Summer 2007 Newsletter
Plan Your Fall Migration to ERF 2007!
It is June now in Narragansett Bay, and many of our coastal and estuarine migrations are in full swing. Adult squid and herring have recently come in and laid their eggs, followed by striped bass and other predators. The water is still clear and cold, the tautog have moved inshore and are spawning, and juvenile winter flounder are recruiting into shallow water benthic habitats. Bird migrations are also underway, and human sunbathers and fishers are moving to the coasts.
Soon Narragansett Bay will leap into summer, a time of tremendous productivity. This productivity leads to an abundance of estuarine life, but can also lead to excess algal and macroalgal blooms, low DO events with associated benthic impacts and fish kills, and more. Soon enough the fall migrations will begin, as many species leave Narragansett Bay to move south or offshore when colder weather arrives. In contrast to many mobile species, seals begin to enter Narragansett Bay in November, as they migrate from points north.
And this fall will see another coastal and estuarine migration as well: November 4th through 8th, hundreds of scientists and managers will come to upper Narragansett Bay to gather in Providence, at the head of the estuary. In fact, the biggest ERF conference to date will soon be looming on your day-planner! The ERF 2007 Steering Committee is hard at work building this conference, and the estuarine and coastal community has responded with a great diversity of abstracts. Over 1200 scientists and managers from all over the world are preparing their presentations. Field trip preparations are being finalized – events are planned for interesting locations all over the Connecticut, Rhode Island and Massachusetts coastlines. Party plans are also in the final stages, including the President’s Reception and Club ERF as well as ERF Unplugged, a Pub Crawl and Student Awards Night. Everyone, from enthusiastic students to experienced veterans, should get their fill of science, management, fun and games at ERF 2007.
The stage is being set, and you are going to love it.