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Coastal Ecosystem Database Study Western Long Island Sound, Greenwich to Housatonic River Dec 1983 COASTAL ZONE INFORMATION CENTFR QH 541.5 .C65 1983 Education, Research, Conservation 33 -FINAL REPORT- Coastal Ecosystem Database Study Western Long Island Sound, Greenwich to Housatonic River Conducted with financial assistance provided by the Coastal Zone Act of 1972 , as amended, and administered by the Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management, Nation a I Oc e an ic and Atmospheri'c Administr at ion, Department of Commerce and the State of Connecticut Office of Policy and Management. Submitted by: The Oceanic Society Magee Avenue Stamford, CT 06902 December 30, 1983 TABLE OF CONTENTS Section Page I. Introduction 1 II. Study Area and Methods 4 Study Area 4 Sampling and Analytical Techniques 8 Benthic Sampling 8 Otter Trawls 11 Gill Nets 13 Gut Analyses 14 Hydrocarbon Measurements 15 Computer Data Treatment 20 III. Results 22 Benthic Results 22 Otter Trawls 39 Gill Nets 44 Gut Analyses 47 Hydrocarbon Analyses 49 Shellf ish 50 IV. Municipal Overview 56 Greenwich Findings 61 Stamford Findings 65 Darien Findings 70 Norwalk Findings 71 Westport Findings 73 Fairfield Findings 75 Bridgeport Findings 76 Stratford Findings 80 V. Summary Recommendations 82 i TABLES Page 1. Benthic Diversity 23 2. Benthic Diversity (H5) Grouping of Data from Table 1. 26 3. Relative Benthic Secondary Productivity 30 4. Relative Benthic Secondary Productivity Values 33 5 Comparison of Benthic Sites 36 6. Otter Trawl Data Summary 41 7. Otter Trawl Values 42 8. Gill Net Data 45 9. Gill Net Ranking Values 46 10. Municipal Data Summary 57 11. Municipal Habitat Values Summary 60 Appendices A-1 Benthic Data Ia. June 1981 Sampling lb. August 1981 Sampling 1c. November 1981 Sampling ld. March 1982 Sampling le. June 1982 Sampling If. August 1982 Sampling Ig. November 1982 Sampling lh. March 1983 Sampling A-2 Otter Trawl Data 2a. Flounder Statistics 2b. Flounder Size Frequency 2c. Flounder Size Histogram 2d. Lobster Statistics 2e. Lobster Size Frequency A-3 Otter Trawl Species Cou nt A-4 Gill Net Data A-5 Gut Analyses Data A-6 Hydrocarbon Report A-7 Site Conditions A-8 Species Lists: 8a. Benthic Families 8b. Benthic Species and Family Codes 8c. Otter Trawl Species 8d. Gill Net Species 8e. Species Recovered from Finfish Gut Analysis A-9 Species Diversity Charts A-10 Bibliography Note: Appendices are available for review at The Oceanic Society, Stamford, Conn. or the State of Connecticut's Coastal Area Management Office in Hartford. iv Acknowledgements T h e 0 c e a n i c Society wishes to acknowledge with appreciation the assistance of Dr. Donald C. Rhoads, Yale University Department of Geology and Geophysics, who was the s c i e n t i f i c a d v i s o r a n d consultant t o the State of Connecticut Office of Policy and Management for this project . Additionally, the Society notes with appreciation the as s i s tance of Mr . Robert W. Jackson and Mr . Ben Grundstein in the development of the computer systems and programs utilized in the analysis of data for this project. v I. Introduction The "Coastal Ecosystem Database Study Western Long Island Sound, Greenwich to Housatonic" study was conducted by the Oceanic Society for the South Western Regional Planning Agency (SWRPA) under financial assistance provided b y t h e C o a s t a 1 Zone Management Act of 19 72 , as amended , and administered by the Of f ice of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management , National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Department of Commerce and the State of Connecticut office o.f Policy and Management under the Coastal Energy Impact Program (CEIP . The principal objective of this two-year research project is to establish a database covering principal species of 'marine life, exclusive of vegetation, currently found from the Byram River in Greenwich to Charles Island off Milford. Data developed during this CEIP study may ass ist government and corporate officials responsible f or oi 1 spill control along Connecticut's southwestern coast . Five principal sampling and research techniques were u t i 1 i z e dduring this study to assess current marine conditions at sites selected in consultation with the program's scientific advisor. Sampling stations were chosen to include known distributions of economically important marine species and sampling was sufficiently frequent to reflect seasonal variation in populations of these species. This data set provides a baseline for assessing the impact of future oil spills. Samples of benthic dwelling organisms were collected at 83 locations to provide a basis for gauging habitat quality of the benthic environment. Benthic. sampling sites were. selected to reflect both geographical and coastal resource considerations. A series of otter -1- trawls was taken at 12 sites to identify areas where concentrations of important commercial or recreational species (finf ish and lobsters ) are to be found and to document their seasonality. Gill nets were set at 13 1 o c a t i on s t o identi f y shal low water sites where s ignif icant t r an s i t or y and migratory schooling f ishes can be found on a seasonal basis . I n the gu t o f ec onomi c a I I y signif icant f inf ish taken in the otter trawls , contents were noted or identified as algae, egg masses, or when possible, animal (prey). Finally, an analysis of hydrocarbons in sediment samples and selected organisms was conducted by Dr. Dennis Waslenchuk at the University of Connecticut's Marine Science Institute, (see Appendix 6 for his full report). Methodology utilized during this CEIP research is summarized in section II of this report. Results-are presented and summarized in Section III. A summary of study results keyed to coastal municipalities in the study area comprises Section IV. Recommendations for further study are found in Section V. Ten Appendices containing detailed field data sheets, species lists, the hydrocarbon report, site location charts, and the bibliographic sources are available for review in the Oceanic Society's library in the Stamford Marine Center and the State of Connecticut's Coastal Area Management office in Hartford. T h e CEIP study presents a comprehensive coastal ecosystem database detailing environmental conditions within the study area from June 1981 to March/April 1983. The study a r e a e x t e n d i n g35 linear miles, encompasses nine municipalities and accounts for an actual coastline measuring more than 125 miles. This report represents the first comprehensive attempt at collecting baseline data on -2- b e n t h i cand demersal species along with endemic an d migratory f inf ish . The data can be used to assess seasonal and year-by-year trends at specific sampling sites and trends manifested on a broader geographical scale. Taken without further documentation or research, this CEIP project confirms known distributions of, and presents new information on, economically important finfish and crustaceans. Our report also presents a significant amount of new baseline data and provides a relative habitat ranking of sites studied within southwestern Connecticut's coastal zone and inshore areas . However, the true value of this CEIP report lies in its use as a baseline data reference. It should serve as a starting point for further evaluation of important environmental and economic questions. For example, this data can be used as a reference in future studies of: 40 1) control of non-point hydrocarbon pollution sources; 2) investigation of the parasite Glugea stephani's impact on winter flounder recreational fisheries; and 3) examination of the role opportunistic (pioneering) benthic invertebrates play as a major food source for the winter flounder. Increased population density and a continued dependence on petroleum products for transportation, generation of electricity, and heating purposes has intensified transport of petroleum products along the coastline and into the harbors of southwestern Connecticut. Significant tidal wetlands; shellfish beds; commercial and recreational fishing areas; and breeding areas for marine species are found in the study area. Before distribution of this research report, only a few marine studies, limited in scope, had been conducted in this region. -3- This CEIP project provides a comprehensive coastal ecosystem database which provides a basis for future oil spill damage assessment and management. It is complemented b y a second CEIP research project conducted for the Connecticut State Department of Agriculture's Aquaculture Division by Dr . Peter Pellegrino of Southern Connecticut State University. The Aquaculture Division's study sampled offshore sites along Connecticut's coast once during the two year study period. In contrast , our study sampled inshore sites repeatedly along western Connecticut's coast. These s tudies are des igned to be used together in developing a Sound-wide view of coastal energy impact problems and conditions. II. Study_Area & Methods The methodology used in this study is described first in general and then in more specif ic terms . After desc ribing 0 the boundaries of the study area , details of procedures used f or c o I I ec t i on and identif ication of benthic , otter trawl , g i I I ne t and hydrocarbon samples is presented . This section concludes with a discussion of the computer program used in statistical analysis of data. Study Area T h ea r e astudied in this CEIP research project encompassed coastal waters off Fairfield and a small portion of New Haven counties in southwestern Connecticut. The study area was bounded to the east by Charles Island off Milford, CT; to the north by the mean low water line along the shore; to the west by the Byram River which separates Greenwich, CT from New York state; and to the south by the 30-foot bottom -4- depth contour line. All sites for collection of samples during this two year study were within this area. Boundaries of the study area were based on three principal factors: a rev i e w of primary navigation routes for transportation of petroleum products to marine terminals within Connecticut's coastal waters; 2 . an assessment of recognized near shore navigational hazards along these navigation routes in western Long Island Sound; and 3. an absence of scientific studies reporting and evaluating density and diversity of benthic community life; hydrocarbon levels in sediments and invertebrates; and seasonal spawning patterns of finfish and lobsters. This study was conducted by the Oceanic Society's scientific staff utilizing facilities in the Stamford Marine Center and the Society's research vessel, the R/V OCEANIC. An examination of hydrocarbon levels in sediment and marine 1 i f ein this study area was conducted by Dr. Dennis Waslenchuk at the University of Connecticut's Marine Sciences Institute as part of this research contract. Collection of specimens in the field during the study was timed to reflect seasonal variations in resident or migratory species. Sampling was repeated during the spring, winter, summer and fall seasons of 1981-82 and 1982-83. Both commer cially important species, such as the lobster, Homarus americanus, and significant sport fish, such as the winter flounder, Pseudopleuronecte.s americanus, were coll ected during the study's eight sampling periods. Benthic -5- infaunal invertebrates, sediments, and representative bivalve molluscs were also collected during this study. Within the study area, sampling stations were located to inc lude t hose areas which are potentially vulnerable to a spill of petroleum products which are commonly carried on the S ound . The vast majority of oil presently carried along Connecticut 's coast is either No. 2 (home heating) or No. 6 (industrial ) . ( U . S . Coss t Guard , personal communication. ) Shipment of petroleum products comprise between 65 and 96 percent of the commercial tonnage received at ports in the study area. Marine environmental effects of a spill of these substances are expected to be especially significant on s p e c i e sliving in areas < 30 feet of water. (Rhoads, personal communication.) Benthic, otter trawl and gill net sampling sites were located throughout the entire study area while hydrocarbon sampling stations were concentrated on those urban ports which have marine petroleum terminals. Initially, the study included 83 benthic, 12 otter trawl , 13 gill net and 46 hydrocarbon sampling stations. Benthic , otter trawl and gill net sites were sampled in June , 1981; August, 1981; November, 1981; March/April, 1982; June , 1982 ; August , 1982; November, 1982; and March/April, 1 9 8 3 T h i ssampling schedule was designed to study successional development of benthic community life. (Rhoads , personal communication.) The principal hydrocarbon sampling occurred during August , 1982 and eight additional samples were gathered in March, 1983. Benthic, otter trawl and gill net locations were designed to: -6- 1. reflect an equitable geographical distribution among coastal communities; 2. allow analysis of the successional theory for estuarine benthic communities which may have experienced ecological stress; 3. reflect known migratory patterns of finfish deemed important as a commercial or recreational resource; 4. reflect known navigational hazards which could cause accidental release of petroleum products to the marine environment; and 5. identify habitats and their communities which would be endangered if an oil spill occurred. The objectives of our hydrocarbon research were: 1 . to provide a synoptic baseline for petroleum hydrocarbon concentrations in the nearshore and inshore sediments of a segment of western Long Island Sound's northern coast; 2. to attempt to relate the distribution of petroleum hydrocarbons in sediments to local shipping activities and land use practices; and 3. to attempt to relate petroleum hydrocarbon burdens in sediments to those found in associated shellfish. The hydrocarbon study area encompassed the inner harbors and nearshore waters along the Connecticut coastline from Greenwich to Bridgeport. Cos Cob Harbor, Stamford Harbor, Holly Pond, Norwalk Harbor, Black Rock Harbor, Bridgeport Harbor, and the estuary of the Housatonic River were chosen for inshore study sites because of the likely occurrences there of oiled sediments and organisms due to extensive shipping and handling of petroleum products, (see charts in Appendix 9). -7- Sediments sampled for hydrocarbon analysis ranged in appearance from relatively clean sand to black quasi-fluid mud and contained a variety of benthic life forms. one hundred fifteen sediment samples and 31 shellfish samples (bivalves) from the August 1982 sampling period were analyzed by synchronous fluorescence (see Appendix 6). Eight additional sediment samples collected in March 1983 were also analyzed to provide data on the seasonal persistence of polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) relative to the earlier synoptic survey. Shellfish examined in this project included the clams Mya arenaria and Mercenaria mercenaria, as w e 1 1as t h e m u s s e I sMy t i 1 u.s edulis and Geukensia demissus. SAMPLING AND ANALYTICAL TECHNIQUES This section e xamines in detail methods used in field collection and laboratory analysis of benthic, otter trawl, gill net and hydrocarbon samples. We also include a description of the computer program used to analyze our d a t a . Benthic Sampling Samples of bottom dwelling organisms were collected and evaluated to assess benthic conditions along Connecticut's southwestern coast. Animals gathered in the Van Veen grab were counted and identified by genus and species. This information was use,d in calculating species diversity for each site using the Shannon-Weiner formula (Log base 10) as supplied by Dr. Robert Cerrato at the State University of New York in Stony Brook, Long island. Data on density of -8- benthic animal life was used to estimate productivity at samp ling locations. of 83 initial benthic sampling stations, 57 were to be sampled eight times during the two year study. Another 26 s ites were to be sampled twice during the study. A f t e rt h esecond sampling period (August, 1981), in consultation with the Scientific Coordinator, six of these 83 s it es were dis cont inued and samp les f rom another 12 stat ions were archived . Discontinued sites were judged to be either duplicative of remaining sampling locations or seen as areas of minimal benthic life due to gravel or rocky bottoms. Sites 18, 26, 39, 44, 53 and 64 were discontinued. Sites selected for archiving were duplicates of nearby stations. Samples were collected and archived for sites 2, 14, 16, 22, 29, 31, 33, 46, 50, 70, 74 and 76 throughout the remaining six sampling periods. Most of the benthic sampling was completed aboard the 40-foot R/V OCEANIC. An 18-foot boat was used to reach shallow water samples. For offshore stations, Loran C and latitude/ longitude coordinates were taken at each site during the first sampling period using a Raytheon Northstar 6000 aboard the R/V OCEANIC. For shallow water sites, coordinates of landmarks were taken by triangulation using a hand compass and nautical chart. During each sampling per iod, these coordinates were taken and then use'd to return to each station for repeated sampling, (see Appendix 7). At each sampling station, four replicate benthic grabs were taken four feet off the port side (amidships) using a Van Veen type bottom grab which sampled an area of 1/25th of a sq uare meter. Once a sample came onboard, the thickness of the redox layer was measured, type of bottom material noted, and a general description of the sample recorded on a field -9- data sheet . This description included notation of tubes of polychaetes and/or amphipods ; shells ; algae; rocks; and f luf f (a floccular layer of surficial material). Information on polychaetes and amphipods is recorded as "Comments" on benthic data sheets in Appendix 1 while descriptive field data is recorded in Appendix 7. Each replicate sample was placed in a bucket and then passed through a I millimeter mesh sieve. Materials retained by the sieve were fixed in a 10 percent pH buffered formaldehyde solution containing Rose Bengal and returned to the Society's Stamford Marine Center lab. After each period of field work, samples were transferred to a 70 percent ethyl alcohol solution in the lab. Observations or readings were recorded at each sampling station for: meteorological conditions; sea conditions; secchi disk readings ; surface and bottom dissolved oxygen leve Is ; salinity; water temperature; water conductivity; and wa t e r p H . Th e data recorded f or thes e read ings can be f ound in Appendix 7 of this report. Instruments used in completing these measurements included a YSI dissolved oxygen meter (Model #57), a Beckman Electrodeless Salinometer, and a Corning pH meter (Model #3) which was replaced by a Beckman meter (Model #pH130) after the second sampling period. In the Stamford Marine Center laboratory, each of the four replicate samples from a single site were examined and sorted by phyla. Individual organisms were then identified by genus and species and counted within these categories. Fauchald, 1977, was used to identify polychaete genera and a series of taxonomic keys was utilized to identify the species of these worms. These taxonomic keys included -10- Hartman, 1968; Hartman, 1969; Barnes, 1974; Smith, 1964; and Day, 1973. Samples of Capittellidae Orbinida and Eunicida were sent to Taxon, Inc. in Salem, Massachusetts for confirmation of our identification. In identifying the molluscs to genus and species the following taxonomic keys w e r e u s e d :Gosner, 1979, 1978; and Morris, 1951. A representative sample of molluscs was sent to Taxon for confirmation of identification. Arthropods were keyed to genus and species using Bousfield, 1973; Gosner, 1971, 1979; and Miner, 1950. Results of this work are found in Appendix 1, 8-A and 8-B. Otter Trawls Finfish and other benthic and demersal specie.s were sampled at 12 previously- described locations using an otter trawl 30 feet long and 15 feet across. It was determined after the initial sampling period that sites 5 and 6 were in close proximity and yielded repetitive data. Therefore site 6 wa,s deleted from the remainder of the study. The body of the net consisted of a 2-inch stretch netting woven with #21 nylon tarred twine. The cod end was 1-1/2 inch stretch of a heavier #30 untarred twine. Two (32 by 16-1/2 inch) oak and iron doors were attached directly to the wings without legs. A cod end buoy was attached to the cod end by 30 feet of line and was used to facilitate net retrieval. The net was towed from the stern of the boat using a 1/4 inch steel cable attached to the door chains. The length of cable deployed was determined by water depth. For depths less than 25 feet, 100 feet of cable was used, and for depths greater than 25 feet, 150 feet of cable was used. The length of trawling time was 15 minutes from the moment the -11- required length of cable w.as extended to the time of r e t r i eva 1 . T rawl ing was done at id le speed ( 500 to 600 rpm) along a set course. Latitude and longitude coordinates were taken with a Raytheon Northstar 6000 at the start and end of each trawl. Two trawls were made at each otter trawl site. Where possible, these were made in a straight line, first in one direction, then back along the same trawl path in the opposite direction. Exact trawling paths were dictated by bottom topography and substratum type. This sampling method was restricted to flat sandy or muddy bottoms. A f t e r ea c h 1 5 minute trawl period, the net was recovered us ing the winch , and the catch deposited in a seawater-f i lied sort ing table on board . Commercial and r e c r e a t i o n a1 yi m p o r t a n tfish (Pseudopleuronectes americanus, Tautoga onitis, etc.) were counted and measured to the nearest 1/2 cm and sex of the winter flounder was determined using the rough/smooth peduncle method , (Pertmuller , 1947). Lobsters were sexed, carapace length measured to the nearest 1/2 cm with a ruler , and any deformities or missing appendages recorded. The sex of other arthropods was determined visually, if possible, and the numbers of each sex counted. The remaining organisms were simply counted, or in the case of ctenophores, algae and various colonial organisms, only presence was noted. All organisms from the first trawl at a location were retained alive on board until the second trawl had been retrieved. This ensured that none of these organisms would be recaptured by the second trawl. When the second trawl was on board, organisms from the first trawl were released -12- exc ep t f or the Ps eudop 1 eur onec t e s amer i c anus , Tautoga onitis, Stenotomus chrysops, and other commercial or rec.reational species . These were retained and frozen for gut and gonadal analysis. Any animal captured in the second trawl were also retained for gut and gonadal analysis unless the number captured in the first trawl was large enough for statistically meaningful results. Otter trawl data are reported in Appendix 2. A count of ot ter trawl spec ies is f ound in Appendix 3 while the otter trawl species list is included as Appendix 8-C. Gill Nets T o d o c u m e n t the seasonal presence and spawning c o n d i t i o n o f s c h o o 1 i n g fish (menhaden, Brevoortia tyrannus; Atlantic mackerel, Scomber scombrus; Atlantic herring, Clupea harengus ; etc . ) gill nets were se t at 13 s ites equal ly dis tr ibuted through the sampling area A net of three 6-f oot by 25-foot segments of three, f our and f ive inch' mesh respectively was set at a depth not exceeding I 5-f eet mean low water . Mesh sizes were selected to obtain results which would be used for comparing catches in di f ferent mesh sizes . Each net was left for approximately 12 hours , from late afternoon until early morning. The gill nets were set at night after we found that schooling fish avoid the light colored twine net during daylight hours. Ensnared f ish were collected from the net , and their location in the net relative to mesh size, overall length, and spawning condition was noted . Fish were identified, counted , and measured to f ive-tenths of a centimeter, forklength. -13- Gut Analyses Gut analysis was performed on the commercially and recreational ly important f infish captured in otter trawls. When possible , this analysis was done while onboard within a few hours of capture of the organisms. Otherwise, all specimens were iced onboard and frozen upon return to the laboratory. The number of organisms retained for gut analysis v a r i e d f o r e a c h s p e c i e s F o r Pseudopleuronectes americanus, when possible., a minimum of 60 fish were retained. If this number was captured in the first trawl, all of the P. americanus from that trawl were retained. If the first trawl yielded an insufficient number, the P. americanus from both trawls were kept. For the other major commercial and/or recreational species, all fish from both trawls were kept. G u t a n a I y s i s was performed by evisceration and examinati on of the contents of both the stomach and i n t e s t i n e of each fish. organisms from the gut were identified to the familial or generic level when possible.. Otherwise, organisms were placed into the phyla or orders. This method minimized the time consuming use of dissecting scopes for identification. For each gut analyzed, presence or absence of each prey organism was recorded. No attempt was made to quantify numbers or weights of each prey category in each gut. Gonadal development was noted, as was any sign of disease, parasitism or morphologic abnormality. -14- Gut analysis data for the P. americanus was grouped according to fish size-class categories <15 cm, 15-20 cm, 20-25 cm , and >.25 cm , although the specific size of each fish dissected within these size-class categories was not correlated with its gut content. These data are reported in Appendix 5 and a gut analysis species list is found in Appendix 8-D. Hydrocarbon Measurements Synchronous fluorescence spectroscopy has been used for qualitative hydrocarbon analysis, including multicomponent mixtures of polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs ) . (Lloyd, 1971) . Synchronous fluorescence involves the simultaneous variation o f excitation and emission wavelengths at a constant wavelength offset (A X ). The resulting synchronous spectrum is properly known as a "synchronously excited emission spectrum." (Vo-Dinh, 1978). Synchronous fluorescence spectrophotometry can also be used for semi -quantitative to quantitative determinations. Advantages over more elaborate techniques such as gas chromatography and mass spectrometry include ease of sample preparation and speed of analysis. However, errors would arise if a basic assumption; i.e., that the fluorescence intensity of an unknown (a sample) would be quantitatively related to a set of standard , reference oils was invalid. The quantitative relationship between unknowns and standards becomes invalid if naturally occuring heterocyclic and aromatic compounds are present and have high fluorescent intensities at positions on the spectrum that corresponded -15- t o p e a k s c a u s ed by PAHs . Such coinc idences are not known to exist at present, but their likelihood has not been studied comprehensively. However, as the spectra of control samples (those collected for this study at locations more or less remote from obvious sources of PAH9 as reported upon in Appendix 6) showed no natural background fluorescence that might confound the PAH spectra, we assume that interfer,ence from natural compounds was not significant. S h e 1 1 f i s h e x a m i n e d i n t h i s p r o j e c t a r e a 1 f i 1 t e r - f e e d e r s . S o m e a r e infaunal (the clams Mya arenaria and Mercenaria mercenaria) and some epifaunal (the mus sels Mytilus edulis and Geukensia demissus, and the oyster Crassostrea virginica). Although the organisms ingest suspended matter from the water column, the hydrocarbon body burdens of their tissue might be expected to reflect concentrations in surrounding bottom sediments if tissue comes into direct contact with contaminated bottom sediment, or if a major portion of the ingested suspended matter is actually locally resuspended bottom sediment. It has been found, for instance, that petroleum hydrocarbon concentrations in the mantle edge and siphon epidermis, tissues which are in contact with bottom sediments of MMya arenaria are substantially greater than those in other internal tissues (Vendermeulen et al, 1977). Mercenaria mercenarLa has mantle margins sealed to a lesser degree (Barnes, 1974), hence contact o f body tissue with ambient sediment might be greater, along with a greater potential for hydrocarbon contamination. Sediment samples for hydrocarbon analysis were taken with a Van Veen grab, and were dumped into a pre-cleaned, solvent rinsed porcelain pan. Subsamples were taken randomly -16- from the interior portion of each gra b sample , or from the interiors of distinct sedimentary layers where present. The s e a 1 i q uot s wer e transf ered to cleaned glass vials . The mouths of the vials were covered with a double layer of aluminum foil and capped. Samples were then stored at -200C until analysis. PAHs were extracted from a two gram (wet weight) sediment aliquot. Two (2) ml of methanol were added to a test tube containing the aliquot, and the contents were vortex-mixed for abo,ut 30 seconds. This initial methanol treatment was intended to ensure that the sample became solvent-wetted. Next, 8 ml of cyclohexane were added and the preparation was vortex-mixed for 30 seconds to create a slurry which was then shaken by a wrist-action shaker for 20 minutes. Before the sample was centrifuged for 20 minutes, the test-tube was filled with distilled-deionized