577 



sinking rates of inorganic particles, and the distribution of small 

 organisms. Research is required to better understand the origin, dis- 

 tribution, and importance of surface films. 



SUMMARY 



A. Baseline studies 



1. Inventory biological, physical, and chemical characteristics. 



2. Answer key management questions of habitat requirements 

 (how much and what kind) for adequate numbers of plants and 

 animals. 



3. Studies of unpolluted estuaries are essential for comparative 

 bases against whicli to measure changes. 



B. Broad ecological studies 



1. Expand baseline knowledge to provide understanding of 

 estuarine ecosystems, the effects of pollution and environmental 

 changes. 



2. Study the mechanisms and course of recovery of an area 

 after halting pollution as well as methods of reestablishing a 

 physically damaged estuarine ecosystem. 



3. Develop tecliniques to determine and predict the effects of 

 changes in the environment on the resources we want to utilize. 



4. Develop better estuarine husbandry programs, augment 

 aquaculture, and generally improve estuarine management. 



C. Biological Studies 



1. Determine food webs and trophic relationships. 



2. Determine life cycles and the relationships between estuarine 

 residency and offshore fisheries. 



3. Determine what it is about the estuary that makes it so suit- 

 able as a nursery area and quantify habitat requirements for 

 spawning and nursery functions. 



D. Water quality considerations : 



1. Determine water quality characteristics of receiving waters 

 and develop a realistic program of water quality management. 



2. Study the effects of combined wastes, i.e., multiple pollutants. 



3. Ascertain Avater quality requirements for desired uses. 



4. Develop water quality criteria for optimal beneficial use 

 rather than minimum tolerable quality. 



E. Natural variability : 



1. Determine the natural variability of the biotic populations 

 as well as of the physical-chemical environment and water quality. 



2. Learn to distinguish between the effects of natural variabil- 

 ity and of man-induced alterations. 



F. interface factors : 



1. Determine the amounts and quality of fresh water required 

 to support the desired estuarine ecosystem. 



2. Identify and understand the characteristics, the phenomena 

 associated with, and the influence of the estuary-ocean and estu- 

 ary-fresh water interfaces. 



3. Identify and quantify the residual pollutants introduced by 

 land drainage and their effects. 



4. Determine the relationships of contiguous wetlands to estu- 

 arine ecosystems. 



