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June 5, 2008
Save My Home! Making a Difference for Fish Habitat
Jessie Thomas and Emily Greene (Atlantic State Marine Fisheries Commission, Washington, DC)
Synposis: Healthy waterways and robust fish populations are vital to the well being of our society. They provide clean water and sustainable fisheries.
They are also vital for less tangible reasons, as anyone who has fished wild waters or canoed a tranquil stream can attest. Unfortunately, in many waters around the country, fish and
the habitats on which they depend are in decline. Although significant measures have been taken to protect and restore aquatic habitats, current efforts have not kept pace with impacts
resulting from population growth and land-use changes. Additionally, given the diverse array of federal, state, tribal, local, and private jurisdictions, the need has never been greater
for increased action and improved coordination of fisheries conservation measures across boundaries and jurisdictions. The Atlantic Coastal Fish Habitat Partnership has been formed to
accelerate the conservation, protection, restoration, and enhancement of habitat for native Atlantic coastal, estuarine-dependent, and diadromous fishes through partnerships among
federal, state, local, and other entities. Our vision is for healthy, thriving habitats of sufficient quantity and quality to support all life stages of Atlantic coastal,
estuarine-dependent, and diadromous fishes.
Previous Seminar Information
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May 29, 2008
Groundwater, Maryland’s Underground Natural Resource: Do We Have Enough? What’s in YOUR Water?
Mr. David W. Bolton, Maryland Geological Survey, Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Baltimore, MD
Synposis: Groundwater is a mysterious resource. Unlike lakes and reservoirs, we can’t see it in its natural setting. Yet almost one-third of all
Marylanders rely on groundwater, and the state’s population is projected to increase by more than one million people by 2030. Recent droughts have made us realize that
Maryland’s water supply is not infinite. With so many people dependent on groundwater, including most everyone who lives or works south and east of I-95, it’s absolutely
critical that we understand and properly manage this ‘hidden sea’. This talk will describe the variety of groundwater ‘styles’ in different parts of the state,
and will discuss how these differences affect availability, quality, and management of groundwater supplies. Studies that answer these questions will be described: Why are wells going
dry in some regions and not others? How are available groundwater quantities estimated? How are groundwater levels monitored, and what do these monitoring data tell us about the health
of Maryland’s groundwater supplies? Why do some aquifers contain arsenic, while others contain radium or nitrate or iron, while other aquifers do not? This talk will give examples
of how proper scientific monitoring and assessment of Maryland groundwater supplies help local and state government planners, regulators, and health officials make informed decisions
about growth, development, and water quality/quantity protection.
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May 15, 2008
Hart-Miller Island---Past, Present, and Future: The Transformation of Dredged Material into Beneficial Wildlife Habitat
Mr. Eugene Scarpulla, Maryland Ornithological Society and Maryland Entomological Society
Synposis: Hart-Miller Island is located in the northern Chesapeake Bay, about 6 miles east of Baltimore, MD. Hart-Miller was created in the early 1980s
by connecting the rapidly eroding Hart and Miller islands with a 6-mile perimeter dike and creating two impoundments, the 800-acre North Cell and the 300-acre South Cell. The
impoundments were created to receive dredged material from Baltimore Harbor and Chesapeake Bay shipping channels. Members of the Maryland Ornithological Society began weekly monitoring
of avian use of the facility in 1983. Insect monitoring began in the late 1990s. Dredged material was no longer added to the South Cell after 1990. A restoration effort began there in
the early 2000s that created open water, wetlands, upland habitat, and a 1-acre nesting island. The restored South Cell unexpectedly attracted several of Maryland's Rare, Threatened,
and Endangered breeding birds. Additionally, some of Maryland's rarest insects have been observed on Hart-Miller Island.