water (DDW) and was vortex-mixed for about 5 seconds. Addition of the DDW ensured that the extraction medium was polar, such that the non-polar PAHs would be effectively driven into the n o n - p o 1 a rc y c 1 o h e x a n e .T h ecyclohexane phase was subsequently removed and stored at -200C until analysis. Bivalves that were collected along with sediments were identified to the generic level and frozen until preparation for analysis. Shellfish were shucked and the tissue of all collected specimens of a genus were pooled, weighed and homogenized before PAH extraction. Analytic methods were the same as described for sediments. For G. gemma, and some s a m p 1 e sof M. arenaria, small shell sizes prevented eff icient shucking. In this case, entire organisms (including shells) were pooled, weighed and homogenized. A number of M. arenaria from a single location were -17- homogenized both in the shell and after shucking, and the two treatments compared to provide a conversion factor. All analyses are reported on the same basis; i.e., soft tissue weight only. Analysis of shell material alone revealed no detectable PAHs. The extraction method described yields the greatest quantity of fluorescing material of any method tested, inc luding extraction from a dried sample, extraction without the initial methanol treatment, extraction with other so lvents, and various vortex-mixing /shaking routines. Re-extraction of samples previously extracted as described above yielded no detectable residual fluorescence. Hence, the concentrations reported may be considered operationally as representing the "maximum extractable fluorescing hydrocarbons concentration." Synchronous fluorescence spectra were obtained using a Ferrand MK-2A Spec trof luorometer. Spectra were obtained in the uncorrected mode of operation. The instrumental parameters were: time constant 0.7s; scanning speed' 40 nm/min; and fixed gain setting. The spectral bandwidths for the excitation (Ex) and emission (Em) monochromators were 2.5 nm. The monochromators were scanned synchronously employing a 5 nm offset between excitation and emission monochromators. A equal to 5 nm was found to b e o p t i m u m i n t e r m s o f 9 p e c t r a I r e s o I u t i o n a n d discrimination, a A ), less than or equal to 4 nm resulted in Rayleigh scatter interferences, and a A'X greater than 4 5 nm resulted in a loss of selectivity. A detailed description of the criteria used to select optimal spectral bandwidths and AX can be found in Passwater, 1973; Andre e t a-1 19 7 9 a n d I n m a n e t a 1 19 8 2 S t a n d a r d -18- f luorescence-free fused silica cells with a 10 mm. pathlength were used to contain samples during analysis. A Burrell wrist-act ion shaker, a Scientific Products deluxe Vortex Mixer , a Clay-Adams centrifuge and a Tekmar t i s s ue homogenizer were used in sample preparation. Dist i lled-de ionized water and HPLC grade reagents were used throughout. Preparation of API Reference Bunker-C Oil and #2 Fuel Oil , and cleaning procedures , followed ASTM D3650-78 criteria Sample extracts were intially screened at fixed EX290, EM360 to ensure that the analytic concentration was not so high as to cause quenching of the fluorescence emission due to i n n e r filter e f f e cts and solute quenching. The fluorescence intensities of different dilution factors of the sample were measured and plotted against the dilution factors. An aliquot, with a fluorescence intensity falling on the quenching-free, linear, positive-slope portion of the characteristic bell-shaped fluorescence responses curve, was selected for synchronous scanning. A synchronous scan of each sample was thus obtained at a non-quenching dilution. The presence of Bunker-C oil, or #2 Fuel Oil, or both, was determined by -direct visual comparison to the synchronous spectral pattern of the standards. The spectral patterns o b t a i n e df o r sediment and tissue extracts with few exceptions resembled those of only two reference standards (Bunker-C and #2 Fuel Oil). The sample spectra reflects the complex mixture of compounds originally present in the oils spilled and those produced by subsequent environmental alteration of these petroleum products. Therefore , hydrocarbons extracted from environmental samples may no 1 o n g e r b e r e 1 a t e d to a "fresh" petroleum product. _19- Concentrations reported here are therefore labeled "Bunker-C equivalents" and "#2 Fuel Oil equivalents." This distinction is similar to that reported in fluorescence determinations of "oil" in seawater conducted for the global Pilot Project on Marine Pollution (Petroleum) Monitoring (MAPMOPP) under the sponsorship of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) (23). However, instrumental determinations in the MAPMOPP program were based only on single excitation (Ex310 nm) and emission (Em360 nm) wavelengths, rather than on synchronous determinations, and hence yielded less specific quantification than that achieved here. Results of this analysis are described in Appendix 6. Computer Data Treatment Compilation and analysis of data developed during this CEIP project was done on a TRS Model 12 microcomputer connected to a TRS-80 dot matrix line printer. Data from this study is filed on computer floppy disc and a reference hard copy is available at the Oceanic Society's headquarters in the Stamford Marine Center. A second copy of this information is filed with the Connecticut Coastal Management Program in Hartford, Connecticut. Information statistics (Shannon-Weiner) were computed for each benthic sample in order to estimate a measure of sample diversity. The Shannon and Weiner (1964) formula n HX= pi log 10 Pi i=1 was used where pi proportion of individuals belonging to species i. -20- The Computer program for this calculation was developed in consultation with Dr. Robert Cerrato at the State University of New York, Stony Brook. Diversity statistics for the study's eight sampling periods, as well as raw data f o r genera a n d s p e c i e 9 for each of four replicate samples, are found in Appendix 1. This appendix also includes a fifth, cumulative calculation which shows the sum total of species collected and species diversity for all animals collected during one sampling period at each site. Cumulative diversity results for the summary set of statistics are shown on nautical charts in Appendix 9. Benthic data files in Appendix 1 are labeled to show when the samples were collected and the location of each sampling site. Specimens collected in the first sampling period during June of 1981 at the first station, for example, are labeled JUN81101 (ie., JUN-81-101) while the sample from that location during the second sampling period in August, 1981 is labeled AUG81201, (ie., AUG-81-201). This nomenclature is used throughout the report. Otter trawl data were processed with a standard TRS S t a t i s t i c a 1 A n a 1 y s i s program yielding descriptive statistics , such as size, frequency distribution, and bar -graph histograms. These calculations were made for those s a m p 1 i n g sites which provided sufficient data for a statistically meaningful analysis . Statistical analysis of lobster data from otter trawls , for example, could be completed for 48 of 88 trawls. Size-frequency histograms require a minimum of eight data points and could not be completed for lobster trawls due to insufficient data. Ott er trawl data are reported in Appendix 2. -21- III. Results Benthic Results Benth ic diversity was computed for each of four replicate samples collected at a site during each period of field work. A cumulative diversity value was calculated using the sum total of data from the four replicate grabs. C umu I a t i v e d ivers it y f or each of the eight samp I ing periods is shown at each station in Table 1, (See Appendix I for all benthic data and diversity values). In order to compare diversity results to other parameters measured in this study, a value of (+l) , (0), or (-I) was assigned to each site based on data in Table 1 . Diversities in the upper third of the range for each sampling period were valued at (+1), diversities in the middle third of that range were v a 1 u e dat (0), and diversities in the bottom third were valued at (-0. These value's are reflected in Table 2. Benthic secondary productivity (turnover rate of biomass per unit '@time) can be estimated from standing stock biomass. In this study, this is simply the density of o r g a n i s m sp e rsquare meter. Stations with > 10,000 individuals M- 2 are inferred to have higher relative turnover rates than stations with densities of 1,000 to 9,999 individuals M- 2. Stations with < 1,000 individuals M-2 are inferred to have relatively low productivities. The correlation of standing stock density (biomass) to population turnover rate is based on the observation that opportunistic species attain much higher densities than "equilibrium" species. (Rhoads, McCall, Yingst, 1978). Productivity, estimated in this way, is conservative in this study as most opportunistic species are small and readily -22- Table W 1 Title BenthiC Diversity Values shown are for the combined four replicates. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Sampling Period - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Site 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 1 0.66082 0.55938 0.86142 0.70147 0.72458 0.72592 0.53265 0.62092 2 A A A A A A A A 3 1.09087 0.99610 0.98665 1.00386 1.12833 0.94133 0.85297 0.72889 4 0.50945 0.42669 0.45225 0.73107 0.78425 0.82220 0.59543 0.88440 5 0.98687 1.15294 6 0.-45154 0.63526 0.37918 0.90977 0.46878 0.00000 0.00000 0.43873 7 0.00000 0.31948 0.45062 0.55340 0.53936 0.22112 0.50878 0.39170 8 0.81838 0.87016 9 0.60206 0.84466 0.17397 0.62031 0.27643 0.48968 0.17820 0.11066 10 0.68023 0.44566 0.74922 0.84938 0.77274 0.76384 0.77676 1.03000 11 0.83539 0.62413 12 0.70720 0.45077 0.59087 .0.19758 0.68007 0.66030 0.90283 0.65468 13 0.99982 0.86410 14 A A A A A A 15 0.00000 0.55826 16 A A A A A A A A 17 0.22565 0.81434 0.44085 0.12512 0.57800 0.76915 0.66744 0.94781 18 D D D D D D D D 19 1.05567 0.69727 0.94508 0.95427 0.94467 0.43959 1.10310 0.87829 20 0.30018 0.46151 21 0.85992 0.84396 22 A A A A A A A A 23 0.85775 0.41525 0.58079 0.71006 0.37514 0.19744 0.13086 24 0.61227 1.01231 0.79109 0.63625 0.99344 0.62614 0.82806 0.55486 25 0.69215 O.e6354 26 D; - D D D D D D D 27 0.63847 0.63399 0.55803 0.26090 0.30103 0.40689 0.46623 0.37086 28 0.84688 1.04478 0.87514 0.86099 0.97343 0.83626 1.12976 0.93192 29 A A A A A A A A 30 0.43925 0.45585 0.43203 0.33689 0.55838 0.82476 0.15147 0.18757 31 A A A A A A A A 32 0.89588 0.27752 0.96482 0.82991 0.86542 1.04037 0.82963 1.00354 33 A A A A A A A A 34 0.96484 0.77813 35 0.88159 0.96440 0.93585 1.06291 1.10327 1.04048 0.26866 0.84016 23 lable f I Site 1 2 31 4 5 6 7 8 10-36.. 0.49903 0.. 71608 37 0.99322 1.12547 1.04561 0.95242 0.75839 0.82102 0.94375 0.87435 38 0.812417 1.15736 39 D D@ D D D D D D 40 0.95388 1.02603 0.67653 0.44893 0.82612 1,.18468 0.67805 0.91050 41 0.82369 0.97254 42 1.09367 0.64630 0.79930 0.80031 0.79057 0.42570 0.55047 0.38818 43 0.54829 0.78820 44 D D D D D D D D 45 0.98260 1.00619 0.88487 0.69758 0.78846 1.14477 0.60980 0.83974 46 47 0.44131 0.87072 0.73656 0.62360 0.61176 0.95771 0.63911 0.10349 48 0.93776 1.24379 0.77923 0.69894 0.62534 0.62043 0.81087 1.20875 49 0.36858 0.46726 - 50 A A A A A A A A 51 0.44060 0.82957 52 0.72306 0.76151 0.71125 0.83394 1.01861 0.71241 0.80900 0.66199 53 D D D D D D D D 54 0.93585 0.76808 0.74937 0.95581 0.61988 0.60006 0.64743 0.38811 55 0.62109 0.96787 0.76823 0.83553 0.85212 0.84347 0.69988 0.50710 56 0.31846 0.26882 0.43753 0.09234 0.49694 0.30717 0.55796 0.36636 57 0.81323 0.35749 58 0.15567 0.91105 0.48527 0.72977 0.11160 0.57025 0.46459 0.54751 59 0.24120 0.74660 1.08700 0.88044 0.89315 1.18657 0.94394 0.82767 60 0.63925 0.95072 61 0.66649 0.82527 0.76552 0.78444 0.41683 @0.47950 0.41738 62 0.67131 0.51892 0.37951 0.46565 0.81781 0.73150 0.41463 0.84690 63 0.58288 0.52574 0.72701 0.37998 0.83168 0.41270 0.67328 0.61033 64 D D D - D D D D D 65 0.53097 0.68418 0.55963 0.67613 @0.40442 0.46623 0.74422 0.76291 66 0,.00000 0.50104 0.32987 0.91286 0.14118 MISSING 0.67781 0.00000 67 0.00000 0.00000 68 0.48145 0.60959 0.41079 0.30746 0.31650 0.34939 0.34430 0.22583 69 1.12942 1.24938 0.90867 1.07586 0.79203 '0.82735 0.74554 0.95464 70 A A A A A A A A 1) lable 0 Site 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 71 i.o5579 0.97016 0.97040 0.86818 0.36713 1.00630 0.43754 0.86107 72 0.00000 1 0.27643 73 0.71633 MISSING 0.49854 0.81151 1.07854 0.97780 0.64721 0.88150 74 A it A A A A #1 A 75 1.16892 1.26759 0.70959 0.92830 0-.053.80 0.74427 0.59283 0.65099 76 A A A A A A A A 77 0.53631 0.51648 0.82882 0.58360 0.28257 0.92455 0.18497 0.21122 78 0.13816 0.37765 0.00000 0.51057 0.09304 0.13712 0.835@85 0.60629 79 0.59897 0.39290 80 0.69665 0.34572 0.30103 0.72883 0.48161 0.69660 0.97317 0.36587 81 0.66567 0.73209 0.59114 0.69648 0.31778 0.40652 0.58185 0.43724 0.04839 0.92027 0.97074 0.24262 0.10156 0.20368 0.45815 0.66463 82 83 0.32323 0.95640 Sampled annually A= Archived = Archived -- sampled annually D = Dropped Value Range f Data by Samplin Period 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 1.16892 1.267589 1.08700 1.075860@ 1.15736 1,18657 1.12976 1.20875 +1 0.779281 0.934667 0.724667 0.74802b 0.771573 0.791047 .'753173 .805833 0 0.779280 0.934666 0.724666 0.748020 0.771572 0.791046 .753172 .805832 0.389641 0.601744 0.362334 10.420181 0.385787 .395524 .376587 .402917 0.389640 0.601743 0.362333 10.420180 0.385786 .395523 .376586 .402916 -1 0 0.26882, 0 0.09234, 0 0 0 0 Note: In this table, (+l) should be read as high or above average; (0) should be read as medium or average; and (-l) should be read as low or below average. Please remembei these terms apply only to the factors measured through the study's sampling program and are not an absolute indication of overall marine environmental quality. 