A Day on the Water: Fieldwork in Peconic and Shinnecock Bay

By Charlotte Rhoads

​Since joining the Tzortziou lab in early June, my anticipation of participating in a fieldwork trip to the Long Island Sound had been building. The Tzortziou lab focuses on the critical research of coastal ecosystems which are rich in biodiversity and productivity yet highly vulnerable to human pressures and climate change. In the summertime, our team sets out to collect valuable data contributing to the understanding of dissolved organic matter (DOM) dynamics in estuarine environments. My first opportunity to embark on a fieldwork trip arose at the end of July when our team chartered a fishing boat in Peconic and Shinnecock Bay on Long Island Sound. The primary objectives were to collect hyperspectral reflectance spectra data and water samples for later analysis in the lab. Our team, consisting of Kyle Turner, research associate, Tong Lin, PhD student, and Ella Frederike Jacobs, summer outreach and communications intern, met at the Center of Discovery and Innovation on the morning of July 25th. Once the equipment was packed into the car and our podcast for the ride was chosen, we embarked on our journey from the bustling New York City to the serene coastal towns of Long Island.

Captain Brad's no banana policy.

Dunes of Meschutt Beach.

Kyle taking an SVC measurement.

Our guide for the day was Captain Brad Ries, an experienced fisherman in the area. He has taken various groups of Tzortziou lab members out on sampling trips before so he was familiar with our equipment and sampling needs. We met him on his boat Someday Came just after a very fruitful fishing charter returned from the morning session. After confirming the absence of bananas on board (a strict rule on his boat), we set sail from the docks. Captain Brad skillfully navigated us through the lock of Shinnecock Canal, revealing picturesque views of white dunes, evergreen shrubs, and billowing clouds.

Stopping at seven spots across Peconic Bay, Riverhead, and Shinnecock Bay, we relied on Captain Brad's expertise to find interesting measurement locations. At one point, we encountered a large patch of red tide, a harmful algal bloom event that turned the water a distinctive copper color. Urgency filled the air as we collected water samples, took notes, and conducted reflectance measurements, while pondering out loud what this water might look like back in the lab. At each station, we filled 4-liter water bottles, dropped the secchi disk (for a turbidity measurements), deployed the EX02 (water quality sonde) and learned to use the SVC (spectroradiometer). After a long and fulfilling afternoon, we returned to the docks with a boat heavier than when we set out, carrying a cooler filled with water. 
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This day out on the water not only provided valuable data for the Tzortziou lab's research but also offered a unique opportunity to witness the beauty of Long Island Sound. As we packed up the car with our precious cargo, the excitement of our fieldwork lingered, promising an evening of analysis and insights into the dynamics of an intricate coastal ecosystem.