*Gillian Alcid

Nitrates are essential nutrients that play a vital role in the ecosystem. However, anthropogenic influences such as fertilizer in runoff can cause a nitrate overabundance, leading to deadly illnesses and long-term damage to water bodies. Water quality management is necessary for keeping the health of local citizens and water bodies in check. This study focuses on evaluating the accuracy of colorimetry and spectrophotometry for nitrate quantification, precipitation effects, salinity influences, and urbanization metrics. Water body and precipitation samples were collected from nine sites in various Ocean County townships and analyzed using a zinc reduction method, followed by colorimetry and spectrophotometry. A calibration line was created in order to convert absorbance to concentration to allow for comparison between methods. Statistical testing showed that the handheld colorimeter consistently underestimated nitrate concentrations by approximately 3.61 ppm compared to the spectrophotometer (p < 0.001), indicating low accuracy but similar precision. Nitrate levels rose slightly after rainfall, but the increase was not statistically significant. Nitrate in precipitation itself had no significant relationship with change in water body nitrate level. Conductivity had a significant, strong inverse relationship with nitrate concentration (r = –0.581, p < 0.001). Urbanization metrics (population, latitude, and impervious surface coverage) showed only weak to moderate correlations and no significant relationships with nitrate levels (all p > 0.201). The data collected in this project demonstrates that urbanization and precipitation were insignificant contributors to nitrate level, but salinity is likely to influence nitrate levels.

*Isabella Cellini-Winters

As eelgrass bed populations are declining in Barnegat Bay, this may affect the population of the blue crab (Callinectes sapidus). Blue crabs are often found within the eelgrass beds of Barnegat Bay and do most of their foraging within them. This study examines the foraging behaviors of the blue crabs within submerged aquatic vegetation and without. If eelgrass beds in Barnegat Bay continue to decline, then blue crabs will see reduced foraging success and decreased population, because the loss of aquatic vegetation limits both their preferred foraging habitat and the availability of prey species commonly found within eelgrass ecosystems. For a controlled time of 30 minutes, crabs were observed and timed (in seconds) for how long they remained in an area. Crabs were rotated equally during each observation to conduct a thorough study. A Student’s T-test was performed to compare time differences in aquatic vegetation and no aquatic vegetation; there was a significant difference found (p<0.0001). These results concluded that blue crabs prefer to forage within aquatic vegetation versus without. This study is important because it shows the true importance of eelgrass beds in Barnegat Bay and how the declining population of these beds will affect blue crabs.

*Lily Docs

The commercial crabbing industry is dependent on the yield of crabs from their traps; however, they sometimes trap other species, known as bycatch. If these species happen to be endangered, it hurts the population. Bycatch reduction devices are used to reduce non-targeted catch in commercial-style crab pots. This research project investigates the effect of different bycatch reduction devices (BRD) placements in crab pots. It examines how BRD placement influences crab yield as well as the effectiveness of reducing bycatch. Quantitative analysis was used to compare two Florida Flat Box crab pots with different BRD prototypes and placements over a two-month period. Results indicate that the outside placement of BRDs produced a larger crab yield compared to the inside placement. These findings suggest that it is most beneficial for commercial and recreational fisheries to place BRDs on the outsides of their crab pot as it helps maintain crab yield and size while reducing the unintended capture of non-target species.

*Kaylee Graziano

I have chosen to explore the importance of sand composition and the features involved. The project will be presented on a poster board, with a few props coincidedly presented (i.e. jar of sand, different colored sands, notes of descriptions of sands from different locations). A detailed comparative representation of the difference in sand composition from local beaches of South Jersey will be presented. It will be accompanied with notes from each location describing the mineral components of the different beaches and how it affected the color and texture of the sand. There will also be provided examples of what sands of distinct mineral composition (i.e black sand, pink sand, white sand) would visually look like. This project will discuss the basic terminology of what sand is, what contributes to its movement, and if it is truly possible to one day run out of sand. The project will also discuss the effects different sand composition has on dredging, as well as how the mineral components of sand contribute to its economic value. 

