Cape Cod National Seashore Research Articles

Aquitalea palustris sp. nov., isolated from a wild cranberry bog in the Cape Cod National Seashore.

A novel species in the genus Aquitalea was isolated from soil and plant surfaces in wild cranberry bogs of the Cape Cod National Seashore. Aquitalea is a little-known genus in the family Chromobacteriaceae (betaproteobacteria) that is associated with freshwater habitats. As part of a culture-dependent comparative survey of bacteria in wild and cultivated cranberry bogs in Massachusetts, strains MWU14-2217T and MWU14-2470 were characterized for taxonomic placement by phenotypic and genotypic testing, and confirmed by genome comparison with a third isolate, MWU14-2238. Genome analysis methods placed the isolates in the genus Aquitalea with >98.54 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity each to the four recognized Aquitalea species, but with a DNA–DNA relatedness of 46 % by digital DNA–DNA hybridization (formula d4) and 91.92 % by orthologous average nucleotide identity with usearch with its closest relative. DNA G+C content of the three isolates ranged from 60.11 to 60.28 mol%. The strains are facultatively anaerobic, motile and reduce NO3. They are non-pigmented, non-haemolytic on sheep blood agar, grow on mannitol but not on citrate, and do not produce urease or HCN. The predominant fatty acids of both isolates were C16 : 0 and summed C16 : 1ω7c/C16 : 1ω6c. Using a combination of phylogenetic, physiological and phenotypic characterization, isolates MWU14-2217T, MWU14-2470 and MWU14-2238 represent a novel species within the genus Aquitalea , for which the name Aquitalea palustris sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is MWU14-2217T (=CCOS 1980T=ATCC TSD-261T).

Draft Genome Sequence of Pseudomonas sp. Strains MWU12-2319 and MWU12-2311, Isolated from a Wild Cranberry Bog in the Cape Cod National Seashore.

Pseudomonas sp. strains MWU12-2319 and MWU12-2311 were isolated from the soil of a wild cranberry bog in the Cape Cod National Seashore as part of a culture-dependent bacterial population survey. The genomes exceed 7 Mbp and contain putative gene clusters for the biosurfactant orfamides A and C.

Draft Genome Sequences of Pseudomonas sp. Strains MWU13-2100 and MWU13-2105 Isolated from Wild Cranberry Bog Soil in the Cape Cod National Seashore.

ABSTRACTPseudomonas sp. strains MWU13-2100 and MWU13-2105 were isolated from a wild cranberry bog with Pipestone loamy coarse sand soil in Truro, Massachusetts, and taxonomically assigned based on whole-genome sequences. The draft genomes are most closely related to P. batumici (41.4% and 41.8% dDDHd4), but with only 50.8 dDDHd4 to each other.

Draft Genomic Sequences of Pseudomonas moorei Strains Isolated from Wild Cranberry Bogs in Massachusetts.

ABSTRACTPseudomonas moorei has been used to detoxify recalcitrant environmental contaminants from the pharmaceutical industry. Two P. moorei strains were isolated from soil in the pristine wild cranberry bogs of the Cape Cod National Seashore that putatively encode genes for degradation of 4- and 5-chlorosalicylates, acetaminophen, and diclofenac.

Draft Genome Sequence of Curtobacterium sp. Strain MWU13-2055, Isolated from a Wild Cranberry Fruit Surface in Massachusetts, USA.

ABSTRACTCurtobacterium sp. strain MWU13-2055 was isolated from cranberry fruit surfaces in the Cape Cod National Seashore. The genome is 4 Mbp long with a large number of genes predicted to be devoted to heavy metal resistance, including the copAZ operon and translocases for Pb, Cd, Zn, Hg, and Cu.

Draft Genome Sequence of Pseudomonas sp. Strain MWU15-20650, Isolated from Wild Cranberry Fruit in the Cape Cod National Seashore.

