MODELING POTENTIAL HABITAT OF CHESAPEAKE BAY LIVING RESOURCES Adam James ...

253 Pages·2012·3.39 MB·English

ABSTRACT

Title of Document: MODELING POTENTIAL HABITAT OF
CHESAPEAKE BAY LIVING RESOURCES

Adam James Schlenger, Master of Science, 2012

Directed By: Associate Professor, Elizabeth W. North,
University of Maryland Center for
Environmental Science

A quantitative understanding is needed to identify the impacts of climate
change and eutrophication on the habitat of living resources so that effective
management can be applied. A systematic literature review was conducted to obtain
the physiological tolerances to temperature, salinity, and dissolved oxygen for a suite
of Chesapeake Bay species. Information obtained was used to define required and
optimal habitat conditions for use in a habitat volume model. Quality matrices were
developed in order to quantify the level of confidence for each parameter.
Simulations from a coupled oxygen and hydrodynamic model of the Chesapeake Bay
were used to estimate habitat volumes of juvenile sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrinchus)
and to assess sensitivity of habitat to environmental factors. Temperature and salinity
define spring and fall habitat and a combination of salinity, temperature and dissolved
oxygen influence habitat in summer. Both fixed criteria and bioenergetics habitat
volume models yielded similar results.
MODELING POTENTIAL HABITAT OF CHESAPEAKE BAY LIVING
RESOURCES

By

Adam James Schlenger

Thesis submitted to the Faculty of the Graduate School of the
University of Maryland, College Park, in partial fulfillment
of the requirements for the degree of
Master of Science
2012

Advisory Committee:
Associate Professor Elizabeth W. North, Chair
Professor Michael W. Kemp
Professor David H. Secor
© Copyright by
Adam James Schlenger
2012
Acknowledgements
I would like to thank my advisor, Dr. Elizabeth North, for her support,
guidance, and insight throughout my graduate career. Her dedication to my research
and perceptive thinking often challenged me to go beyond what I thought I was
capable of. Her constructive criticism of my work and willingness to engage in
conversation over the past three years were essential to my growth as a professional
scientist and researcher. I would also like to thank Dr. Michael Kemp for his direction
and contribution in developing the quality matrices as well as Dr. David Secor for
sharing his knowledge of Atlantic sturgeon, his encouragement, and his patience
when I needed it most.
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Table of Contents

Acknowledgements ....................................................................................................... ii 
Table of Contents ......................................................................................................... iii 
List of Tables ............................................................................................................... iv 
List of Figures ............................................................................................................ viii 
Chapter 1: Background and Introduction ...................................................................... 1
References ..........................................................................................................7
Chapter 2: Systematic Literature Review ................................................................... 11  
Introduction ........................................................................................................... 11 
Methods................................................................................................................. 13 
Results ................................................................................................................... 18 
A. Blue Crab (Callinectes sapidus) ................................................................ 18
B. Eastern Oyster (Crassostrea virginica) .......................................................24
C. Striped Bass (Morone saxatilis) ................................................................. 30 
D. Bay Anchovy (Anchoa mitchilli) ............................................................... 37 
E. Bluefish (Pomatomus saltatrix) .................................................................. 42 
F. Atlantic Sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrinchus) .................................................. 48 
G. Soft Shell Clam (Mya arenaria) ................................................................ 52 
H. Winter Flounder (Pseudopleuronectes americanus) .................................. 54 
I. Menhaden (Brevoortia tyrannus) ................................................................ 57 
J. Atlantic Croaker (Micropogonias undulates) .............................................. 59 
K. Weakfish (Cynoscion regalis) .................................................................... 60 
L. White Perch (Morone Americana) ............................................................. 62 
Overall Quality Matrix .................................................................................... 64 
Discussion ............................................................................................................. 65 
References ............................................................................................................. 70 
Tables .................................................................................................................... 94 
Figures................................................................................................................. 120
Chapter 3: Modeling the potential habitat of Atlantic sturgeon (Acipenser
oxyrinchus): a comparison of two methods ...............................................................123
Introduction ..........................................................................................................123
Methods............................................................................................................... 126
Results ..................................................................................................................134
Discussion ............................................................................................................140
References ............................................................................................................149
Tables ...................................................................................................................156
Figures..................................................................................................................159
Chapter 4. Conclusion ................................................................................................171
References ............................................................................................................173
Appendix A: Quality Point Assignments ..................................................................174
Complete Reference List ...........................................................................................209

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List of Tables
Table 1.1: Quality measures and respective point values which are used to assign
measures of accuracy and consistency to publications in this literature
review.

Table 1.2: Blue crab (Callinectes sapidus) required (req) and optimal (opt)
physiological tolerances with respect to temperature, salinity, and
dissolved oxygen for eggs, larvae, juveniles, and adults. Cases in which
no studies were found are denoted by N.D. T and S represent
temperature and dissolved oxygen respectively. Derivation of the
equations can be found in the Blue Crab Juvenile and Adult section.

