Report on 2011 Surveys of Marine Invasive Species, Cape Cod Eel Pond, Woods Hole Location: Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL) dock Total # high-resolution photos: 29 Comments: This site would be suitable as a long-term monitoring station due to the fact that Eel Pond is visited by many small craft, the site is apparently already monitored by MBL staff, the safe and easy access, and the presence of ropes that are heavily colonized by invasive species which facilitates monitoring. Figure 1. View of entrance to dock, accessible from Water Street, Woods Hole. Figure 2. Representative invasive include Ascidiella aspersa, Botrylloides violaceus, Botryllus schlosseri, Didemnum vexillum, Diplosoma listerianum, Styela clava, Molgula spp., Aplydium stellatum, and A. constellatum, for a total of 9 species (see Table 1).
Figure 3. Invasive species on rope that is kept in the water.
Quissett Harbor, Buzzards Bay Location: This is a private marina. Total # high-resolution photos on CD: 36 Comments: There are two potential monitoring stations here, denoted by QH-1 and QH-2. Most of the floats are removed from the water during the winter. At the time of our site visit, some floats were present. Presence of floats in the water during winter needs to be confirmed in January-February 2012. The marina buildings burned down during a fire in January, 2012. Figure 1. View of Quissett Harbor and QH-1. Figure 2. Floats located at QH-1.
Figure 3. Invasive tunicates on the side of a float at QH-1. Species found in Quissett Harbor include Botrylloides violacea, Didemnum vexillum, Styela clava, and Molgula spp., for a total of four species (see Table 1).
Figure 4. View of second potential monitoring station, QH-2. Figure 5. Float at QH-2.
Figure 6. Representative invasive species on a rope hanging off a float at QH-2. Species found in Quissett Harbor include Botrylloides violacea, Didemnum vexillum, Styela clava, and Molgula spp., for a total of four species (see Table 1).
Figure 7. Representative species at QH-2. Species found in Quissett Harbor include Botrylloides violacea, Didemnum vexillum, Styela clava, and Molgula spp., for a total of four species (see Table 1).
West Falmouth Harbor, Buzzards Bay Location: This is a public marina, managed by both the Town Harbormaster and the West Falmouth Harbor Yacht Club. Total # high-resolution photos on CD: 8 Comments: Floats are removed from the water during the winter and no observations of invasive species were possible. For this reason, this particular site will likely not going to be selected as a long-term monitoring station. However, the site is of interest because West Falmouth Harbor is an important shellfish area. The Town maintains a shellfish upweller on the dock and plans to expand shellfish growing and protection efforts in this embayment. Figure 1. View of the permanent dock structure at the West Falmouth Harbor dock off Old Dock Road, near the boat ramp. Floats have been removed from the water.
Megansett Harbor, Buzzards Bay Location: This is a Town marina located in Megansett Harbor, at the end of County Road. The float shown in the photo may remain in the water year-round (needs to be confirmed) Total # high-resolution photos on CD: 14 Comments: This will likely be a suitable long-term monitoring site. There is a recreational shellfishing area located to the north of the Town dock. The Town plans to remediate stormwater discharge (see photos below) to improve shellfish bed health. Figure 1. View of Megansett Harbor town dock. Figure 2. View of the ramp down to the float.
Figure 3. Invasive species found at the Megansett Harbor dock include Botrylloides violaceus, Didemnum vexillum, Diplosoma listerianum, and Styela clava, for a total of four species (see Table 1). Figure 4. Invasive sea squirt (Didemnum vexillum).
Figure 5. Recreational shellfishing area located on the north side of the Megansett Harbor dock. Figure 6. Stormwater discharges from County Road onto the Megansett Beach shellfishing area this will be remediated through a retrofit that is being designed by the Town, with a grant from the NRCS. Photo by George Hampson, 2008.
Green Pond, Vineyard Sound Location: Green Pond Marina (private), Green Pond. Total # high-resolution photos on CD: 14 Comments: This or another site in Green Pond will likely be chosen for long-term monitoring. Green Pond is a popular boating destination and also an important shellfish area. Floats have been removed, but the finger piers remain in the water year-round (confirm). Figure 1. View of Green Pond Marina (private). Figure 2. Colonization of underside and sides of finger piers by invasive species.
Figure 3. Invasive species found at this site include Botrylloides violaceus, Botryllus schlosseri, and Styela clava, for a total of three species (see Table 1).
Falmouth Inner Harbor, Vineyard Sound Location: The area shown is part of a private marina in Falmouth Inner Harbor. Total # high-resolution photos on CD: 9 Comments: This area hosts a number of private marinas as well as a municipal marina and the Harbormaster s office and docks. A site in Falmouth Inner Harbor will likely be selected for long-term monitoring due to the busy vessel traffic here and the potential for introduction of invasive species. Figure 1. View of vertical sheet piling at a private marina in the Inner Harbor. Figure 2. A native invasive species known as Sea Grapes (Molgula spp.) were very common at this site (see Table 1).
Falmouth Harbor, mouth Location: Private marina located at the mouth of Falmouth Harbor. Total # high-resolution photos on CD: 5 Comments: This site will likely not be selected for long-term monitoring due to the fact that it is not easily accessible or sample-able and the floats are removed from the water for the winter. Figure 1. View of the floats at the mouth of Falmouth Harbor. Floats have been removed from the water for the winter. Figure 2. Invasive Club Tunicate (Styela clava) on the underside of the floats removed from the water. These are dead due to having been removed from the water.
Red Brook Harbor, Buzzards Bay Location: Private marina in Red Brook Harbor. Total # high-resolution photos on CD: 10 Comments: This site or another nearby site may be selected as a long-term monitoring station for the Bourne coastline. At this marina, most floats have been removed from the water for the winter, but some anchor ropes remain in the water. Figure 1. View of Red Brook Harbor marina. Figure 2. Invasive species found at this site included Botrylloides violaceus, Botryllus schlosseri, Didemnum vexillum, Diplosoma listerianum, Styela clava, and Molgula spp., for a total of six species (see Table 1).
Figure 3. Invasive species on a rope left in the water.
Sandwich Tide Pools, Cape Cod Bay Location: This site is also known as Town Neck Beach tide pools. Total # high-resolution photos on CD: 54 Comments: This site will be selected as a long-term monitoring station because it is the first site at which Didemnum vexillum was identified in Cape Cod and state waters in the mid-1990 s; also, it is a natural environment which is located adjacent to the east end of the Cape Cod Canal (which sees much vessel traffic). This site may also be serving as a source of larvae to other sites in Cape Cod Bay. Figure 1. View of cobble beach and tidal flats at Town Neck Beach, Sandwich. Figure 2. Tide pools at Town Neck Beach. More tide pools are located on the far side of the stone groin located in the distance.
Figure 3. Invasive Didemnum vexillum growing on cobbles in the tide pools. Invasive species found at this site included D. vexillum, Botrylloides violaceus, and Botryllus schlosseri (see Table 1). Figure 4. Didemnum vexillum growing on cobble.
Figure 5. Didemnum vexillum and Botrylloides violaceus growing on seaweed. Figure 6. Didemnum vexillum and Botrylloides violaceus growing on a cobble.