s2ary
09-13-2007, 05:07 PM
The following is a list of concerns that conservationists have been asking Mosquito Control Agencies to address for close to a decade.
The Reduction in Primary Production
In a salt marsh, the sun’s energy is captured by the marsh grasses and is converted into plant tissues. After they die these plant tissues are carried by the tide and provide approximately 59% of the soluble and particulate nutrients in the near shore waters. These nutrients are food for phytoplankton, shellfish, shrimp, crabs, lobsters, Pollock, Striped Bass, and if you eat seafood eventually you.
When OWMM, OMWM, and IMM techniques dig up marsh grasses and restrict tidal flow they immediately reduce the primary production in that area. As these altered areas age, sulfur toxicity increases in the surrounding soils further reducing the plant growth.
This has a direct negative impact to the adjacent near shore water’s productivity. Considering the United States has lost over 50% of our original salt marshes shouldn’t we be managing what’s left to increase the productivity of our coastal waters and bring back our fish stocks?
The Reduction of Fish Nursery Habitat
OWMM, OMWM, and IMM techniques are often promoted as improving fish habit. Conservationists strongly disagree. Pools on the surface of the marsh and restricted tidal flow only provide marginal habitat for two species of fish. Mummichogs and Sticklebacks will utilize upper marsh pools if they are present, but both species breed in the vast creek system of a salt marsh, the largest portion of the populations are found in the creek systems.
90% of the productivity of a salt marsh is exported in the form of fish. When OWMM, OMWM, and IMM techniques restrict tidal flow to large areas of a salt marsh these areas are no longer available for species like Silversides, Alewives, American Eels, River Herring, Sand Eels, and Striped Bass who all use the vast network of tidal channels to feed and hide from predators. As these species mature they move off shore to rocky ledges and deep water reefs where they become food for Haddock, Cod, and other deep water ocean species.
The Reduction in Primary Production
In a salt marsh, the sun’s energy is captured by the marsh grasses and is converted into plant tissues. After they die these plant tissues are carried by the tide and provide approximately 59% of the soluble and particulate nutrients in the near shore waters. These nutrients are food for phytoplankton, shellfish, shrimp, crabs, lobsters, Pollock, Striped Bass, and if you eat seafood eventually you.
When OWMM, OMWM, and IMM techniques dig up marsh grasses and restrict tidal flow they immediately reduce the primary production in that area. As these altered areas age, sulfur toxicity increases in the surrounding soils further reducing the plant growth.
This has a direct negative impact to the adjacent near shore water’s productivity. Considering the United States has lost over 50% of our original salt marshes shouldn’t we be managing what’s left to increase the productivity of our coastal waters and bring back our fish stocks?
The Reduction of Fish Nursery Habitat
OWMM, OMWM, and IMM techniques are often promoted as improving fish habit. Conservationists strongly disagree. Pools on the surface of the marsh and restricted tidal flow only provide marginal habitat for two species of fish. Mummichogs and Sticklebacks will utilize upper marsh pools if they are present, but both species breed in the vast creek system of a salt marsh, the largest portion of the populations are found in the creek systems.
90% of the productivity of a salt marsh is exported in the form of fish. When OWMM, OMWM, and IMM techniques restrict tidal flow to large areas of a salt marsh these areas are no longer available for species like Silversides, Alewives, American Eels, River Herring, Sand Eels, and Striped Bass who all use the vast network of tidal channels to feed and hide from predators. As these species mature they move off shore to rocky ledges and deep water reefs where they become food for Haddock, Cod, and other deep water ocean species.