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May 8, 2008
Overview of USDA's CEAP Watershed Project in the Choptank River Basin
Dr. Tom Fisher, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, Horn Point Laboratory, Cambridge, MD
Synposis: Over the last 40 years, the agriculturally-dominant Choptank River basin has experienced declining water quality in non-tidal streams
(increasing nutrients) and in its estuarine waters (increasing chlorophyll a, decreasing Secchi depths, decreasing bottom dissolved oxygen). The goal of the CEAP Watershed Project is to
evaluate the effects of conservation practices designed to improve water quality. We monitor 17 sub-basins within the Choptank basin with variable amounts of agriculture, human
population, winter cover crops, CREP buffers, and other conservation practices. Implementation of the conservation practices has not been extensive to date, and our results indicate
limited effects of these practices on water quality.
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May 1, 2008
Tools for Watershed Management Planning and Implementation
Mary Searing, Watershed Management Program, Anne Arundel County Public Works Department
Synposis: This seminar will focus on the Watershed Management Tool that was developed by Anne Arundel County. I will explain how the County uses it to
strategically plan and implement watershed restoration in the County, both on regulatory and Capitol Improvement projects.
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April 24, 2008
Keeping the Fish Wet and Happy: The Source of Spring Water Supplying the A.M. Powell State Fish Hatchery, Washington County
Mr. Mark T. Duigon, Maryland Geological Survey, Baltimore, MD
Synposis: The Albert M. Powell State Fish Hatchery near Hagerstown obtains most of its water from a spring that issues from a limestone cave. In late
2004, spring discharges became muddy, leading to mortalities of young fish, yet the turbidity source was never discovered. Continued human population growth and development in the area
could lead to another similar event, or impact the availability as well as the quality of ground water flowing to the spring. Protecting ground water for hatchery use requires that
steps be taken to maintain recharge and prevent contamination of that recharge. To accomplish these goals, the sources of water flowing to the spring first had to be identified. Based
on ground-water flow tracing, geologic mapping, and analysis of spring flow characteristics, Mr. Duigon was able to estimate the size and delineate the boundaries of the area
contributing groundwater to the spring.
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April 3, 2008
Watershed Preservation and Restoration: A Local Government Perspective
Ron Bowen, Anne Arundel County Public Works Department
Synposis: I will discuss how Anne Arundel County manages regulatory (TMDLs, NPDES, WRE) and non-regulatory (Tributary Strategies, C2K) environmental
laws, policies, and mandates and describe how they are implemented. A component of this talk will also focus on how citizens work with local government and how local government works
with its citizens, to help protect and restore our rivers and the Bay.
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March 21, 2008
Tumors in Brown Bullhead (Ameirus nebulosus) in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed
Dr. Fred Pinkney, Senior Biologist, US Fish & Wildlife Service, Chesapeake Bay Field Office, Annapolis, MD
Synposis: Since the 1960s, brown bullhead has been the most frequently used freshwater fish species for tumor surveys in North Ameriica. Tumor
prevalence in bullhead has been used in the Great Lakes to designate highly contaminated Areas of Concern and monitor their recovery. For the past 15 years, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service has led efforts to establish a bullhead tumor data base for the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Six surveys have compiled data on 602 fish. Microscopic liver tumors in bullhead from
the Anacostia River have been strongly linked with their exposure to polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the sediments. Bullhead from other locations, such as the South River,
also show a high prevalence of skin tumors, but with no clear linkage to any particular class of contaminants. Dr. Pinkney will summarize and interpret current tumor data, evaluate
tumors in fish as an environmental indicator, and highlight important research questions.
