Executive Summary - Department of Invertebrate Zoology

- A 6 station transect (L series) positioned off Chincoteague,
Virginia between 37°N and 37 .5°N south of the lease area and
-- 8 stations (H, I, and J series) positioned on the continental
slope or in or near submarine canyons in the central area .
The 24 cluster stations in the central area were sampled
quarterly to provide intensive sampling in time and space such that
refined assessments of bathymetric, topographic, sedimentological, and
seasonal effects could be determined . The remaining 27 stations were
sampled twice yearly (during summer and winter) to provide the broad
geographic coverage necessary for distinguishing bathymetric and
latitudinal patterns over the region .
Nine stations (C2, D1, N3, El, Fl, J1, Al, B1, I1) were chosen
for collection of larger organisms by dredge and trawl (megabenthos)
to be used for histopathological and chemical stulies . They were
located in the central area corresponding, wherever possible, with
stations samplqd for macrobenthos and sediments . These stations were
sampled quarterly .
The 6 water column stations (C1, D1, N3, E3, F2, J1) were located
on a cross shelf transect extending from Cl off Atlantic City, New
Jersey, to J1 on the slope edge . These stations were positioned based
on the known hydrographic characteristics of the area and located,
where possible, in the vicinity of benthic stations . Because of the
small number of stations, these sites were restricted to the central
study area .
The identiry oF the tracts that would be offered for leasing
under the ini :ial Middle Atlantic OCS sale (Sale 40) was no : available
at the time jL' qtation selection . USGS identified three areas of
possible inct-,est based on geophysical data . Stations in the central
study area samplEd during this initial year are shown in Figure 3
along with lrazts actually leased in Sale 40 . Comparison of stations
with actual leases shows coverage with regard to potential development
was good, with the exception of water column studies in the
northeastern and northwestern lease areas .
Rationale for Location of Stations
Cluster Stations . Six areas (Areas A-F) (Figure 2) were chosen
as representative of bathymetric zones and/er reflective of high
interest for oil and gas development . Within each orea, 4 permanent
stations were fixed to cover the range of presumed biological and
sedi ..entary habitats . In the 4 areas situated totally on the
continental shelf (B-E), stations were chosen to at least represent
ridge, flank, and swale environn.~nts of the first-order topographic
system (McKinney et al . 1974) . Existing geological information
indicated that sediments and sedimentary processes vari,-d considerably
12