The Long Island Sound Conference attracted many of the region’s marine scientists.
1977 LONG ISLAND SOUND CONFERENCE
The 1977 Long Island Sound Conference was held at the Marine Sciences Research Center on Saturday, ll June 1977. About 65 scientists attended this all day informal Conference, at which researchers exchange ideas and discuss problems of the Sound. Appropriately, our colleagues from Connecticut crossed the Sound on the Bridgeport-Port Jefferson ferry. The morning program dealt with the problem of coastal fronts and plankton patchiness. Faculty and students from MSRC reported on ongoing work in these areas. A buffet lunch was followed by a poster session featuring displays of current research activity. The afternoon series of talks, arranged by Yale University, dealt with the interaction between physical and biological processes and the sediments in the Sound. The conference ended with a discussion of the needs of coastal zone management and planning and how the interaction between researchers and managers can be improved.
MSRC ASSOCIATES
We are pleased to welcome as new MSRC Associates: Mrs. George Fearons, Jay Ginter, Carl Heyser, Jr. Irving Like Carelyn V. Reeburgh, William S. Reeburgh, Anne D. Williams, and Cappy’s Carpets Inc. of Port Jefferson
We welcome your participation. Contact Mrs. Jeri Schoof at (516) 246-6543.
THE IMPORTANCE OF COASTAL FRONTS
From 25-27 May 1977, MSRC hosted an international workshop on the role of oceanic fronts in coastal processes. Funding was provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Energy Research and Development Administration, N.Y. Sea Grant Institute, and MSRC. The primary goals of the workshop were to assess the state of the art in the study of the physics and biology of coastal fronts, to identify the significant unsolved scientific and environmental problems, and to outline how these problems might be resolved.
Workshop participants were: Dr. William Boicourt, Chesapeake Bay Institute; Dr. Charles Flagg, E G & G ; Dr. Robert Fournier, Institute of Oceanography, Dalhousie; Mr. Arnold Freiberger, EPA; Mr. Ed Horne, Institute of Oceanography, Dalhousie; Dr. Richard L. Iverson, Florida State University; Dr. Christopher Mooers, Marine Studies Center, University of Delaware; Dr. Kenneth Mooney, U.S. Coast Guard ; Mr Bert H. Olsson , Defence Scientific Establishment, Aukland, New Zealand; Dr. Robin D. Pingree, Marine Biological Association, United Kingdom; Dr. John Simpson, University College of North Wales, United Kingdom; Dr. Malcolm J. Bowman, MSRC ; Dr. Akira Okubo, MSRC; Dr. Wayne E. Esaias, MSRC.
A report is being prepared and will be issued in the MSRC Special Report series.
PEOPLE AND MEETINGS
ProfessOrS M. J. BOWMAN and I. W. DUEDALL were recently promoted to the rank of Associate Professor with tenure. Dr. E. J. CARPENTER Associate Professor was granted tenure.
Professor CHARLES F. WURSTER presented the Paul Lemon Lecture in Ecology at SUNY Albany in May. The Lemon Lecture, named after SUNY Albany’s first ecologist, is presented biannually by a leading scholar.
Professor E. J. CARPENTER participated in the advisory meeting on marine biology as part of the U.S.-Japan Cooperative Science Program. The meeting, held in Honolulu, Hawaii, on 9-ll May 1977, was devoted to drafting a joint research program. Dr. Carpenter represented MSRC at the dedication of the new EPA Environmental Research Laboratory in Narragansett, Rhode Island, on l7 June 1977.
Professor J. L. McHUGH participated in the Mid-Atlantic Regional Fishery Management Council’s workshop on Optimum Yield held in Houston, Texas on 8-10 June 1977.
Professor J. R. SCHUBEL has been elected a member of the University-National Oceanographic Laboratory System (UNOLS) Advisory Council for a term of three years. Dr. Schubel served on the panel on Maritime Development at the Bi-State Conference on the Chesapeake Bay held at the Patuxent Naval Air Station April 27-29, 1977, and participated in the Sea Grant Atlantic Offshore Workshop held at the University of Delaware, Newark, May 19-21, 1977.
