Mentor: David Taylor (Roger Williams University)

Project Location

Roger Williams University

Project Description

The diverse marine and estuarine habitats of Narragansett Bay (NB) are vital to the ecological and economic health of Rhode Island. Inshore, shallow-water habitats of NB, in particular, provide critical ecosystem services as nurseries for many fish species. The functional value of these nurseries is quantifiable through direct estimates of juvenile fish abundance and biodiversity, operating on the premise that high-quality habitats are those in which these metrics are maximized. The nursery value of NB habitats is dynamic, however, and, therefore, may respond to environmental and anthropogenic stressors. For example, climate change and elevated coastal water temperatures can alter key biotic interactions (e.g., predator-prey relationships), and further cause pronounced shifts in the geographic distribution of marine and estuarine fishes. Altered trophic dynamics and the redistribution of species, in turn, can affect the community composition and population structure of localized fish assemblages. In this context, long-term, routine monitoring of the overall functioning and quality of NB habitats as nurseries for juvenile fishes is warranted.

The main objectives of the proposed research are twofold: (1) evaluate the current functional importance of Narragansett Bay as nursery habitat for juvenile fishes; and (2) assess changes in the juvenile fish assemblage over a 35-year period (1988-2022). Specifically, estimates of fish species composition, abundance, and biodiversity (richness and Shannon Diversity Index) will be used as the principal indicators of habitat use and quality over time. These bioindicators will also be examined relative to spatially and temporally explicit environmental conditions (temperature, salinity, and dissolved oxygen) to determine the factors underlying potential changes in fish community composition and biodiversity. Data supporting this project will be derived from historical and on-going beach seine surveys at select field sites throughout NB, as conducted by Roger Williams University and the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, Division of Marine Fisheries.

This project involves:

• field work
• lab work
• computational work

Available for SURF Flex?

No

Transportation needs

The student would be required to drive to the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (RI DEM), Division of Marine Fisheries laboratory in Jamestown, RI. This will enable students to participate in the RI DEM monthly beach seine survey in Nar

2022