*Thomas Grothues, Karen Hedstrom, Nicole Fox, Shea Cinquemani, Douglas Hood

Shorebirds using the Atlantic Americas Flyway rely on the eggs of Atlantic horseshoe crabs (AHC, Limulus polyphemus) to fuel their northbound breeding migration. Studies into the early 21st century found correlation between the population size of an iconic migrating shorebird, rufa red knot (RRK, Calidris canutus rufa) and AHC and suggest that RRK population decline responded to AHC decline through a failure to finish migration with physiological resources sufficient for reproduction. A synthesis of available literature demonstrates that this relationship is facilitated on coincident phenology, massing behavior of the spawning crabs, and that it is geologically and evolutionarily recent. While the likelihood of obligatory dependence on HSC eggs as an important contributor to population dynamics remains the case, this synthesis further revealed a complicated ecology for both species that over space and time may decouple dynamics as a functional relationship. We present needs for further research as well as approaches to addressing them.

*Alexandra Kanterezhi-Gatto

Invasive species are considered non-native organisms that have no existing niche in the environment. The purpose of this project was to test three types of mediums, synthetic, neutral, and mussel-made, to observe which would enhance the health and efficiency of growth of Allium schoenoprasum (chives). It was predicted that when an invasive species, Asian Date Mussel, is utilized in creating nutrient-rich fertilizer to enhance the absorption rate of CO2 in chives, then it would be more effective than synthetic fertilizers. After preparing the fertilizer by extracting the visceral mass from the Asian Date Mussels, the mediums were set up in the chambers (n, total trials = 18). The CO2 amount was measured to account for the efficiency of growth and absorption directly related to the fertilizer used. As per the results, the hypothesis was supported. Specifically, the data collected displayed that the chives with the mussel-made fertilizer had the largest CO2 absorption at 330 ppm while the synthetic fertilizer chamber had the least absorption at 70 ppm. Due to the excelled growth in the mussel-made fertilizer chamber, it was shown to be more effective. With this crucial information, scientists can expand their knowledge in bioremediation and create a more habitable planet.

*Chariclia Karavanas, Melissa Laurino, Michael Denk, Garrett Albistegui-Adler

Tamanend’s bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops erebennus), including young of years and their nursing mothers (or mother-young pairs; MYP), inhabit both the Atlantic Ocean and the Delaware Bay off Cape May, NJ during the town’s peak tourist season. Despite the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA; 1972) which protects these animals from harassment, interactions with recreational watercraft (or vessels) have been shown to be taxing for these dolphins. It has been proposed that MYP may have increased risks from these energy-costly vessel interactions due to their specific energy demands, especially nursing and mobility. This study investigates whether MYP may also have increased exposure to vessel interactions and which spatial, temporal, and group structures factors may contribute to exposure. Environmental, ecological, spatial/temporal, and vessel interaction related data was systematically collected off Cape May, NJ from an ecotourism research vessel during July and August for six years between 2018-2025. A comparative analysis, including a chi-square analysis, determined that groups with MYP were more likely than baseline to be observed with vessels and that observations with vessels present also had increased presence of MYP from baseline. Mixed-effect logistic regression models of MYP and vessel presence reveal depth, distance to coastline, and group size as shared significant predictors for MYP and vessel presence. Future spatial analysis in QGIS seeks to determine hotspots of vessel interactions for MYP and preliminary mapping suggests nearshore areas. The increased exposure of vessel interactions for MYP may further strain this depleted stock of dolphins, though future research is needed on MYP responses to vessels and potential health impacts. If a spatial trend is observed elsewhere, these findings suggest that more enforcement and education is needed as the MMPA applies to nursing and calf-rearing behaviors, especially in areas with high volume of recreational watercraft. 

*Reese Larew

Food-grade hydrocolloid stabilizers are widely used in ultra-processed foods to improve texture and shelf life, yet their ecological impacts remain poorly understood. This study investigated the acute, concentration-dependent effects of Xanthan Gum, Guar Gum, Sodium Carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), and Carrageenan on the model freshwater invertebrate D. magna. Organisms were exposed to three concentrations (0.1g, 0.5g, and 1.0 g per 100 g distilled water) of each stabilizer. Survival, heart rate, swim speed, mobility, and body length were measured at 1 hour, 6 hours, 24 hours after exposure. Survival declined across all treatment groups, with complete mortality observed in Xanthan Gum 1.0, CMC 0.5, and Carrageenan 1.0. Guar gum maintained the highest survival rates, up to 77.78 percent. All experimental groups showed an initial elevation in heart rate, followed by declines at later observation points, with Mixed ANOVA tests indicating statistically significant differences among treatments (p=0.0016). Swim speed and mobility decreased in all stabilizer treatments, with complete immobilization observed in Xanthan Gum groups and high concentration Carrageenan. Turbidity, used as a proxy for viscosity, was highest in Xanthan gum and was assumed to be associated with reduced mobility, suggesting physical as well as chemical stress. Organisms in the control group maintained 100% and stable physiological activity. Overall, these findings demonstrate that commonly used food-grade stabilizers can produce measurable acute toxicity and physiological dress in freshwater invertebrates. This highlights the need to further evaluate the environmental consequences of hydrocolloid stabilizers entering aquatic ecosystems through wastewater discharge. 

