What are the levels of human activities that may influence water quality and how are they changing?
Although there is visitation to the site, typically by charter fishing boats, there are relatively few hazardous discharges, minimal debris at present, or other known impacts on the water quality at the sanctuary. Thus, few human activities occur that are likely to negatively affect water quality. The trend is not changing. Habitat and Living Resources Since designation in 1975, Monitor National Marine Sanctuary has focused primarily on documenting, preserving and managing the remains of the Monitor. Because of this focus, studies have been conducted regarding the habitats and living resources of the sanctuary. In 1982, scientists from Pennsylvania State University conducted a study of organisms encrusting the hull of the Monitor shipwreck. They examined the wreck’s concretionary crust for growth and diversity of bryozoans tiny polyps that live in colonies attached to hard objects on the seafloor. The study identified 11 species of encrusting cheilostome bryozoans, serpulid worms, cora
