Bigelow Laboratory Researchers Share Insights into a Changing Gulf of Maine

Bigelow Laboratory Researchers Share Insights into a Changing Gulf of Maine

This week, researchers gathered for the annual Regional Association for Research on the Gulf of Maine (RARGOM) meeting, centered on the theme "Navigating Change in the Gulf of Maine: Science, People, and the Next Generation." The conference explored how science, research, and collaboration can build a better understanding of the changing region and deepen resilience for the future.

The event featured keynote speakers, research presentations, lightning talks, and a poster session, bringing together scientists and others working to understand and address the challenges facing the dynamic Gulf of Maine. Bigelow Laboratory served as an organizational partner, with several researchers presenting their work and many others contributing to the meeting.

Below, meet the Bigelow Laboratory researchers who presented at the meeting and learn more about their research.

Kelp Forests of Cashes Ledge: A "Bright Spot" in the Gulf of Maine

Presenter: Senior Research Scientist Doug Rasher.

This presentation examined the resilience of globally threatened cold-water kelp forests. Using a long-term dataset, Rasher and the team showed how an offshore underwater mountain called Cashes Ledge has become an ecological "bright spot" in a warming Gulf of Maine. The researchers found that despite a decade of ocean warming, marine heat waves, and the rise of invasive turf algae, the ecosystem has maintained high kelp biomass and fish biomass, setting the stage for new discoveries into the drivers of resilience in this ecosystem and how it may enhance reef recovery elsewhere.

Physiological Responses of Eelgrass (Zostera marina) Under Elevated Temperatures in the Gulf of Maine

Presenter: 2026 Undergraduate Research Experience intern Aslan Gustafson.

This flash talk explored physiological responses in eelgrass, a marine plant with important ecological roles. After collecting eelgrass from three Maine sites, the researchers assessed stress weekly by examining changes in photosynthetic efficiency, growth rate, survival, and progression of eelgrass wasting disease. Sites included Upper Flag Island, Great Salt Bay, and Sand Cove. The research sets the stage for future investigations into the physiological factors and trade-offs driving thermal tolerance to improve eelgrass conservation and restoration strategies.

A Privacy-Preserving, Open-Source AI framework for Gulf of Maine Socio-Ecological data

Presenter: 2026 REU intern and Sea Change student Anas Abuamar.

This poster presented an open-source AI framework that brings together marine environmental, social, and economic data through the National Ocean Economics Program, making them easier to explore through a web-based tool. The tool supports natural language exploration of datasets, maps, and time series, and links back to the original data sources. Using a Gulf of Maine case study, the researchers showed how the framework can connect environmental changes with local ocean economy trends for more accessible and transparent use.

A Multidecadal Increase in Jellyfish in the Gulf of Maine

Presenter: Senior Research Scientist Nick Record.

This poster examined multiple datasets for evidence of the Jelly Ocean Hypothesis, which proposes that gelatinous zooplankton are increasing worldwide in response to changing ocean conditions. The research found evidence of a statistically significant increase in some gelatinous species in the Gulf of Maine, including salps, siphonophores, and scyphozoans. The findings suggest that increases in gelatinous species may be associated with surface temperature, bottom temperature, and oxygen, depending on taxonomic group.

Linking the Diet of Key Copepods in the Gulf of Maine to Interannual Phytoplankton Taxonomic Variability

Presenter: Senior Research Scientist Karen Stamieszkin.

This poster investigated how changes in phytoplankton abundance, composition, and seasonal patterns affect zooplankton populations. The trophic linkage between phytoplankton and zooplankton is a critical step in energy and nutrient transfer, but it remains unclear how changes in phytoplankton communities affect their predators. To explore this relationship in the Gulf of Maine, researchers analyzed two long-term phytoplankton datasets alongside stable isotope data from two copepod species, Calanus finmarchicus and Centropages typicus. They used these data to identify which phytoplankton the copepods were eating and compare changes in their diets with shifts in phytoplankton communities over time.

Differential Effects of Seasonal Temperatures on Epizootic Shell Disease of American Lobster in Maine from 2003-2025

Presenter: Research Scientist Reyn Yoshioka.

This poster highlighted how rising ocean temperatures affect epizootic shell disease (ESD) in American lobsters (Homarus americanus) in the Gulf of Maine. Molting is a critical defense against the disease, but warming waters are shifting molt timing and making it less predictable. To better understand these relationships, researchers analyzed lobster disease data from 2003 to 2025 alongside estimated bottom temperatures. They found that lobsters are molting earlier over time and that warmer winter temperatures were most consistently linked to higher rates of shell disease. These findings highlight the importance of seasonal temperature changes and shifting molting patterns in determining future prevalence of ESD in Maine's lobster fishery.

Several other Bigelow Laboratory researchers contributed to work presented at the conference, including senior research scientists Maya Groner, Catherine Mitchell, and Nicole Poulton; senior research associates Johnathan Evanilla, Brittney Honisch, and Benjamin Tupper; research associates Laura Lubelczyk and Maura Niemisto; Research Technician Lydia Panard; co-op student Omi Johnson; former Postdoctoral Research Scientist Melissa Rocker; former Research Technician Kirsten Johnston; and 2026 REU interns Jessica Nordengren and Ariana Raschid Farrokhi.