Life Sciences Commons^™

Food Of The Atlantic Croaker, Micropogonias Undulatus, From Mississippi Sound And The Gulf Of Mexico, Robin M. Overstreet, Richard W. Heard

Gulf and Caribbean Research

The diet of the Atlantic croaker from Mississippi Sound has been examined for the first time. Over 83 taxa were encountered, or more than were reported from croaker in any other region. We also found 60 taxa, 36 of which overlapped with the above, in croaker from various offshore stations in the Gulf of Mexico. In Mississippi Sound the frequency of occurrence of items revealed primarily crustaceans followed by polychaetes, molluscs, fishes, and less common items, and, in the open Gulf, molluscs appeared slightly more often than in inshore croaker and than polychaetes in offshore fish. The diets were assessed …

Classification Of Mississippi Sound As To Estuary Hydrological Type, Charles K. Eleuterius

Gulf and Caribbean Research

Mississippi Sound is classified as to estuary hydrological type by the method of Pritchard (1955). Differences in salinity between surface and near-bottom water were calculated from 2,401 pairs of observations made at 90 stations from 4 April 1973 to 12 April 1977. Frequency distribution tables, constructed by tallying the vertical salinity differences into three classes corresponding to three of Pritchard's estuary types (A, stratified; B, partially mixed; D, well mixed) were used to assess salinity structure of the water column. The greatest variation as to type occurred from January through June. From July through December, the water column becomes predominately …

The Structure Of Macrofaunal Assemblages Inhabiting An Intertidal Sandflat In Tomales Bay, California, Jay Charles Carroll

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

Confronted with a diverse sandflat community of interacting organisms and a spectrum of physical forces, a meaningful community analysis should begin with a description of physical characteristics and faunal distributions over time. The functional importance of certain species in the community should then be investigated by using both field and laboratory experiments. Consequently, the purpose of this research was twofold: (1) to apply the methods of similarity and gradient analysis to describe the faunal gradation on an intertidal sandflat and; (2) use these data to design a predator exclusion field experiment aimed at assessing the effects of shorebird, crab and …

Experimental Studies Of Interactions Between Zostera Marina And The Associated Benthic Fauna, David Marshall Penny

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

The objectives of the present study are to: (1) Describe the macro-invertebrate species composition and seasonal changes in abundance of the benthic infauna within an eelgrass bed; (2) Observe what immediate effects occur to the benthic community as a result of experimental removal of eelgrass plants from plants within the Zostera bed; (3) Measure the seasonal variation of eelgrass turion length over an annual cycle and determine its correlation to biomass (dry weight); (4) Examine, by means of field experiments, the importance of incident solar irradiation in affecting the seasonal growth of Zostera; and (5) Determine the relationship, if any, …

Planktonic Fish Eggs And Larvae Of The Lower Chesapeake Bay, John E. Olney

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

No abstract provided.

An Improved, Conceptually Simple Technique For Estimating The Productivity Of Marsh Vascular Flora, Courtney T. Hackney, Olga P. Hackney

Gulf and Caribbean Research

The estimation of the net primary productivity of marsh communities with a periodic maximum-minimum (PMM) technique has certain advantages over the long used maximum-minimum standing stock technique, but still retains the same conceptual simplicity. The final productivity estimate with PMM is based an the entire data set rather than just two points. Direct statistical comparisons between any two communities can be made. An estimate of the productivity by minor species in the community can also be made. The periodic model permits statistical comparisons about other variables in community growth such as the timing of the maximurn standing crop. With certain …

Occurrence Of Mysidopsis Almyra Bowman, M. Bahia Molenock And Bowmaniella Brasiliensis Bacescu (Crustacea, Mysidacea) From The Eastern Coast Of Mexico, W. Wayne Price

Gulf and Caribbean Research

Three species of mysids, Mysidopsis almyra, M. bahia and Bowmaniella brasiliensis are recorded for the first time from four locations along the eastern coast of Mexico. Data on geographical distribution, population structure, length, brood size, and morphological variation are given.