ABSTRACTPseudomonas sp. strain MWU15-20650 was isolated from wild cranberry fruit surfaces in the Cape Cod National Seashore. The draft genome is 6.2 Mbp, with a G+C content of 59%, and contains predicted genes for type VI secretion systems and an N-acyl-homoserine lactone acylase. The closest known relative is Pseudomonas haemolytica.

Draft Genome Sequences of Pseudomonas sp. Strains MWU12-2037 and MWU12-2345, Isolated from Peat and Sandy Bog Soils in the Cape Cod National Seashore, Massachusetts.

ABSTRACTPseudomonas sp. strains MWU12-2037 and MWU12-2345 were isolated from peat and sandy bog soils in wild cranberry bogs in the Cape Cod National Seashore (Massachusetts, USA) as part of a culture-dependent survey of relatively unexplored wetlands soil microbiomes. Both genomes exceeded 7 Mbp.

Chromobacterium alticapitis sp. nov. and Chromobacterium sinusclupearum sp. nov. isolated from wild cranberry bogs in the Cape Cod National Seashore, USA.

Two non-pigmented strains in the genus Chromobacterium, MWU14-2602T and MWU13-2610T, were isolated from wild cranberry bogs in the Cape Cod National Seashore, USA. The isolates were characterized by genomic and phenotypic analyses, the results of which indicated that they represent two novel species. Based on total genome sequences, the closest relatives were in the Chromobacterium amazonense group, which includes the recently described Chromobacterium paludis. Whole genome sequences were compared by genome blast distance phylogeny, digital DNA-DNA hybridization and average nucleotide identity analyses with each other and with the type strains of their nearest species. MWU14-2602T and MWU13-2610T fell well below the accepted cutoff values for species relatedness, clearly indicating that they represent novel species. Although little is known about these organisms in situ, under laboratory conditions, MWU13-2610T produced a modest amount of HCN and was strongly positive for exoprotease activity, whereas MWU14-2602T did not produce HCN or exoproteases. The predominant fatty acids for both isolates were summed C16 : 1ω7cis/C16 : 1ω6cis. Both isolates produced siderophores and pyomelanin pigment on rich media, and neither was haemolytic on sheep blood agar. We propose the names Chromobacterium alticapitis sp. nov. (type strain MWU14-2602T=ATCC TSD 260T=CCOS 1979T) and Chromobacterium sinusclupearum sp. nov. (type strain MWU13-2610T=ATCC TSD-259T=CCOS 1981T) for these taxa.

Tidal and Hurricane Impacts on Saltmarshes in the Northeastern Coastal and Barrier Network: Theory and Empirical Results

The responses of marsh elevation in four National Parks affected by Hurricane Sandy were examined using empirical data from surface elevation tables (SET) and modeling. The parks examined were Fire Island National Seashore and Gateway National Recreational Area in New York; Cape Cod National Seashore, Massachusetts; and Assateague Island National Seashore, Maryland. Observed vertical accretion rates were compared with calculations made with the Marsh Equilibrium Model (MEM). MEM predicts vertical accretion resulting from the accumulation of organic material in soil and the capture of suspended inorganic material at the marsh surface. MEM simulations of a decade or more of marsh elevation change at 52 SET stations were generally consistent with observations. Park-specific averages of observed vertical accretion ranged from 0.16 ± 0.33 (± 1 SD) to 0.51 ± 0.21 cm/year, while the range of calculated rates was 0.15 ± 0.03 to 0.22 ± 0.05 cm/year, depending on the park. Grand means of observed and calculated rates were 0.36 ± 0.34 and 0.19 ± 0.06 cm/year, respectively. We defined a novel metric termed normalized elevation capital (NEC) that incorporates information about tide range and elevation capital. All but 2.3% of biomass collections from all the parks fell within 0 < NEC < 1. Consistent with marsh equilibrium theory, long-term vertical accretion rate tended to be greatest, 0.4 ± 0.2 cm/year, in the range 0.4 < NEC < 0.6 where vertical accretion is dominated by organic production. Average episodic accretion during the storm from mineral deposition also was greatest and positive, 0.6 ± 0.9 cm in the range 0.4 < NEC < 0.6. Finally, one marsh in Gateway NRA, restored by an application of sediment to NEC = 0.55–0.68, had post-treatment vertical accretion rates of 0.36 ± 0.31 cm/year, not statistically different from SET stations elsewhere in Gateway, 0.57 ± 0.54 cm/year. The sediment amendment placed restored sites in the range of NEC where theory predicts that biogenic accretion should dominate vertical accretion. Model simulations suggest that current rates of vertical accretion in the parks are close to their theoretical limits, and in the absence of new sediment, extant marsh communities in these parks are unlikely to survive continued acceleration of sea-level rise in the absence of periodic sediment renourishment.

