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.

Fine scale patterns of water quality in three regions of Marylands Coastal Bays: assessing nitrogen source in relation to land use (Page 1)

Fine scale patterns of water quality in three regions of Marylands Coastal Bays: assessing nitrogen source in relation to land use

Beckert K, Fertig BM, O'Neil JM, Carruthers TJB, Wazniak C, Sturgis B, Hall M, Jones AB and Dennison WC ·
2 April 2008

Intensive sampling of the Maryland Coastal Bays in May and July of 2007 served to further assess spatial patterns in nutrients, responses of biological indicators, seasons, land use, and nutrient cycling. Trends indicated degraded water quality, high tubidity, increasing total nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations, high natural isotope abundance (δ15N), and low dissolved oxygen. The abundance of crop agriculture and development of the St.

Read more

Linking Monie Bay watershed land use to nitrogen stable isotopes in tissues of the native eastern oyster, Crassostrea virginica (Page 1)

Linking Monie Bay watershed land use to nitrogen stable isotopes in tissues of the native eastern oyster, Crassostrea virginica

Fertig BM, Carruthers TJB and Dennison WC ·
24 August 2007

To develop the native eastern oyster, Crassostrea virginica, as a biological indicator of nitrogen source, linkages between stable nitrogen isotopes in its tissues and land use adjacent to deployment stations were assessed. As part of a National Estuarine Research Reserve System Graduate Research Fellowship, this study focused on the Monie Bay component of Chesapeake Bay, MD Research Reserve, which includes Monie Bay and three similar tributary creeks which vary in their surrounding land use.

Read more

Effects of nutrient enrichment in the Nation

Effects of nutrient enrichment in the Nation's estuaries: A decade of change

Bricker S, Longstaff BJ, Dennison WC, Jones AB, Boicourt K, Wicks EC and Woerner JL ·
31 July 2007

This report provides an assessment of eutrophic conditions for 141 U.S. estuaries. The report was based on data and information provided by scientists and experts from around the country. Results from the assessment show that two-thirds of the estuaries evaluated exhibited moderate to high levels of eutrophication. Report production was a collaborative effort between Suzanne Bricker (NOAA NCCOS), EcoCheck (NOAA-UMCES Partnership) and IAN. More information is available from the NEEA website.

Read more

Assessment of Coastal Management and Science Needs in South Florida (Page 1)

Assessment of Coastal Management and Science Needs in South Florida

Dennison WC, Nuttle W and Wicks EC ·
15 February 2007

Resource managers in South Florida recognize that they need to address threats to natural resources by taking action to restore and sustain ecosystems. The attention and resources formerly directed toward basic ecosystem research in South Florida are increasingly directed toward broader goals of a region-wide restoration effort.

Read more

The role of the coastal ocean in the disturbed and undisturbed nutrient and carbon cycles: A management perspective (Page 1)

The role of the coastal ocean in the disturbed and undisturbed nutrient and carbon cycles: A management perspective

Le Tissier MDA, Buddemeier R, Parslow J, Swaney DP, Crossland CJ, Smith SV, Whyte HAY, Dennison WC, Hills JM and Kremer HH (eds) ·
1 November 2006

This report was published by the Land-Ocean Interactions in the Coastal Zone (LOICZ) project with the support of the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) and the Global Environmental Facility (GEF). It provides new assessment tools for coastal management programs and discusses the key science outputs of the project. Science communicators at IAN worked with authors and designers to create nine figures for the 40-page report.

Read more

Water quality in four regions of the Maryland Coastal Bays: assessing nitrogen source in relation to rainfall and brown tide (Page 1)

Water quality in four regions of the Maryland Coastal Bays: assessing nitrogen source in relation to rainfall and brown tide

Fertig BM, Carruthers TJB, Wazniak C, Sturgess B, Hall M, Jones AB, and Dennison WC ·
1 November 2006

Monitoring water quality and determining nutrient inputs is essential to assess ecosystem health. Partnering with the Maryland Coastal Bays Program and the Department of Natural Resources, this study focused on four regions in Maryland's Coastal Bays. These regions, St Martins River, Public Landing, Johnson's Bay, and Chincoteague Island, were found to be nitrogen 'hotspots' by the 2004 water quality assessment study.

Read more