Carrie Byron

The effect of distal-end trimming on Saccharina latissima morphology, composition, and productivity

Lead PI: Gretchen S. Grebe Authors: Gretchen S. Grebe, Carrie J. Byron, Damian C. Brady, Adam T. St. Gelais, Barry A. Costa-Pierce Date: 2021 Abstract: As kelp cultivation increases around the world, so does the need for farm management strategies that produce specific crop characteristics, optimize yield, widen harvesting windows, and prevent biomass loss. Distal-end trimming […]

Solubilization of nutritional lipids from three coastal and estuarine primary producers using sodium taurocholate as a model surfactant to mimic typical consumer gut-fluids

Lead PI: Adrianus Both, Carrie J.Byron Authors: Adrianus Both, Carrie J.Byron, Damian C. Brady, Barry Costa-Pierce, Lawrence M.Mayer, Christopher C. Parrish Date: 2022 Abstract: Coastal and estuarine food webs receive large inputs of both autochthonous and allochthonous detritus, which serves as an important dietary input for a variety of detritivorous and omnivorous organisms. Surfactants, which aid digestion by […]

Resilience of cold water aquaculture: a review of likely scenarios as climate changes in the Gulf of Maine

Lead PI: Ian R. Bricknell Authors: Ian R. Bricknell, Sean D. Birkel, Susan H. Brawley, Tyler Van Kirk, Heather J. Hamlin, Kyle Capistrant-Fossa, Kimberly Huguenard, G. Peter Van Walsum, Zhilong L. Liu, Longhuan H. Zhu, Gretchen Grebe, Emma Taccardi, Molly Miller, Brian M. Preziosi, Kevin Duffy, Carrie J. Byron, Charlotte T.C. Quigley, Timothy J. Bowden, […]

Species Specific Stable Isotope Fractionation Baseline between Oysters and Algae

Project Description Stable isotopes are commonly used understand predator-prey interactions and food web dynamics. Stable isotope 15N is enriched with increasing trophic levels while stable isotope 13C remains relatively consistent across trophic levels. When these two isotopes are considered together, they can indicate predator-prey interactions in a food web. The common assumption for all species […]

Ecological Interactions of Shellfish Aquaculture

Project Description Most existing shellfish aquaculture models were developed for implementation at the production or farm scale, neglecting all trophic levels equal to or higher than bivalves. This approach is useful on a farm scale, but shortsighted for ecosystem management, where several user groups may depend on the stability and sustainability of the entire system. […]

Assessment of Indicator Bacteria within the Surface Biofilm of Sugar Kelp (Saccharina Latissima) Along a Seaward Gradient in from the Mouth of the Saco River

Project Description This project aims to determine the relationship between fecal indicator bacteria present in seawater and those found on the surface biofilm of kelp. During the 2016 and 2017 summer seasons, five experimental sugar kelp stations were established, running along east-west and north-south transects moving away from the mouth of the Saco River. Stations […]

Detritus as Nutritional Supplement for Bivalves

Project Description Determining the quantity and quality of seston present in Saco Bay is a key factor in evaluating its environmental carrying capacity for sustainable ecological aquaculture (SEA). This baseline data is being collected by SEANET through the use of the buoy network, field surveys, and laboratory analyses. This addresses the environmental carrying capacities of […]

Formation of Kelp and Marsh Grass Detritus as Potential Shellfish Nutrition

Project Description Most models assume bivalve shellfish to be the equivalent of “aquatic cows,” grazing almost exclusively on standing stocks of phytoplankton and algae. Cultured bivalve species have an exceptional capacity to filter large volumes of water containing not only phytoplankton, but also zooplankton, detritus, and other suspended particulate matter (Ferriera et al., 2008). In […]

Green Crab Interaction with Softshell Clams

Project Description The primary focus of this project was to determine the effects of green crab predation on soft shell clams in Biddeford Pool. By using an experimental design for field-based manipulation of predator exclusion, the results of green crab predation on soft shell clams were quantified through survivorship rates between several different experimental scenarios. […]

Sources of Nitrogen Utilized by Macroalgae: How Clean is your Kelp?

*work in collaboration with industry partner, Todd Jagoutz Project Description Nutrient pollution can have substantial impacts on estuaries and bays within the Gulf of Maine. High nitrogen or phosphorous inputs can trigger large, unwanted microalgal blooms that produce low-oxygen zones. This kills fish and crustaceans, resulting in massive loss of eelgrass beds. The water also […]