GREGORY GREENE and ANDREW MIRCHEL, MESP graduate students, attended the annual meeting of the American. Shellfish Association in Cockey sville, Maryland.
FIRST NOYES FELLOW COMPLETES REQUIREMENTS FORM.S. DEGREE
We congratulate JEFFREY A. LESLIE, our first Jessie Smith Noyes Fellow to complete all requirements for the M.S. degree in Marine Environmental Sciences. Mr. Leslie worked closely with Professor ROBERT E. WILSON in research for his master’s thesis on the effects of topographic variations on wind-driven currents in coastal areas. His findings represent a significant advancement in our ability to predict wind-driven currents and the transport of dissolved and suspended materials. A paper, based on this work is being prepared for submission for publication.
ONRUST IN RIPLEY’S BELIEVE IT OR NOT
The original ONRUST was described by Ripley as “The First Ship Built in America.”
APPOINTMENTS
WILLIAM WISE and ROBERT COMEAU recently joined the MSRC staff. William Wise, who received his master’s degree through the MSRC in 1975, is working with other members of the MSRC staff to develop a dredged spoil management plan for Long Island Sound. Robert Comeau received his B.A. from Rutgers University in 1976, and is the new mate and marine technician aboard the R/V ONRUST.
NEW GRADUATES
GARY S. GRUNSEICH, Decomposition of Sewage Sludge in Seawater (Professor I. W. DUEDALL)
CHRISTOPHER. R. ZEPPIE, Vertical Profiles and Sedimentation. Rates of Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni and Pb in Jamaica Bay, New York (Professor T. W. DUEDALL)
NEWS ABOUT RECENT MSRC GRADUATES
BRIAN DOYLE (MESP, 1976) is a Coastal Geologist (Extension Associate) with the New York Sea Grant Office, Brockport, N.Y.
JAY GINTER (MESP, 1974), New York Bight Atlas Program Manager for the New York Sea Grant Institute, has accepted an invitation to spend a year as a National Ocean Policy Study (NOPS) intern with Dr. C. Idyll.
GARY GRUNSEICH (MESP, 1977) has accepted a position with the Bigelow Laboratory in Maine.
ROY HAJE (MESP, 1976) has accepted a position with the New York Department of Environmental Conservation and works in the Stony Brook Office.
BARBARAJEAN KAUFMAN (MESP, 1976) is a doctoral student in health sciences at Stony Brook.
MICHAEL KLEIN (MESP, 1976) has accepted a position as a Marine Ecologist with Comsis Corporation, Glastonbury, Connecticut.
GERALD LYNCH (MESP, 1976) is attending law school at the Franklin Pierce Law Institute, Concord, New Hampshire.
PETER UNDERWOOD (MESP, 1976) has been hired as an Environmental Consultant by McLaren Atlantic Ltd , Halifax, Nova Scotia.
LEWIS WUNDERLICH (MESP, 1976) has accepted a position with Bowe, Walsh & Associates in Huntington Station, N.Y.
CHRISTOPHER. R. ZEPPIE (MESP, 1977) has accepted a position with the New York District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
MSRC COLLABORATES WITH N.Y. DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION ON CLAMMING STUDY
During 1976, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) conducted a Hard Clam Survey as part of its shellfish management program. Commercial clammers filled out, along with their permit applications, one page survey forms designed to establish characteristics of Long Island clammers, as well as their opinions on various issues affecting the clamming industry.
The preliminary analysis of the completed survey was conducted manually by DEC personnel. The process proved to be too laborious and MSRC was asked to design a comprehensive computer program to assure the most effective use of the information. Data entry error detection, and correction programs were written, and the survey forms were keyed directly into the computer by DEC personnel via a remote terminal at MSRC. Analysis programs were Written and resulted in the generation of an eighty-eight page survey analysis report.
DEC has initiated a 1977 Hard Clam Survey and MSRC will again provide data reduction and survey analysis assistance. These studies are conducted by a group working under BRUCE MacMILLAN, Supervisor of Marine Environmental Control, of DEC, with analysis support by GEORGE E. CARROLL of MSRC.