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March 7, 2008
An Overview of the Maryland Chesapeake Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve's Research and Monitoring Program
Dr. Patricia Delgado, Research Coordinator, CBNERR, Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Annapolis
Synposis: The Chesapeake Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve in Maryland (CBNERR-MD) is part of a national network
of 27 protected areas established for long-term research, education, and stewardship. With a total of 1.951 hectares among three sites (Monie Bay, Jug Bay, and Otter Point Creek),
CBNERR-MD protects a wide variety of natural habitats including riverine systems, tidal freshwater marshes, and salt marshes that serve as living laboratories. The current trends in
climate change and increased development throughout the Chesapeake Bay watershed has raised concerns about the long-term health and sustainability of these natural systems. CBNERR-MD's
research and monitoring program, in collaboration with other Maryland Department of Natural Resources programs, research institutions, and the contributions of volunteers has focused
its efforts on projects that foster better understanding of the impact of these stressors on the Reserve’s estuarine systems. The Reserve research program also addresses basic
questions regarding local environmental quality, wetland and upland habitats, animal and plant populations, and nutrient and sediment dynamics. This presentation will be an overview of
ongoing research and monitoring projects at the three Reserve sites, including studies on water quality, emergent and submerged aquatic vegetation, surface elevation changes with
respect to sea level rise, and birds, box turtles and salamanders.
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February 28, 2008
The Other Watershed- Implementing Ocean Science Courses in Maryland High Schools
To be held in the DNR Library on B-3
Rebecca Bell, Environmental Education Specialist, Maryland State Department of Education
Synposis: Using a grant from Coastal Zone Management and CBNERR, MSDE helped institute ocean science as an elective course in all Somerset
and Worcester County high schools. The courses currently serve over 1,000 enthusiastic students a year. The session describes how the grant was used to implement the Ocean Literacy
Principles into the curriculum by constructing a comprehensive training and support program for teachers and students in these high-need districts.
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February 14, 2008
Climate Change and the Portfolio Effect in Chesapeake Bay Living Resources
Dr. David Secor, Professor, Chesapeake Biological Laboratory, Solomons, MD
Synposis: Depleted fish stocks, degraded habitats, climate change, and uncertainty in forecasts of future ecosystem states emphasize the
need to include resilience as a key objective for living resource management. Life-cycle diversity within populations and knowledge transfer between generations are increasingly
recognized as factors that can influence population resilience and thus fishery and habitat recovery actions. Concepts explaining life-cycle diversity within populations and its
persistence include genetic polymorphism, partial migration, and social transmission of learned migration behaviour. Although life-cycle diversity is increasingly recognized as a
pattern common across diverse fish taxa, relatively little attention has focused on the management/stewardship implications of this diversity. I hypothesize that life cycle diversity
promotes resiliency through the "portfolio effect." The portfolio effect is the summed statistical outcome of entities that show independent responses to the same set of environment
conditions (Doak et al. 1998). For white perch juveniles exhibiting varying patterns of nursery habitat use, I construct a metric for the portfolio effect and show how life cycle
diversity dampens recruitment variability over decadal periods.
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February 7, 2008
Influence of Land Use, Climate Variability, and Stream Restoration on Nitrogen Dynamics in Watersheds
Dr. Sujay Kaushal, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, Chesapeake Biological Laboratory, Solomons, MD
Synposis: Increased delivery of nitrogen due to land use changes has led to increased eutrophication, decreased water quality, habitat loss in
estuaries, and contamination of drinking water supplies in Maryland. Dr. Kaushal will discuss changes in the major forms of nitrogen to streams and rivers in response to an urbanizing
Maryland landscape. He will compare how sources of stream nitrogen (human waste vs. atmospheric deposition) and potential “hot spots” for management may change along
watersheds from headwater streams to larger tributaries using stable isotope tracers. He will describe results from recent studies investigating the effects of ecosystem restoration on
nitrogen removal in headwaters, riparian floodplains, and tidal marshes. Some challenges for management and restoration will be presented within the context of increasing climate
variability, headwater stream “burial” due to land use change, and emerging contaminants and ecosystem processes. A 1.1 MB version of
the presentation is available for downloading and viewing. You will need either Powerpoint, or another program able to view PowerPoint files.
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January 31, 2008
Maryland’s Inconvenient Truth: Climate Change Hits Home
Beth Ebersole and Sasha Bishton, Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Chesapeake Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, Annapolis, MD
Synposis: Do you have the sinking feeling that climate change impacts are flooding fast into Maryland? Unfortunately, you are right. Because Maryland is
literally sinking, sea level rise will affect us much more quickly than other places in the U.S.