2f Table # 2 Title Benthic Diversity (HS) Grouping of Data from Table 1 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Sampling Period - - - - - - - - - - - - ---- Tot-al Site 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Value 1 0 +1 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 A A A A A A A A A 3 +1 +1 +1 +1 +1 +1 +1 0 +7 4 0 -1 0 0 +1 +1 0 +1 +2 5 +1 +1 .1 +2 6 0 0 0 +1 0 0 -1 7 -1 -1 0 0 0 -1 0 -1 -4 8 +1 +1 +2 9 0 .0 0 -1 0 -4 10 0 -1 +1 +1 +1 0 +1 +1 +4 11 +1 0' +1 12 0 0 -1 0 0 +1 0 -1 13 +1 +1 +2 14 A A A A A 15 0 -1 16 A A A 9 A A 17 -1 0 0 0 0 0 +1 -1 18 D D D D D D D D D 19 +1 0 +1 +1 +1 0 +1 +1 +6 20 -1 0 -1 21 +1 +1 +2 22 A A A A A A A A A 23 +1 -1 +1 0 0 -1 -1 -1 -2 24 0 +1 +1 0 +1 0 +1 0 +4 25 0 +1 +1 26 D D D D D, D D D 27 0 0 0 -1 -1 0 0 28 +1 +1 +1 +1 +1 +1 +1 +1 +8 29 A A A A A A A A 30 0 -1 0 -1 0 +1 -1 -1 -3 31 A A A A A A A A A 32 +1 -1 +1 +1 +1 +1 +1 +1 +6 33 A A A A A A A A A 34 +1 +1 +2 +1 +1 +1 +1 +1 +1 -1 +1 +6 35 26 Tabl e 2 Tota Site 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Valu 36 0 0 0 37 +1 +1 +1 +1 0 +1 +1 +1 +7 38 +1 +1 +2 39 D D D D D D D D D 40 +1 +1 0 0 +1 +1 0 +1 +5 41 +1 +1 +2 42 +1 0 +1 +1 +1 0 0 +3 43 0 +1 +1 44 D D D D D D D D D 45 +1 +1 +1 0 +1 +1 0 +1 +6 46 A A A A 47 0 0 +1 0 0 +1 0 -1 +1 48 +1 +1 +1 0 0 0 +1 +1 +5 49 -1 0 -1 50 A A A A A A A A A 51 0 +1 +1 52 0 0 0 +1 +1 0 +1 0 +3 53 D D D D D D D D D 54 +1 0 +1 +1 0 0 0 -1 +2 55 0 +1 +1 +1 +1 +1 0 0 +5 56 -1 -1 0 -1 0 -1 0 -1 -5 57 +1 0 58 -1 0 0 0 -1 0 0 0 -2 59 0 +1 +1 +1 +1 +1 +1 +5 60 0 +1 +1 61 0 0 +1 +1 0 0 0 0 +2 62 0 -1 0 0 +1 0 0 +1 +1 63 0 -1 +1 +1 0 0 0 0 64 D D D D D D D D D 65 @o 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 66 -1 -1 +1 MISSING 0 -1 -4 67 -11 -2 68 0 0 0 -1 -1 -1 -5 69 +1 +1 +1 +1 +1 +1 0 +1 +7 70 A A A A A A A A A 27 Table 2 - To-tal Site 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Val ue 71 +1 +1 +1 +1 +1 0 +1 +5 72 -1 -2 73 0 MISSING 0 +1 +1 +1 0 +1 +4 74 X X X A A A A A A 75 +1 +1 0 +1 -1 0 0 0 +2 76 A A A A A A A A A 77 0 -1 +1 0 -1 +1 -1 -1 -2 78 -1 -1 -1 0 -1 +1 0 -4 79 0 0 0 80 0 -1 -1 0 0 0 +1 -1 -2 81 0 0 0 0 -1 0 0 0 -1 82 -1 0 +1 -1 -1 0 0 -3 83 -1 +1 0 /+= Sampled annually A = Archived ,X = Archived -- sampled annually D = Dropped Note: In this table, (+l) should be read as high or above average; (0) should be read as medium or average; and (-l) should be read as low or below average. Please remember these terms apply only to the factors measured through the study's sampling program and are not an absolute indication of overall marine environmental quality. 28 pass through a 1 mm mesh sieve. Because a I mm mesh sieve was used in this study, our retention efficiency is low for these opportunists. Data on abundance of benthic organisms is summarized in Table 3 which reports the sum total of animals collected in four replicate grabs at each site during eight sampling periods. To compare these findings with other elements of our report, highly productive areas were assigned a value of (+l), moderately productive areas received a value of (0), and remaining locations received a value of (-l). This information is summarized in Table 4. It is important to note that while the values computed for diversities and shown in Table 2 are relative to other samples collected during a single sampling period, values for productivity based on abundance (>I mm size) and shown in Table 4 relate to a set of standards which do not vary from sampling period to sampling period. Results of this research confirmed the expectation that benthic secondary productivity values for sites in the study area are low. Values for both diversity and secondary productivity are evaluated in the report conclusions. Initial analysis of benthic diversity and secondary productivity does not appear to have either seasonal or cumulative patterns, (see Table 5). Further analysis of this data and additional field work (with finer mesh sieves) might determine if the study area is characterized by a high proportion of opportunistic s p e c i e sIf s o consideration of these productive opportunistic species as a source of food for economically important predators (demersal fish and crustaceans) may be an important factor in oil spill evaluation and management along Connecticut's southwestern coast. -29- Table 3 Title Relative Benthic Secondary Productivi_ty (Abundance) Data. Show-ing Cumulative Numbers of Individuals/Number of Species for-Four Replicate Samples During Each Period - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Sampling Period - - - - - - - - - - - - - - C'. te 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 1 115/13 101/12 -29/10 216/19 36/10 87/11 155/11 22/6 2 A A A A A A A A 3 32/17 208/26 238/22 173/19 248/26 66/15 1207/27 242/17 4 47/12 941/19 205/14 77/12 755/24 540/22 856/20 79/16 5 81/21 88/24 6 8/3 518/15 1441/11 40/10 92/7 2/1 12/1 19/4 7 0/0 8/3 17/4 150/10 249/9 14/3 1119/13 31/6 8 30/9 512/22 9 4/4 385/24 .127/4 212/16 3/2 14/5 2045/18 584/5 10 76/11 179/10 161/18 88/17 254/16 63/11 171/17 106/17 11 29/10 86/10 12 48/9 313/11 56/9 41/5 93/13 96/9 1228/34 127/11 13 24/13 525/33 14 09 A A A A 15 0/0 588/13 16 A A A A A 17 14/2 98/12 .202/8 401/9 666/14 937/18 1114/32 48/12 18 D D D D D D D D 80/20 278/18 598/29 359/22 517/23 580/18 1479/36 1230/33 19 20 22/3 152/9 21 61/13 243/20 22 A A A A A A A A 23 78/12 844/14 231/16 395/15 52/11 1254/23 708/'12 250/3 24 90/9 310/20 163/19 121/11 123/17 2398/21 178/14 53/5 25 68/14 197/16 26 D D D D D D D D 27 14/5 53/7 158/9 488/12 2/2 9/3 8/4 19/4 28 96/18 210/22 69/17 92/18 350/25 987/26 159/35 206/19 29 A A A A A A A A 30 6/3 65/6 92/8 22/4 151/12 171/16 40/4 76/5 31 A A A A A A A A 32 122/19 259/10 346/26 197/18 344/24 224/22 170/14 195/21 33 A A A A A A A A 34 54/15 63/11 35 39/10 218/17 733/29 302/24 579/37 236/27 235/6 498/29 30 Table Site 2 3 4 5 6 36 .9/4 112/12 37 34/13 215/30 95/18 236/23 898/30 601/29 299/21 48/13 38 29/9 465/34 39 D D D D D D D D 40 46/15 125/17 100/8 16/4 138/16 228/26 202/19 111/13 41 132/14 560/28 42 252/29 1977/22 277/17 59/10 72/13 3858/18 52/5 1178/20 43 366/11 626/18 44 D D D D 1) D D 45 234/22 74/19 253/24 162/16 150/15 126/25 488/24 220/22 46 A A #1 A A A 9 19 47 150/12 218/20 478/27 541/26 93/17 1693/27 1087/17 48 49/11 234/31 133/20 130/19 250/25 98/16 920/28 355/32 49 9/3 83/6 50 A A A A A A A 51 639/15 1005/21 52 61/8 28/7 44/9 22/9 58/17 170/13 138/12 485/16 53 D D D D D D D D 54 107/14 80/11 141/13 17/1o 346/16 32/6 4010/23 2825/25 55 19/6 48/14 175/16 67/12 152/19 99/13 1449/32 798/21 56 36/4 195/8 71/7 45/3 295/12 39/4 978/15 1631/15 57 46/11 559/14 58 383/9 134/15 571/13 207/26 543/7 64/9 269/7 277/10 59 479/10 340/18 94/21 199/19 @205/15 139/27 237/28 241/18 60 808/24 119/23 61 23/6 65/12 224/17 256/19 @823/19 114/10 6943/42* 2618/26 62 55/8 SB/6 176/9 107/10 209/14 144/13 2990/21 740/19 63 16/5 15/4 91/11 71/5 51/11 5/3 317/9 157/9 64 D D D D D D D D 65 25/6 134/11 84/9 199/10 .1561/15 8/4 352/12 126/12 66 0/0 82/9 11/3 378/18 10/2 missiNG 6/5 2/1 67 0/0 0/0 68 25/5 62/9 84/7 65/4 545/9 28/5 4701/16 3013/18 i7/30-118 -- 95/ 299/21T 69 101/24 166/28 182/2C 103/22 24/9 30/9 1.579/28 120/17 7o A A A A A A A A 31 Table 3 Site 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 71 242/24 174/24 204/18 128/15 1854/27 147/20 630/18 876/31 72 0/0 3/2 73 409/16 14ISSING 80/11 23/9 89/19 553/26 47/7 599/24 74 A JK 75 135/28 201/36 309/21 233/20 1638/7 129/16 798/25 1098/34 76 A A A A A A A A 77 531/24 27/5 540/22 17/6 2579/21 108/13 12014/32@ 5243/28 78 2067/6 66/5 1/1 26/5 587/3 353/4 65/14 93/10 79 152/13 587/9 80 470/18 903/10 2/2 20/7 92/6 218/15 1457/30 92/11 81 717/15 533/13 315/12 88/7 988/8 361/9 428/11 159/6 82 1226/9 510/15 154/17 28/4 4649/8* 200/7 5/3 80/6 83 258/10 302/25 A = Archived jX =Archived -- sampled annually D = Dropped Number of individuals excluded from calculation of.range below and value of +2 assigned in table 4 Value Range of Data by Sampling Period 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 2,067 1,977 1,441 488 2,579** 3,858 4,701** 5,243 +1 1,379 1,322 962 327 1,721 2,573 3,137 3,497 0 1,378 1,321 961 326. 1,720 2,572 3,136 3,496 690 665. 482 164 862 1,288 1,571 -1 689 664 481 163 861 1,287 1,510 1,749 0 8 1 0 3 2 5 Higher data point excluded to make range of numbers more representative. 3 :,46 1, 9: 750 Note: In this table, (+l) should be read as high or above average; (0) should be read as medium or average; and (-l) should be read as low or below average. Please remember these terms apply only to the factors measured through the study's sampling -program and are not an absolute indication of overall marine environmental quality. 32 Table t 4 Title Relative Benthic Secondary Productivity Values from Tables/Data - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Sampling Period - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Tota' CZIA@ 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 valu( 1 0 -7 2 A A A A A A A A A 3 0 -7 4 0 -7 5 -2 6 +1 -6 7 -8 8 -2 9 0 0* -6* 10 -8 11 -2 12 -8 13 -2 14 A 15 -2 106 A A A A JX 17 =1 +1 -1 -1 -1 -6 18 D D D D D D D D D 19 -1 -1 0 -5 20 -2 21 -2 22 A A A A A A A A A 23 -1 0 -1 +1 0 -4 24 -1 +1* -6 25 -1 -2 26 D D D D D D D D D 27 -1 -6 28 -8 29 A A A A A A A A A 30 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 .1 -8 31 A A A A A A A A 0 -7 A A A A A A A A A 34 -2 35 0 0 "6 7able 4 lotal Site 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Value is . 1 1 1 -1 -2 37 0 0 38 -2 39 D D D D D D D D A 0 41 42 43 44 D D D D D D D D D 45 46 A A A A A 47 -6 48 -8 49 -2 50 A A A A A A A A A 51 53 D D D D D D D D D 54 55 56 0 -2 58 -6 59 -7 60 61 0 +2* 0* -3** 62 63 64 D D D D D D D D D 65 0 0 -6 66 MISSING -1: -5 67 -2 0 70 A A A A A A A A A 34 Table 4 lotal 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Value 71 -1 -1 -1 -1 +1* -6* 72 -1 -1 -2 73 -1 MISSING -1 -1 -1 -7 74 19 A A A A 75 -1 -1 Z.1 0 0- 1 -1 -6 76 A A A A A A A A A 77 -1 0 -1 +1* -1 +2* +1* 0* 78 +1* -6* 79 -1 -2 80 -1 0 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1 -7 81 0 -1 -1 -1 0 -1 -1 -1 -6 82 0 -1 -1 -1 -5* 83 -1 -2 Each time high abundance (more than 10,000 individuals per meter2) Sampled annually A Archived )(-= Archived -- sampled annually D Dropped Note: In this table, (+l) should be read as high or above average; (0) should be read as medium or average; and (-l) should be read as low or below average. Please remember these terms apply only to the factors measured through the study's sampling program and are not an absolute indication'of overall marine environmental quality. 2 35 Table 5: Comparison of Benthic Sites by Diversity and Productivity Values from Tables 2 and 4 Site Diversity Value Productivity Value Numbers (Table 2) (Table 4) 1 0-.- -7 2 A A 3 +7 -7 4 +2 -7 5 +2 -2 6 7 -4 -8 a +2 -2 9 -4 -6 10 +4 -8 11 +1 -2 12 -1 -8 13 +2 -2 14 A 15 -2 16 A 17 -6 18 D D 19 +6 -5 20 -1 -2 21 +2 -2 22 A A 23 -2 -4 24 +4 -6 25 +1 -2 26 -D, D 27 -3 -6 28 +8 -8 29 A A 30 -3 -8 31 A A 32 +6 -7 33 A A 34 +2 -2 35 46 -6 36 Site Diversity Value Productivity Value Numbers (Table 2) (Table 4) 36 0 -2 37 +7 -6 38 -2 -2 39 D D 40 +5 -8 41 +2 -2 42 +3 -4 43 +1 -2 44 D D 45 +6 -8 46 A 47 +1 -6 48 +5 -8 49 -1 -2 50 A A 51 +1 -1 52 +3 -8 53 D D 54 +2 -5 55 +5 -8 56 -5 -8 57 0 -2 58 -2 -6 59 +5 -7 60 +1 -1 61 +2 -3 62 +1 -7 63 0 -8 64 D D 65 0 -6 66 -4 -5 67 -2 -2 68 -5 -5 69 +7 -7 70 A A 37 Site Diversity Value Productivity Value Numbers (Table 2) (Table 4) 71 +5 -6 72 -2 -2 73 +4 -7 74 A A 75 +2 -6 76 A A 77 -2 0 78 -4 -6 79 0 -2 80 -2 -7 81 -1 -6 82 -3 -5 83 0 -2 0 1 = Sampled Annually A = Archived A = Archived Annually D = Dropped Note.: In this table, (+l) should be read as high or above average; (0) should be read as medium or average; and (-J) should be read as low or below average. Please remember these teXU apply only to the factors measured through the study's sampling program and are not an absolute indication of overall marine environmental quality. 0 38 Azoic conditions were judged to be found when no live animals were retained on the 1 mm sieve and no live organisms were seen passing through the 1 mm sieve. Azoic c o n d i t i o n swere consistently reported at site 67 in Bridgeport's Black Rock Harbor . Other Bridgeport sites which were found to be azoic include: site 72, (June, '81); site 66 June '81); and sit e 67 June ' 81 and June , '82). Azoic conditions wer e als o f ound of f the mouth of the Housatonic River at s it e 78 , (November , ' 81) ; in Stamf ord Harbor at s ite 15 , (June, '81 and in Greenwich at site 7, (June, '81). Benthic sites were classified as highly productive (+l in Tab le 4 ) when the abundance of organisms collected in a single sampling period exceeded a concentration of 10,000 individuals per square meter. By season, these sites inc luded : spring , sites 71 , 77 , and 78; summer , sites 24 and 4 2 f a 11 , sites 19, 54, 61 , 62 , 68 and 77; and winter , sites 54 56, 61 and 77. Only site 77 was found to have high secondary productivity in three seasons during the study's two year duration. Site 42 was found to be highly productive during both summer sampling periods . Both sites 54 and 61 were found to be highly productive in two consecutive sampling periods ( fall and winter Otter Trawls Otter trawls were conducted and the catch assessed to i d e n t i f yareas off the Connecticut coast which hold sign ificant concentrations of commercially or recreationally important marine species during specific periods of the year. -39- To equate otter trawl results to other elements of this study, the total number of organisms collected at each trawl site during the eight sampli,ng periods was computed, (see Table 6). The range of animals caught (total number of ind ividuals ranked highest to lowest) was divided into three equal parts for each sampling period. Sites in the top third received a value of (+I), sites in the middle third received a value of (0), and sites in the lowest third received a value of (-l). These site specific values are summarized. in Table 7. Otter trawl location, duration, distance and raw catch data are found in Appendices 2 and 3. Six significant commercial or recreational species were collected during the otter trawls. Two of these economically important species, the winter flounder (Pseudopleuronectes americanus) a n d lobster (Homarus americanus), were c o n s i s t e n t I y ca u ght . Catch of bluefish (Pomatomus s a 1 t a t r i x ) , s c u p ( S t e n o t o m u.s chrysops), weakfish ( C ynoscion regalis-) , and blackf ish (Tautoga onit is ) , var ied by season. A majority of winter flounder taken during the fall (November '81 and '82) sampling periods appeared to b e r e a d y t o spawn . Blackf i sh taken dur ing the second spr ing sampling period (June, ' 8 2 ) a t s it es 5 , 7, 10 , 11 and 12 were sexually mature and ready for spawning. other species collected did not appear to be in spawning condition. Definite seasonal trends can be seen in otter trawl data collected during this two-year study. Concentrations of finfish caught in the otter trawl were highest during spring and fall sampling periods and lowest in summer and winter. A review of cumulative results for total number of significant commercial or recreational finfish gathered in the trawls during the study shows the following descending order: site -40- Table W 6 Title otter Trawl Data Summary Showing Total Numbers of Commercially and Recreational Finfish and Lobsters* Taken from "A and B" Trawls - - - - - - - - - - - - -=Sampling Period - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Site 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 1 162 261 134 52 122 54 .118 11 2 132 64 93 25 263 10 110 16 3 114 31 50 5 39 16 57 7 4 135 109 119 31 126 159 179 11 5 56 42 69 36 404 296 263 64 6 D D D D D D D D 7 148 22 812 9 29 53 79 16 8 214 38 10 14 377 48 121 10 9 19 2 10 12 187 101 195 13 10 118 15 34 41 97 56 160 29 11 19 6 6 22 38 23 26 15 12 62 31 28 16 35 2 38 0 D Dropped Value Pange of Data by Sampling Pel.iod 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 214 to, 261 to 812 to 52 to 404 to 296 to 263 to 64 to +1 150 176 546 37 280 199 185 46 0 149 to 175 to 545 to 36 to 279 to 198 to 164 to .45 to 85 89 27ro 21 155 101 106 27 84 to 88 to 275 to 20 to 154 to 100 to 105 to 26 to -1 19 2 6 5 29 2 26 7 Homaru americanu , P-seudopleuronecte arnericanu , Stenotomus chrysops, Tautog onitis, Paralichthy dentatus, Pomatomus saltatri , QyngzSj.Qn regali , Brevoortia tyranus taken during two 15-minuted trawls during each period. late: In this table, (+l) should be read as high or above average; (0) should be read as medium or average; and (-l) should be read as low or below average. Please remember these terms apply only to the factors measured through the study's sampling program and are not an absolute'indication of overall marine environmental quality. 