Upcoming Meeting Information

AERS enjoys top-notch estuarine science at the Academy of Natural Sciences

AERS descended upon Center City, Philadelphia for our two-day Spring Meeting at the historic Academy of Natural Sciences. The Academy was a perfect location for our semi-annual gathering and Dave Velinsky (Acting Director of the Patrick Center for Environmental Research) and Matt Osiecki (Facilities Sales Director) were gracious hosts. They evidently had forgotten all about the shenanigans that occurred the last time unruly estuarine scientists invaded the Academy, back in 1961. This time AERS members were generally well-behaved, and no incidents were reported.

The AERS Board Meeting was held in the Academy’s Darwin Room and the Thursday evening reception and beverage consumption event was held in North American Hall, among impressive dioramas of large mammals. Brock Catering provided hors d’oeuvres. The pigs-in-a-blanket were particularly tasty, as were the desserts. A fascinating exhibit entitled “Frogs” was in residence at the Academy and many AERS members were observed sneaking off to check it out throughout the meeting.

Our Keynote Speaker, Jon Sharp (University of Delaware), delivered an engaging historical perspective on water quality in the Delaware Estuary. His presentation was followed by a panel of invited speakers including Danielle Kreeger and Kellie Westervelt (Partnership for the Delaware Estuary), Kenneth Strait (PSEG’s Estuary Enhancement Program), and Dave Velinsky. AERS Board member Dave Osgood moderated the morning panel presentations, which were followed by a lively question and answer session.

The afternoon session included a diverse array of contributed papers. We learned about invasive crustaceans, diamondback terrapins, and oil spills. The coveted Venerable Clam was awarded to long-time AERS member and former AERS President Alice (“A.J.”) Lippson, co-author and illustrator of “Life in the Chesapeake Bay”.

A certificate of honorary AERS membership was presented to a distinguished guest of honor, Ruth Patrick. Dr. Patrick founded the Academy’s Limnology Department (now the Patrick Center for Environmental Research) in 1947, and at age 98, maintains her position as a Senior Curator at the Academy. Upon receiving her honorary membership certificate, Dr Patrick related some fond memories of the early days of estuarine science in the mid-Atlantic region.

At the AERS Business meeting, Chris Swarth handed over the AERS presidential gavel to Dave Yozzo. Ideas and dates were discussed for the Fall AERS Meeting, to be held in Baltimore, in early October 2006. Our Nominations Committee was unable to find any candidates for the elected position of AERS Treasurer, so Leila Hamdan has agreed to continue serving in this capacity. We hope to locate two suitable candidates for the position by the fall meeting. If anyone is interested in joining the AERS Board and serving as Treasurer please contact Dave Osgood, Nominations Chair.

Following the conclusion of the business meeting, the Friday evening poster session was held in the North American Hall, and attendees wandered freely between the beverage station in Dinosaur Hall and the poster displays.

The Friday evening banquet, held in Dinosaur Hall, was a great success. While attendees munched on salmon and chicken, Ken Hayes, President of Aqua Survey, Inc. (and one of our co-sponsors), entertained us with a slide show documenting his recent underwater exploration of Cleopatra’s palace in the 3000 year old lost Egyptian city of Heracleion.

Everyone was up early on Saturday to hear two more sessions of contributed presentations. Then came the Student Award Ceremony…The award for best graduate oral presentation went to Celine Santiago-Bass, of Rutgers University, for her presentation entitled “Effects of heavy gill parasite burdens on the anatomy, physiology and behavior of Fundulus heteroclitus.” The award for best undergraduate oral presentation went to Gerald Bright, of the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center and Howard University, for his presentation entitled “Comparison of habitat utilization between juvenile hatchery-reared and wild blue crabs.” Finally, the award for best poster went to our Program Chair, Dave Gillett, of VIMS, for his poster entitled “Macrobenthic production in disturbed and non-disturbed shallow estuarine habitat.”

After the festivities were over, a small group of intrepid meeting attendees braved the unseasonably warm, sunny weather and made their way down to the John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum Marsh, where we were met by Nicole Saunders of Entrix. Nicole worked on an emergency spill response and subsequent remediation of tidal wetlands and shoreline areas within the refuge following a nearby oil pipeline rupture in February 2000. Chris Swarth, Julie Ambler, Rich Isleib, Susan Adamowicz and Dave Yozzo hiked the area, observing birds, turtles, and acrobatic carp in the tidal shallows. Dave managed to find an egg-shaped mass of fur and scales that we think may have been coughed up by an owl!!!

Many individuals worked very hard to make the meeting a success. Dave Osgood and Dave Yozzo served as local hosts. Dave Gillette of VIMS did a great job assembling the meeting program. Leila Hamdan and Student Endowment Chair Pete Straub handled registration and T-shirt sales during the conference. Joel Hoffman kept the web site humming along with up-to-date conference information. Thanks to ERF President Bob Christian for joining us and informing us about “a post-modern coast. “ Finally we wish to thank our several co-sponsors who generously donated funds to help defray the costs of having a meeting in an urban locale, while still managing to keep registration costs low.

Academy of Natural Sciences

Albright College

Aqua Survey, Inc.

Barry A. Vittor & Associates, Inc.

ENSR/AECOM

HydroQual Inc.

Partnership for the Delaware Estuary

PSEG Estuary Enhancement Program

The best part is that each of our co-sponsors made a significant contribution to the meeting. Co-sponsor representatives served on our expert panel, delivered contributed oral and poster presentations, entertained and informed us at the banquet, provided student volunteers, and even organized a late night billiards tournament at the Best Western (Thanks Cap’n Al and Jim…).

-Dave Yozzo, AERS President

Thanks to all of our meeting sponsors!