J.L.¹, B.S. Kopp², and F.T. Short^1
1Dept. of Natural Resources, Jackson Estuarine Lab., Univ. of New Hampshire, Durham, NH; ²U.S. Geological Survey, Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, 26 Ganneston Drive, Augusta, ME
THE EFFECT OF INITIAL PATCH SIZE ON THE VEGETATIVE REPRODUCTION AND AREAL EXPANSION OF TRANSPLANTED EELGRASS (ZOSTERA MARINA L.)

2:30 (K) Burdick*, C.L., and F.T. Short
Dept. of Natural Resources, Jackson Estuarine Lab., Univ. of New Hampshire, Durham, NH
AN EELGRASS MESOCOSM EXPERIMENT: EFFECTS OF WATER DEPTH ON INTERTIDAL AND SUBTIDAL EELGRASS SHOOT DENSITY, SHEATH LENGTH AND CANOPY HEIGHT

2:50-4:00 BREAK and POSTER SESSION

(D) denotes Dean Prize candidate

(D) Allen*, A., and J. Fegley
Corning School of Ocean Studies, Maine Maritime Academy, Castine, ME 04420
MORPHOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS AND BIOMASS DISTRIBUTION OF ASCOPHYLLUM NODOSUM AT DIFFERENT WAVE EXPOSURES.

Bell, R.¹, R. Buchsbaum*², C. Roman³, and M. Chandler^4
1New England Aquarium, Central Wharf, Boston, MA 02110; ²Massachusetts Audubon Society, 346 Grapevine Rd. Wenham, MA 01984; ³National Park Service, Univ. of Rhode Island Narragansett, RI 02882; ⁴New England Aquarium, Central Wharf, Boston, MA 02110
INVENTORY OF INTERTIDAL RESOURCES OF THE BOSTON HARBOR ISLANDS, A NATIONAL PARK AREA

(D) Blasi*, J.C., and N.J. O'Connor
Dept. of Biology, Univ. of Massachusetts-Dartmouth, North Dartmouth, MA, 02747
MARINE AMPHIPODS AS PREY FOR THE NON-INDIGENOUS CRAB, HEMIGRAPSUS SANGUINEUS

Boucher*, J., K. Krecek and S. Stoltz
Corning School of Ocean Studies, Maine Maritime Academy, Castine, ME 04420
INTERPRETATION OF OPAL IN SEDIMENT CORES: ESTUARINE CONSIDERATIONS

Bowen*, M.¹, K. Payne¹, C. Heinig², and K. Groves^3
1Normandeau Associates, 253 Main St. Yarmouth ME, 04096; ²MER Assessment Corp., 14 Industrial Dr., Brunswick ME 04011; ³Casco Bay National Estuary Project, Univ. of S. Maine Law Institute, Box 9300, Portland ME 04103
RESTORING AND SUSTAINING CLAM RESOURCES IN CASCO BAY, MAINE

(D) Bozek*, C.M., and D.M. Burdick
Dept. of Natural Resources, Jackson Estuarine Lab., Univ. of New Hampshire, Durham, NH
THE EFFECTS OF SEAWALLS AND BERMS ON SALT MARSHES: IMPLICATIONS FOR MARSH PERSISTENCE

(D) Businski, T.N., E. Renkene*, and C. Urban*
Dept. of Biology, Bates College, Lewiston, Maine 04240
EFFECTS OF BAITWORM DIGGING ON INTERTIDAL BENTHIC CARBON REMINERALIZATION

Costa*, C. S. B., M. Copertino, S.R. Cunha, R. Knak, and A.M.M. Mazzo
Dept. de Oceanografia, Univ. de Rio Grande, CP 474, 96201-900 Rio Grande, RS. Brazil
SALT MARSH PLANT ASSEMBLIES OF THE BRAZILIAN ESTUARINE NATIONAL PARK OF LAGOA DO PEIXE (RS, BRAZIL).

Dennison*, T.H., L.E. Sahl, K. Krecek, and J. Boucher
Corning School of Ocean Studies, Maine Maritime Academy, Castine, ME 04420
PARTICLE COMPOSITION, DISTRIBUTION AND VERTICAL FLUX IN THE PENOBSCOT RIVER AND BAY

(D) Eberhardt*, A.L., and D.M. Burdick
Dept. of Natural Resources, Jackson Estuarine Lab., Univ. of New Hampshire, Durham, NH
EVALUATION OF CULVERT IMPACTS AND TIDAL RESTORATION BENEFITS ON FISH COMMUNITIES IN NEW ENGLAND SALT MARSHES

Green*, M.A., P. Chapman, N. Charette, N. Dowse, A. Waleik, M. Jones, and C. Renaud
Dept. of Marine and Environ. Sci., Saint Joseph’s College of Maine, 278 Whites Bridge Road, Standish, ME 04084
SPATIO-TEMPORAL PATTERNS OF CARBON REMINERALIZATION IN CASCO BAY ESTUARY, GULF OF MAINE.

