REPORT OF A SURVEY OF THE INTERTIDAL ZONE 

 NANTUCKET ISLAND, DECEMBER 27-29, 1976 



The Ecosystems Center 



Marine Biological Laboratory 



Woods Hole, Massachusetts 02543 



Abstract . On December 27 and 28, 1976, a field party surveyed the 

 beaches, harbors, and marshes of Nantucket with the objective of 

 providing crude baseline data for appraisal of the effects of any 

 oil that might wash ashore from the Argo Mevahant spill. The study 

 relied on three transects for samples, one on the eastern end of 

 South Beach in an area of rapid mineral and organic deposition, one 

 on the north shore beach, and one on Eel Point across a marsh. A 

 fourth set of samples was taken from the harbor bottom near the 

 University of Massachusetts Field Station. The sampling is being 

 used both as background information and, for this spill, to provide 

 evidence as to how to design such a sampling program in the future, 

 as well as to provide a guide for long-term studies designed for 

 better resolution of the effects of toxins on the coastal zone. 



Introduction 



At the request of H. Curl of NOAA, Boulder, Colorado, a group of scien- 

 tists met at 0900, Sunday, December 26, in Hyannis, Massachusetts, to design 

 a sampling scheme capable of describing the biota of the intertidal zone of 

 Nantucket Island prior to the arrival of oil from the Argo Mevohant spill on 

 Nantucket Shoals, about 27 miles southeast of Nantucket. 



The challenge was twofold: first, to obtain data from Nantucket immedi- 

 ately, because there was a real possibility that the oil would wash ashore 

 within hours; second, to design a scheme for the longer-term appraisal of the 

 potential biotic effects of oil or other toxins on the intertidal zone. The 

 immediate challenge of Nantucket dominated this meeting, and this report is 

 limited to the activities in response to the emergency. No data are ready at 

 this time. 



All recognized that no thoroughly adequate or satisfacoory sampling 

 would be possible. Such a study would require repetitive samplings over 

 years to describe seasonal changes as well as the normal variability of the 

 local plant and animal populations. Nonetheless, a brief survey seemed 

 appropriate, both to provide information immediately on Nantucket and to 

 provide background as to what was necessary in making such an appraisal. 



The following scientists participated in the survey: 



G. M. Woodwell, Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole. 



J. E. Hobble, Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole. 



B. J. Peterson, Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole. 



M. J. Jordan, Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole. 



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