Coastal America Foundation

Buzzards Bay, MAClimate Change Benchmarking

Howard Sanders 1955 Stations

Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts

All CAF Benthic Stations in Buzzards Bay

A-H Identified

I-M in lab

N-R 2014

0 to 2 % gravel in 1955

4 “Gravel” stations are Crepidula fornicata shell (retained on the gravel sieve in Grain Size Curves) in 2011/2012

C and E not as dominated with Crepidula, but dense Polygordius concentrations.

(> Crepidula )= (> silt/clay)

Table 3. Grain Size of 1955 and 2011/2012 sample stations. 1

Grain Size of Sanders (S-55-) and Coastal America Foundation (CAF-) Stations A through H

% Gravel-

Fine %Sand-Coarse

%Sand-Medium

%Sand-Fine %Silt/Clay

CAF-A 63.74 2.45 11.08 7.80 14.92 S-55-A 2.04 4.76 68.37 23.80 1.03 CAF-B 0.32 0.18 3.51 29.38 66.61 S-55-B 0.29 0.46 28.12 65.39 5.74 CAF-C 2.87 3.05 60.09 29.55 4.45 S-55-C 1.41 1.62 36.76 57.52 2.69 CAF-D 74.12 1.34 2.69 2.86 18.99 S-55-D 0.14 0.20 16.38 79.16 4.12 CAF-E 9.36 3.36 52.33 33.64 1.32 S-55-E 0.00 0.27 40.22 57.20 2.31 CAF-F 0.00 0.02 0.95 3.74 95.29 S-55-F 0.00 0.02 0.36 8.42 91.20 CAF-G 0.01 0.15 23.70 44.70 31.44 S-55-G 0.01 0.07 15.39 69.28 15.25 CAF-H 0.02 0.08 12.23 29.81 57.87 S-55-H 0.02 0.21 30.19 61.75 7.83

2

Crepidula fornicata

Common Slipper Shell

Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management

1 to 5 = Water Quality Stations

A to H – Benthic Stations

8 of Sanders 19 sorted and ID (triplicate Van Veen)

Additional 5 sorted and in lab

Data logger every 15 minutes from Mid-May to Mid-October

Temperature

Dissolved Oxygen

Salinity

(logged every 15 minutes)

21’ Center CounselTaylor Point Marina

Occasional Water Grabs

Fall Benthic Grabs

Video – Towed and ROV

Coastal America Foundation East Station DO 2013

3.86 mg/l7/15/20139.21 mg/l

5/28/20136.84 mg/l10/13/2013YSI 85

HOBO logger data as compared to YSI 85 occasional profiles.

Crepidula fornicata

Common Slipper Shell

Crepidula dominatedNephtys/Macoma dominated

Nephtys/Ampelisca dominatedPolygordius dominated

Buzzards Bay, MA – Stations A through H

0.04m²10 cm deeptriplicates

Van Veen Grab

Going Forward:Mapping:- Compare recordable Hydro (SIMRAD CHIRP/Structure scan?) to ROV- Compare Hydro to density (1000 to 2000 micron sieve)

Ecology:- Predators? - Fish stomach content- Seasonal growth/stacking- Caged growth?

Chemistry:- Increase N+P Sampling- Increase TSD profiles and benthic pH

Geology:- Cores to 1955 sand layer- Shell/fecal detritus/base layers

- OTHER: …

Questions?