107 



became more prominent in the deep central part of the Bay after 1960, 

 Today Cladophora and other drift species accumulate to depths of 70 cm 

 in places (Valiela and Costa, in prep) . Sediment cores show that 

 eelgrass was abundant in the central Bay prior to the wasting disease. 

 Photographs and core data show that eelgrass returned there by the 

 1950's, but disappeared again between 1965 and 1973 (Chapter 3). 



The increased growth of algae and the pattern of eelgrass decline 

 in Waquoit Bay suggest that these events were related to nutrient 

 loading. After 1970, eelgrass expanded only on the flood delta at the 

 mouth of the bay. 



Discussion 



Impact of the wasting disease in Buzzards Bay 



Documentation of eelgrass prior to the wasting disease is 

 fragmentary, but all evidence suggests that eelgrass cover in Buzzards 

 Bay equaled or exceeded present day abundance: Aerial photographs of 

 Sippican Harbor, Marion taken before the wasting disease show that 

 eelgrass was as abundant near the mouth of the bay in 1930 as in 1981, 

 and even more abundant at the head of the bay during 1930. Sediment 

 cores show that eelgrass was more abundant in several areas prior the 

 disease (and in some cases 20 years later) than today. This is 

 corroborated by photographs that show that eelgrass populations in some 

 bays had greater coverage during the 1940-1960's than today. 

 Fragmentary documentation of eelgrass distribution on old nautical 

 charts demonstrate that eelgrass grew in the same areas prior to the 

 disease as recolonized after. Residents have noted that eelgrass has 