Food Of The Red Drum, Sciaenops Ocellata, From Mississippi Sound, Robin M. Overstreet, Richard W. Heard

Gulf and Caribbean Research

Examined digestive tracts of the red drum in Mississippi Sound contained mostly decapod crustaceans. Crustaceans accounted for 34 of 59 encountered taxa, more than reported from any other region. Nevertheless, the general diet for 104 fish with food contents out of the 107 examined is similar to that reported for red drum in several other studies from other areas. In addition to crustaceans, fishes followed by polychaetes occurred as the most important items (in 99, 43, and 15% of the drum with food, respectively). Blue crabs occurred in even more drum than the frequently encountered penaeid shrimps. Other commercial species …

Geographical Definition Of Mississippi Sound, Charles K. Eleuterius

Gulf and Caribbean Research

Boundaries for Mississippi Sound are determined by application of definitions, established surveying practices and observations of the physical processes of the area. U.S. Coast and Gcodetic charts 1266 (1972 edition), 1267 (1972 edition) and 1268 (1974 edition) were used in ascertaining the boundaries. These boundaries provide a formal geographical definition for Mississippi Sound.

Shoreline Situation Report Westmoreland County, Lynne Morgan, Dennis W. Owen, Nancy M. Sturm

Reports

No abstract provided.

The Oyster Industry Of Virginia : Its Status, Problems, And Promise : A Comprehensive Study Of The Oyster Industry In Virginia, Dexter S. Haven, William J. Hargis Jr., Paul C. Kendall

Reports

As an aid in understanding the complexity of Virginia's oyster industry and its problems, a general review of the catastrophic decline in Virginia landings follows.

Table of Contents:

Chapter I. Oyster Culture in Virginia - Past and Present

Chapter II. Extent and Characteristics of Oyster-Growing Grounds--Public and Private

Chapter III. Oyster Production in Virginia--Past and Present

Chapter IV. The Condition of the Public Oyster Rocks in Virginia

Chapter V. Economic Conditions of the Virginia Oyster Industry

Chapter VI. Repletion

Chapter VII. Methods of Management of Virginia's Oyster Resources

Chapter VIII. Yield of Oysters

Chapter IX. Predators and Diseases

Chapter X. …

Biological Description Of Old Plantation Flats Deep Trough, A Proposed Dredged Material Disposal Site: Interim Report, W. A. Van Engle, J. V. Merriner, F. J. Wojcik

Reports

The Old Plantation Deep Trough sampling area in the Virginia portion of the Chesapeake Bay began at the latitudes of the southwestern end of the Cherrystone Inlet channel near Old Plantation Flats (approximately 37°13.S'N) and extended north to the latitude of Church Neck at Hungars Creek (approximately 37°25.S'N) (see attached Figure 1: Disposal Area 2 and area to the north). Twenty-one stations, one-quarter mile square grid, were occupied on August 29 and 30, 1978 (Table 1 and accompanying Charts). Seven stations were sampled with a lined, 30-foot semiballoon otter trawl, seven sampled with a 48-inch wide crab dredge, and seven …

Uptake Of Kepone By Oysters Exposed To Contaminated Sediments Mixed With Lignite, Dexter S. Haven, Reinaldo Morales-Alamo

Reports

Preliminary studies conducted by personnel of the Allied Chemical Corporation at Morristown, N. J. suggested that coa] would be used to adsorb Kepone from an aquatic substrate. .The possibility of using coal to bind Kepone contaminating the natural environment indicated further preliminary exploration of the matter.

The Virginia Institute of Marine Science undertook a laboratory study with oysters under contract with the Allied Chemical Corp. to explore that possibility. Lignite was mixd on a 1:10 dry-weight ratio with sediments contaminated with Kepone.

Harmonic Analysis And Tidal Prediction By The Method Of Least Squares: A User's Manual, John D. Boon, Kevin P. Kiley

Reports

A common objective in the treatment of measured tides is the mathematical separation by harmonic analysis of certain periodic components which can be used to simulate the astronomical tide. Traditionally, astronomical or predicted tides have been represented by the sum of several such components, each one due to a particular aspect of the tide-producing forces. Once determined, the same set of parameters governing each periodic component may be used to predict the tide during any desired time period at a given location. These parameters are known as the tidal constants for that location. Although a number of different methods have …

Sensing The Sea : A Curriculum Guide In Marine Education For Grades Two And Three, Ellen Odell-Fisher, Ronald N. Giese

Reports

No abstract provided.

The Oyster Industry Of Virginia: It's Status, Problems, And Promise, Dexter Stearns Haven, William J. Hargis Jr., Paul Charles Kendall

Reports

A short presentation of an exhaustive, multi-volume work on the history and current condition of the oyster industry of the Commonwealth' by the same authors.

