Eastern oysters settle near inlets in a lagoonal estuary: spatial and temporal distribution of recruitment in Mid-Atlantic Coastal Bays (Maryland, USA).

Background: Declines of the Eastern oyster, , and its numerous ecological benefits have spurred oyster restoration initiatives. Successful restoration of a self-sustaining oyster population requires evaluating the temporal and spatial patterns of recruitment (settlement and survival) of oyster larvae in the target waterbody. Restoration of the Eastern oyster population in the Maryland Coastal Bays (MCBs), USA, a shallow lagoonal estuary, is of interest to federal, state, and non-governmental, but the location and timing of natural recruitment is not known.

Impairment indicators for predicting delayed mortality in black sea bass () discards within the commercial trap fishery.

Harvest restrictions (e.g. size, sex or species limitations) that are implemented to maintain sustainable fisheries often result in by-catch, e.

Sea whip coral in the Mid-Atlantic Bight: Colony complexity, age, and growth.

Sea whip coral are a common structural component of both natural and artificial hard-bottom reef habitats in the mid-Atlantic region and may serve as essential habitat for commercially valuable species. However, they are slow-growing, easily damaged, and especially vulnerable to damage by passive fishing gear such as pots and traps. Despite their potential importance, until recently, sea whips have been generally understudied in this region.

The relationship between fish abundance and benthic community structure on artificial reefs in the Mid-Atlantic Bight, and the importance of sea whip corals .

Autogenic engineers (i.e., biogenic structure) add to habitat complexity by altering the environment by their own physical structures.

Characterizing the benthic community in Maryland's offshore wind energy areas using a towed camera sled: Developing a method to reduce the effort of image analysis and community description.

Offshore wind farms are a crucial component for the improvement of renewable energy in the United States. The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) designated ~170 km2 of shelf area for wind energy development off the coast of Maryland, USA. In order to understand potential environmental impacts of wind turbine installation on the benthic ecosystem within the designated area, we conducted a study to visually characterize bottom habitats and epibenthic communities in the Mid-Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf blocks of the Maryland wind energy area.

Bait and the susceptibility of American lobsters Homarus americanus to epizootic shell disease.

Shell disease (SD) has been observed in lobster populations for almost a hundred years, but recently, rates of an epizootic form of shell disease (ESD) have increased in the southern New England (USA) area. A large proportion of fish in the diet of American lobsters Homarus americanus has been linked to increased rates of SD. Therefore, the use of fish as lobster bait may be linked to increased ESD rates in lobsters.

Effects of epizootic shell disease in American lobster Homarus americanus determined using a quantitative disease index.

The incidence of epizootic shell disease in American lobster Homarus americanus has increased in southern New England, U.S.A.