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Projects Explorer

The NCCOS Project Explorer provides a snapshot of our official, discrete lines of research.
Filter by research category, region, and/or contact.

Ecosystem Based Management: An Analysis of National Needs and Opportunities

Assessing Human Use, Atlantic Ocean, Bering Sea, EBM, felix.martinez@noaa.gov, Gulf of America (formerly Gulf of Mexico), Marine Spatial Ecology, marine spatial planning, Maryland, Other Topics, Pacific Ocean, Planning, Regional Ecosystem Science, Social Science, Sponsored Research, U.S. States and Territories, Waterbodies
Ecosystem based management (EBM) is a holistic, adaptive approach to developing policies that ensure ecosystem sustainability, food and water security, and improve human health outcomes ...
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Ecotoxicity of Perfluorooctane Sulfonate and Fluorine-Free Fire Fighting Foams in Estuarine Organisms

Biological Effects of Contaminants and Nutrients, estuaries, Fire Fighting Foams, PFAS, PFOS, South Carolina, Stressor Impacts and Mitigation, toxicity, U.S. States and Territories
Fire retardant foams currently contain fluorine-based chemicals known to be toxic and persist in the environment. Fluorine-free foams are now in development, but little is ...
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Ecotoxicological Effects of Oil and Oil Spill Dispersants on Sensitive Estuarine Species

benthic, Biological Effects of Contaminants and Nutrients, deepwater horizon, dispersants, Gulf of America (formerly Gulf of Mexico), mike.fulton@noaa.gov, oil spill, Stressor Impacts and Mitigation, vibrio vulnificus, Waterbodies
While chemical dispersants mitigate oil spills, they may also pose risks to coastal and estuarine ecosystems. We are determining oil and dispersant toxicity thresholds in ...
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Effects and Discovery of Chronic Domoic Acid Exposure on Gene Expression in the Vertebrate Central Nervous System

amnesic shellfish poisoning, Biological Effects of Contaminants and Nutrients, domoic acid, hab, Harmful Algal Bloom Detection and Forecasting, pseudo-nitzschia, quay.dortch@noaa.gov, sea lion, Stressor Impacts and Mitigation, U.S. States and Territories, Washington, zebrafish
Domoic acid, a naturally occurring marine neurotoxin, threatens the health of marine mammals, seabirds, and humans via severe and long-term yet low-level exposure through the ...
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Effects of Climate Change on Chemical Contaminant Toxicity

Biological Effects of Contaminants and Nutrients, Coastal Change, Stressor Impacts and Mitigation, Vulnerability and Risk Assessment
Many climate related variables such as temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, and salinity can alter chemical toxicity. Most chemical testing is performed using a standard set ...
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Effects of Hypoxia and Warming on Zooplankton in Chesapeake Bay

Atlantic Ocean, Chesapeake Bay, CHRP, HABHRCA, Hypoxia, kimberly.puglise@noaa.gov, Maryland, Stressor Impacts and Mitigation, U.S. States and Territories, Virginia, Waterbodies
We are investigating how hypoxia and water temperature in Chesapeake Bay impact the availability of mesozooplankton, a primary food source to upper trophic levels. Our ...
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Efficacy and Ecotoxicological Effects of Shoreline Cleaners in Salt Marsh Ecosystems

Atlantic Ocean, Biological Effects of Contaminants and Nutrients, Coastal Change, Gulf of America (formerly Gulf of Mexico), marie.delorenzo@noaa.gov, mike.fulton@noaa.gov, Stressor Impacts and Mitigation, Vulnerability and Risk Assessment, Waterbodies
Summary This project evaluated three shoreline cleaner products (Accell Clean SWA, PES-51, and CytoSol). We compared the biological effects and chemical interactions of the products ...
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Emerging Algal Toxins in the California Current System: Responding to Known Threats, Preparing for the Future

Alexandrium, California, California Current System, cyanobacteria, harmful algal bloom, Harmful Algal Bloom Detection and Forecasting, marc.suddleson@noaa.gov, microcystins, Other Topics, Pacific Ocean, pseudo-nitzschia, Sponsored Research, Stressor Impacts and Mitigation, U.S. States and Territories, Washington, Waterbodies
Surveys in California have highlighted the occurrence of HAB toxins in estuarine waters and shellfish, but there is concern that current monitoring approaches under-report the ...
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Employing a Novel Molecular Toolbox for Rapid, Sensitive Detection of Toxic Pseudo-nitzschia Species

Florida, Gulf of America (formerly Gulf of Mexico), Gulf of Maine, Harmful Algal Bloom Detection and Forecasting, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, rebecca.atkins@noaa.gov, Stressor Impacts and Mitigation, U.S. States and Territories, Waterbodies
The diatom Pseudo-nitzschia produces the neurotoxin domoic acid, which can impact both humans and marine wildlife when consumed. This project seeks to build and implement ...
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Enhancing Coastal Transportation Infrastructure Resilience to Compound Flood Impacts

Alabama, Coastal Change, Gulf of America (formerly Gulf of Mexico), Other Topics, rebecca.atkins@noaa.gov, Sea Level Rise, Sponsored Research, Vulnerability and Risk Assessment
We are assessing the resilience of coastal transportation infrastructure to compound flooding in the Mobile Bay, Alabama, area to inform decision-making. Why We Care The ...
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Enhancing Habitat Mapping Accuracy and Efficiency Using Artificial Intelligence

