Clifton Baldwin1,2 and Melissa Laurino1,2

1. Stockton University, 2. Cape May Whale Watch and Research Center

The Cape May Whale Watch & Research Center has been collecting data on cetacean sightings for over 14 years (2011 - present). During this time, there were more than 4200 ecotours where data were recorded off the coast of Cape May, New Jersey. The ecotour serves as a platform for scientific opportunity, with crew trained in systematic data collection techniques. Recorded observations include 10,454 observations of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops erebennus). Nevertheless, these data provide much more information than just descriptive statistics. Exploring the data on bottlenose dolphins against time and level of effort reveals interesting trends, across years as well as seasonality. The number of dolphins per level of effort has slightly decreased from approximately 9 animals per hour of effort (95% CI 9.26 ± 1.23) to about 7 animals per hour of effort (95% CI 6.61 ±1.40) in recent years. Although dolphin observations have occurred in every month when ecotours occurred (March through December), the dolphin population is most abundant in July through September when controlled for the level of effort. Furthermore, the data includes observations of juveniles and calves (95% CI [0.14, 0.24] animals per hour of effort from 2012-2024), whose presence can indicate a healthy and thriving dolphin population. Future research will explore the delineation of the two coastal Tursiops erebennus stocks and include aerial photographs from a drone for more accurate counts of animals. 

Jordan Davis*, Melissa Laurino, Clifton Baldwin, and Joseph Trout

Stockton University

As climate change continues to shape local and global conversations, the need for transparency in climate data is critical. The objective of this project is to create a climate database that spans the last 100 years in the United States (1925-2025). It has the minimum and maximum atmospheric (air) temperatures and cumulative precipitation averaged by hourly intervals. It is sourced from the National Centers for Environmental Information within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The data was collected using an API from NOAA. It is gathered from 50 different NOAA-affiliated Automated Surface Observing Systems (ASOS) and Automated Weather Observing Systems (AWOS), primarily located at airports from every state in the United States. This project is designed using Python, Spyder, and SQL. The annual data was originally recorded in hourly intervals, then reformatted into monthly averages across 50 separate files, each containing average minimum and maximum temperatures and precipitation. The data will be cleaned to handle missing values and aggregated into a SQL database that is a cumulative representation of the climate of the United States in every state over the past 100 years. It will function to have the potential to create polar and temperature distribution plots to explore questions regarding climate change. A future direction of this project will be to include this type of data from other countries, however, with ongoing censorship internally and externally, access to real open data sources is becoming more and more limited. 

Kaylee Graziano*

Atlantic Cape Community College

Year after year, the shores of the Delaware Bay become the grounds of a distinct natural phenomenon called the Horseshoe Crab Migration. From April to July, thousands of these sea creatures gather in our local town of Cape May to spawn, providing a positive impact to the native ecosystems. Their eggs become a vital food source, fueling the long flights of migratory birds and providing sustenance for all types of marine life. This once a year phenomenon shows that horseshoe crabs are not just impressive survivors of an ancient lineage, but are pivotal in sustaining life all across the Atlantic coast. However, these remarkable creatures face ever flowing challenges. Climate change, habitat loss, and overharvesting for biomedical research are now threatening their future. Nevertheless, despite these ongoing challenges, this migration is more than just an ecological event for Cape May. It's an economic lifeline, drawing researchers, wildlife enthusiasts, and tourists from around the globe. The beaches of Cape May, once a prime spawning ground, have become an influential platform for the admiration of nature and the urgent need for conservation. To protect these creatures, we must act now—preserving their habitats, supporting local conservation efforts, and participating in the advocacy for sustainable practices. Scientists have been using advanced tracking methods to try and understand how environmental shifts impact the migration. Meanwhile, the "reTURN the Favor" program encourages volunteers to rescue stranded crabs, ensuring that their journey back to the sea continues uninterrupted. The horseshoe crab migration is more than a seasonal spectacle; it is a true testament to the interconnected web of life that associates species in a universal manner. By supporting this migration, we are not just protecting a singular species — we are preserving the delicate equilibrium within our ecosystems and the countless lives that depend on them.

