On April 16, 2020, the Connecticut Council on Environmental Quality published the Environmental Quality in Connecticut for 2019, which describes environmental conditions for the 2019 calendar year. Since its publication in April, additional data have been made available. The data and key findings are discussed below.
The Trend Favoring Warm-Adapted Species Continues for Connecticut's Songbirds
Historic data indicate that the composition of Connecticut's songbird population is changing. Songbirds that prefer warmer climates are increasing at a faster rate than cold-adapted songbird species. These data highlight the impact of the state's warming climate on its animal inhabitants.
The Health of Forests is Reflected in the Populations of Forest Birds
The number of birds nesting in Connecticut's forests has been shrinking. This is true for birds that nest in mature forests as well as for birds that nest in young forests and "shrublands." The 2019 nesting season (most recent data) brought a slight improvement for most forest-bird species, though some declined.
Acknowledgement: Pardieck, K.L., Ziolkowski Jr., D.J., Lutmerding, M., Aponte, V.I., and Hudson, M-A.R., 2020, North American Breeding Bird Survey Dataset 1966 - 2019: U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/P9J6QUF6.
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Connecticut Residents Are Increasing Their Driving
The daily vehicle miles traveled (DVMT) increased slightly in 2019, continuing a trend since 2013, which is believed to be in response to the economic recovery from the great recession. However, other factors may be influencing the increase in DVMT, including lower prices for transportation fuels, reduction in public transit ridership, and the increase in ride sharing (Uber, Lyft, etc). The impact of more driving potentially means more air pollution, especially the formation of ground level ozone.
Acknowledgement: Connecticut Department of Transportation and the Connecticut Department of Labor, https://www1.ctdol.state.ct.us/lmi/202/202_annualaverage.asp.
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Connecticut's Efforts to Reduce Nitrogen Discharges to Long Island Sound are Having Success
The effectiveness of Connecticut's approach to reducing nitrogen in the Sound is confirmed by the average level of dissolved nitrogen in the water of Long Island Sound. Levels have improved as Connecticut has reduced its nitrogen discharges.
Acknowledgement: Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
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Species Richness Remains High in Long Island Sound*
Finfish species diversity in Long Island Sound has increased, based on the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection's Long Island Sound Trawl Survey (LISTS) for both the spring and fall surveys. According to DEEP, "A high and stable number of finfish species indicates that the Sound is healthy and that a strong balance of species is able to exploit the full mix of resources available throughout this ecosystem".* This is consistent with data collected and analyzed to assess water quality in the Sound. The total area and duration of hypoxia in the Sound has generally decreased over the last ten years.How is climate change effecting species in the Sound?
While finfish species diversity remains high in the Sound, cold-adapted species are decreasing, while warm-adapted species are increasing - significantly. This trend toward warm-adapted species is the consequence of increasing water temperatures in Long Island Sound. **
The mass of finfish species caught per tow, during both the spring and fall surveys combined, has increased for finfish species, but declined for invertebrates, such as crabs, lobsters, mussels, etc.
The decline in invertebrate species has been dramatic for some species, such as the American lobster and crabs. Lobster landings have decreased from a high of over 3.7 million pounds in 1998 to just over 110,000 pounds in 2018 (most recent data) – almost a 97 percent drop. The decline in most invertebrate species surveyed is believed to be caused, in part, by changes in bottom water temperatures.
For more information on how a warming climate is affecting our environment, go the Council’s Annual Report.
Acknowledgement: Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
* CT DEEP Long Island Sound Trawl Survey (LISTS), 1984-2019; no fall tow data for 2010.
** In 2019, the average annual bottom water temperature for the Sound was above the average for the previous 28 years and the trend indicates an increase of approximately 13 percent over that same period.
*** "Total" does not include subtropical fish. Finfish species captured in the CT DEEP Long Island Sound Trawl Survey (LISTS) were divided into adaptation groups based on their temperature tolerance and seasonal spawning habits. A cold-adapted group (numbering 33 species) prefer water temperatures below 15C (60F), tend to spawn early in the year, and are more abundant north of the Sound than south of New York; a warm-adapted group (numbering 38 species) prefer warmer temperatures (11-22C or 50-72F), tend to spawn later, and are more abundant south of the Sound than north of Cape Cod.