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Long Island Sound (long + island_sound)
Selected AbstractsThe genetic stock structure of larval and juvenile winter flounder larvae in Connecticut waters of eastern Long Island Sound and estimations of larval entrainmentJOURNAL OF FISH BIOLOGY, Issue 1 2004J. F. Crivello Variability at six microsatellite loci was examined among 536 winter flounder Pseudopleuronectes americanus larvae collected from three locations in eastern Long Island Sound shown to be nursery areas for the species. Substantial genetic differences were seen among the putative source populations and thus appeared to be geographically based. These differences were used to characterize the most likely sources of winter flounder larvae entrained at the Millstone Power Station as well as recruitment to juvenile winter flounder collected in the Niantic River. Samples were classified to the most likely geographical source population both by a conditional maximum likelihood method and by a multi-layer feed-forward neural net trained on the differences in microsatellite allele frequencies. The classification of samples by both methods is compared and discussed in the context of winter flounder management. [source] Naturally occurring bacteraemia in American lobsters, Homarus americanus Milne-Edwards, in Long Island SoundJOURNAL OF FISH DISEASES, Issue 1 2008S L Bartlett Abstract The health status of the American lobster, Homarus americanus Milne-Edwards, in Long Island Sound (LIS) has been in decline, with seasonal mortality events occurring since 1998. In order to assess the potential effects of environmental conditions on lobster health via haemolymph analysis, lobsters collected from various sites in LIS were examined and sampled while concurrent environmental data (water temperature, salinity and dissolved oxygen) were recorded. The pH of the haemolymph of each lobster was tested, followed by a collection of haemolymph for serum biochemistry analysis and bacterial culture. This report focuses on the results of the bacterial sampling. The majority of bacteria cultured were opportunistic pathogens commonly found in the environment, including some that are associated with sewage and pollution. The prevalence of bacteraemia was correlated with the site of collection, the month in which the lobsters were sampled, and water temperature. [source] 54 Benthic marine algal herbarium of long island sound digital collectionJOURNAL OF PHYCOLOGY, Issue 2003S. Cudiner The University of Connecticut presents the "Benthic Marine Algal Herbarium of Long Island Sound Digital Collection." The collection is available on the web for teaching and identification purposes. Phase One of this project will be finished later by early next year. Currently, the collection has approximately 60% of all Long Island Sound macroalgae species. The taxonomy is part of a collaboration between the University of Connecticut and the Northeast Algal Society (NEAS). Thus far, the specimens have come from Dr. Charles Yarish's herbarium and from the Environmental Laboratory at Millstone Power Station on Long Island Sound. The botanical illustrations are from "Illustrated Key to the Seaweeds of New England" by Martine Villalard-Bohnsack. Database features include the ability to create searches and generate sets based on subjects, division, class, order, family, genus, habitat, species, keyword, and location. Data retrieved includes JPG image, cataloged data, map regions, synonyms, and illustrated microscopic, cross section and surface view for some species. The web site is available for use at: http://www.algae.uconn.edu [source] EXPLORING PORPHYRA SPECIES FOR USE AS NITROGEN SCRUBBERS IN INTEGRATED AQUACULTUREJOURNAL OF PHYCOLOGY, Issue 2001Article first published online: 24 SEP 200 Carmona, R.1, Kraemer G. P.2, Zertuche, J. A.3, Chanes, L.4, Chopin, T.5, Neefus C.4,6 & Yarish, C.1 1Dept. of Ecol. and Evol. Biol., University of Connecticut, One University Place, Stamford, CT 06901, USA; 2Department of Environmental Sciences, State University of New York, Purchase, NY 10577 USA; 3IIO, Universidad Autonoma de Baja California. Ensenada,B.C., Mexico; 4DGETI-CBTis41, Mexico; 5CCSA, Dept. of Biol., University of New Brunswick, Saint John, N.B., E2L 4L5, Canada; 6Department of Plant Biology, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH 03824, USA Finfish mariculture along the Northeast US coast continues to develop into a strong industry. At a regional level, mariculture can be a significant contributor to nutrient loading in coastal waters. Since macroalgae are able to concentrate nutrients and grow at high rates, they can be an useful tool for alleviating this problem. In addition, seaweed mariculture is by itself a multi-billion dollar industry, with the red alga Porphyra (nori) valued at over $US 1.8 billion. Local species and strains of Porphyra from the Northeast U.S.A. are being studied to determine their capacity as nutrient scrubbers under different nutrient and temperature conditions. P. purpurea was grown under two N sources (NO3- vs. NH4+). The fastest growth (up to 13% d-1) and greatest N content (ca. 7% DW) were measured in plants grown at 300 µM NH4+. Short-term NH4+ uptake by P. purpurea (strains from Maine and Long Island Sound) and by P. amplissima was not saturated at 150 µM, the highest concentration tested. The P. purpurea isolate from Maine took up NH4+ faster than did the Long Island Sound isolate. NH4+ uptake by P. amplissima was faster than uptake by either P. purpurea strain. The high growth rates obtained and the ability for N uptake and tissue accumulation make these species suitable for using as a biological nutrient removal system. [source] Palaeoenvironmental implications of the ichnology and geochemistry of the Westbury Formation (Rhaetian), Westbury-on-Severn, south-west EnglandPALAEONTOLOGY, Issue 3 2010LU ALLINGTON-JONES