Table 1.3: Blue crab (Callinectes sapidus) required (req) and optimal (opt) quality
scores for individual temperature, salinity, and dissolved oxygen
physiological tolerances and total scores for eggs, larvae, juveniles, and
adults. Cases in which no studies were found are denoted by N.D.

Table 1.4: Eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica) required (req) and optimal (opt)
physiological tolerances with respect to temperature, salinity, and
dissolved oxygen for eggs, larvae, juveniles, and adults. Cases in which
no studies were found are denoted by N.D.

Table 1.5: Eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica) required (req) and optimal (opt)
quality scores for individual temperature, salinity, and dissolved oxygen
physiological tolerances and total scores for eggs, larvae, juveniles, and
adults. Cases in which no studies were found are denoted by N.D.

Table 1.6: Striped bass (Morone saxatilis) required (req) and optimal (opt)
physiological tolerances with respect to temperature, salinity, and
dissolved oxygen for eggs, larvae, juveniles, and adults. Cases in which
no studies were found are denoted by N.D.

Table 1.7: Striped bass (Morone saxatilis) required (req) and optimal (opt) quality
scores for individual temperature, salinity, and dissolved oxygen
physiological tolerances and total scores for eggs, larvae, juveniles, and
adults. Cases in which no studies were found are denoted by N.D.

Table 1.8: Bay anchovy (Anchoa mitchilli) required (req) and optimal (opt)
physiological tolerances with respect to temperature, salinity, and
dissolved oxygen for eggs, larvae, juveniles, and adults. Cases in which
no studies were found are denoted by N.D.

Table 1.9: Bay anchovy (Anchoa mitchilli) required (req) and optimal (opt) quality
scores for individual temperature, salinity, and dissolved oxygen
physiological tolerances and total scores for eggs, larvae, juveniles, and
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adults. Cases in which no studies were found are denoted by N.D.

Table 1.10: Bluefish (Pomatomus saltatrix) required (req) and optimal (opt)
physiological tolerances with respect to temperature, salinity, and
dissolved oxygen for eggs, larvae, juveniles, and adults. Cases in which
no studies were found are denoted by N.D.

Table 1.11: Bluefish (Pomatomus saltatrix) required (req) and optimal (opt) quality
scores for individual temperature, salinity, and dissolved oxygen
physiological tolerances and total scores for eggs, larvae, juveniles, and
adults. Cases in which no studies were found are denoted by N.D.

Table 1.12: Atlantic sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrinchus) required (req) and optimal
(opt) physiological tolerances with respect to temperature, salinity, and
dissolved oxygen for eggs, larvae, young-of-the-year, yearling, and
adults. Cases in which no studies were found are denoted by N.D.

Table 1.13: Atlantic sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrinchus) required (req) and optimal
(opt) quality scores for individual temperature, salinity, and dissolved
oxygen physiological tolerances and total scores for eggs, larvae,
young-of-the-year, yearling, and adults. Cases in which no studies were
found are denoted by N.D.

Table 1.14: Soft shell clam (Mya arenaria) required (req) and optimal (opt)
physiological tolerances with respect to temperature, salinity, and
dissolved oxygen for juveniles. Cases in which no studies were found
are denoted by N.D.

Table 1.15: Soft shell clam (Mya arenaria) required (req) and optimal (opt) quality
scores for individual temperature, salinity, and dissolved oxygen
physiological tolerances and total scores for juveniles. Cases in which
no studies were found are denoted by N.D.

Table 1.16: Winter flounder (Pseudopleuronectes americanus) required (req) and
optimal (opt) physiological tolerances with respect to temperature,
salinity, and dissolved oxygen for juveniles. Cases in which no studies
were found are denoted by N.D.

Table 1.17: Winter flounder (Pseudopleuronectes americanus) required (req) and
optimal (opt) quality scores for individual temperature, salinity, and
dissolved oxygen physiological tolerances and total scores for
juveniles. Cases in which no studies were found are denoted by N.D.

Table 1.18: Atlantic menhaden (Brevoortia tyrannus) required (req) and optimal
(opt) physiological tolerances with respect to temperature, salinity, and
dissolved oxygen for juveniles. Cases in which no studies were found
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are denoted by N.D.

Table 1.19: Atlantic menhaden (Brevoortia tyrannus) required (req) and optimal
(opt) quality scores for individual temperature, salinity, and dissolved
oxygen physiological tolerances and total scores for juveniles. Cases in
which no studies were found are denoted by N.D.

Table 1.20: Atlantic croaker (Micropogonias undulates) required (req) and optimal
(opt) physiological tolerances with respect to temperature, salinity, and
dissolved oxygen for juveniles. Cases in which no studies were found
are denoted by N.D.

Table 1.21: Atlantic croaker (Micropogonias undulates) required (req) and optimal
(opt) quality scores for individual temperature, salinity, and dissolved
oxygen physiological tolerances and total scores for juveniles. Cases in
which no studies were found are denoted by N.D.

Table 1.22: Weakfish (Cynoscion regalis) required (req) and optimal (opt)
physiological tolerances with respect to temperature, salinity, and
dissolved oxygen for juveniles. Cases in which no studies were found
are denoted by N.D.