In fact, Maryland is the 3rd most vulnerable state to sea level rise (after Louisiana and South Florida). Come learn more about this, global and other climate change impacts to our
state, and how Marylanders can and are rising to the challenge.
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January 24, 2008
The Landsnails of Plummers Island: Floods, Slugs and Introduced Earthworms
Mr. Butch Norden, Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Annapolis, MD
Synposis: The Potomac River serves as a corridor for species moving up and down the river, and Plummer's Island sits right in the middle. The island was
purchased in 1903, through efforts of the Washington Biologists' Field Club, and has been the site of extensive research for over 100 years. The accumulated data base provides
invaluable information for ecologists and zoogeographers. Plummer's Island has been called the most well studied place in North America. A survey of the island's land snails tells many
interesting stories about Maryland's changing fauna.
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January 18, 2008
So Just What is this Sustainablity Thing, Anyway?
Sean McGuire, Office for a Sustainable Future, Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Annapolis, MD
Synposis: You’ve all heard about it, but what is it? What does it mean to you? And what are we all trying to do to
help our natural resources? Sustainability can be a complicated and sometimes overused term, but just because it has several different meanings doesn’t make it meaningless. Sean
McGuire, part of the newly created Office for a Sustainable Future in DNR, will discuss the principles and tenets of sustainability. He’ll suggest actions that we can all take to
ensure a healthy community for our tomorrow. Extra Bonus Feature: After his seminar, Sean will show The Story of Stuff, a great 20-minute movie on where all the stuff we use every day
comes from, how it’s used, and where it ends up. Join him and enjoy the show!
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December 13, 2007
Keeping Our Heads Above Water: Carbon Sequestration for Sustainability of Maryland Tidal Marshes
Dr. Brian Needelman, University of Maryland, Department of Environmental Science and Technology, College Park MD
Synposis: Tidal marsh loss is widespread in the Chesapeake Bay basin due to sea level rise and other anthropogenic and natural stresses. The
sustainability of a marsh under sea level rise is dependent on rates of organic and mineral accretion. Organic matter accretion is maximized by high net primary productivity and low
decomposition rates---both related to marsh conditions and management practices. Tidal marsh restoration projects may be eligible for carbon credits under various regional and national
programs including the northeast Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative. Dr. Needelman will discuss the role of carbon sequestration in marsh sustainability for existing and restored
marshes in the region. Results will be compared from a marsh restored in 2003 and a natural marsh at the Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge in Dorchester County. The potential and
challenges of obtaining carbon credits for marsh conservation and restoration will also be discussed.
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Friday Nov 9, 2007
Effects of sediment grain size on competitive abilities of Hydrilla verticillata and Vallisneria americana at Otter Point Creek, MD
Lauren McChesney, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science: Appalachian Lab
Synposis: As non-native plant species continue to expand their ranges, they may have deleterious effects on other plant species and may negatively
affect ecosystem processes. This may be particularly true in estuarine environments, where native submersed aquatic vegetation (SAV) populations are much reduced (compared to historical
coverage) and are vulnerable to competition from introduced species. However, invasive species may be managed and native species restored if competitive abilities of species growing
under different environmental conditions are better understood. Sediment grain size in particular has often been ignored when attempting to understand why native species persist in
areas invaded by non-native species, though it may drastically affect the distribution and abundance of SAV populations.The objective of this project is therefore to test the effect of
sediment grain size on the competitive abilities of Hydrilla verticillata (an invasive species) and Vallisneria americana (a native species) in a greenhouse experiment and to determine
if patches separate based on sediment type in Otter Point Creek (OPC), part of the Chesapeake Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve. Results of this study will provide managers at
Otter Point Creek, local, state, and federal levels with information about the invasive abilities of H. verticillata, and the competitive abilities of native species under different
environmental conditions
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October 9, 2007
Dutch and European Environmental Legislation and Consequences for Power Plant Operations: Cooling Water and Air Emissions
Mr. Maarten Bruijs, KEMA Nederland BV, The Netherlands and Mr. Joop Kraijesteijn, KEMA Inc., Burlington, MA
Synposis: During the past few years, new legislation on environmental issues was enacted in Europe. Two major items are the Integrated Pollution
Prevention Control Directive for industrial installations that concerns optimization of energy efficiency and environmental impact (with specific documents for power plants) and the
Water Framework Directive, legislation on water quality. The Water Framework Directive requires that European waters achieve good ecological status by the end of 2015. These regulations
have direct and indirect effects on power plant operations and their emissions to water and air. In the Netherlands, specific guidelines have been developed for cooling water. This
presentation will point out the most important aspects of this new legislation. Examples will be discussed on how the power industry is dealing with these regulations, as well as KEMA's
activities in this arena. Other topics will include chlorination, modeling of heat discharge, fish impingement/entraiment, and CO2/NOX.
