Grantee Research Project Results

2004 Progress Report: Development of an Optical Indicator of Habitat Suitability for Submersed Aquatic Vegetation

EPA Grant Number: R828684C002
Subproject: this is subproject number 002 , established and managed by the Center Director under grant R828684
(EPA does not fund or establish subprojects; EPA awards and manages the overall grant for this center).
Center: Center for Integrated Multi‐scale Nutrient Pollution Solutions
Center Director: Shortle, James S.
Title: Development of an Optical Indicator of Habitat Suitability for Submersed Aquatic Vegetation
Investigators: Gallegos, Charles L.
Current Investigators: Wardrop, Denice Heller , Hershner, Carl , Havens, Kirk , Thornton, Kent
Institution: Smithsonian Environmental Research Center
Current Institution: Pennsylvania State University , Virginia Institute of Marine Science , FTN Associates, Ltd
EPA Project Officer: Packard, Benjamin H
Project Period: March 1, 2001 through February 28, 2005 (Extended to February 28, 2006)
Project Period Covered by this Report: March 1, 2003 through February 28, 2004
RFA: Environmental Indicators in the Estuarine Environment Research Program (2000) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Aquatic Ecosystems , Ecological Indicators/Assessment/Restoration , Water

Objective:

This is the second of four subprojects under the Atlantic Slope Consortium (ASC) center. It is closely related to subproject R828684C001, Integrated Assessment of Estuarine Ecosystems. The objective of this research project is to develop a regionally extensive diagnostic indicator of habitat suitability for submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) based on optical properties. For this purpose, field studies are being conducted to understand the regional variation in optical properties of suspended particulate material in the Chesapeake Bay region.

Progress Summary:

Activities during Year 4 of the project focused on analysis of data collected and refinement of the optical indicator developed during the prior 2 years. The indicator utilizes concentrations of optically active water quality parameters to determine whether sufficient light penetrates the water column for growth of SAV. Differences in indicator values between vegetated and non-vegetated sites were found to be attributable both to differences in water quality concentrations and to site-specific differences in mass-specific optical properties of the suspended particulate matter. Sites classified as developed watersheds consistently exhibited lower indicator scores, whereas forested and agricultural watersheds showed only minor differences. Because of the inferential design of the study, there are no clear ways to determine the mechanisms by which development alters the optical properties of the particulate matter.

Collection of water samples concluded in November 2003. All quality analyses have been completed. Sample collection by Atlantic Coast Environmental Indicators Consortium (ACE-INC) collaborators also has concluded. In support of the indicator development, ACE-INC personnel determined the depth limits of the Zostera bed at Middle Marsh to be 1.7 m, close to the limit predicted by the optical indicator.

Future Activities:

We will prepare the final report and any additional manuscripts.

Journal Articles on this Report : 1 Displayed | Download in RIS Format

Publications Views
Other subproject views:	All 5 publications	3 publications in selected types	All 2 journal articles
Other center views:	All 166 publications	51 publications in selected types	All 44 journal articles

Publications
Type	Citation	Sub Project	Document Sources
Journal Article	Gallegos CL, Biber PD. Diagnostic tool help set water quality targets for restoring submerged aquatic vegetation in Chesapeake Bay. Ecological Restoration 2004;22(4):1441-1451	R828684C002 (2004) R828677C004 (2004)	not available

Supplemental Keywords:

ecological indicator, optical indicator, submerged aquatic vegetation, SAV, Chesapeake Bay, mesohaline, Atlantic Slope Consortium, aquatic biota, aquatic ecosystem, aquatic ecosystems, aquatic habitat, bioindicator, biomonitoring, coastal ecosystem, degradation, ecological assessment, ecological exposure, ecosystem assessment, ecosystem indicators, ecosystem stress, environmental stress, estuarine ecosystems, integrated assessment, integrative indicators, land use, nutrient stress, optical indicators,, RFA, Ecosystem Protection/Environmental Exposure & Risk, Scientific Discipline, Air, Geographic Area, ECOSYSTEMS, ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT, Water, Ecological Indicators, Ecological Risk Assessment, Mid-Atlantic, Ecosystem Protection, Terrestrial Ecosystems, Atmosphere, Biology, Ecosystem/Assessment/Indicators, Air Pollution Effects, Ecological Monitoring, Ecological Effects - Environmental Exposure & Risk, Hydrology, Nutrients, climate change, Risk Assessment, integrated assessment, integrative indicators, aquatic biota , ecosystem assessment, socioeconomics, nutrient stress, submerged aquatic vegetation, bioindicator, coastal ecosystem, ecological assessment, aquatic ecosystem, environmental monitoring, ecosystem indicators, Chesapeake Bay, environmental stress, remote sensing, ecosystem stress, ecological exposure, Chesapeake Bay trophic network, estuarine ecosystems, land use, bioindicators, aquatic ecosystems, biomonitoring, degradation, Atlantic Slope Consortium, aquatic habitat, optical indicators

Relevant Websites:

http://www.asc.psu.edu

Progress and Final Reports:

Original Abstract

Main Center Abstract and Reports:

R828684 Center for Integrated Multi‐scale Nutrient Pollution Solutions

Subprojects under this Center: (EPA does not fund or establish subprojects; EPA awards and manages the overall grant for this center).
R828684C001 Integrated Assessment of Estuarine Ecosystems
R828684C002 Development of an Optical Indicator of Habitat Suitability for Submersed Aquatic Vegetation
R828684C003 Integrated Assessment of Watersheds
R828684C004 Socioeconomic and Institutional Research

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The perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.