Introduction 33 



Methods 35 



Results 38 



Discussion 49 



Chapter 4 



Historical Changes in eelgrass (Zostera marina L.) abundance in 

 Buzzards Bay: Long term patterns and twelve case histories 



Introduction 52 



Factors limiting eelgrass distribution 53 



The wasting disease 55 



Anthropogenic and natural disturbances 58 



Recolonization and interpreting historical changes 64 



Methods 65 



Results 67 



Westport Rivers 67 



Apponaganset Bay, Dartmouth 74 



Clarks Cove and New Bedford Harbor 80 



Nasketucket Bay, Fairhaven 85 



East Bay, West Island, Fairhaven 87 



Sippican Harbor, Marion 91 



Great Neck, Wareham and the Wareham River Estuary 93 



Buttermilk Bay, Bourne and Wareham 96 



Megansett Harbor, Bourne and Falmouth 102 



Wild Harbor, Falmouth 104 



West Falmouth Harbor 104 



Waquoit Bay, Falmouth 105 



Discussion 107 



Impact of the wasting disease in Buzzards Bay 107 



Causes of the disease, the temperature hypothesis 111 



General patterns of recolonization 117 



Causes for recent declines 119 



Chapter 5 



Management considerations of eelgrass populations in Massachusetts 



Resource assessment 122 



IV 



