AN ANALYSIS OF THE EFFECTS OF SHORELINE DEVELOPMENT ON LOWER TROPHIC LEVEL FRESHWATER ORGANISM DIVERSITY AND ABUNDANCE IN MASSACHUSETTS

We analyzed the effects of shoreline development along pond/lake ecosystems to determine its impact on lower trophic level aquatic life. We sampled fifteen pond/lake ecosystems in Massachusetts weekly for five weeks, using bait fish traps to measure species diversity, abundance, and characteristics, which was then compared to shoreline development using satellite imaging.