SUSAN ROBBINS COMPLETES CASE STUDY OF STONY BROOK HARBOR
The Federal Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 encourages the States to exercise their full authority over the coastal zone, in cooperation with Federal and local governments, by developing land and water use programs. A basic requirement of such programs is a comprehensive and well-organized information base.
SUSAN KOSKI ROBBINS, a December 1976 graduate of the Marine Environmental Sciences Program, chose as her thesis topic a case study of Stony Brook Harbor (an embayment on Long Island’s north shore) to illustrate one method of organizing and evaluating information on a marine resource in a form useful to environmental managers and planners. Ms. Robbins’ thesis examines virtually every aspect of the harbor including: a detailed definition of the resource; past, present, and alternative patterns of use, and conflicts between users; governmental jurisdiction; and management and planning efforts. Special attention is given to the issue of dredging, the greatest source of past and present conflict, and recommendations are made on steps to be taken before any further dredging is performed.
Ms. Robbins concludes that communication and cooperation among the various levels of government involved is lacking, and as a result, there is no one official plan or policy to guide present or future use of the Stony Brook Harbor resource as a whole.
MSRC is publishing Ms. Robbins’ report in its Special Report series.
NEW COURSES FOR FALL SEMESTER
MSRC will offer a new course, “Science and Technology in Public Institutions,” this fall under MAR. 550, Section 2. The three credit course will be taught by Dr. D. F. SQUIRES Professor of Marine Science at MSRC and Director of the New York Sea Grant Institute. The course examines the role of science and technology in federal, state, and local government,and the problems of scientific and technical personnel in management of governmental programs.
Dr. Lisandro Chuecas, Visiting Professor from the University of Concepcion (Chile) will present a one credit graduate course entitled: Marine Resources of Chile. The course will focus on Chile’s coastal resources, both living and nonliving (mineral), and on the development of effective strategies for managing these resources. (Thursdays 2-3 p.m.)
SCHOLARS FROM MOSCOW STATE UNIVERSITY CRUISE ABOARD R/V ONRUST
Drs. Nicolai Eremin, Valeri Kuvakin, Irina Kuzina, Michall Marchenko, and Valerija Zhelesowa of the Moscow State University joined Professors Raymond Jones, Ruth Miller, T. A. Pond and members of MSRC’s faculty and staff aboard the R/V ONRUST for a short cruise on Long Island Sound. The Russian scholars made short visits to a number of SUNY campuses this spring to establish the SUNY-Moscow State University exchange program. MSRC hopes to have a Soviet oceanographer spend a year at Stony Brook in the near future to study coastal oceanography. In the Soviet Union, as in the United States, relatively little attention has been directed at the coastal ocean–that part of the marine environment with which man has his most intimate contact and upon which he has his greatest impact.
McHUGH WINS MSRC ASSOCIATE’S DISTINGUISHED TEACHING AWARD
Professor J. L. McHUGH was selected by the Center’s graduate students as the recipient of the first MSRC Associates’ Distinguished Teaching Award. McHugh joined MSRC in l970 after distinguishing himself in a post with the U.S. Department of Interior and as Director of the Virginia Fisheries Laboratory, now the Virginia Institute of Marine Sciences. McHugh formerly served as a Chairman and as a Commissioner of the International Whaling Commission, and is currently one of New York’s representatives on the Mid-Atlantic Regional Fishery Management Council. McHugh’s course MAR. 553, Fishery Management, is one of MSRC’s most popular courses. McHugh’s students have gone to important positions with the Energy Research and Development Administration, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Marine Fisheries Service, a variety of other federal and State management agencies, and with private consulting firms.
GRADUATE STUDENTS RECEIVE RESEARCH AWARDS
GREGORY GREENE and SCOTT BECKER, 2nd year graduate students in the MSRC, received an award from the New York Sea Grant Institute for a study of the effects of the long hard winter on mortality of hard clams in Great South Bay. They also investigated the effects of low water temperature on the shelf life of hard clams. Their report will be published in the MSRC Special Report Series.
GREGORY GREENE, ANDREW MIRCHEL, WILLIAM BEHRENS and SCOTT BECKER received a grant from the Lerner Fund of the American Museum of Natural History for a study of the relationships among sediment type, population density, and growth rates of hard clams in Great South Bay.