Full report - Conservation Gateway

Chapter 2 - Coastal EcosystemsFigure 2-2. Eelgrass (Zostera marina) loss at Waquoit Bay, Massachusetts. This image shows post-disease re-growthfollowed by loss due to eutrophication (Costa et al. 1992). Nitrogen oncentrations in this embayment doubled between 1938and 1990 (Bowen and Valiela 2001).within coastal ecosystems, the loss of eelgrass has secondaryimpact on dependant fauna, from waterfowl such asbrant (Branta bernicla) to bay scallops, and myriad otherfish and invertebrate species (Bowen and Valiela 2001;Deegan et al. 2002; Kennish et al. 2007).A comprehensive estimate of eelgrass loss and restorationopportunities for the project area has not yet beencompleted. However, estimates for some locations (Figure2-2 and 2-3), have been produced through comparison ofaerial photography with old maps and the use of habitatmodels (Orth and Moore 1983; Orth and Moore 1984;GBERC 2006). The greatest amount of eelgrass loss inthe Northwest Atlantic has occurred within ChesapeakeBay, where more than half the area historically coveredby eelgrass was lost by the 1970s (Robert Orth, personalcommunication).Eelgrass restoration efforts are picking up steam throughoutthe region, including at locations in Great Bay, NewHampshire, in Long Island Sound, and the seasidelagoons of the eastern shore of Virginia. As an example,the Conservancy is working with the Virginia Instituteof Marine Science, Virginia’s Coastal Zone ManagementProgram, and NOAA to expand the world’s largest successfulseagrass restoration project. This landscape scalerestoration project is being monitored to evaluate benefitsfor diverse eelgrass community fauna and includes re-introductionof eelgrass dependant bay-scallops and oystersettlement substrate.OystersEastern oysters (Crassostrea virginica) are found in shallowsubtidal and intertidal areas throughout the NorthwestAtlantic, providing substantial ecosystem services includingwater filtration, provision of fish habitat, and erosioncontrol (Coen et al. 2007).Much attention and resources have been brought to bearon protecting and conserving coral reef systems aroundthe world. In temperate waters, reefs formed by oystersand other shellfish provide similar critical habitat andNorthwest Atlantic Marine Ecoregional Assessment • Phase 1 Report 2-