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September 21, 2007
What's Down There? Mapping Seafloor Habitats
Mr. Bob Conkwright, Maryland Geological Survey, Baltimore, MD
Synposis: Detailed mapping of benthic habitats off Ocean City, MD assists in the assessment and management of ocean floor resources. When the seafloor
is disturbed by dredging, reef construction, and or storms, the effects have widespread impacts on biological communities and the natural physical processes that shape the coast. Since
1984, Maryland Geological Survey has been gathering information about the ocean bottom off Ocean City via partnerships with the U.S. Minerals Management Service, Delaware Geological
Survey, U.S. Geological Survey, National Park Service, and the Army Corps of Engineers. Because mapping large areas of the seafloor is expensive using traditional sampling techniques,
MGS developed remote sensing capabilities on board DNR's R/V Kerhin using an acoustic seabed classification system, side scan sonar imagery, magnetometry, and seismic sub-bottom
profiling systems. Mr. Conkwright will discuss these techniques and results of MGS' mapping efforts.
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June 28, 2007
Chester River Association: A Community-Based Advocacy Organization Conserving, Protecting, and Fostering the Restoration of a Major Eastern Shore Watershed
Mr. Tony Prochaska, Chester Riverkeeper, Chester River Association, Chestertown, MD
Synposis: The Chester River Association (CRA) is an environmental non-profit organization established in 1986 to conserve and protect the Chester River
and its tributaries. From its headwaters in Delaware to its mouth at Love Point, the Chester's mainstem stretches 60 miles, is fed by 43 named tributaries, and has a watershed that
covers 390 square miles. In the last year, the CRA has initiated an aggressive advocacy plan that addresses both local and regional environmental issues. We have also made notable
improvements to our monitoring programs, allowing us to track water quality trends in the non-tidal tributaries and identify specific pollution sources. Another step toward improving
the river's quality is our new agriculture program, designed to assist farmers in understanding the state and federal programs that provide financial assistance in exchange for
implementing sound conservation practices. Overall, these new steps taken by CRA are imperative in developing a comprehensive plan to reduce pollution entering the Chester River and its
tributaries.
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June 14, 2007
Scorpaeniforms, Sculpins, Speciation, and Sex.
Dr. Richard L. Raesly, Biology Department, Frostburg State University, Frostburg, MD
Synposis: Freshwater sculpins in the genus Cottus are often the most abundant fishes in small streams throughout much of the northern hemisphere.
Despite their abundance, these fishes have received little attention by aquatic biologists. Cottids are the freshwater descendants of marine ancestors, with evolutionary relationships
in the group poorly understood. Five distinct linkages have recently been recognized on the basis of molecular data. Taxonomy at the species level is often poorly resolved. Although
fewer than 50 species have been described from North America, the number is estimated to be at least 200. These fishes are an ideal model for the study of evolutionary process, ecology,
and mate choice. An overview of sculpin biology will be presented, followed by a discussion of current research on this interesting group of fishes.
