Transcript No Slide Title

COASTAL MARINE SCIENCES (CMARS) WORKSHOP
Impact of Land Use on Water Quality and Aquatic Life
In Maryland’s Chesapeake and Coastal Bays
OVERVIEW
The purpose of the CMAR workshop is to help promote
environmental literacy for all students by involving
teachers in the research being done through the Center
for the Integrated Study of Coastal Ecosystem Processes
(CREST) program at UMES. The CREST program is
made up of a collaborative group of researchers working
together to determine the effects of land use and climate
patterns on the water quality and aquatic life in
Maryland’s Chesapeake and Coastal Bays. It is an
excellent opportunity for teachers to increase their
knowledge base and participate in actual lab and
fieldwork related to each of the subprojects associated
with this program.
Maryland’s Coastal Bays
Chesapeake Bay
Dynamics of Zooplankton Community in
Maryland Coastal Bays and Their Driving
Mechanisms
The goal of subproject three is to examine the zooplankton
found within the Coastal Bays. Researchers collect water
samples from designated sites to be analyzed in the lab to
determine microscopically, the types and numbers of
zooplankton present within the water column. The
scientists are also studying the gut contents of bay
anchovies to gain a better understanding of the role of
zooplankton in Coastal Bay ecosystems.
Land Use and Climate Variability: Effects
on Nutrient Dynamics in the Coastal
Waters
A
Physiological effects of hypoxia and
environmental contaminants on Atlantic
croaker in the Chesapeake and Coastal
Bays
The goal of subproject four is to determine how hypoxic
conditions, brought on by eutrophication, are affecting the
health of larger fish species within the Chesapeake Bay.
The researchers use Atlantic croaker as a target species
for the study. The croaker are brought into the lab and
exposed to controlled hypoxic conditions. Blood chemistry
and necropsies are conducted to detect changes in the
croakers’ immunological, reproductive and endocrine
functions.
The goal for subproject one is to research land use and
climate patterns within Maryland’s Chesapeake and
Coastal Bay Watersheds to determine what effects these
variables have on the Bays’ water quality. Researchers
use GIS technology to develop models that accurately
reflect the land use within each watershed and predict
how it will affect future nutrient loading into the
Chesapeake and Coastal Bays. Using YSI meters and
the HACH method, scientists collect data on water
quality parameters and nutrient levels from designated
sampling sites.
Effects of Environmental Factors on Blue
Crab
C. sapidus and its Relation to Infection
by Hematodinium sp.
Understanding the Dynamics of
Phytoplankton and Macroalgae Species
Including HABs in Maryland Coastal
Bays
The goal of subproject five is to examine the prevalence of
an invasive species of dinoflagellate, Hematodinium
perezi, in the Chesapeake and Coastal Bays.
Hematodinium is an internal parasite known to infect the
blue crab, compromising its immune defenses and
frequently resulting in death. In order to confirm the
presence and concentration of the parasite, researchers
use plankton tows to collect specimens from designated
testing sites along the Coastal Bays. The samples are
brought to the lab where scientists use PCR and
electrophoresis to determine the existence of the microbe
in each sample.
The goal of subproject two is to study the phytoplankton
and macroalgae found within Maryland’s Coastal Bays.
Scientists work in the field to collect both phytoplankton
and macro algae from designated sampling sites. Once
in the lab the samples are analyzed to determine which
species are present and in what concentrations. The
data collected is used to look for correlations between
eutrophic conditions, HABs, and water quality
parameters in the bays.
SPECIAL THANKS AND ACKNOWLEDGMENT:
UMES AND CREST Program Scientist and Graduate Students
Kathy Richardson: Photography Captain Chris Webster: Boat Captain