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National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (CCMA)

Weekly Report – September 12, 2007

CCMA Scientists Extend Sediment Assessment in Alaskan Waters to Target Restoration Efforts and Facilitate Management of Valuable Marine Resources Scientists from the Center for Coastal Monitoring and Assessment collected sediments in August for contaminant assessment, ambient toxicity, and infaunal community description to characterize chemical contaminant impacts in intertidal and near-shore waters in Kachemak Bay. Using NOAA's National Status and Trends (NS&T) Program Bioeffects protocols, the sediments will be examined for over 120 chemical contaminants, multiple bioassays, and benthic community analysis. The study was conducted to address current impairment from past activities, and as a baseline assessment should Kachemak Bay be used as a port of refuge for damaged cargo ships (including oil tankers), and the planned enlargement of Homer Harbor. Results from the analysis will be incorporated into an integrated assessment with the Cook Inlet Regional Citizens Advisory Council covering all of Cook Inlet . Additional samples were collected in Port Graham Bay to assist local communities in assessing local environmental conditions. For additional information, contact Ian Hartwell at 301-713-3028 x137 or Ian Hartwell@noaa.gov

Models Combined to Assist Oyster Growth Rate and Population Predictions Researchers from the Environmental Cooperative Sciences Center (ECSC) project an increase in salinity in Apalachicola Bay, which would have a negative effect on the bay's oyster population. Scientists from the Center for Coastal Monitoring and Assessment and the ECSC adapted an oyster model that simulates a diversity of population processes and coupled it with a hydrodynamic model to examine changes in salinity on oyster growth rates. Oyster population features and reproduction are closely related to salinity, and human consumption of freshwater species is expected to increase in the region. Findings indicate that more careful regulation of inflows from the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint (ACF) basin is needed to ensure future habitat for oysters. The eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica) plays an important role ecologically and economically in Apalachicola Bay and elsewhere. For more information, contact Hongqing Wang ( University of Louisiana at Lafayette ) at hxw7894@louisiana.edu or John Christensen at John.Christensen@noaa.gov .

Website Provides Daily Updates of Research Cruise That Will Generate Benthic Habitat Maps to Aid in Resource Management Center for Coastal Monitoring and Assessment scientists and Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary (FGBNMS) scientists have launched a second season of research aboard the NOAA ship Nancy Foster to address Sanctuary management issues by assessing the fish and coral communities, and generating a benthic habitat map showing the distribution of resources. The scientists are conducting inventory, assessment, and monitoring related activities throughout the Sanctuary waters. The cruise is running from September 8-15, and daily updates are available at http://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/missions/2007nancy_foster/welcome.html . Additional background on information is available at http://ccma.nos.noaa.gov/ecosystems/sanctuaries/fgb_nms.html . For more information, please contact Chris Caldow at (301) 713-3028 x164 or Chris.Caldow@noaa.gov .