CTSG funds research through our Omnibus Research Call, Long Island Sound Research competition and regional and national NOAA Sea Grant competitions, other national awards, development award program and external grants. The NOAA Central Library’s Sea Grant Collection began archiving research and publications supported by Connecticut Sea Grant and the other 33 Sea Grant Programs in January 2022.

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CTSG Omnibus Research (2020-2022)

• “A Re-emergent Spawning Population of Atlantic Sturgeon in the Connecticut River? Combined Age Analyses and Telemetry Data Will Provide New Insights,” led by Hannes Baumann, UConn Dept. of Marine Sciences, and Thomas F. Savoy, Jacqueline Benway Roberts and Deborah J. Pacileo, CT Dept. of Energy and Environmental Protection. Age analysis was performed on 197 sectioned pectoral fin rays of Atlantic sturgeon sampled in 2020 and several previous years from the Connecticut River, where evidence of a possibly re-emergent population of the endangered fish has been found. The purpose of the analysis was to determine growth distributions and whether potentially older maturing sturgeon are occurring in the river. Preliminary analysis indicates that most of the Atlantic sturgeon sampled are fast growing subadults that are immigrants from other sturgeon subpopulations rather than part of a nascent spawning population in the Connecticut River. A small sample of mature large adults, however, could have spawned in the Connecticut River. In a second part of the project, acoustic receivers were set up to receive telemetry data which is being analyzed to determine movement patterns of tagged sturgeon. This will potentially be used that to identify areas where they consistently congregate. Additionally, researchers took preliminary steps to identify likely areas in the Connecticut River where Atlantic sturgeon are spawning land laying eggs.
• “The East River: Historic and Future Impacts on Long Island Sound” led by James O’Donnell and Grant McCardell, both of UConn Dept. of Marine Sciences. The potential impact of a storm surge barrier proposed for the East River at the western end of Long Island Sound was assessed. The analysis was based on historical data as well as new high-resolution bathymetry of the East River integrated into existing ocean circulation models, tidal amplitude observations and sea level rise scenarios. The research indicated that the changes to the geometry of the East River may impact tidal dynamics of the Sound, both in the westernmost area and throughout the entire estuary. The investigation was being refined with additional simulations, comparisons of tidal current velocities and acoustic Doppler current profiler observations from three buoy locations. Researchers collaborated with colleagues in New York, New Jersey and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on their findings, and public education materials was planned to explain the impact of potential flood risk reduction structures on Long Island Sound.
• “Stormwater Treatment Trains: From BMPs to Floodplains” led by Timothy Vadas and Baikun Li, UConn Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering; and Ashley Helton, UConn Dept. of Natural Resources and the Environment. This project studied the capacity for riparian floodplains to act as secondary treatment systems for stormwater runoff that has already passed through initial treatment, particularly at removing metals and nitrogen. To determine the effectiveness of discharging stormwater runoff to a riparian floodplain instead of directly into a stream, researchers established field plots with pumps, stormwater reservoirs, drip irrigation tubing and equipment for shallow groundwater and surface water sampling. Test runs were completed. Follow-up stormwater sampling and analysis was conducted.
• “Determining Uptake and Elimination of Microplastics by Cultured Oysters in Connecticut,” led by Evan Ward and Sandra Shumway, UConn Dept. of Marine Sciences; and Tessa Getchis, CT Sea Grant/UConn Extension. This research investigated the extent to which aquaculture practices contribute to the type and concentrations of microplastics in Eastern oysters (Crassostrea virginica) produced by the CT aquaculture industry. Oyster tissue and water samples were collected from a natural bed and an aquaculture farm and used to compare and contrast the types and quantities of microplastics found. Field experiments were conducted to determine if the types and quantities of microplastics in oysters grown on an aquaculture farm changed when bivalves were transplanted to a site away from the farm, and vice versa. Further analysis was conducted to determined which sizes and shapes of microplastics, particularly polymer types typically used on aquaculture farms, are most likely ingested by oysters or rejected in pseudofeces. Research in the laboratory was done to quantify accumulation and depuration of the two most commonly ingested microplastics by oysters.
• “Sea-Level Rise, Storm Surge, and Salt Marsh Migration,” led by Shimon Anisfeld and Craig Brodersen, both of Yale University. To better understand marsh migration into forests, this study focused on four inter-related issues that have recently been identified as critical:  (a) the presence of “invisible migration” that is undetectable by aerial imagery because it consists of marsh plants moving upslope under the tree canopy; (b) the role of large storms (such as Superstorm Sandy) in initiating migration by damaging coastal forests (both physically and through salt inputs); (c) the ecological character of the marsh-forest ecotone, which the researchers hypothesize is composed of different zones corresponding to different stages in forest-to-marsh conversion; and (d) the dependence of migration rates on characteristics of the upland being invaded, such as tree species and soil type.
• “Role of Plant Source Population in Salt Marsh Restoration Success,” led by Sarah Crosby, Earthplace Inc.; David Hudson, The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk/Remote Ecologist Inc.; and A. Randall Hughes, Northeastern University. Genetic differences in source plants of Spartina alterniflora used for salt marsh restoration projects were quantified to assess the impacts on successful establishment of the plants and the ecological diversity of species of gastropods, bivalves, crustaceans and others. By understanding the impacts, the long-term success of restoration efforts can be improved. Six restored marshes were compared with nearby natural marshes, and a common garden study was also conducted. The results were being shared through public presentations to lay audiences, by engaging student researchers in the work and through direct and targeted outreach to restoration practitioners at NGOs, government agencies and academia.

The press release announcing these awards can be found here. 

