Browsing by Author "Belton, Thomas"
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Item Assessing impacts of atmospheric nitrogen deposition on New Jersey forests 2002-2003 : final report year 1(Trenton, N.J. : New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Science, Research and Technology, 2003-11) Dighton, John; Tuininga, Amy; Jonsson, Lena; Gray, Dennis; Belton, ThomasItem Assessing Impacts of Atmospheric Nitrogen Deposition on New Jersey Forests 2002-2003: Final Report Year 1(Trenton, N.J. : New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Science, Research and Technology, 2003-11) Dighton, John; Tuininga, Amy; Jonsson, Lena; Gray, Dennis; Belton, ThomasThe project scope was conceptualized at an inter-programmatic meeting within the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection including representation by the Divisions of Science Research and Technology, Forestry, Air, Watershed Management and Endangered Species. A consensus was reached that a suite of bioindicators would prove critical in satisfying State management goals to enhance air and water quality; to restore ecosystems, sustain land and natural resource communities; as well as to preserve biodiversity in the state. The immediate goal was to establish unique baseline terrestrial communities of known structure in the Pinelands Ecoregion of New Jersey, then to evaluate the influence of potential environment stressors. Of particular interest were air deposited nitrogen and its measurable biological effects on forest ecosystems for long term trends-assessment. Methods are needed to benchmark nitrogen status in the Pinelands, and other air sheds in New Jersey, to track deposition trends and effects over time; that is, to develop a means to measure Nitrogen dry deposition effects (i.e., using bioindicators such as mycorrhizal fungi). Changes in macro-fungal species composition and abundance have been used in other parts of the world as biological indicators for terrestrial wooded ecosystems.Item Assessment of Fish and Crab Responses to Human Alteration in Barnegat Bay(Trenton, N.J. : New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Science, Research and Environmental Health, 2013) Able, Ken; Jivoff, Paul; Grothues, Thomas M.; Hagan, Roland; Belton, Thomas; Ferko, Marc; Ruppel, Bruce; Buchanan, Gary; Muffley, BrandonItem Assessment of Fish and Crab Responses to Human Alteration in Barnegat Bay(Trenton, N.J. : New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Science, Research and Environmental Health, 2014-03-28) Able, Ken; Jivoff, Paul; Grothues, Thomas M.; Hagan, Roland; Belton, Thomas; Ferko, Marc; Ruppel, Bruce; Buchanan, Gary; Muffley, BrandonItem Assessment of Fish and Crab Responses to Human Alteration in Barnegat Bay : Barnegat Bay Final Report(Trenton, N.J. : New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Science, Research and Environmental Health, 2015-09-29) Able, Ken; Jivoff, Paul; Grothues, Thomas M.; Hagan, Roland; Belton, Thomas; Ferko, Marc; Ruppel, Bruce; Buchanan, Gary; Muffley, BrandonItem Barnegat Bay Phytoplankton Year 3 : Phytoplankton Reference Communities and Index of Biotic Integrity Final Report(Trenton, N.J. : New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Science, Research and Environmental Health, 2015-07) Ren, Ling; Belton, ThomasBarnegat Bay-Little Egg Harbor (BB-LEH) is very susceptible to human-induced eutrophication due to its shallow depth, relatively long flushing time and highly developed surrounding watershed. The Estuary has been classified as a highly eutrophic system (Nixon 1995, Bricker et al. 2007), experiencing episodic recurrences of brown tides and other microalgal blooms, loss of submerged aquatic vegetation, and decline of hard clam stock and harvest. We carried out a three-year research on the phytoplankton community in BB-LEH estuary in coordination with New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP)’s Bureau of Marine Monitoring from 2012 to 2015. In the first two years of study we investigated phytoplankton community in BB-LEH from August 2011 to August 2013, characterized species composition and spatial and temporal distribution of phytoplankton, including bloom patterns, dominant species succession, and occurrence of Harmful Algal Bloom (HABs) species. In addition, multivariate analyses were conducted to understand the temporal changes of phytoplankton between Year-one and Year-two, and the relationship between the phytoplankton changes and environmental conditions. More details can be found in the project reports (Ren 2013, 2015).Item Benthic Invertebrate Community Monitoring and Indicator Development for Barnegat Bay-Little Egg Harbor Estuary : Final Report(Trenton, N.J. : New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Science, Research and Environmental Health, 2013-07-15) Taghon, Gary L.; Grassle, Judith P.; Fuller, Charlotte M.; Petrecca, Rosemarie F.; Ramey, Patricia; Belton, Thomas; Ferko, Marc; Schuster, BobThe Barnegat Bay ecosystem is potentially under stress from human impacts, which have increased over the past several decades. Benthic macroinvertebrates are commonly included in studies to monitor the effects of human and natural stresses on marine and estuarine ecosystems. There are several reasons for this. Macroinvertebrates (here defined