40 



cores WB2 and WB3 as well, which were sampled to greater depths than 

 core WBl. 



The seed profile in the core taken along the northern shore of 

 Waquoit Bay (WB4, Fig 3) appears dissimilar from the mid-bay cores, 

 nonetheless, the Argopectin mortality, and Bittium and Nassarius peaks 

 indicate that the three lower, less distinct peaks in this core 

 correspond to peaks B-D in cores WBl-3. In addition, eelgrass grew 

 later here (peak A) , in this shallow, nearshore area than the deep 

 cores. 



The dates of these changes in eelgrass abundance can be deduced 

 from the recent history of eelgrass changes in Waquoit Bay. Today no 

 eelgrass grows near any of the cores, and is largely restricted to the 

 flood delta in the south end of the Bay. The wasting disease of 1931-32 

 destroyed eelgrass throughout the region, but the cores demonstrate that 

 eelgrass grew even in the deepest parts of the Bay in the past. The 

 photographic record {1938-present) indicates that in 1938 eelgrass was 

 absent throughout the deep areas of the Bay, but grew abundantly 

 nearshore, especially along the eastern margin of the bay, as well as 

 near core 4. In the 1940 's eelgrass began to recolonized the central 

 portion of the Bay, and was very abundant there by the late 1950' s. 

 After 1965, eelgrass began to disappear in the deepest parts of the bay, 

 and by the mid-1970 's had disappeared from the along the Bay margins as 

 well, including near core 4. 



