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Living resources of Buzzards Bay PDF

111 Pages·2014·3.63 MB·English
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Living resources of Buzzards Bay: Synthesis reports produced for the 1991 Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan, 2013 Redux Joseph E. Costa, editor Buzzards Bay National Estuary Program Technical Report Massachusetts Coastal Zone Management October 18, 2013 Living Resources Of Buzzards Bay: Habitats Acknowledgements Vicki Gibson helped edit the original reports in 1990. Joseph E. Costa reedited, and combined the reports into this redux volume with a consistent format and layout. Additional text editing by Tracy Warncke and Sarah Williams. i Living Resources Of Buzzards Bay: Habitats i Living Resources Of Buzzards Bay: Habitats Foreword Between 1989 and 1990, the Buzzards Bay National Estuary Program (then the Buzzards Bay Project), hired scientists to prepare reports synthesizing the then current knowledge of the state of living resources in Buzzards Bay. We received these living resources reports before we released the draft 1991 Buzzards Bay Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan (CCMP). The Buzzards Bay National Estuary Program accepted these reports, and information contained in them was included in the CCMP, however they were never publicly distributed. The original documents were submitted in manuscript form with appended figures and tables. At the time, our intent to consolidate them into a combined report in an easy-to-read layout. This effort was undertaken but not completed because of more pressing needs at the time. With the 2013 update of the Buzzards Bay CCMP, the Buzzards Bay National Estuary Program decided to re-issue the documents and make them publicly available online because of the useful information, data, and references contained in the reports. Some of the reports contain data or information not previously published, or presented in a way to make them still relevant today. This redux volume includes the six original reports with editing for spelling, grammar, and style. They were laid out in a consistent format, and a few graphics were redrawn or added. We made no effort to update the information. Thus, these documents stand as the authors understanding of the living resources of Buzzards Bay, and the threats they faced, as characterized in 1989-1990. Joseph E. Costa, PhD Executive Director Buzzards Bay National Estuary Program Suggested Citation To avoid confusion about the date of these publications, we suggest the following citation format should they be cited, as in Poole (1990/2013), and listed as follows: Giblin, A., and K. Foreman. 1990. The Habitats of Buzzards Bay. In J. E. Costa [ed. ], Living Resources of Buzzards Bay: Synthesis reports produced for the 1991 Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan, 2013 Redux, Buzzards Bay National Estuary Program Technical Report, Massachusetts Coastal Zone Management, October 18, 2013. 98 pp. Grice, F. 1990. The Buzzards Bay Lobster Resource and Fishery. In J. E. Costa [ed. ], Living Resources of Buzzards Bay: Synthesis reports produced for the 1991 Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan, 2013 Redux, Buzzards Bay National Estuary Program Technical Report, Massachusetts Coastal Zone Management, October 18, 2013. 98 pp. Grice, F. 1990. The Buzzards Bay Shellfish Resource and Fishery. In J. E. Costa [ed. ], Living Resources of Buzzards Bay: Synthesis reports produced for the 1991 Comprehensive Conservation Management Plan, 2013 Redux, Buzzards Bay National Estuary Program Technical Report, Massachusetts Coastal Zone Management, October 18, 2013. 98 pp. Grice, F. 1990. The Finfish Resources of Buzzards Bay. In J. E. Costa [ed. ], Living Resources of Buzzards Bay: Synthesis reports produced for the 1991 Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan, 2013 Redux, Buzzards Bay National Estuary Program Technical Report, Massachusetts Coastal Zone Management, October 18, 2013. 98 pp. Payne, P. M., C. Coogan, F. Wenzel, M. A. Buehler, and A. L. Hankin. 1991. Status and Assessment of the Marine Mammal and Marine Turtle Species of Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts: An Historical and Present Overview. In J. E. Costa [ed. ], Living Resources of Buzzards Bay: Synthesis reports produced for the 1991 Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan, 2013 Redux, Buzzards Bay National Estuary Program Technical Report, Massachusetts Coastal Zone Management, October 18, 2013. 98 pp. Poole. A. 1990. Waterbirds of Buzzards Bay. In J. E. Costa [ed. ], Living Resources of Buzzards Bay: Synthesis reports produced for the 1991 Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan, 2013 Redux, Buzzards Bay National Estuary Program Technical Report, Massachusetts Coastal Zone Management, October 18, 2013. 98 pp. iii Living Resources of Buzzards Bay iv Living Resources Of Buzzards Bay Table of Contents Living resources of Buzzards Bay: Synthesis reports produced for the 1991 Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan, 2013 Redux ................................................................................................................................... t Acknowledgements i Foreword iii Table of Contents v List of Figures ix List of Tables ix 1. Habitats of Buzzards Bay ..................................................................................................................................... 1 Introduction .................................................................................................................................................................... 1 Habitats and Communities Defined 1 Overview of Buzzards Bay Habitats 1 General Features of Buzzards Bay 2 The Open Bay ................................................................................................................................................................. 3 The Pelagic Zone of Buzzards Bay 3 Introduction .................................................................................................................................................... 3 Physical Characteristics ................................................................................................................................ 3 Chemical Characteristics .............................................................................................................................. 4 Plankton Species Composition ...................................................................................................................... 4 Standing stocks of Chlorophyll a and Primary Productivity ..................................................................... 5 Possibility of Historical Change .................................................................................................................... 5 Subtidal Benthos 6 Introduction .................................................................................................................................................... 6 Physical-Chemical Environment .................................................................................................................. 6 Major Species ................................................................................................................................................. 7 Historical Changes - Do They Indicate Eutrophication? ......................................................................... 12 Comparison to Other Temperate Bays ...................................................................................................... 13 Summary of Open Bay Management Recommendations ......................................................................... 13 Nearshore and Coastal Habitats ................................................................................................................................. 14 Coastal Embayments and Tidal Rivers 14 Introduction .................................................................................................................................................. 14 Areal Extent .................................................................................................................................................. 