“Influence of nitrogen on methylmercury accumulation in shellfish and planktivorous fish along the Long Island Sound shoreline of Connecticut” funded by the Connecticut Sea Grant ($150k for 2 years: 2016-2017)

This project led by Rob Mason and Zofia Baumann together with a PhD student Gunnar Hansen will evaluate whether a strong link between nutrient loadings to coastal embayments and their concentration seawater there and bioaccumulation of methylmercury (MeHg) is present. This is a field-based study that focuses on 5 smaller embayments along the Connecticut Long Island Sound coastline i.e. Mumford Cove, Jordan Cove, New Haven Harbor, Housatonic and Norwalk River mouths. MeHg bioaccumulation will be evaluated for shellfish e.g. hard clams (Mercenaria mercenaria) and oysters (Crassostrea virginica) and small forage fish Atlantic silversides (Menidia menidia). [on the picture are Zofia Baumann and Wesley Huffman catching Atlantic silversides]

Also check out a blurb on the Connecticut Sea Grant webpage: http://seagrant.uconn.edu/research/