January 2008
College of Marine and Earth Studies researchers recently made discoveries that may change the way we think about how environmental conditions affect fish growth. They learned that even a small shortage of oxygen due to excess nutrients in the water can alter the way fish behave, how they feed and how rapidly they grow. The scientists' work helps fisheries managers identify the relationships between water quality and fish populations. (Photo by Robert Cohen)

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February 2008
This 1977 NASA image shows vegetated areas in red, bare agricultural fields and beaches in white, and wetlands in greenish brown. By comparing historical and contemporary satellite images, College of Marine and Earth Studies researchers are determining changes in land uses and the ocean over time. (Photo by NASA)

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March 2008
Rising sea levels and coastal development may threaten marshes with loss of habitat and altered water levels and tidal flows. College of Marine and Earth Studies botanists are analyzing plants that would be ideal for restoring existing marshes or creating new ones. The plants — which include common marsh vegetation such as smooth cordgrass and black rush — can handle the stresses of increased salinity and excess nutrients in estuarine environments. (Photo by Robert Cohen)

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April 2008
The newest addition to the College of Marine and Earth Studies' fleet, the 146-foot R/V Sharp was described in 2006 as the nation's most advanced coastal research vessel. Here, a rainbow sends a good omen as the ship — which takes as many as 20 scientists on research trips from Maine to Florida and as far offshore as Bermuda — awaits its initial launch from its birthplace in Anacortes, Wash. (Photo by Dave Longdale)

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May 2008
Delaware's tall ship, the Kalmar Nyckel, is a symbol of our region's rich coastal heritage. The replica depicts the ship that sailed from Sweden to the New World in 1638. Its passengers established the New Sweden, the first permanent European settlement in the Delaware Valley, which we know today as Wilmington, Del. The Kalmar Nyckel has made several appearances at the annual Coast Day festival. (Photo by Robert Cohen)

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June 2008
It's fun to take a boat out fishing for a day, but do you know how to safely handle, store, and prepare your catch? The Delaware Sea Grant College Program Marine Advisory Service uses workshops, publications, videos, and the Internet to help members of the public, seafood processors, and restaurant personnel avoid food-borne pathogens and learn nutrition information and cooking techniques. (Photo by Robert Cohen)

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July 2008
Excessive nutrients and pollution from runoff can stress the water supply and aquatic life of Delaware's coastal waters. A Delaware Sea Grant College Program initiative trains citizen volunteers to collect water quality data and help scientists keep an eye on changes. Since its inception in 1991, more than 200 volunteers have maintained a network of sampling sites and shared information with scientists and other user groups through the University of Delaware Citizen Monitoring Program. (Photo by Robert Cohen)

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August 2008
The bright green color seen from this airplane view hints at it, but an even closer look shows why this marsh is a protected area: It's teeming with life. Marsh plants are suited for dealing with continued, periodic flooding from tides. These plants provide shelter and food for a vast range of animal species: marine animals such as anchovies, summer flounders and blue crabs; terrestrial species including raccoons, deer and muskrats; birds like the snow goose; and marsh-specific species such as ribbed mussels and diamondback terrapins. (Photo by Bob Bowden)

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September 2008
How can communities grow, but keep their unique characters and preserve scenes like this? Delaware Sea Grant College Program initiatives address land-use issues by organizing "smart growth" seminars and introducing local officials to tools their growing communities can use to protect natural resources. (Photo by Robert Cohen)

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October 2008
Delaware's beaches annually attract more than 6 million visitors. Our coastal waters support an abundance of fish and wildlife, including 138 types of finfish and plentiful oyster and blue crab fisheries that generate commercial, tourism and educational activities. Given the coast's impact on life in the region, it's no wonder that each year more than 10,000 visitors celebrate Delaware's natural resources and experience marine research at Coast Day, held every first Sunday in October at the University of Delaware's Hugh R. Sharp Campus in Lewes, Del. (Photo by Teresa Levite)

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November 2008
From fishermen casting for striped bass, to families taking guide-led boat rides or seeking sun and sand, tourism spending in Delaware was estimated at $1.6 billion in 2006. College of Marine and Earth Studies researchers understand the tremendous value of Delaware's natural resources, and each day they're learning even more about them. CMES researchers are investigating everything from tourism revenue generated by migratory birds to the potential effects that offshore energy-generating wind turbines could have on beach visitation. (Photo by Beth Chajes)

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December 2008
Part of a fragile system that protects marshes, bays and land behind beaches from high water and turbulent seas, dunes are a critical part of the coast. Dune grass and other plants play the key role of stabilizing these mounds of sand. Their stems, leaves and roots keep sand particles in place. As the familiar "Keep off the dunes" sign reminds, stepping on these plants can kill them and disrupt this important beach function. (Photo by Elisa Frank)

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