as animals retained on a 0.5-mm mesh sieve) are abundant in most coastal and estuarine sediments, typically on the order of 103 to 104 per meter squared. Benthic communities are typically composed of many taxa from different phyla, and quantitative measures of community diversity (e.g., Rosenberg et al. 2004) and the relative abundance of animals with different feeding behaviors (e.g., Weisberg et al. 1997, Pelletier et al. 2010), can be used to evaluate ecosystem health. Because most benthic invertebrates are sedentary as adults, they function as integrators, over periods of months to years, of the properties of their environment.Item Benthic Invertebrate Community Monitoring and Indicator Development for Barnegat Bay-Little Egg Harbor Estuary : Year 2, Final Report(Trenton, N.J. : New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Science, Research and Environmental Health, 2014-06-03) Taghon, Gary L.; Grassle, Judith P.; Fuller, Charlotte M.; Petrecca, Rosemarie F.; Ramey, Patricia; Belton, Thomas; Ferko, Marc; Schuster, BobThe Barnegat Bay ecosystem is potentially under stress from human impacts, which appear to have increased over the past several decades. Benthic macroinvertebrates are commonly included in studies to monitor the effects of human and natural stresses on marine and estuarine ecosystems. There are several reasons for this. Macroinvertebrates (here defined as animals retained on a 0.5-mm-mesh sieve) are abundant in most coastal and estuarine sediments, typically on the order of 103 to 104 individuals per meter squared. Benthic communities are typically composed of many taxa from different phyla, and quantitative measures of community diversity (e.g., Rosenberg et al. 2004) and the relative abundance of animals with different feeding behaviors (e.g., Pelletier et al. 2010, Weisberg et al. 1997), can be used to evaluate ecosystem health. Because most benthic invertebrates are sedentary as adults, they function as integrators, over periods of months to years, of the properties of their environment.Item Benthic Invertebrate Community Monitoring and Indicator Development for Barnegat Bay-Little Egg Harbor Estuary : Year 3, Final Report(Trenton, N.J. : New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Science, Research and Environmental Health, 2015-09-08) Taghon, Gary L.; Grassle, Judith P.; Fuller, Charlotte M.; Petrecca, Rosemarie F.; Ramey, Patricia; Belton, Thomas; Ferko, Marc; Schuster, BobThe Barnegat Bay ecosystem is potentially under stress from human impacts, which appear to have increased over the past several decades. Benthic macroinvertebrates are commonly included in studies to monitor the effects of human and natural stresses on marine and estuarine ecosystems. There are several reasons for this. Macroinvertebrates (here defined as animals retained on a 0.5-mm-mesh sieve) are abundant in most coastal and estuarine sediments, typically on the order of 103 to 104 individuals per meter squared. Benthic communities are typically composed of many taxa from different phyla, and quantitative measures of community diversity (e.g., Rosenberg et al. 2004) and the relative abundance of animals with different feeding behaviors (e.g., Pelletier et al. 2010, Weisberg et al. 1997), can be used to evaluate ecosystem health. Because most benthic invertebrates are sedentary as adults, they function as integrators, over periods of months to years, of the properties of their environment.Item Ecological Evaluation of Sedge Island Marine Conservation Area in Barnegat Bay : Final Report, 2013(Trenton, N.J. : New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Science, Research and Environmental Health, 2013-08-21) Jivoff, Paul; Bilinski, Joseph; Belton, Thomas; Ferko, MarcConservation zones are important for maintaining the sustainability of ecosystems and populations of economically important species. The relative ecological value, especially for economically important species, of the Sedge Island Marine Conservation Zone (SIMCZ) in Barnegat Bay, NJ was assessed by comparing the following inside the SIMCZ with areas outside the conservation zone: (1) abundance and species diversity of fish and select decapod crustaceans in three habitats (seagrass, macroalgae, and unvegetated) using throw traps, (2) population structure of adult blue crabs using commercial-style traps, and (3) brood production of adult female blue crabs. Throw trap sampling indicates that blue crabs are most abundant in seagrass as compared to unvegetated habitats. Overall, blue crabs are more abundant outside the SIMCZ than inside but the difference does not apply to each habitat, suggesting the habitats inside and outside the SIMCZ are at least equivalent. Inside and outside the conservation area, species diversity is enhanced in both structured habitats as compared to unvegetated areas and is similar inside the SIMCZ as compared to outside. Again, this suggests the SIMCZ is at least equivalent to a comparative area outside the conservation zone. The SIMCZ has greater abundance of adult blue crabs, a sex ratio that is more skewed towards males, and a greater proportion of ovigerous females that are about to spawn and show signs of recent spawning. This suggests that the SIMCZ may provide refuge from fishing, particularly for male blue crabs, and may be an