Raymond Hackney*, Julyana Donckers*

Atlantic Cape Community College

We intend to present a trifold poster that will impart knowledge of methylmercury, such that after reading the poster, anyone would have a fair understanding of methylmercury, even if this is their first experience with the subject. Our rundown of methylmercury includes the following subjects: what methylmercury is; natural and anthropogenic sources; how mercury is methylated; how methylmercury enters the food chain and is biomagnified; the dangers associated with acute or long-term exposure; how to safely consume seafood; the historical trends in concentration; and current and potential future ways to mitigate the risks.

PJ Hondros*

Stockton University 

Tidal flooding, exacerbated by relative sea level rise, presents an increasing threat to the economic, social, and environmental stability of the Jersey Shore. Cape May County, one of the most vulnerable counties in New Jersey, currently lacks a localized model that assesses future tidal flooding across a spectrum of relative sea level rise scenarios. This study analyzes near-continuous USGS derived tidal crest data throughout the county in the 21st century. Changes in tidal flooding severity and frequency are then modeled under localized NOAA relative sea level rise scenarios for a 50-year planning horizon, and categorically binned adhering to NWS gauge-specific thresholds. Throughout Cape May County, all USGS sampled gauges demonstrate a marked increase in tidal flooding over the 25 year study period. Under the lowest projected relative sea level rise scenario, the annual frequency of tidal flooding events, regardless of classification, is expected to increase several-fold relative to present-day baselines throughout the study area. This shift is most pronounced along the county’s eastern segment, where a tipping point in tidal flooding frequency is underway. These findings are critical for informing long-term adaptation and risk mitigation strategies, including infrastructure planning, zoning regulations, and flood resilience investments, all of which are in active consideration at present throughout the county. By quantifying both the frequency and intensity of future tidal flooding inundation, this study provides a framework for decision makers to prioritize adaptive responses.

Daniel Iovino*1,2, Melissa Laurino1,2, Clifton Baldwin1,2

1. Stockton University, 2. Cape May Whale Watch and Research Center

Humpback whales, Megaptera novaeangliae, follow an extensive staggered migration on both their Northern and Southern migrations along the Northeastern seaboard. Typically, the animals will travel North to colder, more productive feeding grounds in the summer months, and South towards warmer, tropical breeding grounds for the winter months. Along this migration, the Mid-Atlantic region, specifically Cape May, New Jersey, serves as an important feeding ground for this population throughout the year, but the exact reason for the shifting migration patterns of Humpback whales is not well understood. A combination of behavioral and environmental data collected by the Cape May Whale Watch and Research Center from 2011 to 2024 was analyzed, across 599 observations of Humpback whales. Humpback whales were observed from February to December, in all study months, within a water temperature range of 4.2-28.0 °C, and depth range of 2.83-104.8m. Geospatial location and datetime data will be explored to examine the distribution of the species in the study area. Individual whales documented in 2024 will be identified with photo-identification and natural markings on the dorsal fin and tail fluke to examine the time of residency, the number of new animals documented per year, and the number of resights. Investigating the presence of animals in this region is crucial for monitoring and understanding shifts in migration patterns over time. Analyzing their distribution off the coast of Cape May can also provide valuable insight into emerging challenges, including those related to climate change and regional anthropogenic threats during the ongoing Unusual Mortality Event (UMEs).

