This fall, Salem Sound Coastwatch was pleased to work with Endicott College intern, Atticus Scott. A senior environmental science student, Atticus was involved in a variety of our field studies and scientific research focusing on the restoration of salt marsh and eelgrass habitats.
Atticus worked with Alison on our WHOI SeaGrant study, which investigated the use of eelgrass seeds to restore local meadows. Atticus tediously tested thousands of eelgrass seeds the size of a rice grain, recording each seed’s fall velocity and using a chemical stain to identify the viability of each seed. He also conducted statistical analyses of the collected data to uncover trends between the 17 eelgrass meadows throughout Massachusetts. Next, Atticus assisted with a field germination experiment to assess whether eelgrass seeds could germinate in our waters, which required him to wade waist-deep in the waters off Winter Island to plant a test plot of seeds.
In addition to studying eelgrass habitats, Atticus joined Barbara and Alison with long-term monitoring of the Good Harbor marsh in Gloucester. He identified and estimated the abundance of salt marsh vegetation, sampled the water’s salinity, and measured the creek’s rate of erosion to track how the marsh responds to climate change. For his independent project, Atticus enlisted help from an Endicott College environmental science class to monitor the vegetation of the Thissell Marsh on the college’s campus. He then compared the results to past datasets. He constructed a StoryMap to document the Endicott marsh’s condition with the hope of influencing decision-makers to restore the collapsed culvert that connects the marsh to Salem Sound.
He has played an invaluable part in so many of our local efforts including testing the water quality of local streams and tributaries. Of his time at Salem Sound Coastwatch, Atticus remarks: “During my internship at Salem Sound Coastwatch, I used GIS technology to track changes in salt marshes over time, among other projects. I was able to cite this experience in my graduate school application and, as a result, I was offered a graduate assistantship by a University of Rhode Island professor who uses GIS to track marsh migration. I believe this wouldn’t have been possible without this internship!”
Congratulations, Atticus! We wish you all the best with your future environmental endeavors and can’t wait to see what you’ll accomplish next!
