| Brown
tides are caused by the rapid population
growth (“bloom”) of
a minute alga, Aureococcus anophagefferens.
While not reported to be harmful
to human health, brown tides may
negatively impact shellfish (e.g.,
hard clams, oysters, scallops) and
submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV)
communities. Large A. anophagefferens
blooms may negatively impact shellfish
by causing reduced feeding, reduced
growth rates, and/or mortality.
Submerged aquatic vegetation may
be impacted due to the shading effects
of brown tides.
Although
brown tides were suspected to have
occurred in Barnegat Bay in 1985-86,
they were first documented in 1995
in Little Egg Harbor and in southern
Barnegat Bay. Brown tides were also
reported in Barnegat Bay in 1997
and 1999. In response, in 1999 the
Division of Science, Research and
Technology, in cooperation with
several partners, implemented the
Brown Tide Assessment Project. Monitoring
activities were conducted from 2000
through 2004. The primary objectives
of this study were to
(1)
characterize the spatial and temporal
occurrence of brown tides in Barnegat
Bay-Little Egg Harbor,
(2) identify those environmental
factors that may promote the development
and maintenance of brown tides,
and
(3) analyze the risk of brown
tides to SAV communities.
A
number of reports and publications
(including annual NJDEP project
reports) were previously prepared
that included analyses, interpretations,
and conclusions based on data collected
during the years 2000-2003. The
current Research Project Summary
(see link) summarizes the analysis
of the data collected during the
entire five-year period of the study
(2000-2004), as presented in the
Final Project Report for the study
(see Related Reports). The major
focus of this analysis was a comparison
of the data from three years in
which brown tides were observed
in Barnegat Bay-Little Egg Harbor
(2000-2002) with two “non-bloom”
years (2003-2004).
Full
version of the 2004-2005 Research
Project
Final
Report - Brown Tide Assessment Project
Years 2000-2004:
Developing Indicators of Brown Tide
Blooms in NJ Coastal Waters (126
pages)
Final
Report - Tables, Graphics &
Appendices (103
pages)
Related
Reports
Harmful Algal Blooms in Coastal
Waters of New Jersey
-
May 2000
Brown
Tide Newsletters (2000-2002)
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