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MAJOR FINDINGS<br />
· Water quality parameters, species diversity, number <strong>of</strong> Rangia cuneata, and biomass <strong>of</strong><br />
clams show a slow recovery after from the 2001 lake-wide die-<strong>of</strong>f caused by stress from<br />
low dissolved oxygen.<br />
· Although number <strong>of</strong> clams has increased since the drought, the population in composed<br />
<strong>of</strong> young, small clams, i.e. low biomass numbers.<br />
· The primary source <strong>of</strong> stress that causes low species diversity and kills Rangia clams is<br />
low dissolved oxygen from saltwater intrusion from the Mississippi River Gulf Outlet via<br />
the Inner Harbor Navigation Canal as evidenced by the persistent, large “dead zone”.<br />
Closure <strong>of</strong> the MRGO should alleviate this stress.<br />
SIGNIFICANCE<br />
This study documents the detrimental effects <strong>of</strong> saltwater intrusion from the Mississippi River<br />
Gulf Outlet on benthic invertebrates in Lake <strong>Pontchartrain</strong>. It also provides information on the<br />
effects <strong>of</strong> natural climate shifts on benthic community structure, resiliency <strong>of</strong> the Lake<br />
<strong>Pontchartrain</strong> system, and recovery rates after major disturbance. In addition, this study provides<br />
baseline data <strong>to</strong> evaluate the effects <strong>of</strong> Hurricane Katrina.<br />
DELIVERABLES<br />
· Poirrier, M.A. and E.A. Spalding. 2005. Special Report: The importance <strong>of</strong> Rangia cuneata<br />
clam res<strong>to</strong>ration <strong>to</strong> the holistic rehabilitation <strong>of</strong> the Lake <strong>Pontchartrain</strong> estuary. Submitted <strong>to</strong><br />
the Lake <strong>Pontchartrain</strong> <strong>Basin</strong> Foundation CMP Committee. 11 pgs.<br />
· Poirrier, M.A. The importance <strong>of</strong> Rangia clams and submerged macrophytes <strong>to</strong> the holistic<br />
res<strong>to</strong>ration <strong>of</strong> Lake <strong>Pontchartrain</strong>. Environmental State <strong>of</strong> the State Conference, New<br />
Orleans. Oc<strong>to</strong>ber 2004<br />
· Poirrier, M.A. and E.A. Spalding. The importance <strong>of</strong> Rangia cuneata clam res<strong>to</strong>ration <strong>to</strong> the<br />
holistic rehabilitation <strong>of</strong> Lake <strong>Pontchartrain</strong>. Seventh International Shellfish Res<strong>to</strong>ration<br />
Conference, Charles<strong>to</strong>wn, S.C. November 2004.<br />
· Poirrier, M.A. and E.A. Spalding. Environmental services provided by Rangia clams and the<br />
benefits derived from the res<strong>to</strong>ration <strong>of</strong> 250 km 2 <strong>of</strong> clam habitat in Lake <strong>Pontchartrain</strong>.<br />
Benthic Ecology Meeting. March 2005, Williamsburg Virginia.<br />
· Brammer, Amanda J., Ryan S. Poirrier and Michael A. Poirrier. Changes in the density <strong>of</strong><br />
Ischadium recurvum cased by a drought from an El Nino southern oscillation shift. Gulf<br />
Estuarine Research Society Meeting. March 2005. Pensacola, Florida.<br />
· Poirrier, Michael A. and Elizabeth Anne Spalding. The importance <strong>of</strong> Rangia clam<br />
res<strong>to</strong>ration <strong>to</strong> the holistic rehabilitation <strong>of</strong> the Lake <strong>Pontchartrain</strong> estuary. Coastal Res<strong>to</strong>ration<br />
and Enhancement through Science and Technology Meeting. April 2005. Lafayette,<br />
Louisiana.<br />
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