Historical News

Week of April 8 - 14, 2018

Benthic Video Blog

​The boat crew conducted a benthic video survey along the Edgewood transect on April 11th. Scale lasers were used in the footage, separated by 28 cm. Visibility through the water column was moderate to good. The bottom was characterized by sands and muds, with a few boulders and cobbles observed sporadically. There was some bushy growth of diatoms or a filamentous brown alga (see photo) throughout the transect, though coverage was never extensive. The unknown brown sheet-like alga observed last month along the Sabin transect was also observed at Edgewood on this date. Additional common sights included large burrows, likely from mantis shrimp (Squilla); many small burrows and associated fecal mounds; and occasional Nassariid mudsnails. Amphipod tube mats were not observed.​

Bottom_Edgewood_041118.JPG


Week of March 25 – 31, 2018

Benthic Video Blog

​The boat crew conducted a benthic video survey along the Sabin transect on March 27th. Unfortunately, one of the scale lasers failed during deployment, so only one beam was visible in footage. Visibility through the water column was good, and interesting observations were made.  The bottom was characterized by muddy sand with some areas of extensive shell hash and rubble. Some boulders were observed, but the boat missed the main boulder field often observed along this transect. There was a lot of bushy algae or diatom growth observed, typical for the early spring, as well as small patches or rafts of Ulva. Extensive areas of an unknown brown sheet-like alga (see photo) were observed. As usual, some litter was also observed along the transect. Additional common sights included small burrows and tubes built by infauna (e.g., parchment tube worms, Chaetopteridae) and dense assemblages of Nassariid mudsnails. Dense areas of amphipod tube mats and Beggiatoa bacteria growth were not observed this week.

Kelp_Sabin_032718.JPG

Week of February 18 - 24, 2018

Benthic Video Blog

The boat crew conducted benthic video surveys along all three routine transects (Edgewood, Bullock Reach, and Sabin) on February 20th. Scale lasers were in use for all three transects, separated by 28 cm. Visibility was murky, though some interesting features were visible. The Sabin transect yielded very little useable footage due to sled entanglement with boulders and debris (rope or line).

All three transects were characterized by muddy-sand bottom with trace amounts of shell hash and shell rubble and very sparse algae. The Sabin transect also includes a boulder/cobble zone, with some attached algae and sponges. Evidence of large tunneling organisms (e.g., the mantis shrimp, Squilla) was observed along all transects. Sightings of arthropods were relatively rare, though tracks and trails were frequently observed and a mantis shrimp was spotted at Edgewood (photo below). Other noteworthy observations included small fish at Bullock Reach and seastars at Edgewood. Unfortunately, litter (e.g., bottles, tire) was observed at these two locations as well. Additional common sights along all three transects were small burrows and tubes built by infauna (e.g., parchment tube worms, Chaetopteridae), diatom felt, and Nassariid mudsnails. Dense areas of amphipod tube mats, rafting algae, or Beggiatoa bacteria growth were not observed this week.

Squilla_Edgewood_022018.JPG


Week of November 4 - 10, 2018

Phytoplankton Sampling

Phytoplankton samples were collected at Bullock's Reach on November 7, 2018 and analyzed in the laboratory shortly after collection.  It was a sunny day on Narragansett Bay. Sondes data revealed the surface water temperature was 12.55oC, salinity was 16.00 psu, and chlorophyll a was 1.6 ug/L.  The plankton tow net sample was filterable with a 20 micron mesh. The filtrate was golden dark brown with a short filter time. Jellyfish were noticed in the sample.  The tow net sample was analyzed qualitatively for microorganisms using 100x phase contrast microscopy.  The whole water sample was analyzed quantitatively under 200x phase contrast microscopy. A Hensen Stempel pipette was used to accurately deliver 1ml of sample to a Sedge-wick Rafter chamber. This analysis revealed a total of 56,000 cells per Liter. The most predominant phytoplankton was the pennate diatoms at 6,000 cells/L.  The flagellates were found at 52,000 cells/L and other representative genera include Prorocentrum spp. and Odontella spp.

200x phase contrast micrograph of Thalassionema spp.

Thalassionema spp.jpg 

Week of November 25 - December 1, 2018

R/V Monitor's Blog

​On Wednesday, November 28th, the crew of the R/V Monitor was out on the upper Bay collecting bacteria samples, taking Secchi Disk and Par sensor water clarity measurements, conducting water column profiles using the Seabird instrument, and conducting real-time surface mapping of water quality parameters, including dissolved oxygen, chlorophyll, water temperature, salinity, and pH, all in an effort to document water quality improvements associated with NBC construction projects.  Sara captained the boat while monitoring professionals Fern and Mike collected the samples and data.  It was a cool day with winds out of the south, making the water choppy.  Below is a photo taken this day of Phillipsdale landing in the Seekonk River, where NBC's fixed site monitoring station is located.

11-28-18 Phillipsdale.jpg 

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