41 jalle f 7 Title Otter Trawl Values Based on Total Values of Commercial and Recreational Species of Finfish* and Lobster Homarus Americanus - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Sampling Period - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Total Site 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Value 1 +1 +1 -1 +1 -1 -1 0 .-l -1 2 0 -1 0 0 -1 0 -1 -4 3 0 -1 -7 4 0 0 0 -1 0 0 -1 -3 5 -1 -1 +1 +1 +1 +1 +1 +2 6 D D D D D D D D D -1 +1 -1 -1 -5 7 0 8 +1 -1 -1 +1 -1 0 -3 9 -1 -1 -1 0 0 +1 -1 -4 10 0 -1 +1 -1 -1 0 0 -3 11 0 -1 -1 -1 -1 -7 12 -1 -1 -1 -1 0 -7 0 D Dropped Pseudopleuronectes americanu Stenotomus chrysops, Tautoga oniti Paralichthys dentatus, Pomatomus saltatrix, Cynoscion,tegalis, Brevoortia tyranus. Note: In this table, (+l) should be read as high or above average; (0) should be read as medium or average; and (-l) should be read as low or below average. Please remember these terms apply only to the factors measured through the study's sampling program and are not an absolute indication of overall marine environmental quality. 42 5, 1,230 individuals; site 7, 1,168 individuals; site 1, 934 i n d i v i d u a 1 s s i t e 4 8 6 9 individuals; site 8 , 829 i n d i v i d u a 1 s s i t e 2 714 individuals; site 10 57 0 i n d i v i d u a 1 s s i t e 9 5 3 9 individuals; s it e 3 319 individuals; s it e 12 , 283 individuals; and site 11 , 155 individuals. In terms of the two-year cumulative catch of winter flounder, these sites can be ranked in the following descending order site 7, 1,109 flounder; s i t e 1 , 884 flounder; s i t e 5 861 flounder; site 4, 770 flounder; site 8 , 7 2 7 f I ounder; site 2, 662 flounder;, site 10, 524 flounder; s i te 9 , 485 flounder; site 12, 263 flounder; site 3, 247 flounder; and site 11, 148 flounder. S ea s ona 1 tr end s can also be seen in the lobster trawl data , with the largest catch occurring in the summer samp 1 i ng per iod s of bot h year s . In terms of the two-year cat ch of lobster these sites can be ranked in the following de s c ending order site 5, 334 ; site 4, 105 ; site 8 , 74 ; site 3 , 6 6 ; s i t e 2 , 64; sites 7 and 9, 61; site 10, 60; site 1, 48; site 12, 43; and site 11, 16. Ot t er tr awl dat a f r om th i s s t udy sug gests that the following sites may be significant for specific species during certain seasons: site 3 , Stamford, blackf ish (T. onitis), June; s i t e 4 , Stamford, blackfish, June; site 5, Norwalk, scup (S. chrysops), August; site 5, Norwalk, bluefish (P. sal.tatrix) , August; site 7, Norwalk, scup, June ; s ite 8 , Wes tpor t , weakf ish ( C . r ega 1 is) , August ; s i t e 1 1 , Strat f ord , blackf ish , August ; site 12 , Stratford , b lac kf ish , June ; and site 12 , Stratford , scup , June. These -43- species of f inf ish were found consistently at these trawl areas during these seasonal sampling periods. Gill Nets Gill nets were set during each of the study's eight sampling periods to identify areas where economically significant finfish can be found on a seasonal basis and to note which species are preparing to spawn. In order to compare gill net data to other elements of this report, the total number of fish collected at each sampling site was entered on Table 8. A value of (+l), (0), or (-l) was assigned to each station based on this data. A total catch in the upper third of the range for a sampling period received a (+l) while a catch in the middle third received a (0) and a catch in the remaining third received a (-l). These values are found in Table 9 and appear to reflect definite seasonal trends. M e n h a d e n ,B r e v o o r t i at y r a n n u so c c u r r e d predominantly in the spring sampling periods. The largest catch for this species was recorded in the second spring s a m p 1 i n gAtlantic mackeral, Scomber scombrus, were found at s.ites 1 , 2 ,3 , 4 , 5, 7, 8, 10 and 12 during the first summer sampling period. This catch was not repeated during the second set of summer gill nets. Bluefish, Pomatomus saltatrix, were taken in a number of locations and sampling periods. The bluefish catch peaked during the spring sampling period of the second year. Atlantic herring (Clup'ea harengus) were persistently found in significant numbers during the winter sampling periods of both years. -44- Table t-8 Title Gill Net Data Total Numbers of Commercial and Recreational Fish Taken* - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Sampling Period - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Site 1 2 3 A 5 6 7 8 1 0 57 2 0 54 0 2 41 80 1 2 3 0 35 A 60 13 0 0 27 27 0 3 5 11 6 0 1 0 0 13 0 3 1 7 0 / 16 8 0 2 1 2 18 0 0 1 9 4 17 10 0 18 0 1 5 0 8 9 11 73 4 12 1 13 1 0 0 0 184** 0 24 1 Sampled annually Total number for this site excluded from calculation of range and value of +2 assigned in Table 8. Brevoortia-tyranus, Moronesaxatilis, Clupea harengus, Alosa pseudoh-arengus, Morone saxatilis, Scombec scombrus, Ponomotus triacanthus, Pomolobus mediocris, Morone american Value Range of Data by Sampling Period 1 2 3*** 4 5 6 7 8 73 54 57 80 24 9 +1 1 2 50 37 40 54 16 7 49 36 39 53 16 6 0 0 1 25 19 22 27 9 4 24 Is 21 26 8 3 -1 0 0 0 4 0 0 Insufficent data available for computing full range of values. Table t 9 Title Gill Net Ranking Values of Table 8 Data - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Sampling Period - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Total Site 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Valut +1 0 2 +1 0 +1 +1 +1 +1 3 0 +1 0 0 0 -3 5 Y -1 6 0 -1 -7 7 -2 8 -1 -1 +1 +1 -4 9 -1 -2 10 -1 -1 0- 0 -1 -1 -1 +1 -4 11 +1 0 12 -1 13 0 -1 +2 -1 +1 -1 -2 Sampled annually Note: In this table, (+l) should be read as high or above average; (0) should be read as medium or average; and (-l) should be read as low or below average. Please remember these terms apply only to the factors measured through the study's sampling program and are not an absolute indication of overall marine environmental quality. 46 M o r e than 75 percent of the menhaden taken from trawling sites off Greenwich, Stamford, Norwalk and Westport appeared to be ready to spawn. During the spring and summer periods, none of the other species collected in the gill nets showed signs of being ready to reproduce. Gut Analyses Gut analysis was performed on economically important finfish collected from otter trawls. A comprehensive list of prey animals found in the guts of winter flounder is in Appendix 5 and a listing of prey species found is included in Appendix 8. opportunistic or pioneering species of polychaetes were found in the digestive tract of the majority of fish analyzed. This data suggests that opportunistic species are an important source of food for winter flounder in western Long Island Sound. Polychaetes and amphipods of various species were found during gut analysis of fish taken throughout the year at all sampling stations. The hypothesis that winter flounder fed only in morning h o u r s is n o t s u b stantiated by data reported in this study. Afternoon trawls consistently yielded fish that had just eaten substantial amounts of food. Additional research is needed to examine the feeding habits of this species in western Long Island Sound. T h e microsporidian Glugea stephani, a parasite wh ich is lethal to winter flounder, was found to be wide- spread during gut analysis of these fish. Up to seven percent of the flounder caught in a sampling period, for -47 example, were found to have advanced levels of infestation by this parasite . Very little is currently known about this parasite which has been found in large concentrations in fish from New Jersey waters . Dr. Ann Cali, an Associate Professor of Zoology at Rutgers State University, i s studying G. stephani and confirmed our identification of t h i sp a r a s i t e .our research i st h ef i r s tto publish documented evidence of G. s t ephani in Long Island Sound winter flounder. Further study of this parasite is needed to gauge its affect on this economically important species. -48- Hydrocarbon Analyses T h e synchronous spectrof luorometric spectra of cyclohexane extracts of sediments and bivalve tissues closely resembled those of the standard reference oils, Bunker-C and #2 Fuel Oil. In some samples, however, the various components of the mult i-peaked spectra used for calibration of Bunker-C concentration equivalents were not in internal agreement, suggesting that those samples contained environmentally degraded, or "weathered" oil. Bunker -C was present in all sediment samples, at a mean concentration of 46 ppm outside of harbors and estuaries, and at a mean concentration of 111 ppm inside. Bunker-C is a heavy, residual fuel oil ( ie. , it is largely composed of the higher boi I ing -point compounds that remain as a residuum after the distillation of crude oil). Residual oils were once the most common marine fuels (now being supplanted by diesel oils ) and are still commonly used in industrial burners . Hence , one might expect to see the most elevated levels of Bunker-C in sediments beneath heavily used waterways; adjacent to loading /off loading terminals and tank f arms ;and adjacent to industrial facilities that utilize high temperature burners. In many cases , the highest levels of Bunker-C occurred in sediments near or adjacent to likely industrial point sources , or beneath relatively heavily used sea lanes . Only about 23% of the sediment samples had detectable quantities of #2 Fue I oil , and hal f of those contained 100 ppm; the other half contained 100 to 410 ppm. Number 2 Fuel Oil was found mostly in open-water or outer-harbor sediments. In a -49- few cases the highest concentrations of #2 Fuel Oil were located near obvious source areas. Concentrations of Bunker-C in sediments ranged from 2.7 pg/g (parts per million) to 520 )Ag/g. Approximately 86% of the samples had concentrations distributed between 0 and 100 ppm, and for this group the median concentration was 50 ppm. The lower values occurred mostly in the nearshore sediments, whereas highest values were encountered in the inshore and inner harbor areas. Fifty-one samples comprising a 'harbor sediment' group had a mean and standard deviation for Bunker-C concentration of 46 + 24 ppm. In the broad view, then, there exists a gradient of Bunker-C contamination in sed iments, with concentrations decreasing offshore. There is no discernable trend of Bunker-C contamination in sediments in an east-west (along-shore) transect. Concentrations of #2 Fuel Oil in sediments ranged from undetectable (<l ppm in s a m p I e s free of Bunker-C) to 410 ;Ag/g. However, the sediments of the study area were not sampled densely enough to establish any cause-effect links between possible shoreside point sources and sediment concentrations. Sh,ellf ish Some generalities regarding petroleum hydrocarbons in s h e I I f i s h tissue from the inshore waters of western Connecticut's Long Island Sound can be noted: (1) the small c I a m M y a a r-e n a r i a c o n t a i n e d B u n k e r - C o i I a t conc ent ra t i ons f r om below detection to 62 ppm, and #2 Fuel Oi 1 at levels between undetectable and 108 ppm. Most often (nine instances) samples of Mya had both Bunker-C and #2 F u e 1 0 i I contamination. At two sites ( C C 8 , SH I ) Mya conta ined only #2 Fuel Oil , and at three sites (CC2, N10, -50- N3) only Bunker-C; (2) the clam Mercenaria mercenaria contained Bunker-C at concentrations from below detection to 333 ppm , and #2 Fuel oil at levels between undetectable and 1 8 4 p p m M o s t o f t en (four instances) samples of M. Mercenaria had only #2 Fuel Oil contamination. M. Mercenar ia contained only Bunker-C at one site (N-3) , and both Bunker-C and No. 2 at one site (BH4); (3) the oyster Cras s os trea virginica contained both types of oil at all f our s ites where it was encountered. Bunker-C concentrations .w e r e b e t w e e n 2 . 6 p 0 m a n d 4 2 p p m , and #2 Fuel Oil concentrations were between 5.4 ppm and 22 ppm; (4) the m u s s e 1 M.y t i 1 u s e d u 1 i s , found in two locations ( H R 6 , H R 5 , contained both types of oil . Bunker-C concentration was 39 ppm in both samples, and #2 Fuel Oil occurred at 59 ppm and 76 ppm; and (5) the mussel Geukensia demissus was found at one site (SH3) with a #2 Fuel Oil concentration of 173 ppm. The t i s sues of clams , mus se ls , and oys ters conta ined up to 33 ppm Bunker-C and up to 184 ppm #2 Fuel Oil. There was typ ically a concentration gradient, decreasing shoreward, of #2 Fuel Oil in both sediments and tissue of bivalves, although the levels of oil in tissue did not seem to reflect t h e I e v e 1 s in the immediate surrounding sediments. This gradient may indicate that open waters outside harbors and estuaries is the predominate source of #2 Fuel Oil. Each species of bivalve accumulated No. 2 even though the oil may not have been present in associated bottom sediments. Number 2 Fuel Oil is apparently carried on suspended sediments and effectively taken up by filter feeders. That #2 Fuel Oil should be so widely available to filter-feeders, yet not commonly present in bottom sediments, reflects the relatively high rate of degradation of light polyaromataic -51- hydrocarbon compounds that make up No. 2. There was some indication that the most particle selective feeders amongst the bivalves studied had the highest exposure to oil, perhaps due to preferential ingestion of fine, oil-coated particles. T h a t suspended sediments are effective carriers of #2 Fuel Oil, even when bottom sediments are devoid of it, is consistent with the earlier observation that high No. 2 anomalies in bottom sediments were commonly found far from likely point sources. One may suppose, then, that those high bottom sediment anomalies were related to patterns of sediment transport and deposition. Although #2 Fuel Oil is widely available to filter-feeders, it was not found to be widespread in bottom sediments. This may reflect the relatively quick degradation (by weathering) of the lighter c o m p o n e n t s o f h e a t i n g o i I in the environment (as demonstrated in laboratory experiments done for the U.S. Coast Guard). Note too that in three out of four