important area for spawning females.Item Ecological evaluation of Sedge Island Marine Conservation Area in Barnegat Bay : Final Report, 2014(Trenton, N.J. : New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Science, Research and Environmental Health, 2014-08-29) Jivoff, Paul; Bilinski, Joseph; Belton, Thomas; Ferko, MarcConservation zones are important for maintaining the sustainability of ecosystems and populations of economically important species. The relative ecological value, especially for economically important species, of the Sedge Island Marine Conservation Zone (SIMCZ) in Barnegat Bay, NJ was assessed by comparing the following inside the SIMCZ with areas outside the conservation zone: (1) population structure of adult blue crabs using commercial-style traps, (2) reproductive potential of both sexes and brood production of adult female blue crabs, and (3) species diversity and abundance of fish and select decapod crustaceans, particularly blue crabs, in three habitats (seagrass, macroalgae, and unvegetated) using throw traps. Commercial-style trap sampling indicates that the SIMCZ had greater abundance of male blue crabs, a sex ratio that is more skewed towards males, and a greater proportion of ovigerous females than mid and western-bay locations outside the SIMCZ. There was no evidence that reproductive potential (e.g., sperm stores) or female brood production differed among the locations. Using a complementary data set from a co-occurring project; as compared with physically similar areas, the SIMCZ contained: (1) more adult blue crabs than other SAV-dominated areas along the north-south axis of Barnegat Bay, (2) more adult females, especially egg-bearing females, than adjacent, SAV-dominated areas with similar access to Barnegat Inlet, and (3) more male blue crabs than open bay habitats within an east-west zone of the Bay. Taken together, these results suggest that the SIMCZ is an important area for both male and female blue crabs, particularly females that are spawning. Throw trap sampling indicates that species diversity, the total abundance of organisms and the abundance of juvenile blue crabs were similar inside the SIMCZ as compared to outside the SIMCZ. In contrast, juveniles of two economically important fish species (winter and summer flounder) were more abundant inside the SIMCZ than outside the SIMCZ. Habitat was far more important than location in accounting for the variation in species diversity, total abundance and the abundance of blue crabs. In general, structured habitats (SAV and algae) contained more species, individual organisms and blue crabs than open areas. Sampling for this project occurred before and after “Superstorm” Sandy, thus annual differences may reflect potential Sandy effects. Annual differences in blue crab abundance between and within locations suggest that the SIMCZ provided a buffer against the potentially negative effects of Sandy. Throw trap sampling suggests that the SIMCZ contains habitats that are ecologically valuable and are helping to sustain valuable species.Item Nutrient and Ecological Histories in Barnegat Bay, New Jersey: Research Project Summary(Trenton, N.J. : New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Office of Science, 2011-06) Velinsky, David; Enache, Mihalea; Charles, Donald; Sommerfield, Christopher; Belton, ThomasThe primary objective of this project was to collect sediment cores from tidal regions of Barnegat Bay and determine the chronology of nutrient changes (i.e., nitrogen and phosphorus) and associated ecosystem level responses. Sediment nitrogen concentrations increased towards the surface in three of the 4 cores collected indicating an increase in nutrient loading from portions of the watershed. Sediment nitrogen accumulation rates increased twofold at the up-bay site starting in the mid-1950s. Algal diatoms indicate major shifts toward more eutrophic conditions starting in the 1940-1950s consistent with an increase in sediment nutrients and appear to indicate impacts from increasing population and land use in the northern part of Barnegat Bay, an area with urban and suburban land use. The southern site is situated in a rural or semi-rural area and was the least impacted. Wetlands in Barnegat Bay can sequester approximately 79 % of the nitrogen and 54 % of the phosphorus estimated to be entering the Bay from upland sources. This illustrates the important ecosystem services that marshes can perform and how important it is to maintain and enhance marshes within Barnegat Bay. Sedimentation rates on salt marshes are at, or just below, the rate of relative sea level rise in Barnegat Bay. These relatively low rates of accretion render the marsh vulnerable to inundation should the rate of sea level rise accelerate in the future. Overall, the irreversible shifts recorded by diatom species suggest that, despite the fact that the Barnegat Bay wetlands are protected by both federal and state laws, these sites remain impacted by anthropogenic disturbances and did not return to their natural, reference conditions. On the contrary, the most recent changes suggest an increase in habitat deterioration and pollution. Thus, the changes recorded in diatom species convey a strong message to identify and limit all sources of nutrients that contribute to the degradation of the