Abstract

American lobster (Homarus americanus) landings in Long Island Sound achieved an unprecedented decadal increase until the late summer of 1999. Then, in mid-to-late August, mass mortalities of adult lobsters occurred in western Long Island Sound. Only now are there signs that the population is beginning to be re-established.

The lobster is at the southern edge of its range in Long Island Sound and is a distinct population from its deep-water relatives. The increase in its prevalence is as much a mystery as its demise. But with its demise, there is a need to find the cause or causes. The out-of-work lobstermen, politicians, environmental community, and the scientific community rallied together to raise resources to solve the mystery.

Early speculation included disease, overpopulation, hypoxia, pesticide spraying to control mosquitos causing the first widespread occurrence of West Nile virus, sewage treatment, and the lack of sewage treatment.

Following four years of Sea Grant-supported research from both New York and Connecticut, a definitive cause has yet to be identified. However, it is clear that physical processes, such as mixing of the water column to create excessively warm bottom-water temperatures very likely played a significant role.

This talk will review the development of the event and explore the importance of water column mixing. Model results using pesticide loading data will also be shown. The impact of pesticides on mortalities of adult lobsters will also be reviewed using hydrodynamic modeling results and pesticide loading data.

Biographical Sketch

Larry Swanson is Director of the Waste Reduction and Management Institute (WRMI) of the Marine Sciences Research Center , Stony Brook University .Larry received his B.S. in Civil Engineering from Lehigh University ; his M.S. and Ph.D. in Physical Oceanography from Oregon State University .He was a Senior Executive Fellow at the Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University .Prior to his appointment at SUNY, he was with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and served in a variety of capacities including Project Manager of the Marine Ecosystems Analysis Program for the New York Bight; Director of the Office of Marine Pollution Assessment; and the Executive Director of the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research. Dr. Swanson has worked on numerous marine environmental crises and is currently involved in projects dealing with understanding of physical processes in Long Island Sound, designing and implementing marine monitoring programs, and understanding the consequences of anthropogenic alterations in a couple of Long Island north-shore harbors.

Light refreshments are served in the Interaction Area (4th floor of the Oceanography/Physics Building) at 4:00 p.m.

All seminars begin at 3:00 p.m. and are held in room 200 of the Oceanography/Physics building.