Date of Award
Winter 2008
Project Type
Thesis
Program or Major
Natural Resources
Degree Name
Master of Science
First Advisor
Fred Short
Abstract
Eelgrass monitoring efforts in the Great Bay Estuary (GBE), New Hampshire and Maine, by the New Hampshire Port Authority Mitigation Project (Chp. II) and Nutrient Pollution Indicator (NPI) testing (Chp. III) both confirmed a recent trend of eelgrass decline within the GBE. The decline has been most noticeable in the mid-estuary, where four major tributaries drain into the GBE. Eelgrass beds in proximity to Portsmouth's wastewater treatment facility have also experienced decline, highlighting the effects of such point sources on the eelgrass population.
In an effort to introduce eelgrass, its recent decline and its role in the ecology of the GBE to students in the community, an eelgrass lesson plan was created for local fifth graders (Chp. IV). The experiential lesson was conducted through an outreach event hosted at University of New Hampshire's Jackson Estuarine Laboratory, sharing research with the local community.
Recommended Citation
Beem, Nora Thompson, "Eelgrass in the great bay estuary, New Hampshire and Maine: Monitoring eelgrass decline and educating local students" (2008). Master's Theses and Capstones. 409.
https://scholars.unh.edu/thesis/409