Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management

ABSTRACT High-intensity human activity zones disproportionate pressure on ecologically sensitive ecosystems, accelerating landscape fragmentation and the degradation of ecosystem functions. Although existing land cover maps capture broad ecosystem patterns, they frequently lack the thematic granularity and spatial fidelity needed for fine-scale ecological research and management. This study proposes a hierarchical-modular ecosystem mapping framework. Its core first combines a hierarchical classification strategy (HCS) with probabilistic ensemble methods (PEM) to maximize class separability and reduce model uncertainty, increasing overall accuracy (OA) by 2.50-5.41 percentage points. A subsequent refinement step integrates a pixel- and object-based with knowledge (POK) algorithm, drawing on phenological, morphological, and locational rules, to enhance ecosystems delineation – focusing on forestland and wetland subtypes. Applying this framework, we generated the 2020 Yangtze River Delta ecosystem map (YRD_EM). Results show YRD_EM achieves 90.29% OA for 10 major ecosystem categories (e.g. forestland, irrigated cropland, marshland) and 88.50% OA for 15 fine categories (e.g. evergreen/deciduous forest, river/lake, inland/coastal marsh). Compared with existing products, YRD_EM significantly improves wetland connectivity representation and shrubland detection, and delineates ecologically complex transition zones more accurately. This framework shows potential for ecosystem mapping and monitoring, providing better data for ecosystem conservation planning.

Traditional evaluations of the impact of climate change scenarios in water resource management involve top-down approaches, based on predictions from global climate models (GCMs). In contrast, bottom-up strategies provide a more comprehensive understanding of the system's behaviour applying a wide range of climate scenarios based on parametric climatic alterations. By doing so, climate change impacts and subsequent adaptation measures can be assessed taking into account the limits of their availability and how their performance level varies depending on the changing climate conditions, which is quite useful especially when faced with substantial uncertainty. This study develops a bottom-up approach to evaluate climate change impacts combining weather generators to obtain a wide range of future climates based on parametric alternations of the main climatic patterns; hydroeconomic models to assess the costs and benefits associated with those impacts; and ecosystem models to evaluate how the habitat of fish species would be impacted by climate change. The weather generator for climate variables (precipitation, temperature, and evapotranspiration) is coupled with a parameter-lumped conceptual hydrological model to generate future time series of streamflow, which are further integrated into a hydroeconomic model that simulate reservoir operation and assesses the economic performance of the river basin water uses. The weather generator is implemented using MATLAB, in which the annual temperature is modelled by an AR(2) autoregressive model, while annual precipitation follows an AR(0) autoregressive model. Monthly time series are obtained through the method of fragments. The correlation between subbasins is modelled using a linear relationship of the residuals. Monthly evapotranspiration is computed by applying a transformation factor linked to monthly temperature, smoothed through a Fourier Transform series. The conceptual hydrological model is also implemented in a MATLAB script that transforms climate variables into streamflows, which serve as input for the hydroeconomic model of the basin. The methodology was applied to the semi-arid Jucar River Basin (JRB) in Spain, characterized by multi-annual droughts combined with significant development of irrigated agriculture, which implies a distinct vulnerability to climate change impacts. The methodology maps climate change impacts, defined as parametric changes of precipitation (% of change) and temperature (increase in ºC), to economic benefits and fish habitat. Results show how the economic and environmental performance of the JRB are affected by climate changes, and determines when tipping points demanding adaptation are reached, locating the areas in which the impacts steeply increase. Acknowledgements: This study has received funding from the SOS-WATER project under the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme under (GA No. 101059264).

Abstract In 2022, highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A(H5N1) virus clade 2.3.4.4b became enzootic and caused mass mortality in Sandwich terns and other seabird species across northwestern Europe. We present data on characteristics of the spread of the virus between breeding colonies and the number of dead adult Sandwich terns recorded at breeding sites throughout northwestern Europe. Within two months after the first mortalities were reported, in total 20,531 adult Sandwich terns were found dead, which is >17% of the total northwestern European breeding population. Losses are likely higher, as we expect that many victims were not found (mortality rate might be up to 74% of the breeding population). Inside the colonies almost all chicks died. After the peak of the outbreak, in a colony established by late breeders, 25.7% of adults showed immunity against HPAI subtype H5. Removal of carcasses helped in reducing the spread of the disease and consequently total mortality. More research on the sources and modes of transmission, incubation times, effective containment and immunity is urgently needed to combat this major threat for colonial seabirds.

Microplastics are ubiquitous in Earth’s ecosystems and many efforts have begun to understand their distributions. Large rivers, like the Mississippi River, provide a unique system in which to look at large-scale patterns of microplastic distribution. In this study, we sampled four species of widely-distributed fishes from five sites along the mainstem Mississippi River, from Minnesota to Louisiana, United States. Microplastics were found in all fish species and at all sites; however, microplastics increased in occurrence in the Lower Mississippi River. Fragments were the most common morphologies and polypropylene was the most common polymer detected. We also examined the hypothesis that microplastic loads in fishes increased downstream, but found support for this hypothesis only when examining Largemouth Bass; Flathead Catfish, Shortnose Gar, and Bluegill were all found to have similar microplastic loads along the mainstem Mississippi River. It is clear that microplastics are heterogeneously distributed throughout ecosystems, and further understanding of microplastic distributional patterns and varying species burdens are needed to fully understand threats that microplastics present.