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June 12, 2007
Novel Multi-Metric Assessment Systems For European Rivers In Line With The Water Framework Directive: The Role Of Structural And Functional Community Composition Of
Riverine Benthic Macro-Invertebrates
Dr. Christian K. Feld, Unversity of Duisberg-Essen, Institute of Biology-Applied Zoology/Hydrology, Essen, Germany
Synposis: The European Water Framework Directive (WFD) issued in 2000 lead to a paradigm change in European water research and management. For the first
time, a directive has set the framework for integrative river basin management and river quality assessment, the latter to be mainly focused on and derived from biological quality
elements. This major requirement initiated multiple research and development activities in order to develop novel approaches in river assessment to meet the demands of the WFD all over
Europe.
The new assessment approaches and tools can be divided into two major groups taking i) structural attributes and ii) functional attributes of the riverine benthic macro-invertebrate
community. Structural attributes refer to the taxonomical structure, i.e. specific taxa, taxa numbers of sensitive taxa or the composition of the community. Functional measures, in
contrast, refer to the function of macroinvertebrate communities in rivers, i.e. the role or niche they play and occupy, respectively. Typical examples of functional attributes are
functional feeding types of riverine macro-invertebrates, their habitat or current preferences.
In order to investigate the relation of benthic macro-invertebrates to environmental gradients in Central European lowland rivers, the taxonomic structure and functional composition
were related to gradients at four different spatial scales (ecoregion, catchment, reach and site). The environmental variables at the catchment-, reach- and site scales reflected the
intensity of human impact: catchment and floodplain land use, riparian and floodplain degradation, flow regulation and river bank and bed modification.
Multivariate statistics identified clear environmental gradients along the two main gradients, namely, land use and hydromorphological degradation. The impact of catchment land use
on benthic macroinvertebrates was mainly revealed by the proportion of urban areas. At the reach scale, riparian and floodplain attributes (bank fixation, riparian wooded vegetation,
shading) and the proportion of large woody debris were strong predictors of the taxonomic structure and functional composition of benthic macroinvertebrates. At the site scale,
artificial substrata indicated human impact, particularly the proportion of macro-and mesolithal used for bank enforcement (rip-rap). The study revealed the importance of benthic
macroinvertebrate functional measures (functional guilds, sensitivity and tolerance measures, diversity measures) for detecting the impact of hydromorphological stress at different
spatial scales.
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May 31, 2007
Brook Trout Management in Maryland - State and National Perspectives
Mr. Alan Heft, Fisheries Service, Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Frostburg, MD
Synposis: Brook trout are Maryland's only native freshwater trout species and have been a popular recreational angling resource since European
colonization of North America. Anthropogenic alteration to Maryland's environment over the last several centuries, including clear cutting of forests, establishing large agricultural
areas, and urbanization have resulted in the extirpation of brook trout from 62% of their historic habitat----a disturbing trend that has been occuring throughout their range in the
eastern United States. Concern for the status of the brook trout resource prompted the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Inland Fisheries Management Division, to recently
develop a statewide brook trout Fisheries Management Plan (FMP). Additionally, on a national scale the Eastern Brook Trout Joint Venture (EBTJV), a consortium of state, federal,
academic, and NGO groups, was formed in 2005 to address brook trout conservaton and restoration on a range-wide scale. Maryland has been an active partner in the EBTJV.
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May 24, 2007
Developing the eastern oyster, Crassostrea virginica, as a biological indicator of nitrogen sources
Ben Fertig, UMCES
Synposis: Deleterious effects of nitrogen loading to coastal waters with inputs from anthropogenic sources, such as fertilizer and manure runoff as well
as sewage effluents are well documented. Management of non-point nutrients, particularly nitrogen, often requires source determination and monitoring. Stable nitrogen isotopes from
several macroalgae and aquatic plant species have previously indicated nitrogen sources. Such indicators lack an integrating temporal component, though using consumers may overcome this
problem. The eastern oyster, (Crassostrea virginica) is potentially a simple yet powerful spatial and temporal indicator of nitrogen sources. If applied regionally, oysters can provide
spatially explicit baseline datasets of biologically important nitrogen sources to focus nutrient reduction strategies. Eastern oysters can serve as intuitive indicators of nutrient
inputs, facilitating effective communication of monitoring results.
