Evaluating restored oyster reefs in Chesapeake Bay: How habitat structure influences ecological function

A shortage of shell resources for restoring reefs of the Eastern oyster, Crassostrea virginica, has led to widespread use of substitute materials. The effectiveness of such alternative substrates as habitat for reef-associated fauna other than oysters is largely unresolved. I investigated the habitat value of oyster shell, surf clam (Spisula solidissima) shell, and pelletized coal ash reefs for benthic and nektonic communities. Oyster recruitment, survival, and growth were monitored on reefs of oyster and surf clam shell near the mouth of Chesapeake Bay and York River, USA. Oyster shell supported greater oyster growth and survival and offered the highest degree of structural complexity. On the York River subtidal clam shell reef, the quality of substrate varied with reef elevation. Oysters were more abundant and larger at the reef base and less abundant and smaller on the crest. The availability of interstitial space and appropriate settlement surfaces likely accounts for observed differences in oyster abundance across reef systems. These patterns give further context to the importance of substrate selection in restoration activities. Invertebrate fauna associated with oyster shell, clam shell, and pelletized coal ash reefs were investigated. Diversity and production were greatest on oyster shell reef. Species richness was lowest on coal ash; however, total community abundance was significantly greater than on the other reef types. Clam shell reefs showed intermediate abundance and diversity patterns but had the lowest values for production. Nekton abundance, diversity, and community structure between reef types were measured. Data show differences in community structure across habitat types. Species richness was greatest on oyster shell and coal ash. Significant differences in nekton presence and abundance between oyster and clam shell reefs were detected. Clam shell reefs were similar in species composition and abundance to a beach habitat. These reef habitats are refuges, as demonstrated by the transient nekton species that dominated all habitats. Oyster shell and coal ash reefs served as habitat to many ecologically, commercially, and recreationally important species, providing food and shelter during juvenile life stages, and suggest reef habitats are of great importance as habitat to finfish communities

Re-Righting the Right to Privacy: The Supreme Court and the Constitutional Right to Privacy in Criminal Law

Since the 1970\u27s, federal legislation has expanded privacy rights in nonconstitutional areas. Juxtaposed against this more liberal legislative trend is the action of a significantly more conservative judiciary which has, and is, contracting that right in those areas governed by the Constitution. An examination of the Supreme Court\u27s most recent decisions in the criminal law arena readily bears witness to this proclivity

Effects of Periodic Environmental Hypoxia on Predator Utilization of Macrobenthic Infauna

Hypoxia and anoxia have significant deleterious ecological effects on living resources throughout many estuarine and marine ecosystems worldwide. Brief periods of low oxygen facilitate transfer of benthic production to higher trophic levels as many benthic infaunal species have shallower sediment depth distributions during hypoxic events. A baited time-lapse camera equipped with a water quality datalogger was used to document in situ exploitation of oxygen-stressed benthic invertebrate prey organisms by mobile fish and crustacean predators during alternating normoxia-hypoxia cycles in the York River. Based on photographic and diver observations, this hypoxiainduced benthic-pelagic transfer of production is more likely to occur when environmental dissolved oxygen concentrations rise above an apparent threshold between 1 and 2 ml/1. When oxygen concentrations decline below 2 ml/1, the functional response of the predator to increased prey availability is interrupted. There is no energy gain by the predator until oxygen concentrations rise above this critical level when predators return to affected areas and resume feeding activity

Effects of periodic environmental hypoxia on predation of a tethered polychaete, Glycera americana: implications for trophic dynamics

Hypoxia and anoxia have significant deleterious ecological effects on living resources throughout many estuarine and marine ecosystems worldwide. Brief periods of low oxygen have the potential to facilitate transfer of benthic production to higher trophic levels as many benthic infaunal species have shallower sediment depth distributions during hypoxic events. In August-September 1994, a time-lapse camera equipped with a water quality datalogger was used to document in situ exploitation of a tethered prey organism (Glycera americana Leidy) by mobile fish and crustacean predators during alternating normoxia-hypoxia cycles in the York River, Virginia, USA. Based on photographic and diver observations, this hypoxia-induced benthic-pelagic transfer of production is more likely to occur when environmental dissolved oxygen concentrations rise above an apparent threshold between 1 and 2 ml 1(-1). When oxygen concentrations decline below approximately 1.5 ml 1(-1) (30% O-2 saturation), the response of the predator to increased prey availability is abruptly interrupted. There is no energy gain by the predator until oxygen concentrations rise above this critical threshold level. It is suggested that predators return to affected areas and resume feeding activity before stressed infauna are able to return to normal positions in the sediment