Results thus far are based on analysis of video data taken via ROV in sites both inside and outside the WGOMC. Five sites were investigated in the two year portion of the WGOMC, with three to five ROV stations/site, and four sites in the actively trawled Kettle, with three ROV stations/site. All sessile, or weakly mobile, invertebrates were identified and quantified in each ROV transect in frames where the ROV was positioned on the bottom. Due to unequal numbers of frames in some transects, numbers were standardized to 50 frames. Non-parametric multi-dimensional scaling (NMDS) was used to investigate similarities in epifaunal species diversity and abundances. ANOSIM analysis found a p-value of 0.08, thus our plot suggests a weakly significant partitioning between closed and open stations.
\"Benthic Habitat Correlates of Juvenile Fish Distribution in the Bigelow Bight and Adjacent Estuaries\"
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Principle Investigator: Michele Dionne. Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve
\nResearch Associate: Jeremy Miller Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve
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Additional Project Participants:
\nVincent Balzano, Commercial Fisherman, F/V North Star
\nRichard MacKenzie, Researcher
\nScott Orringer, Researcher
\nJeff Reed, Commercial Fisherman
\nKenneth Young, Commercial Fisherman
\nMarshall Alexander, Commercial Fisherman, F/V Dee Dee Mae II
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\"This study represents a collaboration between researchers and members of the Gulf of Maine fishing industry to survey juvenile groundfish distribution and abundance along transects from estuarine through inner shelf areas of the Bigelow Bight. The project will characterize associated substrate and prey availability in order to determine fisheries habitat resources with the region. The project will feature the use of a sediment profile imager (known as an SPI camera), a device which takes photos of substrates and associated organisms both from a surface and from a profile view to depths up to 1 ft. This technique will be combined with traditional research sampling methods for fish (small mesh trap nets, beam trawls, and variable mesh gill nets) and benthos (Ponar grab sampler). The survey design will compare fish, benthos, and substrates between estuarine, nearshore and offshore areas, including sites within these zones that have been altered by human activities (i.e. dumping of dredge material, outfall of treated sewage, and bottom trawling). Traditional cod spawning and feeding grounds and a closed area (Jeffrey's Ledge) are included in the survey. Results of the study will provide much-needed data to determine estuarine and inner shelf fish habitat associations, the food resource value of these habitats, and their response to current and previous human alterations.\" abstract from the Northeast Consortium Project database
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Site Codes:
\nBB = Bigelow Bight
\nCN = Cape Neddick
\nJL = Jeffery's Ledge
\nKB and KR = Kennebunk River
\nPR = Piscataqua River
\nPRE = Piscataqua River Estuary
\nSR = Saco River
\nSRE = Saco River Estuary
\nWH and WR = Webhanet River
\nWI = Wood Island, near the mouth of the Saco River 20 individuals were measured for each species and the remaining were counted for biomass purposes. This accounts for the \"no measure\" seen in the notes column.
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revised 08/11/06, gfh