URI graduate students Annie Innes-Gold and Maggie Heinichen pose with one of the fish they studied to develop a model of the Narragansett Bay food web. (Photo courtesy of Maggie Heinichen)
KINGSTON, R.I. – December 11, 2020 – A team of scientists at the University of Rhode Island is creating a series of computer models of the food web of Narragansett Bay to simulate how the ecosystem will respond to changes in environmental conditions and human uses. The models will be used to predict how fish abundance will change as water temperatures rise, nutrient inputs vary, and fishing pressure fluctuates.
“A model like this allows you to test things and anticipate changes before they happen in the real ecosystem,” said Maggie Heinichen, a graduate student at the URI Graduate School of Oceanography. “You want to be able to prepare for changes that are likely to happen, so the model provides a starting point to ask questions and see what might happen if different actions are taken.
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Other communities have also raised concerns recently about wipes causing clogs, the DEM said.
The DEM first warned of the problem with flushed wipes in March, as the coronavirus pandemic was taking hold, and people increased their use of the wipes.
People should not flush any types of wipes, including baby wipes and wipes labeled disposable, according to the DEM. Wipes are made to be durable and don t easily break down in sewer lines and pumping stations the way toilet paper does. Wipes should be thrown in the trash.
The problem isn t restricted to Rhode Island, but flushed wipes are causing problems around the country and other parts of the world, according to Matthew Puglia, a senior engineer in the DEM’s Office of Water Resources - Wastewater Treatment Facility Operations and Maintenance program.