Tat Thinh Le*1, Melissa Laurino1,2, Clifton Baldwin1,2

1. Stockton University 2. Cape May Whale Watch and Research Center

There are many environmental factors that can affect the distribution and presence of marine species. For example, the distribution and abundance of marine mammal prey are influenced by environmental and temporal factors such as water parameters, which in turn affect the movement and migration patterns of marine mammals. A machine learning algorithm called random forest, which can provide accurate and reliable predictions, helps researchers identify the key factors important for observing marine species. The data used for analysis were collected from the Cape May Whale Watch and Research Center in Cape May, New Jersey, covering marine megafauna observations from 2012 to 2024. Observational data containing both categorical and numerical features were cleaned and analyzed using Python. The data were also encoded to be suitable for building the machine learning model. The outcome of this research identified the most important factors for predicting marine species, presented through a ranked list of factor importance. Model performance was visualized using graphs of accuracy and loss. Future research will involve expanding the dataset by exploring additional factors and testing alternative machine learning methods to further improve prediction accuracy.

Margvinatta Senesie*, Megan Fielding*, Tara Luke, Jaclyn Toth Sullivan, Melissa Laurino, Clifton Baldwin

Stockton University

Harbor Seals (Phoca vitulina) play a critical role in the food web of New Jersey’s coastal ecosystem. However, little is known about how seasonal changes or wind farm construction may impact their diet. This study investigates the dietary patterns of Harbor Seals in Great Bay, New Jersey, using fecal DNA (fDNA) analysis. By analyzing DNA extracted from scat samples collected between October 2022 and April 2023, we identified the presence of 20 specific fish species consumed by seals. We used Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) to amplify fish DNA, enabling precise species identification through alignment with known local fish. fDNA analysis provided a non-invasive way to study seal diet composition, offering a clearer picture of prey species consumed compared to traditional observational methods. This approach is critical as planned offshore wind farms near Great Bay could disrupt key fish species in the seals' diet. Analyses revealed significant seasonal and species-level dietary patterns. Frequency analysis identified Alosa spp., Brevoortia tyrannus, Pogonias cromis and Clupea harengus as the most consumed species across seasons, with seasonal differences. Each species appeared in 35% of the total samples. For example, Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus) was prominent in winter months, while species like Cynoscion spp. showed a stronger presence in spring. Time-series analyses further confirmed fluctuations in diet composition over time, and co-occurrence heatmaps revealed frequent associations between species such as black drum (Pogonias cromis) and Atlantic herring, indicating ecological interdependencies. A t-test demonstrated a few significant differences in prey frequencies between groups (p < 0.05). These results establish a critical baseline of seal diet composition, helping to monitor ecological shifts driven by environmental changes or human activities. This comprehensive dataset will inform conservation strategies, ensuring sustainable management of Great Bay’s marine resources amidst growing environmental challenges.

Kiera Shockley*

Atlantic Cape Community College 

My presentation is about Port and Starboard. These killer whales attack sharks and other prey. Why do their fins resemble the fins of a held captive orca. My conclusion is that Port and Starboard have unusual hunting traits. Port and Starboard are killer whales who reside in South Africa. They are actually two killer whales that really only sharks for their livers. The shark liver contains so many nutrients for the shark. They are about 20 years old and they are both males for these two orcas. They kill to eat and for sport. The fin can bend from pathology, old age, and anthropogenic factors. By what I have learned these orcas seem to attack sharks for their livers to collect nutrients and to not have to hunt smaller prey. Their hunting style is flipping the shark on its back rather than biting into its side. Thus collecting the liver from the body of the shark. They are named after the boat terms Port and Starboard. Port means left and starboard means right.