*Amelie Loguidice, *Luna Maldonado, *Matthew Krier, *Bella Francesconi, *Elizabeth Hamner, Jennifer Rienzi

This study aimed to characterize and spatially determine the biodiversity of freshwater mussels (Unionidae) within Palmyra Cove, a tidal freshwater embayment of the Delaware River in Palmyra, New Jersey. Systematic surveys were conducted across eight to ten sampling locations to assess species composition and distribution using environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding and Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) protocols. Concurrently, environmental parameters were measured, including Global Positioning System (GPS) coordinates, phytoplankton abundance, water temperature, pH, turbidity, and dissolved oxygen. These data were integrated to evaluate potential relationships among primary productivity, water quality variables, and mussel diversity. The resulting dataset establishes a baseline for assessing spatial patterns in unionid assemblages and provides a framework for understanding environmental drivers influencing mussel distribution. These findings contribute to ongoing efforts to monitor and conserve freshwater mussel populations, which serve as key indicators of aquatic ecosystem health.

*Esmeralda Mann

Previous land uses greatly impact secondary succession in New Jersey’s outer coastal plain and granular existing literature on the subject is few and far between. A soon to be developed area in Cape May County offered a unique opportunity to collect side by side data for a century-old oak/pine forest and eighteen year old fifty foot wide road cuts. The one hundred fifty acre development area has seen little disturbance in the last hundred years excluding a grid of road clearings. A total of thirty-two modified forest inventory plots were conducted: Twenty plots at the road cut study site along parallel transects, one transect through the older growth with ten evenly spaced plots and a transect along the cut with ten plots, both having similar xeric and mesic soils and elevations. Twelve were conducted at a comparison site on an abandoned golf course, six in a similarly aged stand of older forest and six on the fairway also left to succeed eighteen years ago. Road cut site plots were ten meters by ten meters and fifty meters apart, and golf course plots were five meters by five meters also fifty meters apart. In each, diameter at breast height of stems and ground cover percentages were recorded. This paper documents the data collection process and explores the stories these sites tell. The differences were immediately apparent between the sites, across the two thousand five hundred square meters of plots across both sites the road cuts showed much denser secondary growth, more species diversity, a lack of introduced species, and resprouted oak stumps from the clearing that all help the road cut succeed faster than a comparable open site of the same age.

Tiffany Ortner, Melissa Laurino, Daniel Iovino, Michael Denk, Alayna Robertson, Clifton Baldwin, Matthew Remuzzi

Humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) occur in the Mid-Atlantic nearshore and pelagic regions and utilize coastal habitats in the New York–New Jersey Bight during migration. Cape May, New Jersey, represents the southern portion of this region and serves as a foraging ground for this population throughout the year. Systematic data collected by trained observers with Cape May Whale Watch and Research Center from 2011 to 2025 will be analyzed across 709 observations of humpback whales. Whales were observed in all study months (February-December) within a sea surface temperature range of 37.6–82°F and depths of 9–344ft. Analysis will include the summary and standardization of data by effort and geographic occurrence. Photo-identification using dorsal fin and fluke markings will include a summary of workflow, associated challenges for the region, and annual catalog additions and resightings. Analyzing occurrence, distribution, and individual photo-identification off Cape May is valuable given the ongoing humpback whale Unusual Mortality Event (UME), increasing vessel traffic, and overlap with commercial fishing activity in the region.