15 Physical and Chemical Characteristics ...................................................................................................... 15 Biological Characteristics and Major Species Present ............................................................................. 16 Productivity and Factors Affecting Habitat Quality ................................................................................ 16 Barrier Beaches and Coastal Dunes 17 Introduction .................................................................................................................................................. 17 Areal Extent .................................................................................................................................................. 17 Physical and Chemical Characteristics ...................................................................................................... 17 Biological Characteristics and Major Species Present ............................................................................. 17 Factors Affecting Habitat Quality .............................................................................................................. 18 v Living Resources of Buzzards Bay Salt Marshes 18 Introduction .................................................................................................................................................. 18 Areal Extent and Historical Changes ......................................................................................................... 18 Physical and Chemical Characteristics ...................................................................................................... 19 Biological Characteristics and Major Species Present ............................................................................. 20 Productivity .................................................................................................................................................. 21 Factors Affecting Habitat Quality .............................................................................................................. 21 Tidal Flats 23 Introduction .................................................................................................................................................. 23 Areal Extent .................................................................................................................................................. 23 Physical and Chemical Characteristics ...................................................................................................... 23 Biological Characteristics and Major Species Present ............................................................................. 23 Eelgrass 24 Introduction .................................................................................................................................................. 24 Present Day Areal Extent ............................................................................................................................ 24 Physical and Chemical Characteristics ...................................................................................................... 24 Biological Characteristics and Major Species Present ............................................................................. 25 Productivity .................................................................................................................................................. 26 Historical Changes ....................................................................................................................................... 26 Factors Affecting Habitat Quality .............................................................................................................. 26 Rocky Shores 26 Introduction .................................................................................................................................................. 26 Physical, Chemical and Biological Characteristics ................................................................................... 27 References ..................................................................................................................................................................... 27 2. Buzzards Bay Shellfish Resource and Fishery ................................................................................................. 33 Introduction .................................................................................................................................................................. 33 Status of Fisheries ......................................................................................................................................................... 34 Resource Issues ............................................................................................................................................................. 36 Environmental Issues ................................................................................................................................................... 37 Management and Jurisdictional Issues ...................................................................................................................... 40 Recommendations ........................................................................................................................................................ 41 References ..................................................................................................................................................................... 42 3. Buzzards Bay Lobster Resource and Fishery ................................................................................................... 43 Introduction .................................................................................................................................................................. 43 Status of Lobster Fishery ............................................................................................................................................. 45 Resource Issues ............................................................................................................................................................. 46 Environmental Issues ................................................................................................................................................... 47 Management Issues ...................................................................................................................................................... 48 Recommendations ........................................................................................................................................................ 49 References ..................................................................................................................................................................... 50 4. Finfish of Buzzards Bay ...................................................................................................................................... 51 Introduction .................................................................................................................................................................. 51 Status of the Fisheries .................................................................................................................................................. 51 vi Living Resources of Buzzards Bay Resource Issues ............................................................................................................................................................. 55 Environmental Issues ................................................................................................................................................... 56 Management Issues ...................................................................................................................................................... 60 Recommendations ........................................................................................................................................................ 61 References ..................................................................................................................................................................... 