Given the diversity of human uses and natural resources that converge in coastal waters, the potential independent and cumulative impacts of those uses on marine ecosystems are important to consider during ocean planning. This study was designed to support the development and implementation of the 2009 Massachusetts Ocean Management Plan. Its goal was to estimate and visualize the cumulative impacts of human activities on coastal and marine ecosystems in the state and federal waters off of Massachusetts.For this study, regional ecosystem experts were surveyed to gauge the relative vulnerability of marine ecosystems to current and emerging anthropogenic stressors. Survey results were then combined with spatial information on the distribution of marine ecosystems and human stressors to map cumulative impacts in Massachusetts waters.The study resulted in an ecosystem vulnerability matrix and human impacts maps, which together yield insights into which ecosystems and places are most vulnerable and which human uses, alone and in combination, are putting the most stress on marine ecosystems. These products can be used in a number of ways, including to help clarify ocean planning decisions, identify areas of potential conflict among ocean users and areas that may merit conservation, and assess ecological, economic and social values of particular places.

A simple, fast, sensitive and cost-effective method based on headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) with on-fiber derivatization coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry was developed for the determination of six typical aldehydes, 2E-hexenal, heptanal, 2E-heptenal, 2E,4E-heptadienal, 2E-decenal and 2E,4E-decadienal in laboratory algae cultures. As derivatization reagent, O-2,3,4,5,6-(pentafluorobenzyl) hydroxylamine hydrochloride, was loaded onto the poly(dimethylsiloxane)/divinylbenzene fiber for aldehydes on-fiber derivatization prior to HS-SPME. Various influence factors of extraction efficiency were systematically investigated. Under optimized extraction conditions, excellent method performances for all the six aldehydes were attained, such as satisfactory extraction recoveries ranging from 67.1 to 117%, with the precision (relative standard deviation) within 5.3-11.1%, and low detection limits in the range of 0.026-0.044 μg/L. The validated method was successfully applied for the analysis of the aldehydes in two diatoms (Skeletonema costatum and Chaetoceros muelleri), two pyrrophytas (Prorocentrum micans and Scrippsiella trochoidea) and Calanus sinicus eggs (feeding on the two diatoms above).

Vegetation, soils, on-site disturbances, and watershed land use and land cover were assessed at 81 coastal tidal wetland sites using the New England Rapid Assessment Method. Condition indices (CIs) were derived from various combinations of the multi-dimensional data using principal component analyses and a ranking approach. Nested within the 81 wetlands was a set of ten reference sites which encompassed a range of watershed development and nitrogen loadings. The reference set of coastal tidal wetlands was previously examined with an intensive assessment, which included detailed measures of vegetation, soils, and infauna. Significant relationships were found between most of the rapid assessment CIs and the intensive assessment index. Significant relationships were also found between rapid assessment CIs and the developed lands in a 1-km buffer around the coastal wetlands. The regression results of the rapid assessment CIs with the intensive assessment index suggest that measures of vegetation communities, marsh landscape features, onsite marsh disturbances, and watershed natural lands can be used to develop valid CIs, and that it is unnecessary to make finer scale measurements of plant species and soils when evaluating ambient condition of coastal tidal wetlands in southern New England. However, increasing the survey points within coastal tidal wetland units when using a rapid assessment method in southern New England would allow for more observations of vegetation communities, marsh landscape features, and disturbances. Nevertheless, more detailed measures of hydrology, soils, plant species, and other biota may be necessary for tracking restoration or mitigation projects. A robust and standardized rapid assessment method will allow New England states to inventory the ambient condition of coastal tidal wetlands, assess long-term trends, and support management activities to restore and maintain healthy wetlands.

Carotid and cranial nerve injuries from zone III (high cervical/cranial base) missile injuries are rare and difficult to treat. We have treated five patients with such injuries. We present our management scheme, and compare it to the management of the same injuries in other reports. Five consecutive zone III missile injuries presented to our institution. Trauma assessment by the trauma team, followed by detailed neurological assessment and radiographs (angiogram and computed tomography) were obtained on admission. All patients presented with dysphagia and carotid artery injury with good collateral flow, documented by angiogram. Two patients had facial nerve injury, one had trigeminal nerve injury, one patient presented with tongue weakness, and one patient suffered conductive hearing loss. No patient had evidence of stroke clinically or radiographically. Carotid artery injury was managed with bypass (3 of 5) or ligation (2 of 5). Cranial nerve injuries were documented and treated aggressively with surgery if needed. All patients were discharged to home. Patients presenting with zone III missile injuries should receive an expeditious neurological exam and four-vessel angiogram after initial trauma survey and resuscitation. Bypass of the injured portion of carotid artery is a valid treatment in the hemodynamically stable patient. The unstable patient should undergo ligation to stop hemorrhage and protect against immediate risk for stroke, with the option to bypass later. Cranial nerve injuries should be pursued and aggressively treated to minimize morbidity and prevent mortality.

Abstract With the future of the Coastal Energy Impact Program (CEIP) in question and with oil and gas leasing and drilling activities in the Gulf of Mexico expected to increase, the question arises as to how energy impacts are to be mitigated. It is concluded that CEIP has helped to mitigate coastal energy impacts. If it is left unfunded, an alternative would be to provide Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) royalties to states to be used for impact prevention and mitigation.