Atlantic Ocean, bryan.costa@noaa.gov, Coral, Habitat Mapping, Marine Spatial Ecology, Pacific Ocean, Waterbodies
Habitat maps are critical for effective management of the marine environment. However, map making can be time intensive, making it challenging to produce maps frequently ...
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Enhancing Third-generation Environmental Sample Processor for HAB Toxin Detection Through Integration with Autonomous Surface Vehicle

AUV, Biological Effects of Contaminants and Nutrients, cyanobacteria, ESP, felix.martinez@noaa.gov, Great Lakes, Gulf of America (formerly Gulf of Mexico), harmful algal bloom, Lake Erie, Lake Pontchartrain, Louisiana, Michigan, monitoring, Ohio, Other Topics, PCMHAB, Sponsored Research, Stressor Impacts and Mitigation, U.S. States and Territories, Waterbodies
Monitoring the increase in cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms (HABs) in nearshore environments is challenging. Recent development of a long-range autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) equipped with ...
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Environmental Models for Marine Aquaculture and Spatial Planning

aquaculture, Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, Coastal Aquaculture Siting and Sustainability, Gulf of America (formerly Gulf of Mexico), james.morris@noaa.gov, Marine Spatial Ecology, Pacific Ocean, Waterbodies
We are developing marine spatial planning tools and best management practices for marine aquaculture to minimize or eliminate any negative environmental effects. We are providing ...
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Epidemiological Modeling and Outbreak Investigations for Marine Wildlife

Atlantic Ocean, Biological Effects of Contaminants and Nutrients, leslie.burdett@noaa.gov, Pathogens, Stressor Impacts and Mitigation, Waterbodies
Marine mammal mortality events have been linked to harmful algal bloom biotoxins, acoustic events, and infectious disease epidemics, but the underlying causes are often uncertain ...
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Epileptic Disease Origins in the California Sea Lion

Biological Effects of Contaminants and Nutrients, California, john.ramsdell@noaa.gov, Stressor Impacts and Mitigation, U.S. States and Territories
The womb is normally viewed as a protective environment. Sometimes drugs or toxicants can harm the fetus, even without apparent effects on the mother. A ...
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Establishing the Sources of Toxic Cyanobacteria Blooms in the Great Lakes

Harmful Algal Bloom Detection and Forecasting, john.wickham@noaa.gov, Michigan, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Stressor Impacts and Mitigation, U.S. States and Territories
Although phosphorus typically limits the growth of freshwater phytoplankton populations, little is known about how the common toxic alga Microcystis aeruginosa responds to variations in ...
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Estimating Economic Losses and Impacts of Florida Red Tide

Ecosystem Services Valuation, Florida, Gulf of America (formerly Gulf of Mexico), Gulf of Mexico, harmful algal bloom, Harmful Algal Bloom Detection and Forecasting, Karenia brevis, marykate.rogener@noaa.gov, Other Topics, Social Science, Sponsored Research, Stressor Impacts and Mitigation, U.S. States and Territories, Waterbodies
This project, funded by NCCOS through the Gulf of Mexico Coastal Ocean Observing System, will examine the economic impacts of Karenia brevis events across 80 ...
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Estimating the Economic Burden of Vibrio parahaemolyticus on Pacific Northwest Aquaculture

Amy.Freitag@noaa.gov, Ecosystem Services Valuation, john.jacobs@noaa.gov, Pathogens, Social Science, Stressor Impacts and Mitigation, U.S. States and Territories, Washington
Illnesses caused by Vibrio parahaemolyticus are an economic burden to the oyster industry. We’re estimating the economic burden in the oyster production chain in Washington ...
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Estuarine Shoreline Stabilization – Assessment of the “Living Shoreline” Approach

carolyn.currin@noaa.gov, Coastal Change, coastal erosion, coastal habitat, living shoreline, Marine Spatial Ecology, Natural and Nature-based Features, North Carolina, shoreline stabilization, U.S. States and Territories
We are assessing the use of various shoreline stabilization approaches. We are focusing on: 1) the impact different methods of shoreline stabilization have on ecosystem ...
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Estuarine Species Database for the NOAA Estuarine Living Marine Resources Program

Alabama, Atlantic Ocean, California, Chesapeake Bay, Connecticut, david.moe.nelson@noaa.gov, Delaware, District of Columbia, Ecological and Biogeographic Assessments, estuarine, Florida, Georgia, Great Lakes, Gulf of America (formerly Gulf of Mexico), john.christensen@noaa.gov, Louisiana, Maine, Marine Spatial Ecology, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, Oregon, Pacific Ocean, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, U.S. States and Territories, Virginia, Washington, Waterbodies
We developed a database on the distribution, relative abundance, and life history characteristics of 153 species in 122 estuaries in support of the Estuarine Living ...
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Eutrophication and Oyster Aquaculture in the Patuxent River

aquaculture, Coastal Aquaculture Siting and Sustainability, eutrophication, Hypoxia, Marine Spatial Ecology, Maryland, shellfish, Stressor Impacts and Mitigation, suzanne.bricker@noaa.gov, U.S. States and Territories
Eutrophication is the overabundance of nutrients in a body of water that results in harmful algal blooms, fish kills, and in some cases ecosystem collapse ...
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