News from Scientists at the USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center
Tuesday, March 17, 2003
|
Angler Alert from the Chesapeake Bay Trust (partners: USGS, USFWS, Maryland Fishery Resources partners) The Chesapeake Bay has some of the finest fishing on the East Coast. In Maryland and Virginia, more than 414,000 anglers fish the Chesapeake Bay and its tidal tributaries from late March through November. The Chesapeake Bay supports one of the largest nesting populations of osprey with approximately 3,600 breeding pairs within the Bay. While anglers are fishing the Bay, these magnificent birds fly, build nests and raise their young. Ospreys are very tolerant of humans and will fish and nest close to populated communities. They line their nests with a variety of natural and man-made materials. Ospreys pick up man-made materials such as paper, plastic rope and fishing line. Some of these prove to be deadly. Osprey young have been found in their nests entangled in fishing line or impaled with fishing hooks. Adults can also become entangled in fishing line. Legs, wings and beaks can become so tangled that the bird will not be able to stand, fly or eat. Conservative estimates indicate that 5-10 percent of nests have fishing line in them. Potential for entanglement is high. In the Bay area there are: - 80, 896 boats registered with a Chesapeake Bay Sport Fishing and Virginia saltwater licenses - 414,805 licensed anglers - 115 anglers to each breeding pair or - 58 anglers to each individual breeding osprey Contact: Peter McGowan, Annapolis, MD (410) 573-4523 |
New Website Launched by Cahoon and Lynch
Presenting Surface Elevation Table--A Tool for Measuring
Sediment Elevation Change in Wetlands
Patuxent Wildlife Research Center's researchers Don Cahoon and Jim Lynch have launched a new website presenting information on the Surface Elevation Table (SET), a tool for measuring sediment elevation change in wetland ecosystems. The website provides detailed information on the theory, design, installation, and sampling of the SET, as well as measuring vertical accretion from artificial soil marker horizons. The SET, a mechanical device, can accurately measure small changes in sediment elevation. It has become an established method for long term monitoring of elevation change in wetland ecosystems and determining the vulnerability of wetlands to sea-level rise. In addition, the influence of subsurface processes on sediment elevation can be determined quantitatively when the SET is used in conjunction with surface accretion measures (marker horizons). Cahoon and Lynch have been innovators in the use and design of this instrument for over 10 years. The SET/marker horizon approach is currently used in 18 coastal states, the District of Columbia and 14 foreign countries. The SET website address is: http://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/resshow/cahoon/ . Contact Don Cahoon, Laurel, MD, 301-497-5523 |
|
|
See Previous HiLites: |
||
