Table Of ContentLiving resources of Buzzards Bay:
Synthesis reports produced for the 1991
Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan,
2013 Redux
Joseph E. Costa, editor
Buzzards Bay National Estuary Program Technical Report
Massachusetts Coastal Zone Management
October 18, 2013
Living Resources Of Buzzards Bay: Habitats
Acknowledgements
Vicki Gibson helped edit the original reports in 1990. Joseph E. Costa reedited, and combined the reports into this redux volume
with a consistent format and layout. Additional text editing by Tracy Warncke and Sarah Williams.
i
Living Resources Of Buzzards Bay: Habitats
i
Living Resources Of Buzzards Bay: Habitats
Foreword
Between 1989 and 1990, the Buzzards Bay National Estuary Program (then the Buzzards Bay Project), hired scientists to
prepare reports synthesizing the then current knowledge of the state of living resources in Buzzards Bay. We received these
living resources reports before we released the draft 1991 Buzzards Bay Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan
(CCMP).
The Buzzards Bay National Estuary Program accepted these reports, and information contained in them was included in the
CCMP, however they were never publicly distributed. The original documents were submitted in manuscript form with
appended figures and tables. At the time, our intent to consolidate them into a combined report in an easy-to-read layout. This
effort was undertaken but not completed because of more pressing needs at the time.
With the 2013 update of the Buzzards Bay CCMP, the Buzzards Bay National Estuary Program decided to re-issue the
documents and make them publicly available online because of the useful information, data, and references contained in the
reports. Some of the reports contain data or information not previously published, or presented in a way to make them still
relevant today.
This redux volume includes the six original reports with editing for spelling, grammar, and style. They were laid out in a
consistent format, and a few graphics were redrawn or added. We made no effort to update the information. Thus, these
documents stand as the authors understanding of the living resources of Buzzards Bay, and the threats they faced, as
characterized in 1989-1990.
Joseph E. Costa, PhD
Executive Director
Buzzards Bay National Estuary Program
Suggested Citation
To avoid confusion about the date of these publications, we suggest the following citation format should they be cited, as in
Poole (1990/2013), and listed as follows:
Giblin, A., and K. Foreman. 1990. The Habitats of Buzzards Bay. In J. E. Costa [ed. ], Living Resources of Buzzards Bay:
Synthesis reports produced for the 1991 Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan, 2013 Redux, Buzzards Bay
National Estuary Program Technical Report, Massachusetts Coastal Zone Management, October 18, 2013. 98 pp.
Grice, F. 1990. The Buzzards Bay Lobster Resource and Fishery. In J. E. Costa [ed. ], Living Resources of Buzzards Bay:
Synthesis reports produced for the 1991 Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan, 2013 Redux, Buzzards Bay
National Estuary Program Technical Report, Massachusetts Coastal Zone Management, October 18, 2013. 98 pp.
Grice, F. 1990. The Buzzards Bay Shellfish Resource and Fishery. In J. E. Costa [ed. ], Living Resources of Buzzards Bay:
Synthesis reports produced for the 1991 Comprehensive Conservation Management Plan, 2013 Redux, Buzzards Bay National
Estuary Program Technical Report, Massachusetts Coastal Zone Management, October 18, 2013. 98 pp.
Grice, F. 1990. The Finfish Resources of Buzzards Bay. In J. E. Costa [ed. ], Living Resources of Buzzards Bay: Synthesis reports
produced for the 1991 Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan, 2013 Redux, Buzzards Bay National Estuary
Program Technical Report, Massachusetts Coastal Zone Management, October 18, 2013. 98 pp.
Payne, P. M., C. Coogan, F. Wenzel, M. A. Buehler, and A. L. Hankin. 1991. Status and Assessment of the Marine Mammal and
Marine Turtle Species of Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts: An Historical and Present Overview. In J. E. Costa [ed. ], Living Resources
of Buzzards Bay: Synthesis reports produced for the 1991 Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan, 2013 Redux,
Buzzards Bay National Estuary Program Technical Report, Massachusetts Coastal Zone Management, October 18, 2013. 98 pp.