*Krupam Patel

Persistent South and Western onshore winds initiate the summertime event known as upwelling. Upwelling in small, localized areas like Barnegat Bay, NJ, has a significant impact on bay temperature, creating a large land-sea temperature difference. This difference can lead to harsh and fast onshore breezes that can “swamp” small watercraft. This study uses a Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM); a deep learning neural network, to predict these large gusts, along with Naive and Linear Regression algorithms to verify its effectiveness. To utilize these models, thirteen variables were collected on an hourly basis for June-September. Once the models were created and trained, the mean absolute error was calculated for each of the models as a comparison. Shockingly, it seemed that Linear Regressions and Naive models performed marginally better than the LSTM, which had collapsed to predicting a value close to the mean in almost all tests. Accurate wind speeds and direction were still predicted, as the hypothesis says, just with different models. With the rarity of upwelling events and their spontaneity, it was challenging, yet the models were able to predict them.

*Danielle Reinisch¹ Melissa Laurino, Ana Costa

Short-finned pilot whales (Globicephala macrorhynchus) are deep-diving, social animals that occupy New Jersey pelagic waters during the warm weather months. They migrate from North Carolina to Southern Massachusetts to feed on squid and deep sea fish and occur near the continental shelf break. These animals can be photo-identified using natural markings on the dorsal fin, and reviewed by multiple researchers in order to differentiate between Short-finned pilot whales and Long-finned pilot whales (Globicephala melas) using body size and pectoral fin size. Data collected by the Cape May Whale Watch and Research Center off Cape May, New Jersey resulted in a catalog of 130 individuals at the time of this presentation. The catalog was developed from 46 observations that occurred from 2017 to 2025 with months ranging from June to August. Of those observations, 22% (n=12) included calves and/or juveniles. There was a significant relationship between the average group size and the recorded sea surface water temperature (p = 0.000091). Observations had a depth range of 785 meters to 6000 meters, with the majority of observations occurring along the extending hills of the continental slope. The environmental conditions surrounding this area may explain why Short-finned pilot whales utilize this habitat. Developing a local catalog for Short-finned pilot whales is an important step in tracking potential habitat shifts that may occur in response to climate change. Future directions will examine if there are any patterns between the environmental conditions and the different group compositions in these pelagic waters.

*Tia Thomas

Ocean acidification reduces carbonate ion availability, lowering alkalinity and impairing oyster calcification, particularly during vulnerable larval and juvenile stages. This study evaluated whether a multi-phase alkalinity buffer combining sodium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, limestone, and dolomite more effectively improves water chemistry than chemical-only or mineral-only treatments in a larval upweller system for bivalves. Four 5-gallon tanks containing water from Barnegat Bay, NJ, were assigned to Control, Modified Buffer, Chemical-only, and Mineral-only treatments, and tannic acid was added daily to simulate acidification stress. Water quality parameters, including total alkalinity, pH, calcium, magnesium, carbonate, salinity, dissolved oxygen, temperature, and aragonite saturation, were monitored over four weeks. Significant differences in alkalinity were found among treatments (ANOVA, F = 87.51, P = 2.54 × 10⁻²⁰). The Chemical-only and Modified Buffer treatments had much higher alkalinity than the Mineral-only and Control groups. Calcium was highest in the Modified Buffer and exceeded all other treatments (ANOVA, F = 9.41, P = 4.54 × 10⁻⁵). Both Buffer and Chemical-only treatments significantly raised pH compared to the Control and Magnesium-only groups. However, alkalinity decreased over time in the Chemical-only treatment, while the Modified Buffer remained more stable. The Modified Buffer was also the only successful treatment to raise the aragonite saturation state above one. These results support the hypothesis that integrating rapid chemical buffering with gradual mineral dissolution provides both immediate and sustained improvements in carbonate chemistry, offering a more durable strategy for supporting oyster calcification under ocean acidification conditions.

*Julia Wade

Artificial reefs are used to help restore a healthy ecosystem in places that do not naturally have reefs, or in habitats where reefs have been damaged or experienced coral bleaching. Although artificial reefs have many benefits, they do not have all of the same ecological advantages that coral reefs provide. One example of a feature these reefs lack is the calcium ions that they would release into the water over time. This may cause changes to the water in terms of salinity, pH, turbidity, calcium hardness, and conductivity. The goal of this study was to determine if the addition of clam shells in the aggregate of artificial reef structures would impact the chemistry of seawater. Three concrete reef balls were constructed; one used no clam shells in the aggregate, one used 75% of shells in the aggregate and 25% rocks, and the other used clam shells as the total aggregate. Water quality parameters measured were pH, conductivity, salinity, calcium hardness, and turbidity. At the end of the study, all measured parameters were found to be higher, as expected in all of the reef structures. The reefs with shells in the aggregate had a higher pH, higher conductivity and higher turbidity than the reef with rocks used as the aggregate. This means that the reefs with clam shells used in the aggregate showed more benefits in the water than the reef ball that did not contain clam shells.

