Project Explorer

Ecological Assessment for Kachemak Bay, Alaska: Science Tools to Inform Management

Alaska, Coastal Change, Ecological and Biogeographic Assessments, Habitat Mapping, john.christensen@noaa.gov, kris.holderied@noaa.gov, Marine Spatial Ecology, Stressor Impacts and Mitigation, U.S. States and Territories

Kachemak Bay, a microcosm representing all of the estuarine and coastal habitats found in the Gulf of Alaska, has shown signs of reduced environmental integrity ...

Ecological Assessment to Support NOAA’s Choptank Complex Habitat Focus Area – Phase I

andrew.leight@noaa.gov, Chesapeake Bay, climate change, Coastal Change, Ecological and Biogeographic Assessments, ecological assessment, john.jacobs@noaa.gov, Marine Spatial Ecology, mark.monaco@noaa.gov, Maryland, NERRS, U.S. States and Territories, Vulnerability and Risk Assessment, Waterbodies

We synthesized biological, chemical, and physical data from six watersheds in the Chesapeake Bay to assess impacts of land use on aquatic ecosystem health. The ...

Ecological Characterization of Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary

Atlantic Ocean, Connecticut, Ecological and Biogeographic Assessments, ecological characterization, Gulf of Maine, Habitat Mapping, john.christensen@noaa.gov, Maine, Marine Spatial Ecology, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Protected Species, Stellwagen Bank National Marine sacntuary, tim.battista@noaa.gov, U.S. States and Territories, Waterbodies

We provided an ecological and oceanographic profile of the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary and Gulf of Maine region, including analysis of pollution levels. The ...

Ecological Effects of Sea Level Rise in North Carolina: Maps, Marshes, and Management Applications

Climate Impacts on Ecosystems, Coastal Change, david.kidwell@noaa.gov, gis, North Carolina, sea level rise, U.S. States and Territories

We are developing mapping and modeling tools to provide the North Carolina coastal management community the most up to date research on the effect of ...

Ecological Impacts of Sea Level Rise on Flood Protection and Blue Carbon Capture in Pacific Northwest Wetlands

blue carbon, Climate Impacts on Ecosystems, Coastal Change, Natural and Nature-based Features, Oregon, Sea Level Rise, sea level rise, trevor.meckley@noaa.gov, U.S. States and Territories, Vulnerability and Risk Assessment, Washington

We will evaluate how restored and natural coastal wetlands buffer flooding impacts in Coos Bay (Oregon) and Grays Bay (Washington). Why We Care Increasing flood ...

Ecology, Integrity and Status of Caribbean Mesophotic Coral Reefs

Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, Coral, coral, coral reef, Ecological and Biogeographic Assessments, kimberly.puglise@noaa.gov, Marine Spatial Ecology, marine spatial planning, MCEs, mesophotic, Other Topics, Puerto Rico, Regional Ecosystem Science, Sponsored Research, U.S. States and Territories, Waterbodies

We investigated Puerto Rico’s mesophotic coral ecosystems to better understand them and their relationship to shallower reefs. They are off the southwestern coast at depths ...

Economic Analysis of Shoreline Treatment Options for the Seacoast Region of New Hampshire

Amy.Freitag@noaa.gov, coastal communities, economic analysis, Ecosystem Services Valuation, GBNERR, Great Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, New Hampshire, sarah.gonyo@noaa.gov, sea level rise, shoreline armoring, shoreline management, shoreline protection, , U.S. States and Territories

Coastal communities in New Hampshire are experiencing an increase in significant weather events, such as flooding and erosion, due to sea level rise and climate ...

Economic Valuation of Shoreline Protection by Natural Infrastructure to a Coastal Community

Coastal Change, coastal community, Ecological and Biogeographic Assessments, Ecosystem Services Valuation, Jacques Cousteau NERR, Marine Spatial Ecology, matt.gorstein@noaa.gov, Natural and Nature-based Features, New Jersey, shoreline protection, , theresa.goedeke@noaa.gov, U.S. States and Territories

Natural infrastructure, such as seagrass beds, oyster reefs, and sand dunes can aid in protecting coastal communities. Without these natural defenses, storm surge, erosion, and ...

Ecophysiology and Toxicity of the Toxic Alga Heterosigma akashiwo in Puget Sound: A Living Laboratory Ecosystem Approach

Harmful Algal Bloom Detection and Forecasting, quay.dortch@noaa.gov, Stressor Impacts and Mitigation, U.S. States and Territories, Washington

We are identifying toxins and environmental factors causing fish-killing blooms by the alga Heterosigma akashiwo in Puget Sound. We develop tools to improve monitoring, early ...

Ecosystem Based Management: An Analysis of National Needs and Opportunities

Assessing Human Use, Atlantic Ocean, Bering Sea, EBM, felix.martinez@noaa.gov, Gulf of Mexico, Marine Spatial Ecology, marine spatial planning, Maryland, Other Topics, Pacific Ocean, Planning, Regional Ecosystem 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 ...

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 ...

Ecotoxicological Effects of Oil and Oil Spill Dispersants on Sensitive Estuarine Species

benthic, Biological Effects of Contaminants and Nutrients, deepwater horizon, dispersants, 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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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

Arcatia tonsa is the dominant copepod in Chesapeake Bay and a critical food source for many fisheries species and a link between primary producers (phytoplankton) ...

Efficacy and Ecotoxicological Effects of Shoreline Cleaners in Salt Marsh Ecosystems

Atlantic Ocean, Biological Effects of Contaminants and Nutrients, Coastal Change, 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 ...

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 ...

Employing a Novel Molecular Toolbox for Rapid, Sensitive Detection of Toxic Pseudo-nitzschia Species

Florida, Gulf of Maine, Gulf of Mexico, 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 ...

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 ...

Enhancing Third-generation Environmental Sample Processor for HAB Toxin Detection Through Integration with Autonomous Surface Vehicle

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 ...

Environmental Models for Marine Aquaculture and Spatial Planning

aquaculture, Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, Coastal Aquaculture Siting and Sustainability, 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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