HISTORICAL CHANGES IN THE ECOLOGICAL HEALTH OF THE NEWARK BAY ESTUARY, NEW-JERSEY

A review of ecological conditions in the Newark Bay estuary over the p ast century was conducted to characterize chemical, physical, and biol ogical indices of the health of the estuary and to evaluate the relati onship of these trends with past and current urban-industrial influenc es within the watershed. The available data indicate that both the div ersity and the abundance of aquatic species within the estuary have be en substantially reduced since the late 1800s due to the intense indus trialization and urbanization that occurred throughout the region. Wat er and sediment quality in major rivers and bays linked to the estuary have also been severely impacted. In addition, significant natural ha bitat has been destroyed as a result of industrial development, urban expansion, and shoreline modifications. Each of these parameters direc tly influences the status and condition of the ecological community, a nd their deterioration has likely been the cause of multiple adverse i mpacts on the overall health of the ecosystem. Review of more recent s tudies of sediment and water quality indicates that pollution control measures and the reduction or control of other environmental stressors have produced a gradual improvement in the ecosystem over the past 2 decades. (C) 1994 Academic Press,Inc.