Poole. A. 1990. Waterbirds of Buzzards Bay. In J. E. Costa [ed. ], Living Resources of Buzzards Bay: Synthesis reports produced
for the 1991 Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan, 2013 Redux, Buzzards Bay National Estuary Program
Technical Report, Massachusetts Coastal Zone Management, October 18, 2013. 98 pp.
iii
Living Resources of Buzzards Bay
iv
Living Resources Of Buzzards Bay
Table of Contents
Living resources of Buzzards Bay: Synthesis reports produced for the 1991 Comprehensive Conservation and
Management Plan, 2013 Redux ................................................................................................................................... t
Acknowledgements i
Foreword iii
Table of Contents v
List of Figures ix
List of Tables ix
1. Habitats of Buzzards Bay ..................................................................................................................................... 1
Introduction .................................................................................................................................................................... 1
Habitats and Communities Defined 1
Overview of Buzzards Bay Habitats 1
General Features of Buzzards Bay 2
The Open Bay ................................................................................................................................................................. 3
The Pelagic Zone of Buzzards Bay 3
Introduction .................................................................................................................................................... 3
Physical Characteristics ................................................................................................................................ 3
Chemical Characteristics .............................................................................................................................. 4
Plankton Species Composition ...................................................................................................................... 4
Standing stocks of Chlorophyll a and Primary Productivity ..................................................................... 5
Possibility of Historical Change .................................................................................................................... 5
Subtidal Benthos 6
Introduction .................................................................................................................................................... 6
Physical-Chemical Environment .................................................................................................................. 6
Major Species ................................................................................................................................................. 7
Historical Changes - Do They Indicate Eutrophication? ......................................................................... 12
Comparison to Other Temperate Bays ...................................................................................................... 13
Summary of Open Bay Management Recommendations ......................................................................... 13
Nearshore and Coastal Habitats ................................................................................................................................. 14
Coastal Embayments and Tidal Rivers 14
Introduction .................................................................................................................................................. 14
Areal Extent .................................................................................................................................................. 15
Physical and Chemical Characteristics ...................................................................................................... 15
Biological Characteristics and Major Species Present ............................................................................. 16
Productivity and Factors Affecting Habitat Quality ................................................................................ 16
Barrier Beaches and Coastal Dunes 17
Introduction .................................................................................................................................................. 17
Areal Extent .................................................................................................................................................. 17
Physical and Chemical Characteristics ...................................................................................................... 17
Biological Characteristics and Major Species Present ............................................................................. 17
Factors Affecting Habitat Quality .............................................................................................................. 18
v
Living Resources of Buzzards Bay
Salt Marshes 18
Introduction .................................................................................................................................................. 18
Areal Extent and Historical Changes ......................................................................................................... 18
Physical and Chemical Characteristics ...................................................................................................... 19
Biological Characteristics and Major Species Present ............................................................................. 20
Productivity .................................................................................................................................................. 21
Factors Affecting Habitat Quality .............................................................................................................. 21
Tidal Flats 23
Introduction .................................................................................................................................................. 23
Areal Extent .................................................................................................................................................. 23
Physical and Chemical Characteristics ...................................................................................................... 23
Biological Characteristics and Major Species Present ............................................................................. 23
Eelgrass 24
Introduction .................................................................................................................................................. 24
Present Day Areal Extent ............................................................................................................................ 24
Physical and Chemical Characteristics ...................................................................................................... 24
Biological Characteristics and Major Species Present ............................................................................. 25
Productivity .................................................................................................................................................. 26
Historical Changes ....................................................................................................................................... 26
Factors Affecting Habitat Quality .............................................................................................................. 26
Rocky Shores 26
Introduction .................................................................................................................................................. 26
Physical, Chemical and Biological Characteristics ................................................................................... 27
References ..................................................................................................................................................................... 27
2. Buzzards Bay Shellfish Resource and Fishery ................................................................................................. 33
Introduction .................................................................................................................................................................. 33
Status of Fisheries ......................................................................................................................................................... 34
Resource Issues ............................................................................................................................................................. 36
Environmental Issues ................................................................................................................................................... 37
Management and Jurisdictional Issues ...................................................................................................................... 40
Recommendations ........................................................................................................................................................ 41
References ..................................................................................................................................................................... 42
3. Buzzards Bay Lobster Resource and Fishery ................................................................................................... 43
Introduction .................................................................................................................................................................. 43
Status of Lobster Fishery ............................................................................................................................................. 45
Resource Issues ............................................................................................................................................................. 46
Environmental Issues ................................................................................................................................................... 47
