Ecosystem Modeling in Cobscook Bay, Maine: A Boreal, Macrotidal Estuary 2004 Northeastern Naturalist Vol. 11, Special Issue 2 Preface By 1995, The Nature Conservancy had been working for several decades with state and local partners at Cobscook Bay, one of the most biologically diverse ecosystems on the Atlantic Coast. Together we had protected some spectacular tracts of wildlife habitat around Cobscook Bay, but a major piece of the puzzle was missing. Traditionally, The Nature Conservancy had focused its protection efforts and research resources on terrestrial sites. When, ten years ago, we embarked on an ecosystem-scale, marine-focused research initiative in Cobscook Bay, we were diving into new waters—literally. Cobscook Bay is unique, both above and below the waterline. The research you hold in your hands is proof of that. The men and women who live and work in Cobscook Bay, as well as those responsible for management of its resources, face important decisions that affect livelihoods and neighborhoods and the Bay itself. To make the best informed decisions possible, we all need to understand the impacts and implications of the choices before us. Science, we believe, has an essential role to play. The Nature Conservancy, thanks to generous support from the Mellon Foundation designed to foster interdisciplinary ecosystem research, was fortunate to have an opportunity to bring together a diverse team of accomplished scientists. Our common goal was to gather—and disseminate—information about the Cobscook Bay marine ecosystem, encompassing both scientific results and local knowledge that would prove both useful in the management and conservation of the Bay and relevant to its residents, communities, and marinebased industries. We are at the 10-year anniversary of this undertaking and it is an auspicious moment to share even more broadly the research findings and general conclusions and highlight some critical remaining questions. We are proud of the collaborative research effort The Nature Conservancy’s initial grant sparked at Cobscook Bay. But our hope is that this compendium of papers will ignite still more interest in this remarkable place and in ecosystem approaches to marine research. We encourage others to use this as a foundation on which to build. We hope that in the next decade the knowledge gained from this research will be used to support decisions that will sustain the biological diversity and commercial productivity of Cobscook Bay and similar estuarine habitats of the northwest Atlantic. With deep appreciation to all who contributed their time and talents to the research reported here and to bringing this special volume to fruition, and particular thanks to Peter Larsen whose initiative, careful editorship, fortitude, and perseverance made this special volume of Northeastern Naturalist happen. Barbara Vickery Director of Conservation Programs The Nature Conservancy