*Ashley Watson

Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are natural or synthetic exogenous compounds that interfere with the endocrine systems of organisms by mimicking, blocking, or altering the synthesis and regulation of natural hormones. In aquatic environments, these pollutants are especially problematic because contaminants such as 17ϐ-estradiol, 17α-ethinylestradiol, bisphenol A, phthalates, and other endocrine disruptors accumulate in rivers, lakes, and coastal ecosystems where aquatic organisms experience subacute or chronic exposure. The objective of this study is to conduct a comprehensive review of existing literature on EDCs in water systems, focusing on their origins and their effects on aquatic fauna. EDC contamination in water systems is often caused by industrial discharge, sewage and wastewater, agricultural runoff, and plastic pollution. Prolonged exposure to EDCs in aquatic organisms can result in developmental abnormalities, reproductive impairments, and neurological disorders. Additionally, these chemicals can adversely impact immune function, metabolic pathways, and osmoregulatory mechanisms. This review aims to call attention to the importance of improving wastewater treatment, regulating chemical pollutants, and reducing contamination sources in order to protect biodiversity and mitigate EDC pollution. Without regulation, endocrine disrupting chemicals in aquatic environments will continue to compromise the health of aquatic organisms and the ecosystems they support.

*Nadia Wisniewska, Tara Luke, Camilla Alves Souta

Cancridae is a family of crabs that includes the genus Cancer, recognized for its high commercial importance and adaptations to coastal habitats. The Cancridae originated in the North Pacific during the Miocene, around 6 to 12 million years ago. Due to high morphological variation among species, what was once one genus, Cancer, was subdivided into six genera. However, the validity of this new classification has not been tested with a molecular analysis. Our goal was to use the cytochrome oxidase I gene (COX 1) to test the proposed classification and reconstruct the species relationships within the family Cancridae.DNA samples were extracted from tissue samples from 5 Cancridae species belonging to four genera, Metacarcinus gracilis, Romaleon jordani, Glebocarcinus oregonensis, and Anatolikos japonicus. Genomic DNA samples were extracted, and then PCR was run to amplify DNA. After PCR, gel electrophoresis was performed to isolate the COX1 gene. Following gel electrophoresis, the DNA bands were cut out and purified, then sequenced. Samples were then compared to known sequences in Genebank using BLAST. A sequence alignment of the five sequenced species and additional species retrieved from the GeneBank database was constructed using MUSCLE. Phylogenetic analysis was performed using maximum parsimony to reconstruct the relationships between the species. Alignments and phylogenetic analysis were performed using Molecular Evolutionary Genetics Analysis (MEGA) software. DNA sequences were obtained from four of the species and sequences from four other sequences were obtained from GenBank. The phylogenetic analysis supported all six genera. In terms of genus relationships, the COX1 cladogram supported two separate clades, one with Cancer and Anatolikos and the other with the other four Cancridae genera. Within this clade, Metacarcinus and Romaleon are the most closely related. Two species, Anatolikos japonicus and Romaleon jordani, had their COX1 sequences for the first time.

*Scott Young

The Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) and the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) are interconnected oscillating weather patterns across the Pacific and Indian Oceans respectively, calculated via sea surface temperature anomalies. Surrounding weather stations on land are influenced by sea surface temperatures, stations were used in this study to gauge impacts from the indices and to assess a correlation, and the stations and aforementioned weather patterns were analyzed in conjunction. Prior to research, it was hypothesized that temperatures alone could display the correlation between the PDO and IOD. This study examines the correlation between the PDO and IOD, displayed by temperature data, dew point data, the weather patterns’ indices, and analysis using statistical methods. Data was collected using publicly available databases by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Weather Underground, and Time and Date. Data from the latter two sites was daily and was processed into monthly means from 2005 to 2024 using Java. Using statistical analysis, it was determined that the hypothesis was supported; however, the correlation between said indices is more complex with the Walker Circulation, partially accounted for in this study. Said correlation is impactful on surrounding landmasses causing above-average rainfall, leading to flooding in Southeast Asia, or crippling droughts; knowledge of this relationship is key.