The U.S. Ocean Commission Report identified the need for regional ecosystem assessments to support coastal and ocean management. These assessments must provide greater understanding of physical and biological dynamics than assessments at global and national scales can provide but transcend state and local interests. This need and timeliness is apparent for Long Island Sound, where a multi-state regional restoration program is underway for America's most urbanized estuary. Synthesis of the Long Island Sound ecosystem is needed to integrate knowledge across disciplines and provide insight into understanding and managing pressing issues, such as non-point sources of pollution, coastal development, global climatic change, and invasive species. Currently, there is a need for a comprehensive volume that summarizes the ecological and environmental dynamics and status of Long Island Sound and its myriad ecosystems. It has been 30 years since a comprehensive summary of Long Island Sound was prepared and 50 years since the pioneering work of Gordon Riley. Major advances in estuarine science are providing new insights into these systems, and yet, the condition of many estuaries is in decline in the face of continuing coastal development. There is an opportunity to lay a foundation for integrative coastal observing systems that truly provide the foundation for improved decision-making. This book will provide a key reference of our scientific understanding for work performed over the past three decades and guide future research and monitoring in a dynamic urbanized estuary.
This book details environmental data collected by researchers from the academic and agency communities on the dynamics of Long Island Sound. It lays a foundation for integrative coastal observing systems that can be used to improve decision-making.
1. Geological History of Long Island Sound (Authors: R. Lewis, H. Bokuniewicz, J. Varekamp and C. Cuomo) 2. Socioeconomic History of Long Island Sound (Authors: M. Weigold, E. Pillsbury, and J. Varekamp) 3. Physical Oceanography (Contributors: F. Bohlen, M. Bowman, R. Lewis, K. Lwiza, J. O'Donnell, R.L. Swanson, M. Whitney, R. Wilson) 3.1. Introduction: basic characteristics of Long Island Sound as a large, temperate latitude, partially mixed estuary located on the US eastern seaboard. Basic hydrography and geomorphology: physical dimensions, geomorphology, principal connections to the ocean and New York Harbor, temperature, salinity, density and location of freshwater sources. Spatial structure of hydrographic properties. Meteorology: winds, heating, cooling, air-sea interaction: properties and seasonal cycles. Rivers and watersheds. Tides, tidal currents, resonance, tidal stirring. Gravitational circulation. Wind driven and tidal residual currents, mixing and surges. Tidal mixing and estuarine fronts. Surface waves. 3.2. Topics in Physical Oceanography and related effects Significance of small bays/inlets to LIS oceanography and water quality ( Do they export nutrients? Is there sediment accumulation? Is there an effect of constricting the entrance? Ground water input Water treatment plants in CT discharge into bays (Stonington) and we need to know the processing/trapping etc. Proximity consequences of Metropolitan New York Point and distributed sources of contamination Sewage treatment and discharges into East River STP nitrogen and carbon concentrations and budgets Atmospheric contributions of nitrogen Physical Processes influencing hypoxia (Authors: K. Lwiza, R. Wilson, R.L. Swanson, J. O'Donnell) Seasonal vertical mixing rates Horizontal advection and dispersion of dissolved oxygen and nitrogen between regions Boundary exchanges between the East River, LIS and the ocean Water column stratification: insolation, fresh water runoff and tidal mixing variations Winds: seasonal patterns, storms, surges and mixing Climate variability Impact of Severe Storms: Nor'easters and Hurricanes (Authors: M. Bowman, R. Wilson, F. Bohlen, Colle, Buonaiuto) Basic properties of hurricanes and nor'easters Storm surge and inundation (frequency and