Salt Marsh Migration Potential at Cape Cod National Seashore (Massachusetts, U.S.A.) in Response to Sea-Level Rise

Smith, S.M., 2020. Salt marsh migration potential at Cape Cod National Seashore (Massachusetts, U.S.A.) in response to sea-level rise. Journal of Coastal Research, 36(4), 771–779. Coconut Creek (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208.Salt marshes can adjust to sea-level rise (SLR) through vertical elevation gain and horizontal expansion into terrestrial environments. The latter depends on the topography of adjacent uplands and the availability of suitable substrate for halophyte colonization. Within Cape Cod National Seashore (CCNS), calculations of marsh migration potential in response to 1-m of SLR were completed using ArcGIS (version 10.4) based on real-time kinematic GPS marsh elevations, local tide data, land-use, and upland topography derived from 2011 LIDAR scans of CCNS. These estimates were combined with marsh-loss predictions from a previous study within their present-day footprint under the same SLR scenario. The results suggest that individual marshes will respond quite disparately, as dictated by their position in the tidal frame, adjacent terrestrial slopes, land-use, and barrier-beach losses. Most sites are expected to gain or lose relatively small amounts of marsh area under few or no migration constraints. However, there could be a large increase (∼144–240 ha) at one site and an almost a complete loss at another (∼260–290 ha). Where migration was constrained to slopes ≤1%, opportunities for marsh expansion diminished the most—even more so when barrier-beach losses are simulated. Overall, losses at five marsh sites were offset by gains at Hatches Harbor and Pleasant Bay, Massachusetts, such that the total area of salt marsh actually increases with 1-m of SLR, except under the strictest slope constraints. Changes in the spatial distribution and total extent of salt marsh within the CCNS will influence both the quality and quantity of ecosystem services they provide. For coastal land managers, understanding the potential for overland marsh migration is critical for the kind of land-use planning that accommodates these transitioning salt marshes.

Chlorophyll fluorescence responses to additions of Pinus rigida L. pollen in freshwater kettle ponds of Cape Cod National Seashore (Massachusetts, USA)

Terrestrial ecosystems contribute many different forms of organic matter to adjacent waterbodies. Carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus in this material can significantly influence the planktonic communities of these systems, especially where there is a large proportion of contributing area relative to waterbody size and where nutrients are generally in short supply. Plant pollen, which upon degradation releases nutrients into the water column, is one such source of allochthonous material. In Cape Cod (Massachusetts, USA), large amounts of pollen from dense pitch pine (Pinus rigida L.) forest are deposited in late spring into small, freshwater lakes scattered across the landscape. This study examines in vivo chlorophyll fluorescence responses of surface-water samples collected from three such lakes within Cape Cod National Seashore (Wellfleet and Truro) to additions of P. rigida pollen in a laboratory setting. The results indicate that where influxes are high enough, pollen can have a stimulatory effect on phytoplankton communities and is a short-term nutrient subsidy in these systems at a time of year (May-June) when warming temperatures and faster growth rates elevate the demand for nutrients.

Every Kid in a Park Climate Change Academies: Notes from the field

Author(s): Perez, Larry; Delorey, Andrea; Nelson, Mariah; Stubblebine, Ryan; Holly, Matt | Abstract: Students learn about climate change at on-site academies, with examples from Indiana Dunes National Park and Cape Cod National Seashore.

