Rutherford Sea Grant Quahogs Research presented at April 14th, 2014 Rhode Island Shellfish Management Plan Stakeholder meeting

1. Objectives
1) Deploy current meters/drifters near Ohio Ledge to verify model.
2) Incorporate larval behavior into hydrodynamic model.
3) Produce a matrix showing links between larval source areas and
potential settlement areas.
4) Examine potential climate change effects on larval retention

2. Impact of Larval Behavior
EP
WP

3. Larval Behavior
2007, Passive: 20% lost 2007, Active: 53% lost
Particles Released
From Providence
River Site

4. Larval Release Areas
Interpolated legal
adult quahog
density coverage
based upon 2,368
RI DEM hydraulic
dredge tows from
1993-2013.

5. 2006 2007
Year-to-Year Variation and Climate Change Effects
Precipitation
34% lost 20% lost

6. Surface Water Temperature Trends at Fox Island
Palance 2013, Data from URI/GSO http://www.gso.uri.edu/fishtrawl/data.htm
Climate Change Effects
Temperature