Peconic
Relating Water Quality Changes to Submerged Aquatic Vegetation
Type: Stressors
affecting habitat (i.e., which sources have contributed to its degradation and
whether they are direct or indirect factors).
Category: Submerged
Cost: Information not provided.
Description: Since 1997, the Peconic Estuary Program has contracted Cornell
Cooperative Extension to conduct eelgrass monitoring. The parameters DIN, TN,
TSS, chlorophyll data, light extinction coefficients, and sediment characteristics
were evaluated during the critical eelgrass growing season (March - August)
and related to the health of the SAV beds. The health of the eelgrass beds was
assessed by eelgrass shoot density and dry weight biomass (eelgrass, epiphytic
algae, and non-epiphytic algae).
Outcome: Historically, the Peconic Estuary has lost over a thousand acres
of submerged aquatic vegetation, most likely due to excess nutrient and sediment
loading. According to Cornell Cooperative Extension's latest long-term monitoring
report (Dumais and Smith, 2000), the health of each eelgrass bed throughout
the estuary varied. The extent and eelgrass biomass did not significantly change
at any of the three sites monitored from 1998 to 1999. One of the sites had
a significant increase in shoot density while two had slight decreases.
Contact: Chris Smith, 631-727-3910
Citations: Dumais, S., and C. Smith, Cornell Cooperative Extension Marine
Program (2000), SAV Long-Term Monitoring Program, Progress Report #3.
Dumais, S., and C. Smith, Cornell Cooperative Extension Marine Program (1999),
SAV Long-Term Monitoring Program, Progress Report #2.
Dumais, S., and C. Smith, Cornell Cooperative Extension Marine Program (1998),
SAV Long-Term Monitoring Program, Progress Report #1.
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