estuary and its watershed.Item PCB TMDLs, Pollution Minimization Plans and Source Trackdown in Camden City: Research Project Summary(Trenton, N.J. : New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Science, Research and Technology, 2008-08) Belton, Thomas; Botts, John; Lippincott, Lee; Stevenson, EdwardA PCB Pilot Source trackdown study was performed in the sewer collection system of the Camden County Municipal Utility Authority (CCMUA) as part of a PCB TMDL. The goals were to evaluate the most appropriate sampling and analytical techniques for tracking down PCB contamination to the MUA collection system and to identify potential upland sources. Innovative field and analytical methods were evaluated including the use of PCB analytical Method 1668a to attain high sensitivity and low detection limits; the quantitation of over 124 separate PCB congeners as a mean to identify unique source signatures through pattern recognition; the use of passive in-situ continuous extraction sampler (PISCES) for sample integration over protracted time periods (14 days); and the use of electronic data collection systems interfaced with a geographic information system (GIS). PCBs were found at all sewer locations (i.e., both urban and suburban) and in all sampling media potentially from varied sources (i.e., as indicated by differences in PCB congener profiles between waste streams). PCBs were quantifiable in both 24-hour composites with a mean of 189 ng/l (Range: 33 ng/l to 784 ng/l) and grab samples with a mean of 41 ng/l (Range: 20 ng/l to 82 ng/l). Geographic analysis of sewer results indicated a concentration of potential PCB sources in the industrialized south-central area of Camden. We further evaluated desktop trackdown methods and innovative field methods using field methods (i.e., immunoassays e.g., SDI/ELISA) known to be quick, inexpensive and accurate; and approved by NJDEP’s Site Remediation Program for site screening. The project was also designed to assist MUAs with CSOs in performing, TMDL required, PCB Pollution Minimization Plans (PMPs) through documentation of PCBs on city streets with a capacity to erode into storm drains, thereby localizing proximity of sources in sewersheds and at specific city blocks and for certain industry types. An addition goal was to explore how regulatory programs could inform the PMP process, since many PCB sources leading to storm drains could, potentially, not be directly regulated by a MUAs (e.g., Hazmat sites, NPS permitted facilities, orphan contaminated sites). Street soil results show PCBs on streets in front of most facilities with a mean of 0.6 ug/g - ppm (Range: 0.05 to 5.16 ug/g).Confirmatory analysis on select soil samples using HRGC/HRMS analysis (Method 1668A), confirmed relative accuracy of using ELISA for source screening. Decreasing mean PCB concentration in street soils near source categories (using ELISA) were: 1. HazMat (known contaminated sites); 2. metal reclamation (junkyards, shredders, smelters; 3. gas pipelines; 4. transportation; 5. drum cleaning; 6. manufacturing; 7. paper-pulping; 8. waste management; 9. electrical transmission; 10. aggregate processing (concrete); and 11. landfills. Overlapping management/policy issues with PMPs include analytical methods, stormwater management; CSOs permits; residuals (sludge); soil remediation standards; Brownfield Assessments; and Environmental Justice.Item Pollution Minimization Plans and PCB Source Trackdown in Camden City(Trenton, N.J. : New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Science, Research and Technology, 2008-08) Belton, Thomas; Lippincott, R. Lee; Stevenson, Edward; Botts, JohnItem Pollution minimization plans and PCB source trackdown in Camden City(Trenton, N.J. : New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Science, Research and Technology, 2008-08) Belton, Thomas; Lippincott, Lee; Stevenson, Edward; Bolts, JohnA PCB source trackdown study was performed in Camden, New Jersey using the sewer collection system of a municipal utility authority (MUA). Sampling and analytical techniques were developed to identify PCB sources using innovative desktop, field and analytical methods including high resolution gas chromatography and mass spectroscopy; the quantitation of 124 separate PCB congeners for source signatures; the use of passive in-situ continuous extraction samplers (PISCES); and the use of electronic data interfaced with a GIS system to geographically isolate potential sources. In addition, PCB immunoassay analyses (ELISA) of street soils were carried out near storm drains in front of suspected facilities. These source identification methods were developed to support Pollution Minimization Plans (PMP), which are permit requirements for discharger facilities in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware as part of the Delaware Estuary PCB-TMDL. The PMP rules require dischargers to actively seek out, and reduce, PCBs on their facilities footprint which might get into the MUA collection system. This can be problematic, however, for a county-wide MUA with hundreds of miles of pipes and numerous undefined point and non-point sources (i.e., Camden City is a combined sewer outfall (CSO) area where storm run-off can collect PCBs and other contaminants then mix with sewerage in pipes prior to treatment).