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The U.S. government is closed. This site will not be updated; however, NOAA websites and social media channels necessary to protect lives and property will be maintained. To learn more, visit commerce.gov. 

For the latest forecasts and critical weather information, visit weather.gov.

The Effects of Changing Submerged Aquatic Vegetation (SAV) Species Composition on Economically and Ecologically Important Fishes (Highlands, NJ)

Summary / Description

Changes in Submerged Aquatic Vegetation (SAV) communities associated with anthropogenic impacts (direct and indirect) are of concern in estuaries throughout the nation. There is a large data gap in that there have been few studies examining the potential impacts of shift from an eelgrass dominated habitatto a widgeongrass dominated habitat on fish communities in temperate waters, which is occurring in estuaries throughout the region, and may accelerate and spread given future climatic predictions. 

The intern will assist with the construction and field deployments of video recording devices in the Barnegat Bay, a lagoonal estuary in New Jersey. Following retrieval, the intern will be responsible for reviewing and annotating the video to identify fish species and quantify abundance. There will be an opportunity to analyze the compiled data through univariate and multivariate statistics if time allows. 

Skills Required

The student should have an interest in estuarine ecology and fishes; familiarity with estuarine fishes of the mid-Atlantic and their identification is a plus. Field deployments require time in salt water, and applicants should be able to swim/snorkel, wade over uneven terrain, and be able to carry up to 25 lbs. of field equipment. Successful candidates will have high levels of motivation and organization, positivity, attention to detail and recordkeeping, and the ability to watch video for extended periods without falling asleep.

Type of Opportunity

  • Research

Location

  • Highlands, NJ. No assistance is provided for housing.  However, nearby Monmouth University (Long Branch, NJ; roughly 20-25 min south of the James J Howard Marine Sciences Laboratory) has historically offered housing opportunities to interns under this program and other NOAA internship programs in the past.  

Other Information

  • Intern Supervisor:  James Vasslides
  • Number of Slots Available:  1