Paul, UR - Answers and a Change

Janice P. Sec. 50. So thinking this through, where are you expecting more invertebrates to attach and why? I would think that being in the current would bring more organisms but the high currents would make it harder to attach? What do you think will happen? Thanks for your answer. Are you going to post any pictures? Colonization

Thank you for the great question. It is not unreasonable to think as you had stated, high current may bring more organisms, yet make it harder for them to attach, though I would have expected to see a higher coverage and diversity in a stronger current than slack water. However through researching this topic, I have learned that current plays quite a vital role in a fouling community. Species such as Leptogorgia virgulata absolutely require current to feed on zooplankton. While higher currents may make it harder for invertebrates to attach, it is required to feed. The Halifax River does not maintain a high current speed. There is a constant flux in low and high tides. However what current there is plays a vital role in filter feeding of these organisms. The organisms that are out in the main current will receive much more water passing through to allow them to adequately feed on microscopic prey to flourish and multiply while those in slack water may not receive adequate water flow.

Unfortunately the last time I went to collect data and see how things were going, I discovered that I would be forced to make a change in my methods of analyzing my data. I arrived to learn that one entire location had the PVC squares removed with the line securing them cut. This was as one would think, quite a bummer to put it lightly. I will now have to use the areas that were scraped originally to adhere these squares for my comparable data. Unfortunately this will affect my data and the results won't be as pretty, though there will be enough to get results. I was pleased to find that there was a significant amount of growth on the squares that remained. Yes, there are pictures that will be posted soon. Thank you again for your question.