Austin et al.

Determining How New Jersey Fish Populations Are Affected

Throughout the Years as Water Temperature Rises

Haley Austin, Sophia Barnes, Theodore Cooke, Shayne Lada, Alexandra Scrofani

haley.austin@ocvts.org , sophia.barnes@ocvts.org , theodore.cooke@ocvts.org ,

shayne.lada@ocvts.org , alexandra.scrofani@ocvts.org

Marine Academy of Technology and Environmental Science

Research Proposal

9/22/23
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Introduction:

Over the course of the past couple decades, climate change has taken a significant toll on

the environment as well as plant and animal species. Many species have died out due to lack of

habitat, shift in weather patterns, and rise in global temperature. For fish specifically, a rise in

water temperatures across the globe are making it nearly impossible for most species to adapt

and survive (Clemente, 2020). In turn, this affects the oceanic food chain, causing mass

disruption. Global fish populations could be detrimentally impacted (The impact of climate

change, 2023). The proposed study will compare current New Jersey fish populations to past

data, determining if recent warm water has brought more tropical species. According to the

hypothesis, tropical populations as a whole should be greater, especially due to an increase in

water temperature. If this is proven, it will spark more realization in the public that climate

change is having a drastic effect on the environment. They will be able to see the comparison in

current research and the past data collected, which will inspire more people to try and prevent

climate change for the future and for the species that are still surviving today.

Hypothesis:

When the temperature in the ocean rises, species that are native to tropical regions will

appear more frequently in the Barnegat Bay.

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Justification:

Climate change is an ever growing issue that necessitates action. The study will help to

justify this action by proving the effects of rising ocean temperatures. Tropical fish use warm

water as their habitat, but as the global water temperatures increase, this habitat is spreading

(Bard 2023). Based on these observations, one could easily conclude that more tropical fish

would be present in current collections as compared to past data. The research that will be

conducted strives to prove the effects of climate change and global warming.

Methodology:

1. Seine using a seine net, two pairs of waders, and a five-gallon bucket in five

different locations and record and count all species found.

2. Compare data to Rutgers University ichthyoplankton records and observe trends.

(Smith et al.)

a. For example, look for variation in species type or quantity

Sites:

This experiment will be conducted at multiple locations:

- Sands Point in Waretown

- Oyster Creek

- Forked River Beach

- Bay Beach in Lanoka Harbor

- Cattus Island in Toms River

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Estimated Timeline:

❖ September 2023 - November 2023

➢ September - Early October: Collect, observe, and count species

➢ Late October - Analyze collected species data

➢ November - Compare Rutgers Ichthyoplankton Data to collected data and draw

conclusions

References:

Bard, S. (2023). SDSU: Climate change is impacting the ocean’s top fish predators.

NewsCenter. https://newscenter.sdsu.edu/sdsu_newscenter/news_story.aspx?sid=79265

Clemente, S. (2020, July 24). How fish are being affected by climate change • The National

Wildlife Federation Blog. The National Wildlife Federation Blog.

https://blog.nwf.org/2020/07/how-fish-are-being-affected-by-climate-change/

Smith et al. (2023). The Distribution and Abundance of Ichthyoplankton in the Middle

Atlantic Bight as Determined from Coastal Surveys and Cite-Specific Surveys. Resource

Display Service. https://rucore.libraries.rutgers.edu/rutgers-lib/

The impact of climate change on our planet’s animals. IFAW. (2022).

https://www.ifaw.org/journal/impact-climate-change-animals

Warming of the oceans due to climate change will mean fewer productive fish species. NSF.

(n.d.). https://new.nsf.gov/news/warming-oceans-due-climate-change-will-mean-fewer