62 5. Waterbirds of Buzzards Bay .............................................................................................................................. 63 Introduction .................................................................................................................................................................. 63 Terns and Gulls ............................................................................................................................................................ 63 Terns: Description, Ecology, and Natural History 63 Gulls: History and Current Assessment of Buzzards Bay Breeding Colonies 66 Management Recommendations 68 Current Research and Management Activities 68 Piping Plover ................................................................................................................................................................. 68 Description and Natural History 68 History and Current Status in the Buzzards Bay Region 69 Management and Research: Current and Recommended 70 Double Crested Cormorants ........................................................................................................................................ 70 Description and Natural History 70 History and Current Status in Buzzards Bay 70 Management and Research: Current and Recommended 71 Ospreys .......................................................................................................................................................................... 71 Description and Natural History 71 History and Current Status 71 Research and Management 72 Black-Crowned Night Herons and Snowy Egrets .................................................................................................... 72 Description and Natural History 72 The Wading Bird Colonies of Buzzards Bay 73 Management and Research: Current and Proposed 74 Wintering Waterfowl ................................................................................................................................................... 74 Ecology and Natural History 74 Status and Trends in Buzzards Bay 74 Management and Research 75 Pollutants ...................................................................................................................................................................... 75 References ..................................................................................................................................................................... 76 6. Mammals of Buzzards Bay ................................................................................................................................. 79 Introduction .................................................................................................................................................................. 79 Methods ......................................................................................................................................................................... 79 Published Literature Surveys ...................................................................................................................................... 79 Cetaceans 79 Pinnipeds 79 Turtles 80 Periodical Literature ................................................................................................................................... 80 Stranding Programs ..................................................................................................................................... 80 vii Living Resources of Buzzards Bay Results and Comparisons ............................................................................................................................ 80 Buzzards Bay Contour-Index Relative to Cetaceans ................................................................................ 81 Species Accounts ........................................................................................................................................................... 81 Cetaceans 82 Baleen Whales (Family Balaenopteridae and Balaenidae) ....................................................................... 82 Fin Whale (Balaenoptera physalus) .............................................................................................................. 82 Minke Whale (B. acutorostrata) .................................................................................................................... 82 Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) ............................................................................................... 82 Right Whale (Eubalaena glacialis) ............................................................................................................... 83 Dolphins (Family Delphinidae) ................................................................................................................... 84 White-beaked Dolphin (Lagenorhynchus albirostris) and White-sided Dolphin (L. acutus) ................. 85 Pilot Whale (Globicephala melaena) ........................................................................................................... 85 Killer whale (Orcinus orca) ......................................................................................................................... 86 Other Delphinidae spp. ................................................................................................................................ 86 Dolphins (Family Monodontidae) 86 Beluga (Delphinapterus leucas) ................................................................................................................... 86 Porpoises (Family Phocoenidae) ................................................................................................................................. 87 Harbor Porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) ......................................................................................................... 87 Pinnipeds 87 Seals (Family Phocidae) ............................................................................................................................... 87 Harbor Seal (Phoca vitulina) ......................................................................................................................... 87 Present Distribution of Harbor Seals in Buzzards Bay ......................................................................... 87 Temporal Distribution ........................................................................................................................... 87 Gray Seal (Halichoerus grypus) .................................................................................................................... 89 Factors Affecting the Present Distribution of Seals in Buzzards Bay 90 Disturbance ................................................................................................................................................... 90 Impact of Coastal Pollution ......................................................................................................................... 90 Turtles ........................................................................................................................................................................... 91 Family Cheloniidae and Dermochelyidae .................................................................................................. 91 Leatherback Turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) ................................................................................................. 91 Loggerhead Turtle (Caretta caretta) ............................................................................................................. 91 Hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata) ............................................................................................................. 92 Atlantic or Ridley’s Turtle (Lepidochelys kempi) .......................................................................................... 92 Kemp's Ridley Turtles in Buzzards Bay? 94 References ..................................................................................................................................................................... 94 viii

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