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May 17, 2007
The Secret Life of Box Turtles
Christopher Swarth, Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary
Synposis: This presentation will describe a study of the ecology and habitat use of Eastern Box Turtles living next to a large freshwater tidal wetland
on the Patuxent River. Over a twelve year period at the Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary (part of the Chesapeake Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve), we've determined population size and
structure, seasonal movements, home range, overwintering site characteristics, and diet. Our results differ in important ways from Lucille Stickel's famous, long-term studies at the
Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, which indicates that there is still much to learn about these interesting reptiles. I'll also discuss conservation efforts that are underway to halt
population declines.
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May 10, 2007
A History of the Rise and Decline and Fall of the Brookie Empire
Dr. Raymond P. Morgan II, University of Maryland Appalachian Laboratory, Frostburg, MD
Synposis: Historically, Maryland contained significant pre-colonial native brook trout populations. But now, only remnant, highly fragmented and
disjunct populations occur throughout the state. These relict brook trout populations, evolved in the Pleistocene, are highly vulnerable to anthropogenic stresses, and many may become
extinct in the near future. Employing primarily Maryland Biological Stream Survey (MBSS) data, the effects of various stressors on Maryland brook trout populations were investigated.
Combining GIS with MBSS data sets and landscape-based characteristics, including watershed impervious surface, road density, roads near streams, forest fragmentation, and other
potential stressors were examined to determine effects on stream community structure. Brook trout population fragmentation and compression, exotic species effects, and stream
connectivity are major threats to the continued existence of brook trout in Maryland. Native brook trout populations in many watersheds are becoming more and more restricted to
headwaters, with resulting detrimental effects on population connectivity and potentially genetic structure. The looming problem of global climate warming is likely to be further
restricting the distribution of brook trout in its native range.
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April 12, 2007
Buried Floodplains and Old Mines: Understanding Legacy Agricultural Sediments in Maryland Valleys
Dr. Daniel J. Bain, University of Pittsburgh, Department of Geology and Planetary Science, Pittsburgh, PA
Synposis: The origin and continued influence of legacy sediments in Maryland Piedmont valleys is an important consideration in the successful management
of the Chesapeake Basin. Upland best management practices designed to limit sediment and nutrient inputs can quickly be compromised during remobilization of early agricultural deposits.
In addition, valleys filled with legacy sediments can be poor buffers of nutrient inputs. However, post-European over-bank deposition is hard to reconstruct due to the short temporal
coverage of conventional radiometric dating (e.g., Cs137 and Pb210) and biomarker deterioration during exposure to oxygen. This talk presents results of research conducted as part of
the Baltimore Ecosystem Study (an LTER site) that utilizes a novel, regional sediment tracer: chromium mining waste. Maryland was the global source for chromium between 1820 and 1840.
The associated mining activity intoduced a sediment tracer to downstream systems during periods of rapid agricultural clearance. This tracer allows additional precision and control in
reconstruction of floodplain sedimentation rates. We reconstructed sedimentation rates in a set of nested basins in western Baltimore County and found sedimentation occurred earlier
than regional models suggest. These findings provide perspective on the causes and timing of valley sedimentation, as well as perspective on contemporary impacts to watershed processes,
including nutrient retention and sediment yield. These results also illustrate the advantages of using the chromium tracer as a watershed analysis tool in Maryland, particularly as the
tool can be applied in most Maryland western tributaries to the Chesapeake Bay.
A 6.1 MB Powerpoint of this presentation is available for download.
