Early Life Stage Dynamics:

The research at the Narragansett Laboratory over the past 25 years has been focused on the effects of biological and physical processes on the recruitment of gadoids. Investigation of year-class success is based on determining optimal oceanographic and biological conditions for the growth and survival of early developmental stages of gadoids and their primary zooplankton prey species. Research is enhanced by using advanced technological methodologies including satellite and acoustic remote sensing systems, and the application of advanced techniques in molecular biology.

Plankton demography consists of research on the composition, diversity, and trophic relationships of the planktonic component of the marine environment in relation to the physical environment. The project deals with the interaction of physical, climatic, and trophic factors relating to survival and growth of larvae of commercially important fish species such as cod and haddock as well as their prey field composition, distribution, and variability. It is concerned with assessment of larval production of commercially and ecologically important fish and invertebrate species bearing on the recovery of depleted stocks in the water off the northeastern United States.

Cooperative Research with Hampton University – The Narragansett Laboratory has a long history of cooperation with Hampton University, a minority university located in Hampton, VA. The association began under an inter-agency personnel agreement (IPA) that brought a faculty member from the Department of Marine and Environmental Sciences to the Narragansett Laboratory to gain experience in the taxonomy of planktonic fish forage organisms and field data collection methods. This lead to two successful proposals (Research in Minority Institutions) funded by the National Science Foundation that have provided both undergraduate and graduate student stipends for analysis of samples and data from NEFSC recruitment studies. The project successfully supported two graduate students who were awarded Masters degrees in 1996 and 1998, one of whom is now a doctoral candidate. A scientist from Narragansett served as adjunct faculty member on the committees of both students. Hampton University students participated in GLOBEC cruises in 1996, 97, and 99, and a faculty member has received funding from the GLOBEC program to describe the surface phytoplankton community on Georges Bank, based on samples collected on surveys from 1995-1999.

For further information, contact Jack Green: John.R.Green@noaa.gov

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