cases where August '82 "hotspots" of #2 Fuel Oil in sediments were resampled in March '83, (HR5, HR3, BH1), No. 2 was found in the second sample. In the fourth case (BRH2) the first sample contained 106 ppm, and the second only 73 ppm #2 Fuel Oil. Taken together , the results seem to point out that #2 Fuel Oil is relatively short-lived in the environment. on the other hand, under certain depositional conditions (such as rapid sedimentation, or sedimentation below the photic z o n e perhaps) #2 Fuel Oil may persist in sediments. Sediments from a subsurface layer at one location, SH6, had a I a r g e a mount of #2 Fuel Oil (177 ppm) that may be protected from aerobic weathering due to burial. -52- If it is correct to attribute the commonly observed gradient of seawardly increasing #2 Fuel Oil concentrations to a primarily open water source, and if this heating fuel is indeed short-lived in the environment, then the now il legal practice of flushing contaminated seawater ballast fr om cargo tanks into the sea outside of ports may continue at a sufficient r a t e to cause a chronic pollution of Long Island Sound. As discussed above, though, the bivalve tissue concentration gradient may be deceptive in this regard. The ubiquitousness of Bunker-C in bottom sediments prevents one from making similar arguments about t h e rela tive importance of suspended sediments and nearby bottom sediments as sources of Bunker-C to filtering bivalves. No correlation between Bunker-C burdens in bivalve tissues and t h o s e in associated bottom sediments can be seen from the data. This may be additional evidence that contaminated suspended sediments are again the primary source. A final observation can be pointed out, which addresses the possible role of feeding behavior in the accumulation of petroleum hydrocarbons from suspended matter. Some bivalves feed more selectively than others. Geukensia demissus a n d M e r c e n a r i a m e r c e n a r i a s e e m t o r e j e c t a w id e a s s o r t me n t of f o o d in t h e laboratory, Crassostrea v i r g i n ic a a nd Mytilus edulis somewhat less so, and M y a ar en a ri a s e e m s m o r e or les s i n d i scriminate in f eed ing , at I e a s t based on the ease of raising them in the laboratory (Dr. Bob Whitlatch , personal communication) . As pointed out earlier, G. demissus and M. mercenaria, the se lect ive eat ers , had in almost all cases only #2 Fuel Oi 1 contamination, not the heavier Bunker-C. Hence , feeding habits may preclude uptake of certain oil types if oil types -53- a r e in f a c t fractionated amongst various particle sizes. It i s a I s o interesting to notice that when different species were f ound together , they had relative accumulations of #2 Fuel Oil that corresponded to our not ions of relative f e e d i ng s i z e s e I e c t i v i t y : at BH4, M. mercenaria had a I mos t five times as much as C. virginica, at N4, M. mercenaria had about 28 times as much as C . virginica, and at SH3 , G . demis sus had 2 5 t imes the burden of M. a r e n a r i a I t w o u 1 d a p p e a r t h e n , that size (fine) selective feeders might have increased exposure to petroleum hydrocarbons. Since preferential intake of fine-grained part ic les is an important part of selectivity in feeding , then the increased exposure may simply arise because fine-grained particles are preferentially oil-rich. Several aspects of this inquiry into the relationships between hydrocarbon burdens in filter-feeders and those in bottom sediments have implicated apparently important roles f or suspended sediments . Suspended matter , as a carrier of o i I , likely dictates the depositional fate and biological consequences of spilled oil. Future studies of petroleum hydrocarbons in the coastal environment should pay attention t 0 s u s p e n d e d m a t t e r transport and its contaminant concentrations. The present study, having established the pervasive occurrence of petroleum hydrocarbons in sediments and shellfish of western Long Island Sound, j us t if ies further work. Th e environmental persistence of the two commonly encountered oils , #2 Fuel Oil and Bunker-C, should now be examined directly through controlled field and laboratory studies. Intensive samplings of the suspended matter might reveal contemporary sources of petroleum products to the environment ( ie . , offshore flushing of contaminated ballas t and bi lge waters , or inner harbor _54- spills). As benthic faunal succession takes place, species p a r t i c i pat ing in colon i zat ion change with respect to the way in which they interact with marine sediments (Rhoads and Boyer , 1982 ) . Future studies of hydrocarbons in sediments a n dorganisms might benefit from such a successional perspective. -55- IV. Municipal Overview Information from more than 1,000 pages of data sheets and field reports has been summarized in this report. Yet, if this research is to be used by government or corporate officials, it must be organized in a framework which permits clear and accurate comparison of results. Because much of Connecticut's government centers on municipal boundaries, this overview focuses on conditions along southwestern ConnecticuE's nine coastal communities. Within this context, 11 ecological sub-systems -- systems which function without regard to political boundaries -- are considered in detail. D e s p i t ethe breadth of data collected and assessed, thi s research does not provide a comprehensive understanding of marine environmental quality of each municipality. This study should be supplemented with additional field work and analysis to expand and interpret the extensive data base d e v e I o p e dt h r o u g hthis study. In the interim, t h i s discussion of results is designed to provide a means for decision making relative to existing sampling sites and f indings . Relative ranking values for benthic diversity and secondary productivity along with catch data from otter trawls and gill nets are taken from Tables 2, 4, 7, and 9 and organized by municipality in Table 10. Values for each of these four factors were totaled by community and these sums were then placed in descending order. A value of (+l) was assigned to values in the top third of each range while a value of (0) was given to municipalities in the middle third and those in the lower third received (-l). Table 11 summarizes the resulting values for each community. -56- TABLE 10: Municipal Data Summary Site Benthic Benthic Otter Gill (Secondary) Municipality Numbers Diversit Productivity Trawl Net Greenwich B1 0 -7 B3 +7 -7 B4 +2 -7 B6 -1 -6 B7 -4 -8 B9 -4 -6 B10 +4 -8 ,1 -1 T-2 -4 G-2 +1 Greenwich Totals +4 -49 -5 +1 Stamford B12 -1 -8 B17 -1 -6 B19 +6 -5 B23 -2 -4 T-3 -7 T-4 -3 C-4 -3 c-6 -7 Stamford Totals +2 -23. -10 -10 Darien B24 +4 -6 B27 -3 -6 B28 +8 -8 Darien Totals +9 -20 Norwalk B30 -3 -8 B32 +6 -7 B35 +6 -6 B37 +7 -6 B40 +5 -8 T-5 +2 T-7 -5 Norwalk Totals +21 -35 -3 57 TABLE 10: Municipal Data Summary Site Benthic Benthic Otter Gill (Secondary) Municipality Numbers Diversity I Productivity Trawl Net Westport B42 +3 -4 B45 +6 -8 B47 ti -6 B48 +5 -8 B52 +3 -8 B54 +2 -5 T-8 -3 G-8 -4 Westport Totals +20 -39, -3 -4 Fairfield B55 +5 -8 B56 -5 -8 B58 -2 -6 B59 +5 -7 B61 +2 -3 B62 +1 -7 T-9 -4 C-10 -4 Fairfield Totals +6 -39 -4 -4 Bridgeport B63 0 -8 B65 0 -6 B66 -4 -5 B68 -5 -5 B69 +7 -7 B71 +5 -6 T-10 -3 C-13 -2 Bridgeport Totals +3 -37 -3 -2 Stratford B73 +4 -7 B75 +2 -6 B78 -4 -6 T-11 -7 @Stratford Totals +2 -19 -7 58 TOTAL 10: Municipal Data Summary Site Benthic Benthic Otter Gill (Secondary) -Municipality Numbers DiversiL" Productivity Trawl Net Milford B77 -2 0 B80 -2 -7 B81 -1 -6 B82 -3 -5 T-12 -7 Milford Totals -8 -18 -7 Sampled annually Value Range of Data by Sampling Period Benthic Diversity Benthic Productivity Otter Trawl Gill Net +21 -18 -3 +1 +1 +12 -28 _-4 -2 +11 -29 -5 -3 +2 -39 -7 -6@ +1 -40 -8 -7 -1 -8 -49 -10 -10 Note: In this table, (+1) should be read as high or above average; (0) should be read as medium or average; and (-l) should be read as low or below,average. Please remember these terms apply onl y to the factors measured through the study's sampling program and are not an absolute indication of overall marine environ- mental quality. 59 09 *AqTlpnb TpquawuoaiAua auTapui TT?jaAo go uoTqpoTpuT aqnTOSC(p uP 4OU aJP PuP ulp-TfDOld 5UTTduips s,Apnqs aqq qBnojqq painspaul saoqop; aq4 04 ATuO ATddP SuLTa4 asDq4 ;raqwaLue-T @sP9Td 'aBPJaAP mOTaq aO mOT SP PPal aq PTnoqs (T-) PuP !a5PJaAv JO ulnTP@ui sp puaa aq PTnOqs (0) !a5pi9Av eAoqu ao q5Tq sp ppea aq pjnot@s (T+) '91cce4 sIL;,4 UI :a-40"q ATlpnuup PaTdures = 10 0 0 T+ I- PaOJTTW- T+ 0 1+ 0 paoj4pa4s Z+ T+ T+ 0 0 qaodGBPTaS 1+ 0 T+ 0 0 plaTgaTpa Z+ 0 T+ 0 T+ -4.10d4s:D214 Z+ T+ 0 T+ NTem-ION7 T+ T+ 0 T- T+ 0 plojumqs 0 T+ 0 T- 0 Tle"401 -3aN TmL--IJ, A.4TATIDnpoaj AI'FSIZ)A-I(l ITTO Jaj:jO AJUPU03as DTqlUaz paju Xpnjs ui IsPa 01 Isam u'019 PalsTT alP SOTjTTedi3Tunjq SarununS s an TPA -@V-q -Iq&-H--Cp-d-Tz-)fGnT-j :DTITI TT # aTq-eL T a b I e 10 reflects -- within the findings of this study a relative value for marine environmental quality of specific municipalities. A municipality's sum total of ranking values in Table 10, then, reflects one measure of habitat quality which must be considered in assessing e x i s t i n g o r p o t e n t ial effects of hydrocarbon contamination in the study area. B e n t h i c diversity can be related as a measure of habitat q u a 1 i t y in th at benthic diversity is inversely relat e d to secondary productivity. This supports t h e i d e a t h a t pioneering stages (low diversity) are represented by dense assemblages of small, high turn-over rate species. (Personal communication, Dr. Donald Rhoads). Greenwich Findings The Greenwich harbor and islands area sampled extends from the Byram River east to Greenwich Point. It includes Greenwich Harbor, Cos Cob Harbor, and Greenwich Cove as well as Great Captains and Little Captains Islands. A marine t e r m i n a I for hydrocarbon products is I o c a t e d a t t h e railroad's Cos Cob electrical generating station on Cos Cob harbor. Benthic sampling revealed high numbers of opportunistic or pioneering species in this area. These animals are often seen as a sign an area is undergoing or recovering from environmental stress. Abundance of these organisms appeared to vary greatly during the eight sampling periods. One location which reflected a low concentration of benthic life in the first fall sampling period was found to have the highest benthic concentration in the second fall sampling. A d d i t i o n a 1 research is needed to relate the frequency of -61- population peaks of opportunistic species with factors such a s frequency of sampling or disturbance of the benthic environment . Otter trawl catch did not appear to be related t o benthic diversity within this area. Regard ing the Greenwich area, benthic sampling site #3 located south of Calf Island near Trawl #1 had the highest values for both diversity and productivity for six of the eight sampling periods. During the remaining two sampling periods , s ite 3 ranked second . For a comprehensive review of diversity and secondary productivity, please see Tables 1 and 3. The shal low water nearshore areas , including site #1, outs ide Port Chester Harbor; Site #4, Byram Harbor; site #6, Greenwich Harbor; site #8 , Cos Cob Harbor; and site #9, Greenwich Cove, had lower diversity and secondary productivity values as compared with offshore sites 3, 5, and 10 south of Calf Island, off Cormorant Reef, and Greenwich Point respectively. The offshore location #7, near Hens and Chickens , did not conform with these findings and like nearshore waters had consistently low values for diversity and secondary productivity. Both trawl sites I and 2, for example, yielded a high flounder catch. Yet trawl s i t e I was near benthic site 3 (which reported consistently high diversity) while trawl site 2 was near benthic site 7 (which was azoic during this same period). W i n t e r flounder collected at both of these trawl sites were found to be ready to spawn during the fall. These and s i m i I a r I o c a t i o n s o f f Greenwich should be seen as potentially important areas in the flounder's reproductive cycle during this time of year. -62- Gill net sites I and 2 off Greenwich collected Atlantic herring during both winter sampling periods. The recent decline of the alewife Alosa pseudoharengus may make t h i s finding of interest. Our field observations confirm t h a t the area around the Greenwich Islands is known to be an impor t ant area for lobstering and sport fishing. Seasonally, b I u e f ish , weakf ish and striped bass are taken along with b 1 a c k f i s h , summer flounder and winter flounder. The harbors and cove are important for the taking of menhaden by sport fishermen. Analysis of hydrocarbons throughout Cos Cob Harbor indicate that Mya arenaria and Mercenaria mercenaria contain relatively moderate to very high levels of #2 Fuel Oil and little or no Bunker-C, with the exception of M.