5-7 



collection. Samples collected at one site each in Bridgeport and New 

 Haven Harbor during a 1935 survey (Clapp, 1937) used nine 4" x 4" x 6" 

 pine blocks attached to a wooden board. The exposure scheme in the 1935 

 survey was similar to the present study in that each month two blocks 

 were removed and replaced (long-term and short-term); the longest long- 

 term block was on site from February-November 1935. Stamford Harbor 

 long-term panels (1971-1973, NAI, 1974c) were sampled to describe 

 temporal succession from the period of initial exposure (Panel number 2 

 removed after 2 months exposure. Panel number 3 after 3 months... Panel 

 number 12 after 12 months) . 



CHARACTERIZATION OF THE NEW HAVEN HARBOR EXPOSURE PANEL COMMUNITY 



The New Haven Harbor fouling community observed on exposure 

 panels was similar in terms of dominant taxa, species richness, temporal 

 variability and spatial distribution over all years of the study (NAI, 

 1978) . The long-term fouling community was doninated by barnacles 

 [Balanus spp. ) , hydroids (Ohelia longissima) , mussels [Mytilus edulis) , 

 marine borers (Teredo navalis) , mudworms {Polydora ligni) , and tube- 

 dwelling amphipods (Corophium insidiosum) . Dominance was determined by 

 percent occurrence and abundance over all years. (Percent occurrence 

 values were calculated by dividing the total number of times an organism 

 appeared at a given station by the number of samples taken over the 

 seven-year period at that station. ) Most taxa exhibited seasonal fluc- 

 tuations in abundance related to spawning and settlement. Long-term 

 panels did not show clear seasonal patterns. In some years, high summer 

 species-richness values on long-term panels occurred (1977) , but spring 

 or fall maxima were equally prevalent over the entire seven-year study 

 period (Figure 5-4) . The number of taxa was usually lower at Long Wharf 

 than Harbor Station or Fort Hale. 



The short-term fouling community was dominated (>3-4 yrs 

 presence) by Obelia spp.. Nereis succinea, Balanus eburneus , and Mytilus 

 edulis. Seasonal distributions are a function of reproductive timing 



