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Student Projects |
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Vincent Breslin Our research examines the sediment metal contamination within the Thames River and New London harbor complex. The Thames River watershed and New London harbor have been historically characterized by industrial activity and portions of each are urbanized. Previous studies are inadequate in describing the extent of sediment metal contamination within the river and harbor. Results of this study will allow for an assessment of the extent of sediment metal contamination within the river/harbor complex. This knowledge is critical for assessing current and future impacts of contaminated sediments on commercial activities and living marine resources within the watershed. The goal of this study will be to test the following hypotheses: (1) physical properties of the river and harbor sediments will vary from fine-grain, high organic matter content in the inner reaches of the Thames river to coarser, low organic matter content in the upper reaches of the river and outside the harbor in LIS; (2) metal contamination will be highest in fine-grained high organic matter content sediment proximate to point sources of contamination; and (3) metal contamination throughout New London harbor will be greater than the extent of metal contamination in sediment sampled from LIS. Participating Students: |
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Vincent Breslin Metal concentrations in bottom sediments vary at different geographic locations in Long Island Sound but the highest concentrations generally occur in the western end of the Sound and decline toward the east. Are there similar east-west trends in oyster tissue metal concentrations; are concentrations higher in the western end of the Sound and lower in the eastern end? Eastern oysters are excellent targets for measuring heavy metal concentrations since they are sessile, have an affinity for the most important pollutants and have high concentration factors (102 to 105) for metals. Although oysters are good integrators of sediment and water quality, there is no systematic statewide data set for Long Island Sound concerning heavy metal concentrations in oysters. This research seeks to determine if the commercially important eastern oyster tissue metal contents differ in proportion to exposure to an east-west gradient in sediment and water column metal concentrations located in four different watersheds along the Connecticut coastline. Metal (Ag, Cd, Cu, Fe, As, and Zn) concentrations will be measured as body burdens from oysters sampled at four locations along the entire Connecticut coastline. Results of this work will: (1) create a comprehensive data set of oyster tissue metal concentrations and oyster health along the entire CT shoreline; (2) identify trends (west to east), or localized hot spots, associated with oyster tissue metal contents or oyster health within specific watersheds along the CT shoreline. |
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Dwight Smith |
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Originally from Latin America, the Monk Parakeet has become widely established in North America with at least 20 states reporting populations of this species. Current monitoring programs suggest that the population is growing exponentially or nearly so and may soon spread across much of the North American landscape, as did the European Starling and House Sparrow before. The ecological impact of the Monk Parakeet on native species and natural ecological systems is so far largely unknown. Existing populations are exclusively birds of the urban landscape where their color, chatter, and constant activity elicit interest and affection from some, irritation from others that decry their noisiness and habit of building enormous stick nests on light and power poles, buildings, and other edifices. The experimental design will focus on determining how interactions amongst populations of the urban metapopulation reinforce one another and thereby contribute to further spread/dispersal of this important but controversial invasive species. Evaluating metapopulation dynamics of this species has not been conducted in any previous study and it is anticipated that results will have broad application for the conservation and management purposes wherever this species is recognized as a management problem. |
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Erin Pinsince Tiffany Al-Maqtari
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James Tait Participating Students: |
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Ellen Bulger Carrie Javins |
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Sean Grace Project Title: Lobster Aging Proposal This research will determine the age of American lobster (Homarus americanus) collected from several regions in the Gulf of Maine (GOM) from multiple orbital carapace lengths (mm). The purpose of this research is to document the age and levels of the aging pigment lipofuscin in lobsters from different temperature regimes in the GOM. Data collected will aid in the management of this resource. Participating Students: |
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Project Title: A Long Island Sound survey of the temperate scleractinian coral Astrangia poculata. The temperate scleractinian coral Astrangia poculata is one of four corals known world-wide to exhibit a facultative symbiosis with its zooxanthellae and occupies many hard bottom and boulder communities in Narragansett Bay, however little is known about its morphology, growth rates, and distribution on subtidal surfaces in Long Island Sound. A study examining this coral’s local distribution and growth rate would provide valuable information on how the scleractinia adapt to low energy waters with high sedimentation, higher temperatures and fresh-water input. Studies will quantify the ecological distribution of this coral in the Long Island Sound’s many subtidal microhabitats. Participating Students: |
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Kristina Clark |