* a r e n a r i a at C o s C o b s i t e 2 (CC2). A p a r t from this exception, there was a gradient of #2 Fuel Oil levels in tissue, increasing seaward. Only in the most seaward sediment sample (CC8) was any #2 Fuel Oil observed. Hence, it would appear that if there was a local source of #2 in C o s Cob Harbor, t h e o i I became associated with suspended sediments but was not deposited until flushed from the Harbor. Alternatively, the source of #2 Fuel Oil might have been from outside the Harbor, as suggested by the gradient in tissue levels. However, it has been reported that M. Mercenaria (Stainken, 1978) and Crassostrea virginica, ( S t e g e m a n a n d T e a 1 , 1973) exposed under controlled laboratory experimental conditions to higher water column concentrations of petroleum hydrocarbons, accumulated less oil than those exposed to lower concentrations. This was related to reduced filtration activity of the bivalves subjected to greater hydrocarbon exposures. -63- It was suggested that M.mercenaria suffered from dose-dependent narcosis, and in the latter case it was observed that after a certain water column hydrocarbon concentration was exceeded, oysters (C. virginica) remained closed presumably ceasing to feed. Similarly, M. arenaria in lightly to moderately oiled environments (Gilfillan et al 19 7 6 , 19 7 7 ) ( contaminated by maritime accidents or spil Is) were reported capable of accumulating greater hydrocarbon burdens than those from nearby heavily oiled environments. Hence the gradient in #2 Fuel Oil concentrations in Cob Cob Harbor may actually ref lect an opposite gradient in the availability of oil to the filter feeders, in which case an inner harbor source would be implicated. S a m p I e r e p I i c a t e s i n d i c a t e t h a t there can be considerable lateral and vertical variation of Bunker-C concentrations over small distances (i.e., replicate grabs were taken no more than a few meters apart, and depth penetration limited to about 1/4 meter); specifically, lateral var iation was large at CCI (the replicates were 110 and 180 ppm), and at CC8 (17 and 30 ppm), but not at CC5 (63 and 67 p p m ) . It is important to note, too, that the spatial variation seems much larger than the analytic variations that occur due to calibrations being based on various peaks of t h e spectra. Also at Cos Cob Harbor, surface and subsurface layers of sediment were discerned and subsampled fr.om replicate grabs at CC2 and CC4. There was large v e r t i c a I s p a t i a 1 variation. At CC 2 , sur f ac e s ed iments cont a in ing 150 ppm of Bunker-C overlay sediments with only 38 ppm. At CC4, surface sediments also had relatively high Bunker -C conc ent r a tions ( 78 ppm) compared to an apparenitly -64- inhomogenous subsurface layer which yielded 16 and 63 ppm of Bunker-C from each of two replicate grabs. In Cos Cob Harbor, the sediments with the highest 1 e v e 1 s of Bunker-C were found at the innermost stations, adjacent to commercial vessel docks (CC2) and adjacent to an unkempt shorefront area that is apparently used for cast-off b a r r e I s of unknown contents (CCl). These locations may have received relatively localized inputs of Bunker-C, whereas s u r f i c i a I sediments in downstream portions of the harbor s e e m t o have received a uniform loading of 63-78 ppm (CC3, CC4, CC5 Just seaward of the harbor, Bunker-C occurred at only 17-30 ppm (CC8). A large concentration of #2 Fuel Oil was found in the sediments of a shoal area just outside Cos Cob Harbor (CC8). No. I is a light distillate home heating fuel, Its presence in the sediments at CC8 cannot be accounted for by any obvious nearby point source. It is possible that an isolated spil I from a tanker vessel caused the contamination of these o u t e r harbor sediments. Alternatively, contaminated suspended sediments from the inner harbor may have been deposited there due to flow characteristics. Stamford Findings Stamford sampling stations encompassed both Stamford Harbor and Cove Harbor areas. The Stamford Harbor segment of shoreline s t r e t c h e s eas't from the tip of Greenwich Point, encompasses the, East and West Branch, and continues to the tip of Shippan Point. The Cove Harbor area continues east f r o m t h e tip of Shippan to Long Neck Point, Darien, including Holly Pond and the Noroton River. Marine terminals -65- handling hydrocarbons are found on both branches of Stamford Harbor while retail gasoline stations are located near Holly Pond. The Rippowam. River empties into the West Branch of Stamford Harbor while the No'roton River flows into Holly Pond. Benthic sampling in Stamford confirms that channels of both branches of the harbor are azoic. Tidal mudflats bordering the West Branch exhibited extreme variations in abundance of individual organisms. The East Branch mudflat off Czesick Park was n o t found to be important in our sampling. But our finding that coastal birds are feeding in this area may indicate this area merits further study. Tidal mudflats along Kosciuszko Park and near the upstream side of the Hurricane Barrier were found to have well established infaunal benthic communities which merit additional study. In contrast to these conditions, sampling stations from Greenwich Point east to the Harbor area contained low abundances of individual species but relatively high diversity of species (low stress area). The offshore sites had relatively higher diversity values than the nearshore s i t e locations. in the Stamford area site location #19 in W e s t c o t t Cove ranked first in highest diversity values and in the third highest grouping overall. Site #17, at the confluence of Stamford Harbor's east and west branches , showed higher values than many of the study' s sites in terms of secondary productivity. In terms of site #17 , while the east and west branches of Stamford Harbor support little 1 i f e , t h e f i n g e r s of the channels and other areas possibly do support benthic assemblages which are important to migratory birds and sport finfish as winter flounder. -66- Otter trawls i n Stamford Harbor collected the highest catch of economically important species (principally flounder) in the spring sampling compared with other trawls in the study area . Thes e f inf ish were also found in high numbers during fall sampling periods . Flounder caught in the f a I I were f requently found to be ready to spawn, suggesting t h a t t h e t r a w 1 s i t e s and adjacent areas may merit special attention. An ar ea of f Shippan Point , known as the Cows near the Stamford lighthouse, is an important area of commercial lobstering and sport fishing. Striped bass, bluefish, weakf ish , winter flounder and blackf ish are regularly taken here on a seasonal basis. All sediments collected from Stamford Harbor contained high concentrations of Bunker-C, (from 130 ppm to 450 ppm). The highest levels were found in West Branch sediments (SH1, S H 2 , which lie adjacent to tank farms and as s oc iated loading /of f loading docks . Bunker-C occurs at only about 60 p p m in the sediments of the outer harbor (site 612, 613). The sample from the East Branch of the inner harbor (SH6) also contained a large quantity of #2 Fuel Oil (115 ppm in s u r f icial sediments , 177 ppm in a subsurface layer). This No. 2 contamination may reflect inputs related to extensive industrial activity located along the East Branch. In Stamford Harbor, where sediments were dominated by high Bunker-C concentrations, the soft she 11 clam, Mya a r e n a r i a and ribbed mussel, Geukensia demissus were found to be contaminated by #2 Fuel Oil. At one location, SH I , ther e wa s no de t e c t ab le Bunker -C in M . arenaria , d e s p i t e Bunker -C concentration in bottom sediments of 290 -67- p p m A t t w o o t h e r s i t e s , SH2 and SH3, M. arenaria contained 30 ppm to 54 ppm of Bunker-C, and surrounding sediments contained 170 ppm to more than 300 ppm. Different environmental conditions were found east of Stamford Harbor in the Cove Harbor-Holly Pond area. This section of shoreline includes the eastern side of Shippan Point, Westcott Cove, Holly Pond and part of Long Neck Point. As such, this area stretches from Stamford into the Town of Darien. The Noroton River empties into Holly Pond and affects this area. B e n t h i c samples from this area suggest that an established benthic community exists. This assemblage has apparently not undergone recent change due to environmental stress. Although diversity of benthic s p e c i e s was not uniformly high, benthic secondary productivity estimates based on abundance of organisms, ranked high. In part, this' ranking was based on large numbers of Ampelisca abdita, Gemma gemma, and Tellina agilis. Active oyster grounds are also found in this area. 0 t t e r t r a w 1 s caught the greatest numbers of winter flounder during the fall and winter sampling periods. In the second sampling period, 60% of the winter flounder collected w e r e r e a d y for spawning. Although lobsters were not consistently caught here, high numbers of lobsters were taken during both of the fall sampling periods. G i I I n e t c a t c h d a t a s h o w s t h a t the following economically important finfish are found in this area: b I u e f i s h (spring and summer); and Atlantic herring (winter). Some menhaden taken were r.eady for spawning. -68- observations in the field suggest Westcott Cove is a prime seasonal fishing area for bluefish, winter flounder, menhaden, b lackf ish and striped bass. The area also appears to be a popular lobstering ground. Typically, with the other areas sampled for Bunker-C and #2 fuel oil, the lowest values occurred in near shore sediments and the highest values were reported for inshore and inner harbor areas. A similar gradient of Bunker-C contamination was found in sediment from Stamford. Number 2 oil was found mostly in open-water or outer harbor sediments, with respectively few inner harbor occurrences. A 1 t.h o u gh H o 1 1 y P o n d ' s shore is not I ined wi th petrochemical facilities , it does receive the Noroton River which drains a watershed containing industrial facilities. The petroleum hydrocarbon distribution observed for August '82 sediment samples seems to reflect the general absence of p o i n t sources and vessel sources in the Pond and suggests that sediments at the head of the Pond (HPl) are heavily contaminated by industrial activity along the Noroton River ( i . e . , Bunker-C concentration of 520 ppm in sediments). In M a r c h '83, a grab sample composed mainly of decaying terrestrial vegetation was obtained from the general area of HP 1 , and it too was relatively contaminated (i.e., Bunker-C concentration of 140 + 5.2 ppm). The soft shell clam Mya arenaria was f ound in one Hol ly Pond samp le , HP 3 , near the entrance to the Pond Bunker -C and #2 Fuel Oil were both found in tissues (80 ppm and 98 ppm , respectively) . Sediments had a concentration of 83 ppm Bunker-C. Sediment hydrocarbon concentration of the Pond , HP 1 , sugges t Bunker -C input s to the Pond from the Nor ot on River . Sediments just outside the Pond (HP4) had #2 -69- Fuel oil contamination levels of 29 ppm. Contamination of Mya arenaria at HP3 may therefore reflect sources of Bunker-C from the Noroton River and #2 Fuel oil from outside the Pond . An external (Long Island Sound) source of No. 2 was also suggested for Cos Cob Harbor. The levels of oil in t i s s u e s do not appear to be correlated with levels in the immediately surrounding sediments. Sediments collected from Stamford Harbor contained high concentrations of Bunker-C, (from 130 ppm to 450 ppm). The highest levels were found in the West Branch sediments, SHI and SH2, which lie adjacent to tank f a r m s and associated loading /off loading docks. In the sediments of the outer harbor, sites 12 and 13, Bunker-C was found at only 60 ppm. The sample from the East Branch (SH6) also contained a large quantity of #2 Fuel Oil (115 ppm in surficial sediments, 117 ppm in a subsurface layer). The existence of well established benthic communities and productive fishing grounds suggests th at this area sh ou Id be given high priority for protect ion in the event of an oi 1 s p i I I . The head of Holly Pond merits further study and an effort is needed to id en t i f y the s ource of this petroleum pollution. Darien Findings Th i s ar ea ext e nd s eas t ward f rom the tip of Long Neck P o i n t and at the tip of Noroton Point. It includes Ziegler's Cove, Scott Cove, and the Five Mile River. Benthic sampling data show very low diversity and secondary productivity for sites in Ziegler's Cove and the Five Mile River estuary. Despite this, Scott Cove and a site o f f N o r o t o n P o i n t h a d t h e h i g h e s t d iversity and -70- productivity values measured in this study. These sampling a r e a s a Iso rated high in otter trawl catches. Large quantities o f lobster, w i n t e r f lound er, blackfish, scup, bluefish and summer flounder were taken. A high percentage of winter flounder caught in November were ready to spawn. Gill net data was also collected in this area. A d e s c r i pt ion of habitat condit ions f rom Hol ly Pond to the tip of Long Neck Point in Dar i e n i s f ound under the Stamf ord Harbor section of Cove Harbor. Bunk e r - C an d #2 Fuel Oil sampling was not as extens ive here as in I ar g e r urban harbors . However , samples taken at b e n t h i c s i t e s were consistent with others throughout the study area showing a decline in hydrocarbon concentrations as distance from shore increased. B a s e d o n o u r d a t a , t h e S c o t t C o v e - N o r o t o n Point -Norwalk Islands areas are highly productive and this region merits consideration for preservation of existing habitat conditions. Norwalk Findings This sampling area extends f r om the tip of Noroton Point eastward to the end of Seymour Point. Principal natural features in this area include the Norwalk Islands, Manr e s a I s 1 an d an d Nor wa lk Harbor . Hydrocarbon fac i 1 it ies a r e f o u n d i n th e Har b or a r e a and an oi 1 f ired electr ical generating station is located on Manresa Island. The Norwalk River flows into this harbor and the Norwalk Islands at the Harbor's mouth is an important wildlife habitat. Active shellfish beds are found in much of the area outside the -71- inner Harbor . Benthic sampling data in this area show that the habitat quality can be divided between the upper Harbor and the area extending out from the mouth of the Harbor. Norwalk Harbor s a m p I e s had very low diversity and productivity values. But sampling sites located near the Norwalk Islands had some of the highest values for both diversity and secondary benthic productivity. 