Intensive Hydrographical And Water Quality Survey Of The Chincoteague/Sinepuxent/Assawoman Bay Systems : Volume Iii. Non-Point Source Pollution Studies In The Chincoteague Bay System, C. F. Cerco, C. S. Fang, A. Rosenbaum

Reports

No abstract provided.

Final Technical Report For Nsf Grant #Oce 75-20241, Entitled Identification And Role Of The Ultraplankton Of The Lower Chesapeake Bay Region, Frank O. Perkins, Kenneth L. Webb

Reports

Numbers and species identities of the most dominant small (<15μm) photosynthetic Plankton were determined from samples of lower Chesapeake Bay water. The data is being compared to physical and chemical measurements of the Bay waters in an effort to determine conditions which encourage or inhibit growth of the organisms. Pure cultures of some of the more common species have been established and are being used to evaluate the roles of the organisms in terms of photosynthetic rates and utilization and excretion of nitrogen compounds.

Effects Of 1973 Floodwaters On Plankton Populations In Louisiana And Mississippi, Suzanne R. Hawes, Harriet M. Perry

Gulf and Caribbean Research

Studies to assess the impact of floodwater diversion on plankton populations in coastal waters of Mississippi and Louisiana were conducted from 23 April 1973 through 13 July 1973. Fixed stations in Lake Pontchartrain, Lake Borgne and western Mississippi Sound were sampled once in April, twice in May and June, and once in July. Stations in Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana were visited once in May, June and July.

Data are presented on changes in the species composition of zooplankton subsequent to the opening of the Bonnet Card and Morganza floodways. The hydrographic conditions at the time of sampling are discussed.

Summary Of The Hampton Roads 208 Water Quality Modelling Studies, Bruce J. Neilson

Reports

The purpose of· the Hampton Roads 208 Study is to assess the present and future water quality conditions in the study area and to develop a wastewater management plan to achieve certain water quality goals. The study included all major estuaries in the area and, among other thing·s, took account of population and industrial growth, effluent quality {as mandated by PL92-500) and nonpoint sources of pollution. Land use maps for 1976, estimates of future land use, population projections and many other elements of the study initiated in 1974 provided the foundation upon which the water quality work was based. Projections …

The Effects Of Predation And Sediment Reworking By The Maldanid Polychaete Axiothella Rubrocincta (Johnson) On Benthic Littoral Microalgae Assemblages, Gary Scott Shusta

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

The taxonomic composition of the diatom assemblages inhabiting the substrate on the mudflat, and the effects of a cohabiting deposit-feeding invertebrate on the diatom assemblage structure are the subjects of this paper. While pelagic diatoms have received considerable attention in the literature to date, comparatively little is known about the ecology and distribution of benthic diatoms are known to be cosmopolitan in their distributions (Alee, 1950). These plants have been found to be opportunistic species in that they are quick to respond to relatively small perturbations in physical conditions. It has also been demonstrated that distinct associations of diatoms exist …

Zooplankton Distribution, Biomass, Biochemical Composition And Seasonal Community Structure In Lower Chesapeake Bay, Fred Jacobs

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

Zooplankton composition, distribution, biomass and biochemical constituents were determined monthly in the lower Chesapeake Bay for two years beginning in August 1971. Settled volume, dry weight, and ash-free dry weight estimates of total biomass were generally consistent in showing summer and late winter peaks. A mean dry weight peak of 258 mg/m3 in August 1971 decreased precipitously to a December low of 9 mg/m3, then increased to a March 1972 peak of 199 mg/m3. The second year mirrored this pattern, except that the passage of Tropical Storm Agnes in June 1972 lowered the summer peak values for July and August …

The Ultrastructure Of Cell Division In Male Reproductive Branches Of Polysiphonia Denudata, Cynthia Louise Bosco

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

No abstract provided.

The Reproductive Biology And Population Dynamics Of Black Sea Bass, Centropristis Striata, Linda P. Mercer

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

No abstract provided.

A Revision Of The Comatulid Genus Comactinia A. H. Clark (Crinoidea: Echinodermata), Charles G. Messing

Marine & Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles

The formerly monotypic genus Comactinia is found to comprise two valid species. One of these is further divided into two subspecies. The variability of the genus is examined and illustrated. A discussion of ecology, affinities, and zoogeography is included.