Estuarine Research, Monitoring, and Resource

The ongoing growth of human populations within US coastal regions continues to increase habitat loss, eutrophication, organic loading, overfishing, and other anthropogenic stressors in estuarine waters.The National Estuarine Research Reserve System (NERRS) is a federally funded initiative that addresses these critical estuarine problems and coastal resource issues at 25 sites in 21 states.Now estuarine and watershed scientists, resource managers, community planners, and other professionals dealing with coastal zone issues have an expert resource describing the NERRS program, organization, goals, and management strategy. Estuarine Research, Monitoring, and Restoration first defines the components and technical aspects of the NERRS program, then provides valuable insight into the program through the presentation of six case studies of NERRS sites.This book examines estuarine problems including degraded water quality, reduction of biodiversity, and problematic invasive species, then analyzes the human impacts affecting estuaries. The comprehensive analysis of the six estuarine reserve locations characterizes each region's physical, chemical, and biological conditions from the perspective of the NERRS program. These case studies include a cross section of sites from three coasts, each study emphasizing the importance of unified efforts of government and citizens to successfully maintain the ecology of these critical areas.

Michael J. Kennish: Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences Rutgers University New Brunswick, New Jersey

National Estuarine Research Reserve System: Program Components	p. 1
Introduction	p. 1
NERRS Mission	p. 6
NERRS Program Components	p. 9
Monitoring and Research: System-Wide Monitoring Program	p. 9
SWMP Development	p. 10
SWMP Components	p. 12
Special High-Priority Initiatives	p. 23
Habitat Restoration	p. 23
Invasive Species	p. 24
Education and Outreach	p. 25
Summary and Conclusions	p. 28
References	p. 29
Case Study 1
Waquoit Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve	p. 35
Introduction	p. 35
Watershed	p. 36
Upland Pitch Pine/Oak Forests	p. 36
Sandplain Grasslands	p. 37
Vernal Pools and Coastal Plain Pond Shores	p. 38
Riparian Habitats	p. 38
Freshwater Wetlands	p. 38
Salt Marshes	p. 39
Mudflats and Sandflats	p. 39
Beaches and Dunes	p. 41
Estuary	p. 42
Tidal Creeks and Channels	p. 42
Waquoit Bay	p. 43
Environment	p. 43
Organisms	p. 43
Anthropogenic Impacts	p. 49
Eutrophication	p. 49
Summary and Conclusions	p. 51
References	p. 53
Case Study 2
Jacques Cousteau National Estuarine Research Reserve	p. 59
Introduction	p. 59
Environmental Setting	p. 61
Mullica River-Great Bay Estuary	p. 62
Water Quality	p. 62
Watershed Biotic Communities	p. 65
Plant Communities	p. 65
Salt Marshes	p. 65
Brackish Tidal Marshes	p. 66
Freshwater Marshes	p. 69
Lowland Plant Communities	p. 71
Upland Plant Communities	p. 80
Barrier Island Plant Communities	p. 81
Animal Communities	p. 82
Amphibians and Reptiles	p. 82
Mammals	p. 85
Birds	p. 86
Fish	p. 92
Estuarine Biotic Communities	p. 94
Plant Communities	p. 94
Benthic Flora	p. 94
Phytoplankton	p. 96
Animal Communities	p. 98
Zooplankton	p. 98
Benthic Fauna	p. 100
Finfish	p. 104
Summary and Conclusions	p. 110
References	p. 111
Case Study 3
Delaware National Estuarine Research Reserve	p. 119
Introduction	p. 119
Lower St. Jones River Reserve Site	p. 120
Watershed	p. 120
Upland Vegetation	p. 121
Wetland Vegetation	p. 121
Aquatic Habitat	p. 125
Water Quality	p. 125
Anthropogenic Impacts	p. 128
Pollution	p. 128
Habitat Alteration	p. 132
Biotic Communities	p. 133
Phytoplankton	p. 133
Zooplankton	p. 134
Benthic Fauna	p. 136
Finfish	p. 138
Amphibians and Reptiles	p. 140
Birds	p. 140
Mammals	p. 145
Upper Blackbird Creek Reserve Site	p. 151
Watershed	p. 151
Upland Vegetation	p. 151
Wetland Vegetation	p. 152
Aquatic Habitat	p. 156
Anthropogenic Impacts	p. 157
Pollution and Habitat Alteration	p. 157
Biotic Communities	p. 157
Phytoplankton	p. 157
Zooplankton	p. 157
Benthic Fauna	p. 158
Finfish	p. 160
Amphibians and Reptiles	p. 160
Birds	p. 160
Mammals	p. 161
Commercially and Recreationally Important Species	p. 162
Summary and Conclusions	p. 163
References	p. 165
Case Study 4
Ashepoo-Combahee-Edisto (ACE) Basin National Estuarine Research Reserve	p. 171
Introduction	p. 171
Watershed	p. 173
Plant Communities	p. 173
Animal Communities	p. 175
Amphibians and Reptiles	p. 176
Mammals	p. 183
Birds	p. 186
Insects	p. 189
Estuary	p. 190
Physical-Chemical Characteristics	p. 190
Biotic Communities	p. 192
Phytoplankton	p. 192
Zooplankton	p. 194
Benthic Invertebrates	p. 195
Fish	p. 197
Coastal Marine Waters	p. 200
Animal Communities	p. 200
Fish	p. 200
Reptiles	p. 201
Mammals	p. 202
Birds	p. 202
Endangered and Threatened Species	p. 202
Anthropogenic Impacts	p. 203
Summary and Conclusions	p. 205
References	p. 206
Case Study 5
Weeks Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve	p. 217
Introduction	p. 217
Weeks Bay	p. 217
Physical Description	p. 217
Watershed	p. 220
Plant Communities	p. 220
Upland Habitats	p. 220
Wetland Habitats	p. 220
Animal Communities	p. 220
Herpetofauna	p. 220
Mammals	p. 223
Birds	p. 223
Estuary	p. 223
Plant Communities	p. 223
Phytoplankton and Microphytobenthos	p. 223
Animal Communities	p. 225
Zooplankton	p. 225
Benthic Fauna	p. 225
Fish	p. 226
Anthropogenic Impacts	p. 227
Summary and Conclusions	p. 228
References	p. 229
Case Study 6
Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve	p. 235
Introduction	p. 235
Watershed	p. 237
Habitat	p. 238
Salt Marsh	p. 238
Salt Pannes	p. 240
Brackish Marsh	p. 240
Riparian Habitat	p. 241
Wetland-Upland Transition	p. 242
Dunes and Beach Habitat	p. 243
Intertidal Flats	p. 244
Estuary	p. 244
Aquatic Habitat: Tidal Creeks and Channels	p. 244
Plants	p. 245
Benthic Invertebrates	p. 245
Fish	p. 248
Birds	p. 252
Anthropogenic Impacts	p. 252
Summary and Conclusions	p. 256
References	p. 259
Index	p. 261
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Estuarine Research, Monitoring, and Resource Protection

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