magnitude) Historical storm tracks Surge characteristics and timing Coastal pollutant transport Coastal and bottom erosion by storm waves Climate change and interannual variability (Authors: R. Wilson, M. Bowman, M. Whitney) Water temperature and pattern Precipitation changes and river discharge Timing and magnitude of river fresher/salinity distributions Wind variability and direction Seasonal variation in stratification Links to NAO and other indices? Impacts of sea level rise (Authors: M. Bowman, M. Whitney, J. Varekamp) Change tides Frequency of flooding Shore line erosion and salt mash impacts Change salt flux in East river Change the frictional dissipation distribution Strom surge barriers and tidal gates Big Questions? What controls vertical mixing rates and variability? What controls the benthic exchange? (including sediment resuspension, transport, nutrients, radiotracers) What controls the: Horizontal transport (salt, water, nitrogen, carbon) and exchange through the East River? Horizontal transport (salt, water, nitrogen, carbon) and exchange through the Race? Horizontal transport (salt, water, nitrogen, carbon) and exchange through the CT Rivers? What is the ground water flux? What is the surface heat and water flux? What is the surface momentum flux? ESTABLISH the sensitivity of SWEM to the simulation of physical processes by developing at least two additional models RECONSIDER the biogeochemical model UPDATE the biogeochemical coeffiecients Rivers & Watersheds - Connecticut - Housatonic - Quinnipiac & Mill - Thames East River Exchange with small bays Groundwater (Authors: K. Cochran, T. Torgersen in other chapter) Surface exchanges (water, heat, CO2 and O2), (Authors: E. Monahan, J. Edson) Geology (Suggested Author - R. Lewis) the bathymetry and its evolution characteristics of the sediments sediment sources and transport mechanisms Benthic Disturbances (Cables, Pipelines, Navigational Dredging (mechanical disturbance) and Dredge Material Disposal (Authors: F. Bohlen, R. Lewis) Turbidity modulation Bottom stress (current and waves) Circulation Bed sediment type and geomorphology TSS transport Tidal power Wind power 4. Biogeochemistry Modules (all subjects will be considered with regards to spatial & temporal trends) Diagenesis Overview (Author - R. Aller) Bioturbation/Bioirrigation - Quantity, Seasonal Variation, Benthic Faunal Links, Rates, Functional Groups (Authors: J. Aller, C. Cuomo, K. Cochran, D. Rhoads, R. Cerrato) Carbonate Dissolution - Biomineral Cycling - Silica (Authors: R. Aller, M. Green) Fluxes [O, Si, N, P, (CH4,Mn, S)], Organic Matter Remineralization, Sed-Water Column, Maps (Authors: R. Aller, M. Altabet, C. Cuomo) Radionuclide-Sources, Inventories (Lateral Exchange of Particles) (Authors: K.Cochran, R. Aller) [Water Column Nutrient Dynamics - oxygen to ecological conditions] - will include here if not being included in any other section Pulses of Organic Matter - organic compounds, pigments (Authors: R. Aller, K.Cochran, M.Altabet) Sulfur Cycling - Pore Water/Solid Phase, S Pools, S Fluxes (Authors: C.Cuomo, R. Aller, P. Visscher) Redox-Sensitive Metals (Mn) (Authors: R.Aller, D.Wang) Microbial Communities (Authors: J. Aller, C.Cuomo, P. Visscher) Stable Isotopic Tracers of Nutrient Element Budgets (Author - M. Altabet) Air-Sea Interface Exchange - CO2, O2 Coarse-Grained Sediments (Authors: K.Cochran,, T. Torgesen) Water Column Metal Geochemistry (Authors: A. Beck, D. Wang) 5. Pollutant Sources, Magnitudes and Trends Historical trends in contaminant loadings, geological to modern, as preserved in sediment cores (Authors: M. tenBrink, J. Varekamp, G.. Benoit, K. Cochran, W. Fitzgerald) Data on sediment cores showing differences in contaminant accumulation rate (if available) or concentrations Methods of digestion/analyses Dating constraints, bioturbation Marsh cores - well dated records with atmospheric inputs + particulate bound compounds/elements Lake cores for atmospheric deposition records Climatic impacts on records Influence from point sources Sources: USGS database, individual researchers 30 