Date of Award

5-2026

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

College/School

College of Science and Mathematics

Department/Program

Marine Biology and Coastal Sciences

Thesis Sponsor/Dissertation Chair/Project Chair

Paul A.X. Bologna

Committee Member

Matthew Schuler

Committee Member

Dirk Vanderklein

Abstract

Blooms of Chrysaora chesapeakei (bay nettles) have increased sharply in Barnegat Bay, New Jersey, reducing both ecological integrity and economic value. Because population expansion is driven primarily by the benthic polyp stage, where individuals attach to hard substrates and reproduce asexually, effective management must target the surfaces where polyps settle and clone themselves. The rapid growth of artificial infrastructure, particularly vinyl docks and bulkheads, has expanded available habitat for polyp recruitment. Scrubbing these structures has been shown to reduce ephyrae production, but it remains unclear whether both docks and bulkheads warrant equal management attention. This study compared recruitment on horizontal dock surfaces and vertical bulkheads and found significantly higher polyp densities on dock undersides. These results indicate that scrubbing efforts should prioritize dock structures, which contribute disproportionately to polyp abundance. Targeted removal of polyps from these surfaces represents the most effective strategy for reducing bay nettle populations and improving ecological conditions in Barnegat Bay and similar estuaries impacted by recurring jellyfish blooms.

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