Begging behavior as an honest signal of need and parent-offspring association during the postfledging dependency period.

Honest signaling mechanisms can function to appropriate care to hungry offspring and avoid misdirected care of unrelated offspring. Begging, the behavior by which offspring solicit food and parental care, may be an honest signaling mechanism for need, as well as association of parents and offspring. Roseate terns (Sterna dougallii) exhibit prolonged parental care during the postbreeding staging period, offering an ideal system in which to study begging as an honest signaling mechanism. We conducted focal sampling during two premigratory staging seasons (2014 and 2015) at Cape Cod National Seashore, Massachusetts, USA to determine whether postfledging tern begging behavior was an honest signal for need and parent–offspring association. Based on honest signaling theory, we expected begging behavior to be highest during times of high perceived need, and we expected to see a decrease in begging behavior as young terns became increasingly independent of the care‐giving parent. Also, we predicted that young terns would be more likely to beg at parents than nonparents. We found that young roseate terns begged at their parents more often than nonparents; however, they did not always beg at parents. Model predictions of begging probability showed a linear relationship between begging and time of day and date of season, such that begging increased with time of day and decreased with date of season, respectively. Our results provide evidence for honest parent–offspring interactions and are inconsistent with parent–offspring conflict theory but suggest that begging may play a complex role in postfledging parent–offspring interactions.OPEN RESEARCH BADGES This article has been awarded Open Data, Open materials Badges. All materials and data are publicly accessible via the Open Science Framework at https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.2656718.

Draft Genome Sequence of Aquitalea sp. Strain MWU14-2217, Isolated from a Wild Cranberry Bog in Provincetown, Massachusetts.

Aquitalea sp. strain MWU14-2217 was isolated from wild cranberry bog soils in the Cape Cod National Seashore. The draft genome is 4.3 Mbp with 4,133 coding sequences and contains predicted genes for phenazines, colicins, siderophores, and putative exporters of these compounds and genes responsible for motility and biofilm formation.

Draft Genome Sequence of Pseudomonas sp. Strain MWU12-2534b, Isolated from a Wild Cranberry Bog in Truro, Massachusetts.

An unknown Pseudomonas sp. most closely related to Pseudomonas ficuserectae and Pseudomonas protegens was isolated from the rhizospheres of wild cranberry plants in the Cape Cod National Seashore, in the United States. The draft genome of MWU12-2534b is 6.7 Mbp, has 63.32% GC content, and contains multiple potential virulence and antibiotic resistance genes.

Draft Genome Sequences of Pseudomonas MWU13-2625 and MWU12-2115, Isolated from a Wild Cranberry Bog at the Cape Cod National Seashore.

Two highly similar Pseudomonas sp. genome sequences from wetland bog soil isolates with draft genomes of ~6.3 Mbp are reported. Although the exact taxonomic placement and environmental roles of these bacteria are unclear, predicted genes for stress tolerance, antibiotic resistance, and a type VI secretion system were detected.

Recent groundwater and lake-stage trends in Cape Cod National Seashore: relationships with sea level rise, precipitation, and air temperature

AbstractHydrological features on Cape Cod, Massachusetts, USA, include groundwater, freshwater lakes, permanent and seasonal ponds, streams, and estuaries. Rainfall and evaporation/evapotranspiration have long been considered the dominant factors influencing both lake and groundwater levels in this sole-source, unconfined aquifer. However, increases in sea level may also have an effect, especially on this narrow peninsula with a sandy substrate of high permeability. In this study, we analyzed trends between 2000 and 2017 in eleven groundwater wells and nine kettle ponds situated with Cape Cod National Seashore (CCNS). We further explored relationships of these hydrologic variables with local precipitation, temperature and sea level during this period. The results suggest that while precipitation patterns influence seasonal and inter-annual variability, it appears that sea level rise (SLR) may be partially responsible for driving the longer-term trend of rising groundwater levels in several wells. Pond stages did not exhibit any statistically significant trends, and responded more to precipitation during this period of time. Notwithstanding, further acceleration of SLR, along with potential changes in precipitation patterns, can alter the freshwater hydrology of CCNS that may subsequently have biological, chemical, and physical effects throughout these systems.