year records - Contaminant sources of LIS (Authors: J. Mullaney, P. Stacey, S. Anisfeld, B. Cotrell, T. Graedel, M. Liebman) Riverine inputs Atmospheric inputs nutrients and metals, sewage flux data Changes in land use - model fluxes related to these changes Submarine discharges * Extrapolating to PCBs, S California sludge data set for trends in metals et al., PAHs from other areas,- industrial ecology? Tie in land-use data to loadings (LISS, Stacey). USGS database, for Nutrients, ambient monitoring, LI data? Region 1 EPA? Submarine discharge inputs USGS, Region 1&2 regional offices on sewage, 1993 to present nutrient data , NYDEP, N and P and Si, & TOC, ratios of N/P? Sergio data Current inventory and recent trends in contaminants in space and time (Authors: V. Breslin, M. tenBrink, B. Brownawell, P. Stacey, L. Poppe, R. Flood, A. McElroy) Surface sediments from LIS TOC data Water column concentration data (nutrients) Link to sediment deposition and transport, include water column nutrient. Dredging and disposal Sources: NOAA, EMAP, REMAP, NCA, Mussel Watch. Metal Budgets and Processes (Authors: W. Fitzgerald, R. Mason, J. Varekamp, G. Benoit, V. Breslin, M. tenBrink) Metals - Hg, Cu, Cr, Pb, Cd, Sn, Ag Organic contaminants (Authors: B. Brownawell, G. Benoit, A. McElroy, S. deGuise, R. Burgess) Legacy compounds, emerging contaminants PCB PAH Chlorinated pesticides PBDE PFOS PFOA EDC's Pesticides Nanotubes Nutrients and Carbon (Authors: M. Altabet, P. Stacey, J. Varekamp, J. Mullaney, J. Kremer) N, P, Si, C - total inputs, spatial distribution of inputs, sediment sink, export with biota (lobster, fish), N-species, denitrification, remobilization fluxes from sediment, distinction between OC-marine and OC-terrestrial, tidal export. Bioaccumulation and effects of contaminants on LIS biota (Authors: A. McElroy, S. deGuise, B. Brownawell, R. Mason) Spatial and temporal trends Metals, organics, Mussel, Watch, Striped bass surveys, NCA REMAP Other Issues (Authors: R.L. Swanson, M. Liebman) Plastics and other floatable debris, Bacteria, pathogens, viruses Antibiotic resistance Oil and grease Sources: Save the Sound, The Littoral Soc. Future trends (Authors: A. McElroy, M. ten Brink, J. Varekamp) Climate change Relaxation of hypoxia Major storms Sea level rise Changes in population and related energy use 6. Biological Conditions Food Web Structure and Trophic Interactions Water Column Microbes (G.M. Capriulo) Phytoplankton (u-flagellates, diatoms, dinoflagellates, other; G. Wikfors, Senjie Lin) Protozooplankton & other microzooplankton (G.M. Capriulo) Macrozooplankton (suggested: W. Peterson, G.M. Capriulo) Meroplankton (suggested: W. Peterson, G. Lopez) Trophic Connections (G.M. Capriulo) Key biological groups that impact conditions (G.M. Capriulo, W Peterson, G. Wikfors, G. Lopez) Benthos Microbes (none agreed) Protozoans (E. Thomas) Micro-fauna, Meso-fauna, Macro-fauna (G. Lopez, R. Cerrato ?, R. Whitlatch) Seaweeds, seagrasses, salt marsh grasses (S. Warren, C. Yarish) Trophic connections (suggested: G. Lopez, R. Whitlatch) Key biological groups that impact conditions (G. Lopez, R. Whitlatch) Alterations due to natural influences and human-induced perturbations Spatial (e.g. East to West) variations (G.M. Capriulo, G. Wikfors, C. Yarish) Biological influences on the formation of Hypoxia/anoxia (G. M. Capriulo, W. Peterson) Toxic red tides & other toxic algal blooms (G. Wikfors, C. Gobler) Biodiversity (J. Carlton, R. Whitlatch, H. Weiss, R. Zajac, G. Wikfors, W. Peterson) Assessment of key groups (H. Weiss, R. Zajac, G. Wikfors) Naturally-influenced and human-induced changes in biological equilibria (R. Whitlatch, G. Lopez, H. Dam, J. Carlton) Introduced/invasive species (J. Carlton, H. Weiss) Diseases of important organisms (G. Wikfors) Seasonal dynamics of organism life cycles & pollutant impacts (H. Weiss) Habitats & Their Changing Qualities (G.M. Capriulo, R. Whitlatch, G. Lopez, C. Yarish, R. Zajac?, B. Peterson) Water column (vertical structure, spatial variation, frontal zones; suggested: G.M. Capriulo, W. Peterson) Benthos (mud, sand, gravel, rocks; suggested: G.Lopez, R. Whitlatch, R. Cerrato ?) Salt marshes and wetlands (S. Warren ?, R. Rosa?) Bays, coves, harbors (K Chytalo?, R. Rosa?) Fisheries and the Impact of Harvesting (W. Wise, M. Frisk, D. Simpson, D. Conover) Fish & shellfish communities (Frisk/Conover) LIS fisheries (Wise/Simpson) Impact of harvesting on fish & shellfish populations; management (Frisk, Simpson, Conover) Wildlife (M. Weiss) Physiological Responses to Hypoxia/Anoxia (M. McEnroe, G. Lopez) 7. Ecological Processes Primary Production and Fate The synthesis will attempt to cover both pelagic and nearshore areas. Lead authors for pelagic work: H. Dam, Goebel, S. Lin, J. Kremer, W. Peterson, J. Varekamp; Lead authors for nearshore work: C. Yarish, S. Warren, C. Pickerell, B. Peterson) * Data sets: LISS/DEP monitoring programs (88-2007) W. Peterson's (Central Sound 1985-88) J. Kremer's (early 2000's) Riley's study (50's) Varekamp's (paleorecord) What controls primary production Light Temperature Nutrients Is it primary producers Growth - respiration - biomass approach (equation) - dB/dT=growth-R-Grazing-Sink Fate of production Quantity Identity Have there been changes in the driving functions of primary production, and in the primary production in the last 50 yrs (since Riley) - Riley data is uncertain, we can't tell; Use other historical data ? How does it effect ecosystem community - Total - Water column - Benthic Why? - Nutrients - other anthropogenic forcings - Physical What are the spatial and temporal distribution, gradients in drivers of PP, biomass and PP? - Are gradients reflected in productivity in different habitats (benthic, marsh) - Not a lot of info on benthic production - Reasonable info on marsh production - Biomass level - Links to management applications - Projected changes related to climate change/how has it changed already Has structure of primary producers changed - has there been a shift in community structure? - What are the food web consequences of that? - What controls the community structure - why and how? - Rate of change (post disturbance) - Changes in forcing factors 7.2. Trophic Transfers & Dynamics - Forcing Function Effects (Light, Temperature, Nutrients, Biological Agents) in the Pelagic and Benthic Realms (Authors: G.M. Capriulo, G. Lopez, R. Whitlatch, G. Wikfors, R. Zajac, R. Cerrato, E. Thomas, J. Kremer, P. Auster, H. Hayes, H. Dam) What are the changes in the fate of the production? Role of primary production in driving hypoxia Exchange of biomass in production Changes in sinks Spatial variation Has ratio of grazing to sinking changed and is it spatially variable - Links fate to food webs - Hypoxia - Food availability for benthic and pelagic - Cloern - DO equation Fate through food web links Shifts in biological partitioning among key food web components in the pelagic and benthic realms via changes in species composition and related production outcomes Horizontal & vertical trophic imports & exports Migrations Losses due to predation and subsequent predator movements Human-mediated transport Respiratory loss Possible changes in grazing to sinking ratios of primary production Dominance of grazer food webs vs. detrital food webs Thresholds & physiological limits Top down vs. bottom up controls Response to Disturbance (Diseases and Invasive) (Authors: R. Zajac, R. Whitlatch, R. Cerrato, B. Allam, M. Fast, A. Whelchel, G. Lopez) Disturbance regimes Natural Anthropogenic Sources and scales ACE Chronic vs emp Biological disturbances; invasions, disease Land use; armoring shoreline, breakwaters, marinas Responses to disturbance: spatial and temporal Overall processes and responses; organism responses to different stressors Provide case studies: lobster, dredging organize around an ecological hierarchy Functional groups and threshold effects Effects of multiple stressors; additive Indicator species Timing of disturbance Managing disturbance Dredging and pipelines Climate change: temp., sea level rise Management Issues (Current and Future) (Authors: M. Tedesco, C. Garza, L. Swanson, C. Yarish, A. Whelchel)