Research Being Done at Horn Point Laboratory:
One topic of research ongoing at Horn Point Laboratory is on the harmful algal blooms in the Chesapeake Bay. These algal blooms deoxygenate the water in the Chesapeake Bay and have cascading effects on marine life in the Bay. Certain types of algae can release toxins that kill fish, and algal blooms can also clog the gills of fish. With more toxins being released by algae, they can accumulate in certain fish or shellfish that humans eat, posing a toxicity risk to humans. Horn Point Laboratory studies the physiology of harmful algae to better understand them and to make predictive models of harmful algal blooms.
Another topic of research ongoing at Horn Point Laboratory is the Shellfish Aquaculture Innovation Laboratory (SAIL). The purpose of SAIL is to address unsustainable aquaculture/harvesting of shellfish in the Chesapeake Bay and to do research on shellfish, which can be an indicator species of the health of the Bay. To address this Horn Point Lab has oyster breeding stations and laboratory areas to study these oysters and restore Chesapeake Bay oyster populations.
Horn Point Laboratory also partakes in a restoration program at Polar Island where they monitor and research the wetlands on the island to understand sustainability there. They are doing this restoration because of how a lot of island habitats in the Chesapeake Bay have been lost for various reasons. These island habitat ecosystems are important for species like birds. Horn Point Laboratory, along with the US Army Corps of Engineers, places dredged material from the Chesapeake Bay on Poplar Island to help restore this habitat.
Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge:
Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge’s main purpose is to be a sanctuary for waterfowl that migrate along the Atlantic Flyway, a flyway along the East coast of North America that migratory birds follow. The refuge is a conservatory area for birds, plants, and other animals.
The tides effects on the local environment are visible through the way that treeline has been pushed back and many burnt trees are present in the environment, this is evidence of a rise in local sea level and more saltwater being present.
Outreach done by HPL and BNWR:
Horn Point Laboratory offers tours of their oyster research laboratories and they also have a program where people from local businesses or the community can donate their oyster shells to a giant pile on the campus. Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge has the Wildlife Drive around the refuge with a guided tour that helps visitors understand what is going on at the refuge and educates them about the environment.