Fish

Learn about Striped Bass research in Massachusetts
Since 2001, the Mass Audubon Salt Marsh Science Project has collaborated with scientists participating in the Plum Island Ecosystems Long Term Ecological Research. (PIE-LTER).

Thanks to Expanded Schoolyard funding from the National Science Foundation, we have developed lesson plans and resources including video segments presenting some of the research findings of scientists.

Download Striper Science Curriculum

These videos explain the Striped Bass research conducted by the Massachusetts Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, UMass-Amherst (Dr. Martha Mather and Kristen Ferry) and supported by the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries.

Why do Stripers migrate up to Plum Island Sound Estuary from as far away as the Chesapeake and Delaware Bay? Find out by viewing these videos on YouTube:
Why Stripers Go, Part 1 (8 minutes)
Why Stripers Go, Part 2 (10 minutes)

How are striped bass using the Plum Island estuary habitats?  Are there hot spots where they like to hang out?  Learn about the Radio Telemetry Research conducted by UMass-Amherst (Dr. Martha Mather  and Sarah Pautzke)
Bass Habitat Use Part 1 (9.5 minutes)
Bass Habitat Use Part 2  (7.5 minutes)

Tidal Restriction Fish Study
Fish caught in minnow traps upstream and downstream of a tidal restriction (culvert) are being studied on the North Shore to see where there is a greater number of fish and diversity of species. We're also interested in discovering whether or not the size of fish is affected by their location upstream or downstream.

Peces
Los cientificos de MAS están estudiando peces capturados en trampas para peces pequeños colocados corriente arriba y corriente abajo de la restricción de mareas (alcantarilla) en la Costa Norte. El objetivo del estudio es ver dónde hay mayor número de peces y diversidad de especies. También , descubrir si el tamaño de los peces se ve afectado por su ubicación corriente arriba o corriente abajo.

Analysis:

Wetlands Article: pp. 544-557 | Abstract | PDF (515K)
Changes in Salt Marsh Vegetation, Phragmites Australis, and Nekton in Response to Increased Tidal Flushing in a New England Salt Marsh - Robert N. Buchsbaum, John Catena, Eric Hutchins, and Mary-Jane James-Pirri

Data Collected:
You can download files as stuffed Microsoft Excel spreadsheets (requires free StuffIt Expander) or Adobe Acrobat PDFs (requires Acrobat Reader). Some files may only be available in one format.

I need help with downloading files

Year Study Began on This Site	Participating School	Location	Restricted? Restored?	View As...
1998	Danvers: Essex Agricultural and Technical High School	Osram Sylvania in Danvers, MA	Tidal restriction and berm. Not restored.	PDF	Map	Excel
2004	Dorchester/Milton	Harbor School, Dorchester, MA	Filled marsh. Fill removal completed April 2005.	PDF	Map	Excel
2003	East Boston: Excel Academy Charter School	Belle Isle Marsh, East Boston, MA	No	PDF	Map	Excel
1998	Essex: Essex Elementary and Middle School	Conomo Point Road, Essex, MA	Tidal Restriction restored November 2000	PDF	Map	Excel
2005	Gloucester: Maritime Heritage Essex Agriculture	Wingersheek Beach, Gloucester, MA	Berm	PDF	Map	Excel
1998	Gloucester: O'Maley School	Mill Pond, Gloucester, MA	Tidal restriction. Site flooded when board placed on tidegates spring 2003, killing marsh plants. Tide gates opened beginning spring 2004.	PDF	Map	Excel
2000	Gloucester: St. Mel's School Natick: Home Schoolers	Eastern Point, Gloucester, MA	Tidal restriction restored November 2003.	PDF	Map	Excel
1996	Ipswich: Ipswich High School (site 1)	Town Farm Road, Ipswich, MA	Tidal Restriction restored Spring 2005	PDF	Map	Excel
1999	Ipswich: Ipswich High School (site 2)	Littleneck Road, Ipswich, MA	Tidal Restriction; culvert collapsed in spring 2000, ponding killed marsh plants. New culvert put in Spring 2001.	PDF	Map	Excel
1997	Ipswich: MAS and NMFS Scientists	Argilla Road, Ipswich, MA	Tidal Restriction Restored Fall 1998	Not Available	Map	Not Available
1999	Ipswich: The Proctor School (Topsfield)	Cedar Point, Ipswich, MA	Tidal Restriction Phase 1 Restored Spring 2000	PDF	Map	Excel
2001	Newbury: Newbury Elementary School; Newburyport: Rupert A. Nock Middle School; River Valley Charter School, Northern Essex Community College	Parker River National Wildlife Refuge: North Pool	Restricted. May be restored in the future.	PDF	Map	Excel
1998	Newburyport: Rupert A. Nock Middle School	Joppa Flats, Newburyport, MA	Fill removal restoration and panne creation 1999. Small tidal restriction not restored.	PDF	Map	Excel
2006	Outward Bound	Thompson Island, Boston, MA	Rocks impede tidal flow. Removed August 2007.	PDF	Map	Excel
2001	Revere: Revere High School	Revere, MA		PDF	Map	Excel
1998	Rockport: Rockport Middle School	Saratoga Creek, Rockport, MA	Storm drain sediments removed, panne creation Spring 1999. Seaview St. tidal restriction restored Fall 2003.	PDF	Map	Excel
1996	Rowley: Pine Grove School	Batchelder's Landing, Rowley, MA	Unrestricted site (reference site)	PDF	Map	Excel
2002	Salem: Collins Middle School	Forest River, Salem, MA	Restricted. Some Phragmites removed January 2003.	PDF	Map	Excel
2001 only	Salisbury: Salisbury Elementary School	Old County Road, Salisbury	Restricted	PDF	Map	Excel
1998	Salisbury: Salisbury Memorial Elementary School	Railroad bed off Mudnock Road	Tidal Restriction Transects are downstream of restriction. Downstream transects flooded by closed tidegate killing downstream plants in spring 2004. Site washed out in spring 2005.	PDF	Map	Excel
2001	Wellfleet:	Herring River	Restricted	PDF	Map	Excel
1999	Wellfleet: Massachusetts Audubon Society Wildlife Sanctuary	Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary	Unrestricted	PDF	Map	Excel

If you'd like to collect data in your community:

(1) Print out the data form (requires free StuffIt Expander)

(2) Send the completed form to:

Elizabeth B. Duff, Coastal Educator/Education Coordinator
Massachusetts Audubon Society
346 Grapevine Rd.
Wenham, MA 01984