Garrett Testut*1,2, Melissa Laurino1,2

1. Stockton University 2. Cape May Whale Watch and Research Center

The Clean Ocean Initiative (COI), developed by the Cape May Whale Watch and Research Center (CMWWRC) in Cape May, New Jersey, is a community-based conservation program focused on mitigating the impacts of marine debris on local marine ecosystems. This initiative employs a dual approach of active debris removal and public education, leveraging ecotourism platforms to engage the public in marine stewardship. Marine debris, as defined by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), includes any persistent solid material that is manufactured or processed and directly or indirectly, intentionally or unintentionally, introduced into the marine environment. A significant finding of the COI is the high prevalence of mylar (foil) balloons, which represent the most frequently encountered debris type in the region from 2012-2024 (n > 860). These items, whether released intentionally or inadvertently, pose serious ecological threats due to their chemical composition and their potential to be mistaken for prey by marine organisms, leading to ingestion and associated health risks. During regular ecotours, trained crew members collect and log all observable marine debris while concurrently recording atmospheric and oceanic conditions. Onboard naturalists provide educational narration to inform and engage passengers, emphasizing the ecological consequences of marine pollution and promoting sustainable practices. This integrated model underscores the value of citizen science and ecotourism in advancing marine conservation and public awareness, reaching 10,951 passengers in 2024, including 1,563 children aged 0 to 12, and significantly amplifying the message of ocean stewardship while potentially inspiring the next generation of environmentalists.

Juwan Torres*

Atlantic Cape Community College

My poster presents an evaluation of the effects of developing advanced marine-sited wind-energy conversion systems (WECS) on surrounding ecosystems. While such infrastructure is vital to the global effort to decarbonise emissions, the submerged steel structures that anchor offshore turbines are lined with sacrificial anodes; these structures continuously leach toxic metals—aluminium, zinc, magnesium, chromium alloys, copper, and others—into the marine hydrosphere. Projections show that sediments will accumulate these metals, which bio-accumulate in filter feeders and, ultimately, in human consumers. Growth projections show trace-element concentrations are likely to exceed NOAA sediment-quality guidelines. Beyond chemical pollution, the high-voltage export and inter-array cables linking turbines to shore generate quasi-static electromagnetic fields (EMFs) that can alter the orientation, foraging, and migration of marine animals such as skates, sharks, and European eel. Although shielded direct-current lines attenuate field intensity, they do not eliminate the stimulus; therefore even impeccably engineered wind farms could impose a compound footprint of metal contamination and EMF disturbance. Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS) warrant serious consideration as a lower-impact alternative. Recent in-situ performance assessments at Utah-FORGE achieved distributed-zone excitations, demonstrating the ability to transfer heat from the underground reservoir to the surface effectively. Such results highlight EGS’s potential to provide dispatchable, sustainable, and virtually limitless energy with a far smaller ecological signature than current offshore WECS.

Ashley Watson*

Atlantic Cape Community College

Coral reefs are vital ecosystems that are rich in biodiversity. Over 4,000 species of marine life call them home. With the rise of global environmental issues such as increasing ocean temperatures, ocean acidification, pollution, and diseases that impact coral, there is a growing amount of coral bleaching all over the world. Coral bleaching occurs when environmental stressors cause coral polyps to expel photosynthetic microalgae cells called zooxanthellae, resulting in the corals losing their color and becoming white. Zooxanthellae and coral have an endosymbiotic relationship. Through the process of photosynthesis, zooxanthellae provide nutrients which are necessary for coral reef survival. Without zooxanthellae, corals become more susceptible to diseases, are unable to grow and reproduce, and will eventually die if they cannot reabsorb the symbiotic algae. Due to coral’s sensitive nature, environmental factors play a significant role in the health of coral reefs. When these factors step outside their normal parameters, it damages zooxanthellae, causing the coral to discharge the damaged cells. Since 1998 there have been four global bleaching events, the most recent event started in January 2023 and is still ongoing today. NOAA has reported that the mass bleaching event we are currently experiencing is the largest one recorded to date and has impacted 83.7% of the world’s coral reef systems. If the reefs are unable to recover, we can expect to see a widespread decline in the population of many species of marine life. We will also experience more coastal damage from erosion and flooding because coral reefs would no longer be able to function as a barrier that protects shores from wave energy. There could also be food shortages in coastal communities, and setbacks in medical research. While these observations are concerning, more research is necessary to fully understand the complex nature of these marine ecosystems.