Abstract:, The Westbury Formation (Rhaetian) beds of Westbury Garden Cliff, Westbury-on-Severn, west of Gloucester, Britain, show an unusual combination of features. Both deep water and emergent characteristics are present within the sediments and the trace fossils. The ichnoassemblage consists of abundant Selenichnites, Planolites beverlyensis and Lockeia with rarer Oniscoidichnus, Chondrites, Rhizocorallium irregulare, Taenidium serpentium, an unusual form of Walcottia and Merostomichnites -like traces. These trace fossils display an interesting relationship with the sediments: low-energy Cruziana ichnofacies is found within high-energy sandstones. The sandstones are interbedded with laminated mudstones, apparently deposited in deep water, but some aspects of the ichnoassemblage, preservation and sedimentation indicate shallower water. One new trace fossil, Radichnus allingtona igen. et isp. nov., closely resembles the traces of modern fiddler crabs and imply emergence, by analogy. This ichnofauna is similar to early stage disaster colonisation in recent experiments in Long Island Sound (south of Connecticut, USA) and with storm-influenced deposits within the Cardium Formation (Seebe, Alberta, Canada). This indicates a lagoonal environment with influxes of sand and oxygen. Total organic carbon levels were found to fluctuate greatly between stratigraphic layers but remained relatively high. This implies low oxygen conditions. The abundance of sulphur (in pyrite) also supports an interpretation of anoxic conditions, and low sedimentation rates within the shale layers. A restricted shallow basin or lagoonal environment is proposed for the palaeoenvironment, with fluctuating oxygen influencing diversity. [source] Salt Marsh Restoration in Connecticut: 20 Years of Science and ManagementRESTORATION ECOLOGY, Issue 3 2002R. Scott Warren Abstract In 1980 the State of Connecticut began a tidal marsh restoration program targeting systems degraded by tidal restrictions and impoundments. Such marshes become dominated by common reed grass (Phragmites australis) and cattail (Typha angustifolia and T. latifolia), with little ecological connection to Long Island Sound. The management and scientific hypothesis was that returning tidal action, reconnecting marshes to Long Island Sound, would set these systems on a recovery trajectory. Specific restoration targets (i.e., pre-disturbance conditions or particular reference marshes) were considered unrealistic. However, it was expected that with time restored tides would return ecological functions and attributes characteristic of fully functioning tidal salt marshes. Here we report results of this program at nine separate sites within six marsh systems along 110 km of Long Island Sound shoreline, with restoration times of 5 to 21 years. Biotic parameters assessed include vegetation, macroinvertebrates, and use by fish and birds. Abiotic factors studied were soil salinity, elevation and tidal flooding, and soil water table depth. Sites fell into two categories of vegetation recovery: slow, ca. 0.5%, or fast, more than 5% of total area per year. Although total cover and frequency of salt marsh angiosperms was positively related to soil salinity, and reed grass stand parameters negatively so, fast versus slow recovery rates could not be attributed to salinity. Instead, rates appear to reflect differences in tidal flooding. Rapid recovery was characterized by lower elevations, greater hydroperiods, and higher soil water tables. Recovery of other biotic attributes and functions does not necessarily parallel those for vegetation. At the longest studied system (rapid vegetation recovery) the high marsh snail Melampus bidentatus took two decades to reach densities comparable with a nearby reference marsh, whereas the amphipod Orchestia grillus was well established on a slow-recovery marsh, reed grass dominated after 9 years. Typical fish species assemblages were found in restoration site creeks and ditches within 5 years. Gut contents of fish in ditches and on the high marsh suggest that use of restored marsh as foraging areas may require up to 15 years to reach equivalence with reference sites. Bird species that specialize in salt marshes require appropriate vegetation; on the oldest restoration site, breeding populations comparable with reference marshland had become established after 15 years. Use of restoration sites by birds considered marsh generalists was initially high and was still nearly twice that of reference areas even after 20 years. Herons, egrets, and migratory shorebirds used restoration areas extensively. These results support our prediction that returning tides will set degraded marshes on trajectories that can bring essentially full restoration of ecological functions. This can occur within two decades, although reduced tidal action can delay restoration of some functions. With this success, Connecticut's Department of Environmental Protection established a dedicated Wetland Restoration Unit. As of 1999 tides have been restored at 57 separate sites along the Connecticut coast. [source] Molecular markers for assessing community diversity of coastal ciliatesTHE JOURNAL OF EUKARYOTIC MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 2 2005MARY DOHERTY Biogeography of microbial eukaryotes is widely debated. While some claim that all microbial organisms have a cosmopolitan distribution, other data suggest evidence of endemism. To assess these hypotheses for the distribution of ciliates in the orders Choreotrichia and Oligotrichia, coastal community samples were taken from Long Island Sound. We are obtaining sequences of SSU rRNA, ITS rRNA, and mitochondrial genes to use as molecular markers for assessing gene flow across time and space. These data will serve as a basis for continued study of phylogeographic distribution of Choreotrichia and Oligotrichia. [source] | |||||||||||||