Assessing the movements of American horseshoe crabs (Limulus polyphemus) around a marine protected area in Cape Cod, MA, USA

Marine protected areas (MPAs) can be useful for conservation efforts, yet the effectiveness of MPAs relies on their size and location, as well as the spatial ecology of the focal species. We investigated the effectiveness of a small MPA adjacent to Cape Cod, MA (USA) for protecting American horseshoe crabs (Limulus polyphemus). We used a fixed acoustic telemetry array to study the spatial ecology of 24 adult horseshoe crabs off the coast of Chatham, Massachusetts, from June 2010 to November 2011. Two groups of horseshoe crabs were tagged in spawning habitats (separated by ∼2.0 km) with differing commercial harvesting pressure: one group inside Stage Harbor where harvesting is permitted, and the other within Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge and the Cape Cod National Seashore (the MPA) where harvesting is prohibited. In the first year of study, crabs tagged in the MPA did not go to Stage Harbor, but instead remained in the MPA and adjacent high-energy beach, whereas crabs tagged in Stage Harbor moved throughout the entire study area. In the second year of study, crabs from both tagging locations used all areas. All crabs generally moved greater distances in the MPA than in other areas, and the majority of movement we recorded was in late spring and summer. All crabs that we tagged used similar areas around Cape Cod. The MPA only provides protection when crabs are in that area, which may only be for a few months of the year. Given that all crabs used Stage Harbor, they were all exposed to potential harvest, but the MPA did provide some protection for all crabs.

Draft Genomic Sequences of Chromobacterium sp. nov. Strains MWU13-2610 and MWU14-2602, Isolated from Wild Cranberry Bogs in Massachusetts.

ABSTRACTChromobacterium sp. nov. strains MWU13-2610 and MWU14-2602 were isolated from cranberry bogs in the Cape Cod National Seashore. These nonpigmented bacteria represent two new presumptive species of the rapidly growing genus Chromobacterium. Gene homologs are present for multiple antibiotic resistance, virulence functions, and prophages.

Changes in the thermal structure of freshwater lakes within Cape Cod National Seashore (Massachusetts, USA) from 1996 to 2014

Freshwater lakes throughout many parts of the world have undergone substantial warming in response to climate change. In southern New England, within Cape Cod National Seashore (CCNS; Massachusetts, USA), numerous freshwater lakes known as “kettle ponds” scattered throughout the landscape have exhibited increasing surface water temperatures for the past 2 decades. In this study, we examined changes in summer air temperatures, wind speeds, underwater light transmission (3 of the primary factors influencing lake thermal structure), and the temperature profiles of 9 ponds from 1996 to 2014. Mean, minimum, and maximum daily air temperatures all increased significantly while mean daily maximum and average wind speeds declined. The attenuation of light to 50% and 25% of surface intensities occurred at significantly greater depths in 7 ponds, whereas the depths at which light transmission was 1% of surface values increased in 3 ponds. Thermocline depths became shallower in 2 ponds while temperature between surface and bottom waters increased in 6 ponds. Bottom waters exhibited significant cooling in 4 ponds while Schmidt stability values (which indicate the strength of thermal stratification) increased in 5 ponds. Thermocline depth among ponds was positively correlated with light transmission variables for the majority of years between 1996 and 2014, and all temperature variables were significantly correlated with mean daily air temperature. The patterns indicate a general strengthening of thermal stability during the summer and seem to be related to increasing local air temperatures and reduced wind speeds. Implications of changes in the thermal properties of CCNS ponds are discussed in the context of potential physical, chemical, and ecological processes.