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Marine Biology

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

1994

Articles 1 - 12 of 12

Full-Text Articles in Life Sciences

In Vitro And In Vivo Effects Of Chemotherapeutants On The Oyster Parasite, Perkinsus Marinus, Gustavo W. Calvo Jan 1994

In Vitro And In Vivo Effects Of Chemotherapeutants On The Oyster Parasite, Perkinsus Marinus, Gustavo W. Calvo

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

To investigate the potential of chemotherapeutants to control the oyster pathogen Perkinsus marinus, anticoccidial and antifungal compounds were tested in vitro on infected hemolymph and cultured P. marinus cells and in vivo on infected oysters. In addition, acute toxicity to oysters was determined for six anticoccidials. In vitro experiments with infected hemolymph consisted of 24 h exposure of 0.2 mL hemolymph aliquots to concentrations ranging from 100 mg/L to 0.01 mg/L of amphotericin-B, amprolium, arprinocid, cycloheximide, lasalocid, malachite green, monensin, sulfadimethoxine, and a potentiated sulfadimethoxine, followed by incubation in fluid thioglycollate medium (FTM) to determine prezoosporangia abundance. Lasalocid, malachite green, …


Age, Growth And Population Dynamics Of The Sandbar Shark, Carcharhinus Plumbeus, At Different Population Levels, Thomas R. Sminkey Jan 1994

Age, Growth And Population Dynamics Of The Sandbar Shark, Carcharhinus Plumbeus, At Different Population Levels, Thomas R. Sminkey

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

The objectives of my research were to test the hypothesis that compensatory (density-dependent) growth of sandbar shark (Carcharhinus plumbeus) occurred after severe population reduction, to describe the juvenile sandbar shark fauna present in the Chesapeake Bay during 1980-81 and 1990-93, and to perform demographic analyses to examine potential population growth. Age and growth of sandbar sharks were investigated by counting rings in vertebral samples collected in 1980-81 and 1991-92. Age at maturity was 15-16 years for both sample periods and both sexes. For sexes combined, the von Bertalanffy growth parameters were L&\sb{lcub}\infty{rcub}& = 199 cm precaudal length (PCL), K = …


Quantification Of Settlement And Recruitment Processes In Bivalve Mollusks, Patrick Kelly Baker Jan 1994

Quantification Of Settlement And Recruitment Processes In Bivalve Mollusks, Patrick Kelly Baker

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

Studies were carried out to quantify abundance, mortality, and variability in these parameters, during settlement and recruitment of bivalve mollusks, using the oyster, Crassostrea virginica, as a primary model species. Most work was undertaken in the York River, Chesapeake Bay, Virginia, with additional work in the Indian River, Florida. The period chosen, in the bivalve early life history, was from the late planktonic larva to the early benthic juvenile. Studies were designed to specifically examine (a) abundance of late-stage larvae in the plankton, (b) the relationship between larval abundance and settlement, and (c) mortality immediately following settlement. Variability in abundance …


The Role Of Predation On Zostera Marina L (Eelgrass) Seed Abundance, James Fishman Jan 1994

The Role Of Predation On Zostera Marina L (Eelgrass) Seed Abundance, James Fishman

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

No abstract provided.


A Gis Spatial Analysis Of The Potential Conflict Between Submerged Aquatic Vegetation Management And The Development Of Shellfish Aquaculture In The Lower Chesapeake Bay, Laura Ann Grignano Jan 1994

A Gis Spatial Analysis Of The Potential Conflict Between Submerged Aquatic Vegetation Management And The Development Of Shellfish Aquaculture In The Lower Chesapeake Bay, Laura Ann Grignano

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

No abstract provided.


Effects Of Methyl Parathion On The Cellular Immune Responses In Giant Black Tiger Shrimp, Penaeus Monodon, Nantarika. Bodhipaksha Jan 1994

Effects Of Methyl Parathion On The Cellular Immune Responses In Giant Black Tiger Shrimp, Penaeus Monodon, Nantarika. Bodhipaksha

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

The effects of an organophosphorus pesticide, methyl parathion, on cellular immune defense mechanisms of the giant black tiger shrimp (Penaeus monodon) were studied. Animals were exposed for 96 hours at concentrations equal to, above and below the LC&\sb{lcub}50{rcub}& (3 ppb). Phagocytes were obtained from the heart and circulating hemolymph. Cellular immune responses, including chemotaxis, phagocytosis and the respiratory burst were examined. Chemotactic activity was determined by means of a modified Boyden double chamber technique. There was a dose-dependent decrease in the chemotactic activities of both circulating hemocytes and cardiac phagocytes. Phagocytic activity (percent phagocytosis) was examined by the microscopic enumeration …


Mechanisms Of Larval Spot Transport And Recruitment To The Chesapeake Bay, Deborah A. Bodolus Jan 1994