Haas*, H.L.¹, L.A. Deegan¹, and K.A. Rose^2
1Marine Biol. Lab., Woods Hole, MA 02543; ²Coastal Fisheries Inst., LSU, Baton Rouge, LA
BUILDING A SIMULATION MODEL TO EVALUATE THE EFFECT OF FLOODING FREQUENCY AND DURATION ON MUMMICHOG PRODUCTION IN A NEW ENGLAND SALT MARSH.

Holton*¹, K.L., R.B. Jonas², K. Marano Briggs², J.E. Darga¹, and D.J. Ellis^1
1Biology Dept., Univ. of Massachusetts, N. Dartmouth, MA 02747;
² Biology Dept., George Mason Univ., Fairfax, VA 22033
NOVEL SULFIDOGENIC THERMOTOLERANT BACTERIA OBTAINED FROM SUBTROPICAL ESTUARINE BLUE HOLE

James-Pirri*, M.J.¹, and C.T. Roman^2
1Grad. School of Oceanography, Univ. of Rhode Island, Narragansett, RI 02882;
²National Park Service, Univ. of Rhode Island, Narragansett, RI 02882
A NEW NEKTON SAMPLER FOR SALT MARSH DITCHES

Kidder*, G.W., III¹, R. L. Preston², and C. W. Petersen^3
1Mt Desert Island Biological Lab., Salisbury Cove, ME; ²Dept. of Biological Sci., Illinois State Univ., Normal, IL; ³College of the Atlantic, Bar Harbor, ME
BEHAVIORAL OSMOREGULATION IN KILLIFISH - PROSPECTUS FOR AN ECOLOGICAL, PHYSIOLOGICAL AND MOLECULAR STUDY OF FUNDULUS FROM NORTHEAST CREEK, BAR HARBOR

Logan*, J.M., L.A. Deegan, R.H. Garritt, and H.L. Haas
The Ecosystems Center, Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, Massachusetts 02543
EVALUATING THE ACCURACY OF FORAGE FISH ABUNDANCE ESTIMATES IN A NEW ENGLAND SALT MARSH BASED UPON SEINE SAMPLING DATA.

MacKenzie, R.A.
Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve, Wells, ME, 04090
EMERGING INSECTS FROM A SALT MARSH SYSTEM IN SOUTHERN MAINE

(D) Meltzer, K.R.
Dept. of Biology Bates College, Lewiston, ME 04240
INTERANNUAL GROWTH RATE VARIATION IN THE SOFT-SHELLED CLAM, MYA ARENARIA, AND ITS RELATIONSHIP TO INTERANNUAL TEMPERATURE DIFFERENCES AND HABITAT AT MAQUOIT BAY, MAINE

Mullaney*, J.R.¹, G.E. Schwarz², and E.C.T. Trench^1
1U.S. Geological Survey, East Hartford, CT, 06108; ²U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, VA
ESTIMATION OF NONPOINT NITROGEN LOADS FROM BASINS DRAINING TO LONG ISLAND SOUND USING MULTIPLE-LINEAR REGRESSION MODELING

Nutting, G.E.
Maine Dept. of Marine Resources, West Boothbay Harbor, ME, 04575
THE GREEN CRAB - EMERGING SUSTAINABLE FISHERY OR TOTAL ERADICATION

(D) Pakenham,* A., and P.E. Fell
Dept. of Zoology, Connecticut College, KECK Research Grant, CT 06320
EXAMINATION OF MACROINVERTEBRATE POPULATIONS IN A RESTORING AND REFERENCE TIDAL MARSH USING SEVERAL SAMPLING METHODS

(D) Paul* A.L., and J. Fegley
Corning School of Ocean Studies, Maine Maritime Academy, Castine, ME 04420
COMPARISON OF COMMUNITIES OF PHYTAL ORGANISMS THAT LIVE AMONG ASCOPHYLLUM NODOSUM AND FUCUS VESICULOSUS

Roman*, C.T.¹, J.F. Heltshe², and M.J. James-Pirri^3
1National Park Service, Univ. of Rhode Island, Narragansett, RI 02882;
²Dept. of Computer Science and Statistics, Univ. of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881;
³Graduate School of Oceanography, Univ. of Rhode Island, Narragansett, RI 02882
MONITORING SALT MARSH VEGETATION CHANGE: SOME THOUGHTS ON SAMPLE SIZE

(D) Stefany *, E. A.
Dept. of Environmental Studies, Bates College, Lewiston, ME, 04240
COMPARISON OF MACROBENTHIC COMMUNITY STRUCTURE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF A ZOSTERA MARINA BED IN MAQUIOT BAY, MAINE

AFTERNOON CONTRIBUTED PAPER SESSION - CONTINUED

4:00 Duff*, E.B.¹, R. Buchsbaum¹, A. Ridlon¹, and D.M. Burdick^2
1Mass Audubon, Wenham, MA 01984, ²JEL, Univ. of New Hampshire, Durham, NH 03824
SALINITY AND PHRAGMITES: WHAT'S THE RELATIONSHIP? A PRELIMINARY ASSESSMENT FROM THE MASS AUDUBON SALT MARSH SCIENCE PROJECT

