Baseline survey of zooplankton of Barnegat Bay

The goal of this project was to gather information on the status of zooplankton populations in Barnegat Bay and to determine the distribution, abundance, and species composition of important plankters. This project was a cooperative venture between Monmouth University and the James J. Howard Marine Sciences Lab at Sandy Hook, NJ (SHL) which is part of the NOAA/NMFS Northeast Fisheries Science Center. Zooplankton populations are subject to change due to natural and anthropogenic variations in environmental conditions. Biological conditions, physical conditions and environmental degradation in estuaries exert control over the composition, abundance, and distribution of zooplankton in estuaries and zooplankters must adapt to varying stresses associated with changing conditions. The environment of Barnegat Bay has changed considerably over the three decades since previous studies were conducted. According to the Barnegat Bay Estuary Program’s Characterization Report, this back-bay ecosystem has been affected by an array of human impacts that potentially threaten its ecological integrity. Assessing zooplankton populations in Barnegat Bay will provide updated information on the status of this important component of the bay’s living resources that can be added to the bay’s natural resource inventory and provide scientific information which could serve as an indicator of trends that may have taken place within the living resources of the bay. As such, this project is consistent with the overall goals and objectives of the monitoring program plans established for the BBNEP and will address a data gap identified in the Characterization Report prepared for the Bay. Zooplankton samples were collected from the upper meter of the water column with horizontal surface net tows using bongo plankton nets. Samples were conducted monthly during the winter, and twice a month during spring, summer, and fall. Sites were located along a longitudinal transect in the bay, and corresponded with NJDEP water quality testing sites. Data were collected on the zooplankton community in the bay, including ichthyoplankton, gelatinous macrozooplankton, and important groups such as copepods, decapods, and bivalves. Results and recommendations for future work are presented in this report.NJSG Project # 4904-0005NJDEP # SR12-01