Mechanisms Of Larval Spot Transport And Recruitment To The Chesapeake Bay, Deborah A. Bodolus

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

The spot (Leiostomus xanthurus) is an important commercial and recreational species in Virginia. Recruitment of juveniles to the Bay is characterized by large interannual fluctuations, that can be explained by the sequence and direction of wind during various phases of the early life history. An environmentally-modified Ricker stock-recruitment curve was developed incorporating the southeasterly winds in November-December, the southerly winds in January-March, and the westerly winds in April-May. This model explained 81% of the variation and closely paralleled the VIMS Juvenile Spot Index. Spot from the Chesapeake Bay migrate south in fall to spawn near or south of Cape Hatteras. …


Size-Specific Fecundity Of The Sea Scallop, Placopecten Magellanicus, During One Spawning Period In The Mid-Atlantic Resource Area, Ryan B. Carnegie Jan 1994

Size-Specific Fecundity Of The Sea Scallop, Placopecten Magellanicus, During One Spawning Period In The Mid-Atlantic Resource Area, Ryan B. Carnegie

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

No abstract provided.


Life History And Fisheries Ecology Of Weakfish, Cynoscion Regalis, In The Chesapeake Bay Region, Susan Lowerre-Barbieri Jan 1994

Life History And Fisheries Ecology Of Weakfish, Cynoscion Regalis, In The Chesapeake Bay Region, Susan Lowerre-Barbieri

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

Otoliths, scales, dorsal spines, and pectoral fin rays were compared to determine the best hardpart for ageing weakfish, Cynoscion regalis. Sectioned otoliths showed the clearest marks and were validated by the marginal increment method for ages 1-5. Traditionally-used scales were found to be less-precise and to underage older fish. Most weakfish from the Chesapeake Bay region were 200-600 mm TL and ages 1-4. Weakfish were not fully-recruited to commercial foodfish grades until age 2. Maximum observed age was 17 from a Delaware Bay fish collected in 1985. Current maximum observed ages were age 12 in Chesapeake Bay and age 11 …


Measurement Of In Situ Eelgrass Community Metabolism In Standing And Flowing Waters: Methods And Models, William James Seufzer Jan 1994

Measurement Of In Situ Eelgrass Community Metabolism In Standing And Flowing Waters: Methods And Models, William James Seufzer

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

No abstract provided.


Oyster (Crassostrea Virginica) Metamorphosis: Effects Of Low Oxygen, Shirley Marie Baker Jan 1994

Oyster (Crassostrea Virginica) Metamorphosis: Effects Of Low Oxygen, Shirley Marie Baker

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

The objective of my research was to examine the physiology and behavior of metamorphosing oysters, Crassostrea virginica, and to investigate the effects of low oxygen stress on metamorphic processes. Specifically, I examined the effects of hypoxia (20% of air saturation) and microxia (&<&1% of air saturation) on settlement, survival, growth, morphology, metabolic rate and feeding on post-settlement oysters. All of the functions I measured were adversely affected by hypoxia and microxia, compared to normoxic controls. Survival times indicate that, like larvae and adults, post-settlement oysters are capable of anaerobic metabolism. The 2 week period following settlement is especially critical to recruitment. Low oxygen conditions increases mortality and have detrimental effects on the development and growth of post-settlement oysters. Oysters have the ability to feed at nearly all stages of settlement and metamorphosis. While hypoxic conditions reduce feeding only in the youngest metamorphosing oysters, microxic conditions affect all ages. Not only does weight-specific metabolism decrease as the oysters grow, but metabolic responses to low oxygen change from relatively oxygen independent to oxygen dependent. I conclude that oyster distribution may be influenced by low oxygen, especially in those areas that experience prolonged (24-48 h) hypoxia or severe microxic events. Low oxygen events may control recruitment into the adult population directly, because of larval settlement failure and post-settlement mortality, and indirectly, because of reduction in feeding, development rate, and growth of post-settlement oysters.


Predation On Juvenile Blue Crabs, Callinectes Sapidus Rathbun, In Lower Chesapeake Bay: Patterns, Predators, And Potential Impacts, Kirt E. Moody Jan 1994

Predation On Juvenile Blue Crabs, Callinectes Sapidus Rathbun, In Lower Chesapeake Bay: Patterns, Predators, And Potential Impacts, Kirt E. Moody

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

Various investigations of the population dynamics of blue crabs in Chesapeake Bay indicate that predator-induced mortality in the juvenile phase may determine year-class strength. In a tethering study, which spanned three seasons in shallow-water habitats of the lower York River, daily mortality rates of juvenile crabs were measured across three variables: crab size (30-70 mm carapace width), habitat type (seagrass, mud, and sand), and month (May-November). Vulnerability to predation was consistently lower for larger crabs, approaching a size refuge from predation at approximately 90 mm carapace width. Predation was most intense in unvegetated sand habitats, and significantly lower in seagrass …