Jellyfish and Turtles and Pathogens in July, Oh My!

Citizen Water Quality Monitors during Week 1 of IDEXX Sampling

Rally for the waterways July 26th meeting focused on invasive and local critters. Dr. Paul Bologna, Director of Marine Biology and Coastal Sciences at Montclair State University, spoke about clinging jellyfish in the Shrewsbury River and other estuaries throughout the state. These tiny, non-native jellyfish with a painful sting were first found in New Jersey waters in 2016 and were once again spotted this summer in the Shrewsbury and Metedeconk Rivers, as well as Barnegat Bay.

Dr. Bologna discussing Clinging Jellyfish in the Navesink and Shrewsbury Rivers

The meeting also featured local residents of the Jersey shore: Northern Diamondback Terrapins. Michael Haughwout, a biology teacher at Rumson Fair Haven High School, is working with colleagues and students to learn more about terrapin populations in the Navesink and Shrewsbury River watersheds.

Michael Haughwout discussing Diamondback Terrapins

Finally, an overview of year two of the Navesink River Ambient Source Track Down Program and the recently initiated IDEXX study was provided by COA’s Staff Scientist Dr. Swarna Muthukrishnan.