4:20 (K) Mullan*, C.P., M.D. Bertness, and B.R. Silliman
Brown Univ., Dept. of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Box G-W, Providence, RI
SHIFTS IN WETLAND COMMUNITY COMPOSITION ACROSS ESTUARINE SALINITY GRADIENTS: PHYSICAL AND BIOLOGICAL DETERMINANTS

4:40 (K) Saltonstall, K.
Dept. of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT
NATIVE OR INTRODUCED? GENETIC VARIATION IN NORTH AMERICAN POPULATIONS OF PHRAGMITES AUSTRALIS

5:00 Konisky*, R.A., and D.M. Burdick
Jackson Estuarine Lab., Univ. of New Hampshire, Durham, NH 03824
TIDAL RESTRICTION AND RESTORATION: A SPATIAL SIMULATION MODEL OF DRAKES ISLAND MARSH (WELLS, MAINE)

5:30 BUSINESS MEETING

6:00 SOCIAL (College of the Atlantic, specific location will be announced)

7:00 BANQUET (College of the Atlantic, Blair Dining Hall)

9:00 CONTRA DANCE (College of the Atlantic Gates Center)

Saturday, May 11, 2002

CONTRIBUTED PAPER SESSION
Session Chair = Hilary Neckles, USGS

8:00 Costa*, C.S.B., and J. C. Marangoni
Dept. de Oceanografia, Univ. de Rio Grande, CP 474, 96201-900 Rio Grande, RS. Brazil
COMPETITION, PHYSICAL STRESS TOLERANCE AND HERBIVORY ROLES IN THE PLANT COMMUNITY OF AN IRREGULARLY FLOODED SALT MARSH.

8:20 Rozsa*, R.¹, and R.S. Warren^2
1CT Dept. of Environmental Protection, Office of Long Island Sound Programs, Hartford, CT 06106; ²Connecticut College, Dept. of Botany, New London, CT 06320
TIDAL WETLAND LOSS IN WESTERN LONG ISLAND SOUND: A REFLECTION OF RECENT SEA LEVEL RISE?

8:40 Cieri,* M.D.¹, B. Fry², L. Deegan², B. Peterson², J. Hughes², and C. Tobias^2
1Maine Dept. of Marine Resources, McKown Point Rd. West Boothbay Harbor, ME 04575;
²The Ecosystem Center, Marine Biological Laboratory Woods Hole, MA 02543
WHAT A DIFFERENCE A YEAR MAKES: USING STABLE ISOTOPES TO TRACK CHANGES IN AN ESTUARINE FOOD WEB

9:00 Spencer, L.T.
Natural Science Department, Plymouth State College, Plymouth, NH 03264
A SEAGULL'S EYE VIEW OF THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT

9:20 Geoghegan*, P.¹, and R.A. Sher^2
1Normandeau Assoc., Bedford, NH, 03110; ²North Atlantic Energy Service Corp., Seabrook, NH
LONG-TERM TRENDS IN THE ICHTHYOPLANKTON COMMUNITY OF COASTAL NEW HAMPSHIRE

9:40 Giblin, A.E.
The Ecosystems Center, Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, MA, 02543
PRELIMINARY RESULTS OF THE ESTUARINE RESEARCH FEDERATION WORKSHOP: FACILITATION OF RESEARCH ON ESTUARINE RESPONSES TO CLIMATE CHANGE AND VARIABILITY

10:00-10:15 BREAK

MINI-SYMPOSIUM:
THE ROLE OF PROTECTED AREAS IN MAINTAINING THE INTEGRITY OF COASTAL AND ESTUARINE SYSTEMS
Session Chair = Charles Roman, National Park Service

10:15 Shelley, P.
Conservation Law Foundation, Rockland, ME 04841
INTRODUCTION TO MARINE PROTECTED AREAS: A LEGAL, POLITICAL AND HISTORICAL CONTEXT FOR CONSIDERING THIS FORM OF STEWARDSHIP.

10:45 Manski, D.
Division of Resource Management, Acadia National Park, P.O. Box 177, Bar Harbor, ME 04609
PROTECTING SHORELINE LANDSCAPES THROUGH CONSERVATION EASEMENTS; EXAMPLES FROM ACADIA NATIONAL PARK

11:15 Watling, L.
Darling Marine Center, Univ. of Maine, 193 Clark’s Cove Rd., Walpole, ME 04573
MPA'S AREN'T JUST FOR DEEP WATER: THE SCIENTIFIC VALUE OF ESTUARINE MPAs

11:45 Murawski, S.A.
National Marine Fisheries Service, Woods Hole, MA 02543
USE OF LARGE-SCALE FISHERY CLOSURES IN FISHERIES MANAGEMENT AND BIODIVERSITY PROTECTION - A NEW ENGLAND CASE HISTORY

12:15 DISCUSSION

12:30 Closing Remarks, Linda Deegan, NEERS President

12:35 Box lunches available if pre-ordered

1:30 – 4:00 Somes Sound Boat Tour