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March 29, 2007
Of Rice & Rails: The delicate ecology of wild rice marshes on the Patuxent River
Greg Kearns, Patuxent River Park, Croom, MD
Synposis: Greg Kearns, a MNCPPC naturalist for over 25 years at Patuxent River Park in Croom, MD is an accomplished photographer, expert birder, and a
renowned authority on the Sora Rail (that elusive bird of the marshes) and wetland ecology at Jug Bay. Jug Bay is a component of Maryland's Chesapeake Bay National Estuarine Research
Reserve (CBNERR). Greg's interest in the secret life of Sora Rails began in 1987 at Jug Bay and led to ground-breaking research that found answers to those life-history questions
through improved trapping techniques (banding more than 4,000 rails), digital sound, and radio telemetry. At their peak in 1998, he banded 1,300 rails; by the year 2000, only 100. He
and USGS biologist Mike Haramis linked the decline of the rails to the vanishing stands of wild rice (95% decline) they observed during the same period, and realized "something has to
be done." Grants From NOAA and MD-DNR funded a study that turned into a full scale restoration effort once the culprit was discovered; resident Canada geese grazed 1-2 pounds of wild
rice/day per bird, and whose population was increasing 15% per year during the 1990s.
As a result of a goose management plan Greg coordinated by involving public landowners at Jug Bay and the physical installation of four miles of fencing to keep geese out of wild
rice plots, there has been a dramatic recovery. Today the wild rice has recovered close to the amount there twenty years ago. Will Sora numbers increase as well? How have other
waterfowl been affected? "It's a very delicate balance," Greg says."There's nothing in wetlands more productive and nutritious than stands of wild rice for seed-eating migrant birds ."
Greg will share his slides and stories on nature's delicate balancing act.
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March 22, 2007
Maryland Forests and Deer Browse: What's the Problem?
Dr. Anne Hairston-Strang, Maryland Department of Natural Resources
Synposis: Deer browse can affect the ability of forests to regenerate, especially for native historic forest types. Deer exclosures have been erected by
the City of Baltimore and Maryland National Capital Park and Planning Commission (MNCPPC). Dr. Hairston-Strang, a forest hydrologist, will present and compare data collected over a
period of six years in enclosures where deer were excluded with browsed areas in forests surrounding Baltimore City reservoirs. She will also present data collected in 10-year-old
exclosures erected by the MNCPPC in Prince George's County to show changes in tree species occurrence over time. The 2 MB Powerpoint presentation is available here.
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March 8, 2007
From Science to 'Git Er Done': Life As a State Liaison for the Highlands Action Program
Mr. Paul F. Kazyak, Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Annapolis
Synposis: In this exciting and informative talk, Paul will relate his new role as Maryland's official liaison to the Highlands Action Program. He will
describe what the HAP is, why it's a brand new ball game, and what's been accomplished in just a few months. Having learned many useful lessons about government during his lengthy
tenure with DNR's Maryland Biological Stream Survey, Paul will also pass along his top 10 newly-learned lessons about working in the restoration/protection/stewardship arenas, working
with other states, and working with the U.S. EPA.
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February 22, 2007
Progging for Turtles
Dr. Paula F.P. Henry, USGS - Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Beltsville, Maryland
Synposis: The diamondback terrapin is the only obligate brackish water turtle in North America and a prominent inhabitant in the largest estuary in the
United States, the Chesapeake Bay. Since the life history and reproductive cycle of the Northern diamondback terrapin depend so strongly on the diverse habitats and rich resources of
the Bay, its survival and well-being may be a reflection of the Bay's health. Biologists at the USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center conducted field studies on the diamondback
terrapin in the Maryland portion of the Bay watershed from 2000-2006. Spatial analyses of land use and projected urban development applied to field data collected on presence/absence of
nest sites are used to quantify the risks posed by development and habitat loss. These analyses also point out the increasing importance of undisturbed marsh and island habitats to this
species' survival. Differences in terrapin population structures associated with various habitat types within a region and between two distinctive sites in the Bay watershed are
discussed relative to describing a Bay-wide population status.
Directions to DNR
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