Management Issues ...................................................................................................................................................... 48
Recommendations ........................................................................................................................................................ 49
References ..................................................................................................................................................................... 50
4. Finfish of Buzzards Bay ...................................................................................................................................... 51
Introduction .................................................................................................................................................................. 51
Status of the Fisheries .................................................................................................................................................. 51
vi
Living Resources of Buzzards Bay
Resource Issues ............................................................................................................................................................. 55
Environmental Issues ................................................................................................................................................... 56
Management Issues ...................................................................................................................................................... 60
Recommendations ........................................................................................................................................................ 61
References ..................................................................................................................................................................... 62
5. Waterbirds of Buzzards Bay .............................................................................................................................. 63
Introduction .................................................................................................................................................................. 63
Terns and Gulls ............................................................................................................................................................ 63
Terns: Description, Ecology, and Natural History 63
Gulls: History and Current Assessment of Buzzards Bay Breeding Colonies 66
Management Recommendations 68
Current Research and Management Activities 68
Piping Plover ................................................................................................................................................................. 68
Description and Natural History 68
History and Current Status in the Buzzards Bay Region 69
Management and Research: Current and Recommended 70
Double Crested Cormorants ........................................................................................................................................ 70
Description and Natural History 70
History and Current Status in Buzzards Bay 70
Management and Research: Current and Recommended 71
Ospreys .......................................................................................................................................................................... 71
Description and Natural History 71
History and Current Status 71
Research and Management 72
Black-Crowned Night Herons and Snowy Egrets .................................................................................................... 72
Description and Natural History 72
The Wading Bird Colonies of Buzzards Bay 73
Management and Research: Current and Proposed 74
Wintering Waterfowl ................................................................................................................................................... 74
Ecology and Natural History 74
Status and Trends in Buzzards Bay 74
Management and Research 75
Pollutants ...................................................................................................................................................................... 75
References ..................................................................................................................................................................... 76
6. Mammals of Buzzards Bay ................................................................................................................................. 79
Introduction .................................................................................................................................................................. 79
Methods ......................................................................................................................................................................... 79
Published Literature Surveys ...................................................................................................................................... 79
Cetaceans 79
Pinnipeds 79
Turtles 80
Periodical Literature ................................................................................................................................... 80
Stranding Programs ..................................................................................................................................... 80
vii
Living Resources of Buzzards Bay
Results and Comparisons ............................................................................................................................ 80
Buzzards Bay Contour-Index Relative to Cetaceans ................................................................................ 81
Species Accounts ........................................................................................................................................................... 81
Cetaceans 82
Baleen Whales (Family Balaenopteridae and Balaenidae) ....................................................................... 82
Fin Whale (Balaenoptera physalus) .............................................................................................................. 82
Minke Whale (B. acutorostrata) .................................................................................................................... 82
Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) ............................................................................................... 82
Right Whale (Eubalaena glacialis) ............................................................................................................... 83
Dolphins (Family Delphinidae) ................................................................................................................... 84
White-beaked Dolphin (Lagenorhynchus albirostris) and White-sided Dolphin (L. acutus) ................. 85
Pilot Whale (Globicephala melaena) ........................................................................................................... 85
Killer whale (Orcinus orca) ......................................................................................................................... 86
Other Delphinidae spp. ................................................................................................................................ 86
Dolphins (Family Monodontidae) 86
Beluga (Delphinapterus leucas) ................................................................................................................... 86
Porpoises (Family Phocoenidae) ................................................................................................................................. 87
Harbor Porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) ......................................................................................................... 87
Pinnipeds 87
Seals (Family Phocidae) ............................................................................................................................... 87
Harbor Seal (Phoca vitulina) ......................................................................................................................... 87
Present Distribution of Harbor Seals in Buzzards Bay ......................................................................... 87
Temporal Distribution ........................................................................................................................... 87
Gray Seal (Halichoerus grypus) .................................................................................................................... 89
Factors Affecting the Present Distribution of Seals in Buzzards Bay 90
Disturbance ................................................................................................................................................... 90
Impact of Coastal Pollution ......................................................................................................................... 90
Turtles ........................................................................................................................................................................... 91
Family Cheloniidae and Dermochelyidae .................................................................................................. 91
Leatherback Turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) ................................................................................................. 91
Loggerhead Turtle (Caretta caretta) ............................................................................................................. 91
Hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata) ............................................................................................................. 92
Atlantic or Ridley’s Turtle (Lepidochelys kempi) .......................................................................................... 92
Kemp's Ridley Turtles in Buzzards Bay? 94
References ..................................................................................................................................................................... 94
viii