Table 1.23: Weakfish (Cynoscion regalis) required (req) and optimal (opt) quality
scores for individual temperature, salinity, and dissolved oxygen
physiological tolerances and total scores for juveniles. Cases in which
no studies were found are denoted by N.D.

Table 1.24: White perch (Morone Americana) required (req) and optimal (opt)
physiological tolerances with respect to temperature, salinity, and
dissolved oxygen for juveniles. Cases in which no studies were found
are denoted by N.D.

Table 1.25: White perch (Morone Americana) required (req) and optimal (opt)
quality scores for individual temperature, salinity, and dissolved
oxygen physiological tolerances and total scores for juveniles. Cases in
which no studies were found are denoted by N.D.

Table 1.26: Summary of species, lifestages, and habitat types that did not meet the
minimum quality score requirement for inclusion in the habitat volume
model

Table 2.1: Required and optimal physiological tolerances of young-of-the-year
and yearling Atlantic sturgeon based on a literature review.

Table 2.2: Correlation coefficients based on the comparison of fixed criteria and
bioenergetics habitat modeling approaches for five metrics of each life
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stage and habitat type. Annual refers to the comparison between annual
volume indices (daily volumes summed up over entire year). Seasonal
refers to the seasonal volume indices (daily volumes summed from
st th
May 1 to November 15 ). Start date refers to the date of hypoxia
onset. Duration refers to the duration of seasonal hypoxia. Reduction
refers to the volume of habitat that was reduced by hypoxia (daily
differences in volume between models with and without dissolved
st th
oxygen limitation summed from May 1 to November 15 ).

Table 2.3: Significant P-values derived from paired t-tests of metrics estimated
using fixed criteria and bioenergetics habitat modeling approaches for
each life stage and habitat type. Annual refers to the comparison
between annual volume indices (daily volumes summed up over entire
year). Seasonal refers to the seasonal volume indices (daily volumes
st th
summed from May 1 to November 15 ). Start date refers to the date of
hypoxia onset. Duration refers to the duration of seasonal hypoxia.
Reduction refers to the volume of habitat that was reduced by hypoxia
(daily differences in volume between models with and without
st th
dissolved oxygen limitation summed from May 1 to November 15 ).
N.S. = not significant.

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List of Figures

Figure 1.1: Quality score matrix for required habitat. Each species and life stage is
shaded (gray-scale bar on left) according to the quality of information
available on their required physiological tolerances to temperature (T),
salinity (S), and dissolved oxygen (DO). The species include blue crab
(Callinectes sapidus), eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica), bluefish
(Pomatomus saltatrix), striped bass (Morone saxatilis), bay anchovy
(Anchoa mitchilli), and Atlantic sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrinchus) winter
flounder (Pseudopleuronectes americanus), Atlantic menhaden
(Brevoortia tyrannus), Atlantic croaker (Micropogonias undulates),
weakfish (Cynoscion regalis), soft shell clam (Mya arenaria), and white
perch (Morone americana).The life stage of each species is denoted by a
letter to the left of the color panel: egg (E), larvae (L), juvenile (J),
young-of-the-year (YOY), yearling, and adult (A).

Figure 1.2: Quality score matrix for optimal habitat. Each species and life stage is
shaded (gray-scale bar on left) according to the quality of information
available on their required physiological tolerances to temperature (T),
salinity (S), and dissolved oxygen (DO). The species include blue crab
(Callinectes sapidus), eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica), bluefish
(Pomatomus saltatrix), striped bass (Morone saxatilis), bay anchovy
(Anchoa mitchilli), and Atlantic sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrinchus) winter
flounder (Pseudopleuronectes americanus), Atlantic menhaden
(Brevoortia tyrannus), Atlantic croaker (Micropogonias undulates),
weakfish (Cynoscion regalis), soft shell clam (Mya arenaria), and white
perch (Morone americana).The life stage of each species is denoted by a
letter to the left of the color panel: egg (E), larvae (L), juvenile (J),
young-of-the-year (YOY), yearling, and adult (A).

Figure 1.3: Quality score matrix for required and optimal habitat totals. Each
species and life stage is shaded (gray-scale bar on left) according to the
quality of information available on their required physiological
tolerances to temperature (T), salinity (S), and dissolved oxygen (DO).
The species include blue crab (Callinectes sapidus), eastern oyster
(Crassostrea virginica), bluefish (Pomatomus saltatrix), striped bass
(Morone saxatilis), bay anchovy (Anchoa mitchilli), and Atlantic
sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrinchus) winter flounder (Pseudopleuronectes
americanus), Atlantic menhaden (Brevoortia tyrannus), Atlantic croaker
(Micropogonias undulates), weakfish (Cynoscion regalis), soft shell
clam (Mya arenaria), and white perch (Morone americana).The life
stage of each species is denoted by a letter to the left of the color panel:
egg (E), larvae (L), juvenile (J), young-of-the-year (YOY), yearling, and
adult (A).

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