Publications by Caroline Donovan

IAN is committed to producing practical, user-centered communications that foster a better understanding of science and enable readers to pursue new opportunities in research, education, and environmental problem-solving. Our publications synthesize scientific findings using effective science communication techniques.

Case studies of Regional Ecosystem Research (Page 1)

Case studies of Regional Ecosystem Research

Bill Dennison, Bill Nuttle, Caroline Donovan ·
8 April 2011

Eight case studies highlight lessons learned in conducting regional-scale research and incorporating this information into management. The case studies represent a wide variety of physical and ecological contexts; these include the Great Lakes (Lake Erie), a river-dominated coast (northern Gulf of Mexico), tropical lagoon systems (Micronesia and South Florida), and coastal ocean systems (California coast, Bering Sea, Gulf of Maine, and the Northwest Atlantic).

Read more

2009 Sassafras River Report Card (Page 1)

2009 Sassafras River Report Card

Sara Powell, Caroline Donovan, Heath Kelsey ·
1 December 2010

This is the first annual Sassafras River Report Card. The report card summarizes ecosystem health of the tidal (estuary) and non-tidal (creeks) areas within the Sassafras watershed during 2009. It also introduces readers to the special qualities of the Sassafras and offers information on how to get involved and help maintain the health and beauty of the river.

Read more

Expanding the diversity of the Mid-Atlantic Tributary Assessment Coalition (Page 1)

Expanding the diversity of the Mid-Atlantic Tributary Assessment Coalition

Sara Powell, Caroline Donovan, Melissa Andreychek, Heath Kelsey, Bill Dennison ·
18 November 2010

Since the 2006 release of the first EcoCheck Chesapeake Bay report card, environmental report cards have gained increasing popularity and recognition as a public-friendly and scientifically sound method for reporting the health of a waterway. Recently, a number of watershed organizations in the Mid-Atlantic region have begun producing their own tributary-specific report cards.

Read more

MMAs: What, why, and where (Page 1)

MMAs: What, why, and where

Orbach M, Bunce Karrer L ·
13 September 2010

One approach to the development of better coastal and marine policy and management is the concept of marine managed areas (MMAs). A MMA is an area of ocean, or a combination of land and ocean, where all human activities are managed toward common goals. MMAs are a form of ecosystem-based management, where all elements—biophysical, human, and institutional—of a particular system are considered together. This document describes what MMAs are, why they are important, and where they are implemented.

Read more

People and Oceans: Managing marine areas for human well-being (Page 1)

People and Oceans: Managing marine areas for human well-being

Samonte G, Bunce Karrer L, Orbach M
·
13 September 2010

Although much research has been done on the ecological benefits and challenges of marine resource management, comparatively little insight has been gained into the benefits and challenges of the human well-being aspects. This document addresses this gap by building on existing knowledge and synthesizing over 20 social science studies conducted over the past five years in 19 countries, involving over 35 scientists, and drawing on experiences in 52 marine managed areas (MMAs) worldwide.

Read more

Maryland Coastal Bays Report Card 2009 (Page 1)

Maryland Coastal Bays Report Card 2009

Caroline Donovan, Heath Kelsey, Sara Powell, Melissa Andreychek ·
30 June 2010

The aim of this report card is to provide a transparent, timely, and geographically detailed assessment of 2009 Coastal Bays health. Coastal Bays health is defined as the progressof four water quality indicators (TN, TP, Chl a, DO) and two biotic indicators (seagrass, hard clams) toward scientifically derived ecological thresholds or goals. The six indicators are combined into one overarching Coastal Bays Health Index, which is presented as the report card score.

Read more

Chesapeake Bay Report Card 2009 (Page 1)

Chesapeake Bay Report Card 2009

Caroline Donovan, Heath Kelsey, Sara Powell ·
18 May 2010

This report card provides a transparent, timely, and geographically detailed assessment of 2009 Chesapeake Bay habitat health. The overall health of Chesapeake Bay, assessed using water quality and biotic indicators, was the best it has been since 2002. The overall grade improved from C- in 2008 to C in 2009. Eight reporting regions had improved grades in 2009, four were unchanged, and two had slightly worse grades.

Read more

Integrating and Applying Science: A handbook for effective coastal  ecosystem assessment (Page 1)

Integrating and Applying Science: A handbook for effective coastal ecosystem assessment

Longstaff BJ, Carruthers TJB, Dennison WC, Lookingbill TR, Hawkey JM, Thomas JE, Wicks EC, Woerner J ·
10 May 2010

Vast areas of the globe's coastal zone have experienced significant declines in ecosystem health. Deteriorating water quality, loss and alteration of vital habitats, and reduced populations of fish and shellfish are some of the major changes recorded. Establishing and running an effective assessment program is a complex process that necessitates strategic collaboration and partnerships between many individuals and agencies.

Read more

A Guide to the Mid-Atlantic Tributary Report Cards (Page 1)

A Guide to the Mid-Atlantic Tributary Report Cards

Heath Kelsey, Emily Nauman, Sara Powell, Christine Thurber, Caroline Donovan ·
29 April 2010

A variety of organizations, both government and citizen-led, monitor the health of streams, rivers, and other waterbodies in the mid-Atlantic region. Recently, a number of groups concerned with the health of watersheds in the Chesapeake Bay region have begun to produce ecosystem health report cards much like EcoCheck’s annual Chesapeake Bay report card.

Read more