CTSG Omnibus Research (2018-2020)

• “Invasive Macroalgae in Little Narragansett Bay: Nitrogen Sources and Cycling Inferred from Stable Isotopic Tracers.” Researchers Julie Granger and Jamie Vaudrey, both in the Department of Marine Sciences at UConn, investigated the extent to which nutrients in the effluent from the Westerly and Pawcatuck wastewater treatment plants are fueling invasive macroalgae in Little Narragansett Bay. They analyzed nitrogen flowing into the Pawcatuck River to assess its source, comparing effluent from the two plants with naturally occurring levels of nitrogen and oxygen in the river, which flows into the bay. They hoped to determine whether nitrogen from these treatment plants is a substantial contributor to the overgrowth of an invasive green algae, Cladophora. They planned to continue their collaboration with the organization Clean Up Sound and Harbors, also known as CUSH, and share their results with the community.
• “Patterns and controls of methylmercury bioaccumulation in zooplankton from Long Island Sound,” led by Zofia Baumann and Hans Dam, both in the Marine Sciences Department at UConn. The researchers examined methylmercury accumulation in copepods, a type of zooplankton that is a critical part of the Long Island Sound food web. Methylmercury is an organic form of heavy metal mercury that is neurotoxic and can lead to human health impairments.
• “Will red tide blooms become more prevalent and intense in Long Island Sound?” Led by UConn Professor Hans Dam, this project examined whether red tide algal blooms will become more common and more toxic in the Sound as water temperatures and carbon dioxide levels in the estuary increase as a result of climate change. The findings will help managers better understand the dynamics of red tide blooms and minimize human health impacts.
• “Sediment capture in Connecticut estuaries and consequent water quality benefits to Long Island Sound,” led by Gaboury Benoit of Yale University’s School of Forestry & Environmental Studies, sought to understand the extent that heavy metal contaminants (lead, mercury, copper and cadmium) are captured in sediments that become trapped in tributary estuaries flowing into Long Island Sound. The West River in New Haven, which until recently had restricted flows due to a tide gate that has been removed, was the focus of the research. Flows from the West River were measured and compared with those from New Haven’s Mill River, which continues to have tide gates. The research also examined how sea level rise might change these functions.
• “Bio-economic Outcomes under Alternative Management Strategies Interacting with Human Choice and Behavior: Modeling Tautog and Anglers’ Preferences.” A multidisciplinary team of UConn scientists led by Pengfei Liu of the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Stephen Swallow of the same department and Eric Schultz of the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology investigated how fishermen’s behavior changes in response to new regulations on size limits, season length and numbers of fish that can be caught. The researchers engaged focus groups and survey anglers to learn how fishermen respond to restrictions on tautog (black fish). They hoped to determine the effectiveness of different management strategies intended to rebuild depleted fish populations.

The press release announcing these awards can be found here. 

CTSG Funded Research (2016-2018)

• “Resilient Coastal Communities under Wind & Flood Hazards,” led by Wei Zhang and Christine Kirchhoff of UConn’s Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, aimed to reduce coastal community vulnerabilities by evaluating and comparing trade-offs in residential home building designs for both wind and flood factors. New GIS-based resilience maps were produced to show multi-hazard effects to help communities plan and build appropriately to reduce vulnerabilities to extreme weather events and sea level rise. The towns of Fairfield and Milford, CT participated in the study. Click here for more info.
• “Public Support for Adaptation to Sea Level Rise,” led by Stephen Swallow of the UConn Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, led a multi-disciplinary team of investigators who surveyed Connecticut coastal residents to examine their preferences and values with respect to various measures to preserve coastal areas and resources in the face of sea level rise. They wanted to find out whether residents are more likely to support environmentally protective measures if they understand the value of ecosystem functions for public benefit. Results provided managers with insight into the alternatives and tradeoffs which are preferred, and how much residents are willing to pay for adaptation measures in coastal area to make communities stronger. Associate Investigators include James O’Donnell and Jennifer O’Donnell, UConn Marine Sciences, and Christopher Elphick and Eric Schultz, UConn Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. Click here for more info.
• “Nutrients and Bioaccumulation of Methylmercury,” led by Robert P. Mason and Zofia Baumann of the UConn Department of Marine Sciences, examined mercury concentrations and methylation in water and sediments, and how it accumulates into marine fish and shellfish. They sampled multiple locations along the Connecticut coast that differ in mercury sediment concentration levels in an effort to explain how the nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus) in coastal water bodies influence mercury methylation and accumulation in marine life.
• “Nutrient & Carbon Fluxes through Long Island Sound,” led by Penny Vlahos and Michael Whitney, UConn Department of Marine Sciences, determined chemical budgets and fluxes of carbon and nitrogen in Long Island Sound; in other words, how much goes into the Sound and back out to the ocean, by what routes, and how fast. This information is essential to effectively manage water quality in the Sound. Future modeling of ecosystems that incorporates these data will inform water quality, restoration and preservation strategies.
• “Effects of Global Warming/Ocean Acidification on Marine Plankton,” led by Hans G. Dam, Hannes Bauman, and Michael Finiguerra, UConn Department of Marine Sciences, investigated the combined effects of warming waters and ocean acidification on a key species of copepod, Acartia tonsa. Copepods, small zooplankton, are the most abundant animals in the ocean and Long Island Sound, and are a primary food source for larger animals such as fish. Click here for more info.
• “Coastal Literacy in CT Schools,” led by Michael Finiguerra, UConn Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, and Rachel Gabriel, UConn Neag School of Education, brought together an educational researcher, a coastal scientist and high school teachers to develop and test a variety of education strategies to increase coastal literacy. Innovative teaching practices and factors found to be successful were used in historically low-performing schools to gauge their effectiveness in improving student learning outcomes. For more info, please visit http://coastalliteracy.uconn.edu