Research

Projects
[Projects 2001-2003; Projects 2003-2004; Projects 2004-2006; Projects 2006-2008 ]

For the fiscal years 2004–2006, Rhode Island Sea Grant–funded research projects are:

Identification and analysis of multiple populations of longfin squid with respect to possible implications for management
Principal Investigator: William Macy, URI GSO marine scientist; Co-Principal Investigators: Edward Durbin, URI; Roger Hanlon, Marine Biological Laboratory

The longfin squid is an economically important fishery in Rhode Island, but much remains unknown about squid biology, ecology, and life history. This project proposes to determine, through DNA fingerprinting and other analyses, whether the longfin squid population is divided into subgroups that are biologically distinct, and, if so, whether there is a dominant subgroup largely responsible for maintaining the overall population. This information will help fisheries managers determine if special techniques to protect longfin stocks are required.

Riparian sinks for mitigating septic system contamination in urbanizing coastal watersheds
Principal Investigator: Arthur Gold, URI natural resources science professor; Co-Principal Investigators: Peter Groffman, Institute of Ecosystem Studies; Mark Stolt, URI

Increased population density, especially along waterways, coupled with failing or overtaxed septic systems introduces increased nitrates into coastal waters. Alteration of riparian areas (land on the banks of rivers or estuaries) can limit the ability of those areas to cleanse the water of nitrates. This project will develop maps that depict the groundwater and soil-based denitrification capacity of shoreline locations to help communities better control sources of nutrient pollution and to protect riparian zones shown to possess substantial denitrification capacity.

Temperature-nutrient interactions in coastal lagoons: A mesocosm experiment
Principal Investigator: Scott Nixon, URI GSO oceanography professor
Co-Principal Investigators: Stephen Granger and Betty Buckley, URI GSO

The shallow coastal ecosystems of the U.S. Atlantic and Gulf coasts are undergoing important changes, one of which is increasing water temperature. This study will quantify the effects of exceptionally warm summers and long-term warming of coastal waters on the health and survival of eelgrass beds and habitat in the coastal lagoons of southern New England, using living models, known as mesocosms.

Hydrogeological characterization and groundwater flow patterns in southern Rhode Island and implications for coastal lagoons: Numerical simulations and field observations
Principal Investigator: S. Bradley Moran, URI GSO oceanography professor
Co-Principal Investigators: Peter Weiskel and John Masterson, U.S. Geological Survey

This research partnership between URI and the U.S. Geological Survey will study groundwater flow into Rhode Island's salt ponds. Data collected from mapping efforts and from radium isotope tracer-based monitoring will be used to create a groundwater flow model for the salt pond region.

Diminishing water quality in Rhode Island coastal waters: Understanding the physical, biological, and chemical processes that lead to seasonal hypoxia in upper Narragansett Bay
Principal Investigator: Mary-Lynn Dickson, URI GSO marine scientist
Co-Principal Investigators: David Ullman and David Hebert, URI GSO; Chris Deacutis, Narragansett Bay Estuary Program

Recent observations show that, in the summertime, extensive portions of upper Narragansett Bay experience hypoxia-depleted oxygen in the water-which poses a significant threat to habitat quality and marine life in the Bay. This research will investigate the biological, chemical, and physical factors that govern the onset of episodes of hypoxia in upper Narragansett Bay in the summer.

Elucidating the ecology of brackish and tidal freshwater marshes for their conservation and management
Principal Investigator: Mark Bertness, Brown University biology professor
Co-Principal Investigator: Caitlin Mullan Crain, Brown University

Despite their importance as environmental filters and wildlife habitat, upriver brackish and tidal freshwater marshes may be the least studied or well understood of all common wetlands. They are also the wetland habitats most threatened by human development and population growth. This project will improve understanding of the ecology of brackish and tidal freshwater marshes. Researchers will then work with conservation groups to see that the findings are incorporated into the conservation and management of Atlantic coastal estuarine marshes.

Multispecies assessment models for fisheries management
Principal Investigator: Jeremy Collie, URI GSO oceanography professor

Fisheries managers need accurate estimates of fish populations and their growth rates in order to create equitable and effective management strategies. This project seeks to improve the reliability and usefulness of multispecies statistical models of fish populations by incorporating diet with other, traditional fisheries data sources.

BayMap: A proposal to image the seafloor, map and groundtruth the habitats, and document the cultural landscape of Narragansett Bay and Rhode Island and Connecticut coastal environments
Principal Investigators: John King, URI GSO oceanography professor; Jon Boothroyd, URI geosciences professor and state geologist; Kathryn Moran, URI ocean engineering associate professor; Roderick Mather URI history associate professor
Co-Principal Investigators: Robert Ballard¹, Dwight Coleman¹, Chris Damon¹, Chris Deacutis², John Jenson³, Rob Pockalny¹, Sheldon Pratt¹, William Turnbaugh¹, Larry Mayer⁴
Affiliation: 1 URI; 2 R.I. Department of Environmental Management; 3 Mystic Seaport; 4 University of New Hampshire

This project will produce a comprehensive series of high-resolution seafloor maps and images of Narragansett Bay and adjacent Rhode Island and Connecticut coastal environments to create a complete picture of their geology, habitats, biological communities, and archaeology.