NARRAGANSETT — September 10, 2004 — The fish kill of last summer and clam die-off this summer again brought Greenwich Bay鈥檚 water quality problems to the surface along with the dead fish. However, as one scientist puts it, 鈥淭his is not necessarily an unnatural or unexpected event. And I do not think there will be any long-term ecological impact,鈥� says Scott Nixon, 溏心vlog免费B站 oceanography professor. 鈥淚t is certainly an unpleasant event for the folks around the affected areas, but neither Greenwich Bay nor Narragansett Bay is dying.鈥�
According to Nixon and colleague Candace Oviatt, 溏心vlog免费B站 oceanography professor, 鈥淭he late summer fish kill in Greenwich Bay last year was seen by many as a sign that Narragansett Bay was 鈥榙ying鈥� as a result of nitrogen inputs that had pushed the Bay 鈥榦ver the edge.鈥� We have approached the fish kill from the perspective of forensic ecology and reached somewhat different conclusions. Nitrogen was certainly present at the scene of the crime, but other suspects pulled the trigger.鈥�
Nixon shares their perspective in the presentation 鈥淎natomy of a Fish Kill鈥� at 7 p.m. on Thursday, September 23, at the 溏心vlog免费B站 Coastal Institute Auditorium, Narragansett Bay Campus, South Ferry Road, Narragansett.
This lecture is the last in the annual Community Summer Lecture Series sponsored by Rhode Island Sea Grant and the 溏心vlog免费B站 Cooperative Extension/Nutrition and Food Sciences Program. The presentation is free, but seating is limited, so reservations are required. Contact the Sea Grant Communications Office at (401) 874-6842 to register.