Beach studies in the Cape Cod area : conducted during the period August 1953-April 1960

Originally issued as Reference No. 60-20, series later renamed WHOI-.Six years of field data plus the conclusions of eight published papers, plus two papers 11 in press", are included in this final report. Wherever possible the writer has attempted to sum up significant unpublished data by the use of illustrations, for example (Plates I through XII and Plates XIII to XVI). All other research, whether fruitful or not is summed up as concisely as possible. The format is outlined in the Contents. It may best be considered in three parts, an Introduction, description of the area and a discussion of technique, for one part. A second part wherein Beach and Coastal Regimen is the topic, this includes profile studies, aerial photography and coastal erosion studies; sediment distribution and wave dynamics is part 3. The studies have led to problems which are unsolved and in a sense the data bearing on these problems is more or less "hanging in air". For example, the most interesting conclusion we derived from the sediment sampling along offshore profiles was that deposition of sediment is confined to a thin strip of sand next to the coast and a mud zone far offshore. These sites of deposition are separated by a zone of erosion or non-deposition. We have carried these ideas rather far and have published a model to explain the mechanics of transport (Miller and Zeigler, in press). Yet, the field sampling is inadequate in spite of supplementary efforts made on two cruises, not a part of this contract, to get enough field data. Consequently, a formal discussion of this problem is in the future and surely that discussion will draw heavily on data which is now inadequate. A second example of a problem in progress, but unsolved concerns inlets. The data is included in this report, but it leads to no conclusions. In keeping with instructions for report requirements for Geography Branch contracts, conclusions of published reports are listed, details are not reported.Geography Branch, Office of Naval Research Under Contract Nonr-1254 {00) (NR-388-018

Otolith Trace Element and Stable Isotopic Compositions Differentiate Fishes From the Middle Mississippi River, its Tributaries, and Floodplain Lakes

Naturally occurring stable isotope and trace elemental markers in otoliths have emerged as powerful tools for determining natal origins and environmental history of fishes in a variety of marine and freshwater environments. However, few studies have examined the applicability of this technique in large river-floodplain ecosystems. This study evaluated otolith microchemistry and stable isotopic composition as tools for determining environmental history of fishes in the Middle Mississippi River, its tributaries, and floodplain lakes in Illinois and Missouri, U.S.A. Fishes were collected from 14 sites and water samples obtained from 16 sites during summer and fall 2006 and spring 2007. Otolith and water samples were analyzed for stable oxygen isotopic composition (δ18O) and concentrations of a suite of trace elements; otoliths were also analyzed for carbon isotopic composition (δ13C). Tributaries, floodplain lakes, and the Mississippi and Lower Missouri Rivers possessed distinct isotopic and elemental signatures that were reflected in fish otoliths. Fish from tributaries on the Missouri and Illinois sides of the middle Mississippi River could also be distinguished from one another by their elemental and isotopic fingerprints. Linear discriminant function analysis of otolith chemical signatures indicated that fish could be classified back to their environment of capture (Mississippi River, floodplain lake, tributary on the Illinois or Missouri side of the Mississippi River, or lower Missouri River) with 71-100% accuracy. This study demonstrates the potential applicability of otolith microchemistry and stable isotope analyses to determine natal origins and describe environmental history of fishes in the Middle Mississippi River, its tributaries, and floodplain lakes. The ability to reconstruct environmental history of individual fish using naturally occurring isotopic markers in otoliths may also facilitate efforts to quantify nutrient and energy subsidies to the Mississippi River provided by fishes that emigrate from floodplain lakes or tributaries

Assessment of Otolith Chemistry for Identifying Source Environment of Fishes in the Lower Illinois River, Illinois

Knowledge of habitats used by fish throughout their life history is important for management and conservation of riverine fish populations and habitats. Naturally occurring chemical markers in otoliths have recently been used to determine natal origins and environmental history of fishes in a variety of marine and freshwater environments. However, to our knowledge no studies have examined the applicability of this technique in large floodplain rivers in the U.S.A. We evaluated otolith microchemistry and stable isotopic composition as tools for determining origins of fishes in the lower Illinois River, its tributaries, and floodplain lakes. Fishes were collected from eight sites during summer 2006 and two additional sites in spring 2007. Water samples were obtained from these 10 sites plus one additional tributary during summer and fall 2006 and spring 2007. Otolith and water samples were analyzed for δ18O and a suite of trace elements; otoliths were also analyzed for δ13C. Tributaries, floodplain lakes, and the Illinois River possessed distinct isotopic and elemental signatures, principally driven by differences in δ18O and δ13C among floodplain lakes, the Illinois River, and tributary streams. Otoliths reflected differences in water chemistry among habitats. Relationships between water and otolith δ18O and Sr:Ca were not significantly different among species, but some differences in relationships between water and otolith Ba:Ca among species were detected. Linear discriminant function analysis with a leave-one-out jackknife procedure on otolith δ18O and δ13C indicated that fish may be classified back to environment (Illinois River, tributary, or floodplain lake) of capture with 80-98% accuracy. Otolith microchemistry and stable isotope analyses provide a potentially effective means for determining recruitment sources and environmental history of fishes in the Illinois River. The ability to reconstruct environmental history of individual fish using naturally occurring isotopic markers in otoliths may also facilitate efforts to quantify nutrient and energy subsidies to the Illinois River provided by fishes that emigrate from floodplain lakes or tributaries

Erosion of the cliffs of Outer Cape Cod : tables and graphs

Originally issued as Reference No. 64-21, series later renamed WHOI-.The following tables and graphs place in convenient storage the results of several years of careful surveying and at the same time provide rudimentary interpretation of resuIts by comparing erosion rates. The reader will find listed in the bibliography pertinent published papers which analyze these coastal erosion data in great detail.This work has been supported by the Geography Branch of the Office of Naval Research, Contract Number Nonr 1254 (00), (NR-388-018), and by Nonr 2196 (00)

Tables and graphs of measurements made across four Cape Cod beaches 1957-1958

Originally issued as Reference No. 61-4, series later renamed WHOI-.The primary purpose of this report is to present tables of measurements made across four Cape Cod beaches.The field work was supported entirely by the Geography Branch of the Office of Naval Research under contract number Nonr-1254 (00) (NR-388 - 018)