0 t t e r trawls taken off Sheffield Island captured large q u a n t i t i e s of winter flounder in the fall sampling period. Summer flounder and weakf ish were taken intermittently. F e w e r flounder collected in November were ready for spawning compar ed to other locations. Field observations suggest the o u t e r Harbor Islands and adjacent sections of the coastline ar e a popular fishing grounds for blackf ish, bluefish, striped bass, winter flounder and lobsters. Sed iment from outer Norwalk Harbor , N9 and Nll , was not heav i ly c ont aminated (Bunker-C concentrat ions were about 30 ppm B u t s a m p I e s taken adjacent to the offloading dock at t h e Manr esa Island power plant ( N 10 ) wer e higher in concentrat ion ( B unker -C of 73 or 75 ppm) . Bunker-C levels generally increased towards the inner harbor (from 47 to 83 ppm be t we en N8 and N2) , and were elevated ( 350 ppm) at the innermost station, (NI). Activities associated with a petrochemical manufacturing facility upstream from NI may have contr ibuted Bunker-C oil to inner harbor sediments. In March'83, sediments f r om the general vicinity of Nl were c o 1 1 e c t e d a g a i n ; they also contained high 1 e v e I s of Bunker-C, (138 to + 25 ppm). Outside Norwalk Harbor, Sheffield Island Harbor sediments contained Bunker-C at leve I s be t ween 24 ppm and 55 ppm. However , an anomalously high concentration of #2 Fuel Oil (410 ppm) was encountered -72- in deeper water 030 f t . ) sediments south of Sheffield Island (station 635) and in sediments from a shoal area near Wilson Point (113 ppm at station 633). I n N o r w a I k H a r b o r t h e s o f t s h e 1 1 clam Mya a r e n a r i a a n d q u a h o g Mercenaria mercenaria tissues contained high concentrations of #2 Fuel Oil while the ambients bottom sediments did not. No. 2 oil is encountered in bottom sediments only well outside Norwalk Harbor, at site s 631, 633, and 635, reinforcing our earlier observation that open Long Island Sound waters are the source of #2 Fuel 0 i I to outer harbor sediments. Concentrations of Bunker-C, r a n g i n g from undetectable to 62 ppm, occurred in M. a r e n a r ia a n d e a s t e r n oyster Crassos.trea virginica t h r o u g h ou t N o r w a 1 k H a r bor , although the Bunker-C concentrat ion range in as sociated sediments was somewhat g r e a t e r (28 p p m to 3 5 0 ppm). M. mercenaria at two s t a t i o n s in close proximity accumulated different levels of Bunker-C (undetectable at N4, 333 ppm at N3), although sediment s at each of these sites contained about 70 ppm Bunker-C. The area around the Norwalk Islands is a habitat of high quality which merits special management attention in order to protect a productive and diverse ecosystem. Westport Findings T h i s study area encompasses both the Saugatuck River estuary and the Sherwood Island area. The Saugatuck River a r e a extends east from the tip of Seymour Point and terminates at Sherwood Mill Pond. This segment of shoreline is dominated by the Saugatuck River. The Sherwood Island -73- area encompasses the state park and marsh area and continues on to Frost Point in Fairfield. Benthic sampling data from the Saugatuck River estuary show that sites outside the River and to the southeast of Cockenoe Island did not have as high a diversity value as the upper area . In part, this was due to the fast currents and substratum of coarse sand and rock. The upper Saugatuck R i v e r s i t e s were populated by opportunistic species while more es tablished benth ic communities were found near the R i v e r 's mouth. Opportunistic species generally signal an environment has recently experienced either natural or anthropogenic stress . Diversity was higher for upper River locations while secondary productivity was higher for samples collected at the mouth of the Saugatuck. The highest diversity values during a sampling period were found at both nearshore and offshore locations in this area. otter trawls off the Saugatuck River yielded an average catch. Winter flounder were in a spawning condition during fall sampling periods. G i 1 1 n e t s s e t in th is area yielded a diversity of species but low numbers of fish were taken. Atlantic herring and menhaden were found in some gill nets. T e s t i n g for Bunker-C and #2 Fuel Oil was not as extensive here as it was in the harbors of Greenwich, Stamford, Norwalk, Black Rock and Bridgeport as well as the Housatonic River estuary. Samples taken at benthic sites for hydrocarbon analysis were consistent with others throughout t h e s t u d y a r e a s h o w i n g a d e c I i n e in hydrocarbon _74- concentrations a s distance from shore increased. (See Appendix.6). The Sherwood Island marsh dominates the second section of shoreline. It contains a well established benthic community which would be profoundly affected by a major oil s P i I I . Benthic diversity and productivity data from sites off Sherwood Island ranked in the middle to upper half of sites studied. Neither otter trawls nor gill net.s could be set in this area. Hydrocarbon data collected for benthic stations near the marsh reflected,a pattern of results which was similar to those throughout the study, i.e.; a gradient of Bunker-C levels which decrease with movement toward the open Sound and finding of No. 2 oil principally at offshore sampling s t a t i o n s . The Sherwood Island Marsh is an important ecological and recreational resource. Fairfield Findings .The sampling area between the tip of Frost Point and Penfield Reef is dominated by the Southport Marsh. B e n t h i c a r e a s sampled were f o u n d t o c o n s i s t of established communities suggesting the environment has not undergone natural or anthropogenic stress recently. The area behind Pine Creek is of special interest as it ranked high in overall diversity and secondary productivity among the 83 benthic sites. This area may benefit from high tidal flushing. An extensive mussel bed was noted at this sampling 1 o c a t i o n . -75- Otter trawls off Fairfield captured winter flounder, bluefish, blackfish, summer flounder and menhaden. Numbers taken i'n the trawl were not as great as those taken in western Long Island Sound sites. Penfield Reef is known to be an important area for sports fishing and lobstering. Hydrocarbon samples taken at benthic sampling locations show a decline in hydrocarbon concentrations with increasing distance from shore. Bridgeport Findings Both Black Rock and Bridgeport Harbors are included in t h e s t u d yarea. The Black Rock Harbor study area is restricted to the Harbor proper near Penfield Reef. The Bridgeport Harbor area extends eastward from the reef to the tip of Stratford Point and encompasses Lewis Gut. Black Rock Harbor contains hydrocarbon terminals and is an active industrial waterfront. Some of the filled land rests atop an old dump which received both household and industrial waste. Bridgeport 's municipal dump is also located in this area. The harbor sediments, according to the U S, . Army Corps of Engineers , New England Divisions's 1980 "Environmental Atlas of New England Channel and Harbor Bottom Sediments" and subsequent work on the Corps ' "Field Verification Program" (in progress) have significant levels of heavy metals and toxic chemical concentrations. B e n t h i csamples support this evaluation. Diversity and productivity values for this harbor consistently rate near the bottom of the range for all 83 sampling stations. -76- H a b i t a t quality deteriorates at sampling stations in the upper harbor. Otter trawls and gill nets were not set in this area. Hydrocarbon analyses show Bunker-C concentrations in most Black Rock Harbor sediments to be moderately high in August '82, ranging from 57 ppm in the shoal area adjacent to the Burr Creek backwater (BRH2), to 72 ppm1at the innermost site (station 667), and 81-100 ppm adjacent to the entrance channel (BRH3). In comparison, sediments from outside the harbor contained between 14 ppm Bunker-C (station 665) and 83 ppm (station 663). An exception occurred in i n n e r har.bor sediments found adjacent to the large garbage dump (BRH1), where Bunker-C concentration was 170 ppm. Sediments near BRH2, resampled in March '83, again contained relative ly little Bunker-C (10 + 0 ppm), and resampled BRHI sediments contained substantially less Bunker-C than thos e from August '82 (31 + ppm). No. 2 Fuel Oil concentrations were very high in the three innermost s a m p 1 e s f r om Black Rock Harbor (319 ppm at BRH1, 106 ppm at BRH2, and 245 ppm at station 667). The March '83 samples corresponding approximately to BRHI and BRH2 contained similarly elevated #2 Fuel Oil concentrations, (354 ppm and 73 respectively). In addition to the garbage dump near BRH1, t h e large industrial plant with fuel offloading docks near station 667 may be a source point of oil to the harbor. The Black Rock Harbor sediments collected for this s t u d y w e r e d e v o i d of bivalves, hence no petroleum hydrocarbon body burdens can be reported from tissue analysis . -77- Bridgeport Harbor also contains marine petrochemical terminals . Two oil-fired electrical generating stations are also found on this Harbor. Within this area, highest benthic values were found at s i t e s located near the breakwater. These values declined with movement away from the breakwater and toward either the open Sound or inner harbor . A marked difference was also found in benthic samples taken to the east and west of Bridgeport's marine channel. Eastern sampling stations consistent ly ranked lower f o r benthic diversity and productivity than sites to the west of the channel. 0 t t e r t r a w I s also reflected t h i s e a s t and west asymmetry in benthic biology. Catches at trawl site 11 (east ) ranked low while trawl site 10 yielded moderate catches. Gil I nets set in this area showed winter flounder ready to spawn in the fall . Trawls during other seasons yielded insi gnificant catches. Field observations suggest the Harbor has a large seasonal population of menhaden and Atlantic herring can occasionally be found here. F i v e o u t o f eight sediment samples taken along approaches to Bridgeport Harbor had relatively high Bunker-C concentrat ions (72 to 97 ppm), while the other three had 45 ppm . Elevated levels in sediments along the entrance channel may ref lect chronic inputs of marine engine fuel associated with commercial vessel traffic. Sediments from the innermost stat ion in Bridgeport Harbor (BH I ) adjacent to a power plant , contained 240 ppm of Bunker-C and 250 ppm of #2 Fuel Oil in the August ' 82 sample . Only 66 + 3.4 ppm Bunker-C -78- and no #2 Fuel Oil were found in the March '83 sample. Too few samples were taken to characterize spatial patterns in hydrocarbon distributions. Therefore we are not able to make firm conclusions regarding temporal or spatial trends in levels of contamination. Differences between August '82 and M a r c h ' 8 3 1 e v e I s could be related to slight differences in s amp I i ng location. In March '83 a new location was sampled, adjacent t o a large tank farm about midway along Johnsons Cre ek ( ea s t o f the channel , not plotted on map in Appendix 6). This station yielded heavily contaminated sediments with a Bunker -C concentration of 234 + ppm. In August ' 82 there w a s I it t I e Bunker -C 28 ppm) in sediments at the mouth of Johns ons Cre ek ( BH 2 but a relatively large amount of #2 Fue I Oi 1 ( 52 ppm ) wa s encountered . The absence of #2 Fuel Oil in the March '83 Johnsons Creek sample may indicate that the tank a I ongs i d e the Creek was not the c ontamination s our c e of #2 Fue I Oil to the sediments at the mouth of the Creek (at BH2). S a m p 1 e s of the eas t ern oyster Crassostrea and quahog M e r c e n a r i a were found at one site inside Bridgeport Harbor, ( B H 4 ) . Both oysters and clams were contaminated by B u n k e r - C a n d N o . 2 b u t the clams had accumulated substant ia 11 y mor e of the two t yp es of oil than did the oys t er s Bot t om s ed iment s were devoid of No. 2. Here too , though, bottom sediments outside of the Harbor (sites 670 and 6 74 wer e contaminated with #2 Fuel Oil . But unlike the harbors to the west, there were also strong anomalies in the d i s t r ibution of No. 2 in the innermost harbor sediments , BHl and BH 2 . The mos t seaward location at which bivalves , sof t sh e 11 c lam Mya arenar i a wer e c o I I ec t ed f or hydrocarbon ana lys i s wa s BH 7 , ad jac ent to the ent r ance ch annel to Bridgeport Harbor . These clams contained a moderate amount -79- of Bunker-C (38 ppm), and a relatively high concentration of #2 Fuel Oil ( 82 ppm) . The sediments at BH7 were relatively rich in Bunker-C (97 ppm) , but were devoid of No. 2. However, bottom sediment at nearby open water areas (sites 670 and 674,) showed the presence of No. 2. Stratford Findings This study area includes the Housatonic River estuary and extends from the tip of Stratford Point eastward to C h a r 1 e s Island. The Nells Island Marsh is included in this segment of shoreline. B e n t h i c sampling data show low values for both diversity and secondary productivity relative to the other 83 sites. Sampling stations in Stratford consistently ranked toward the low end of this range. .Data for benth ic diversity and secondary productivity varied greatly from one sampling period to another, making it difficult to document any seasonal or spatial patterns in these numbers. Otter trawls yielded low catches. The fall sampling showed winter flounder to be ready for spawning. No gill nets were set in this area. T h e N e 1 1 s Island marsh is known as an important e c o I o g i c a 1 system and is one of the most significant tidal marshes in Connecticut. It merits continuing study. Hydrocarbon tests of the August '82 sediment samples from the Housatonic River estuary contained relatively -.80- little Bunker-C. The exceptions to this are a 172 ppm level in subsurface sediments at the most upstream location (HRI) , and an 85 ppm concentration in tidal creek sediments of the salt marsh (HR7). Neither concentration can be related to an obvious point source, although there is a power plant upstream of station HRI. Similarly, no obvious point sources c a n b e f o u n d to a c c o u n t f o r two anomalous ly h igh concentrations of #2 Fuel Oil at HR3 and HR5. Samples obtained from the I a t t e r two sites in March '83 had very different petroleum hydrocarbon burdens. At HR3, #2 Fuel Oil was absent and Bunker-C was relatively high 105 + 19 ppm. Similarly at HR5, No. 2 was absent and Bunker-C was high , 92 +5 ppm. At the mouth of the Housatonic River estuary, (stations HR5 and HR6), bottom sediments and tissues of Eastern oyster Crassos trea and blue mussel Mytilus contained both types of oil. There were anomalously high concentrations of #2 F u e 1 Oi 1 in these outermost sediments, (as was the case for m o s t of the harbors to the west). Number 2 Fuel Oil was absent f r o m sediment s at t h r e e upper estuary locations, however number 2 was f ound in a shoal area further up the estuary , HR3. At thi s upper estuarine location, Mya was found tohave a No. 2 body burden of 34 ppm. The Housatonic River estuary was unique in our study, in that both the shellfish and their associated sediments contained Bunker-C and #2 Fuel Oil. V. Summary Recommendations 1. Additional field sampling should be undertaken to maintain and enlarge the coastal ecosystem data base developed during this research program. 2 Areas with high concentrations of hydrocarbons s h o u I db eexamined further to: (a) determine if it represents a case of ongoing or historical hydrocarbon contamination, and (b) monitor recovery of the area if, and when, pollution ceases. 3. Occurrence of the parasite Glugea stephaniin winter flounder of Long Island Sound merits additional study to protect this important sports fish. 4. The extent to which suspended sediments may serve as a reservoir of #2 oil in Long Island Sound should be examined through a focused study of #2 concentration in suspended sediments. Data developed during our hydrocarbon analysis support a conclusion that body burdens of #2 oil in filter feeders is not directly related to either the proximity of direct point sources or of #2 oil levels in surrounding bottom sediments. Study of concentrations of #2 oil on suspended sediments would show if these sediments are a principal source of contamination for filter feeders. 5. A more detailed comparison should be made of hydrocarbon body burdens in differing forms of benthic life. Our CEIP study focused on concentrations in filter fe eders b u tdid not include other functional types of bottom dwelling organisms. Additional study is needed to determine -82- if surface deposit feeders and subsurface (or conveyor belt feeders accumulate hydrocarbon body burdens at the same rate as filter feeders. 6 . D at a pre s ented in the Appendices should be analyzed further and compared with information reported in related CEIP studies. 7 A d d i t i o n a Is t u d yis needed to determine if economically important species spawn in the study area and to better define our definition of critical spawning areas in this report. -83- Ollil" 3 668-14100 9516