UNH - Coastal New England MBON - Atlantic cod

The Coastal New England project integrates powerful technologies (acoustic telemetry, environmental DNA [eDNA], and acoustics) with traditional fisheries sampling to quantify impacts of changes in local and regional water conditions on individuals, populations, and community structure. Research includes study of the impacts of forage species and environmental conditions on Atlantic cod and common terns in both New Hampshire (Isles of Shoals) and southern Maine (Casco Bay) coastal waters.

Collectively, these results demonstrate the value in novel technologies in tracking shifts in biodiversity across space and time. This project’s efforts build on the known strengths of each method (eDNA, diet analyses, active acoustics, and passive acoustics) while also exploring their integration and defining scales of appropriate use. Definitions of how each method describes marine biodiversity in both unique but also shared ways are explored.