CTSG Research

Major Projects Funded for 2012-2014

The Connecticut Sea Grant program has awarded funds for five research projects valued at $837,554, including federal and non-federal matching funds. The two-year research grants were selected competitively in a peer-reviewed process, and will commence immediately. The funds are part of the overall support awarded to Connecticut Sea Grant by the U.S. Department of Commerce, through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

Response of Zooplankton to Projected Changes in Temperature in Long Island Sound

Primary investigator: Hans Dam, University of Connecticut Department of Marine Sciences. This project will advance understanding of how zooplankton populations in Long Island Sound (LIS) will respond to projected increases in temperature due to climate change. How these small creatures may fare is critical to the Sound’s food web.

Seaweed Aquaculture for Bioextraction of Nutrients from LIS

Charles Yarish, University of Connecticut Dept. of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, and John Curtis, Bridgeport Regional Aquaculture Science and Technology Center.

Kelp strains suitable for nutrient bioextraction in LIS will be developed. This technology may provide a biological alternative for mitigating nutrients in urban LIS.

Emerging Contaminants in Long Island Sound: Effects of Nanoparticles on Suspension-Feeding Bivalve Molluscs

Evan Ward and Robert Mason, University of Connecticut Department of Marine Sciences. This project will investigate the effects of manufactured nanoparticles of titanium dioxide on oysters. Little is known about the fate and impacts of these tiny particles which are used in paints, inks, sunscreens and other skincare products.

Fate and Transport of PerFluorinated Contaminants (PFCs) Entering LIS from Municipal Wastewater in the Housatonic Watershed.

Michael Whitney and Penelope Vlahos, University of Connecticut Department of Marine Sciences.

PFCs are environmentally persistent contaminants found in many products including electronics, textiles, hydraulic fluids, and firefighting foams. This study will examine the amount and transport of PFCs from watershed inputs to LIS.

Restocking Connecticut's Natural Beds by Remote-set Disease-Resistant Oysters in Biodegradable Netting.

Inke Sunila, State of Connecticut Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Aquaculture

This project will monitor hatchery-spawned disease-resistant oyster seed stocked on natural beds. The goal is to increase oyster stocks and supply industry with seed during potential disease outbreaks or lack of natural sets. The Noank Aquaculture Cooperative and Norm Bloom LLC, an oyster company in Norwalk, will assist with the project.

Major Projects for 2010-2012

CTSG selected 7 major research projects, two of which are regional collaborations, to be funded beginning in 2010. Some have been extended to complete in 2013. To see the complete list, click here.

Development Projects

In addition to its major biennial grant competition, Connecticut Sea Grant funds a large number of small projects through its Development Grants program. These projects include seed funding for research that will culminate in a full proposal submission to Connecticut Sea Grant, funding to extend or complement existing research projects, and funding for publications associated with ongoing research. Funding has also been granted to co-sponsor workshops and conferences. Examples of development projects include topics such as the detection of paralytic shellfish poisons, support of the CT/RI Regional National Ocean Science Bowl, eelgrass and nitrogen loading, and fisheries economics and management, to name a few. For additional details on recent Development Grants, contact Syma Ebbin. To apply for development funds, contact Sylvain De Guise, Director.

For additional information and archived reports of research projects, contact Nancy Balcom, Associate Director, or Syma Ebbin, Research Coordinator.