Life Sciences Commons^™

Remote Sensing And Mapping Of Tamarisk Along The Colorado River, Usa: A Comparative Use Of Summer-Acquired Hyperion, Thematic Mapper And Quickbird Data, Gregory A. Carter, Kelly L. Lucas, Gabriel A. Blossom, Cheryl L. Lassitter, Dan M. Holiday, David S. Mooneyhan, Danielle R. Fastring, Tracy R. Holcombe, Jerry A. Griffith

Faculty Publications

Tamarisk (Tamarix spp., saltcedar) is a well-known invasive phreatophyte introduced from Asia to North America in the 1800s. This report compares the efficacy of Landsat 5 Thematic Mapper (TM5), QuickBird (QB) and EO-1 Hyperion data in discriminating tamarisk populations near De Beque, Colorado, USA. As a result of highly correlated reflectance among the spectral bands provided by each sensor, relatively standard image analysis methods were employed. Multispectral data at high spatial resolution (QB, 2.5 m Ground Spatial Distance or GSD) proved more effective in tamarisk delineation than either multispectral (TM5) or hyperspectral (Hyperion) data at moderate spatial resolution (30 m …

Water Quality Conditions And Restoration Of Submerged Aquatic Vegetation (Sav) In The Tidal Freshwater James River, 2008, Ken Moore, Betty Berry Neikirk, Erin C. Shields, David Parrish

Reports

In 2008, wild celery (Vallisneria americana), water stargrass (Heteranthera dubia) and hydrilla (Hydrilla verticilata) shoots were transplanted into shallow water sites in the Hopewell region of the tidal James River and sampled for survivorship and growth throughout the SA V growing season. Water quality sampling was conducted at bi-weekly intervals throughout the year for water column nutrients, chlorophyll a, suspended solids, water transparency and other chemical and physical constituents important for SA V growth. Continuous water quality sampling was also conducted along the James River from the mouth of the Chickahominy River to the upstream limits of tidal water at …

Southeast Florida Coral Reef Evaluation And Monitoring Project 2008 Year 6 Final Report, David S. Gilliam

Marine & Environmental Sciences Faculty Reports

No abstract provided.

Assessment Of Oyster Shell Structural Properties For The Development Of 'Green' Composite Materials, Yuhchae Yoon, Andrew S. Mount, Douglas C. Hansen, Karolyn Hansen

Biology Faculty Publications

Abstract of Technical Paper Presented at the 101^st Annual Meeting National Shellfisheries Association Savannah, Georgia March 22–26, 2009

Spiny Lobsters Use Urine-Borne Olfactory Signaling And Physical Aggressive Behaviors To Influence Social Status Of Conspecifics, Shkelzen Shabani, Michiya Kamio, Charles D. Derby

Peer Reviewed Articles

Decapod crustaceans, like many other animals, engage in agonistic behaviors that enhance their ability to compete for resources with conspecifics. These agonistic behaviors include the release of chemical signals as well as physical aggressive and submissive behaviors. In this study, we report that Caribbean spiny lobsters, Panulirus argus, use both urine-borne chemical signaling and physical aggressive behaviors during interactions with conspecifics, and that these agonistic behaviors can influence the behavior and eventual social status of the interactants. Spiny lobsters that engaged primarily in physical aggressive behaviors became dominant, whereas spiny lobsters that received these physical aggressive behaviors responded with …

Morphological Deformities As Biomarkers In Fish From Contaminated Rivers In Taiwan, Peter Lin Sun, William E. Hawkins, Robin M. Overstreet, Nancy J. Brown-Peterson

Faculty Publications

Tilapia (Oreochromis spp.) were collected seasonally from four contaminated rivers in southwestern Taiwan for studies of morphological deformities that could be used as biomarkers of contamination. Morphological deformities found in tilapia were separated into 15 categories. Overall, the prevalence of deformities such as split fins, lower lip extension and gill deformities were significantly related to various water quality parameters, including low DO and high ammonium, lead and zinc concentrations. The persistence of tilapia in polluted waters and the development of a suite of morphological deformities suggest that tilapia can be used as sentinels of non-point source pollution in rivers.

Towards Biomimetic Ceramic Coatings: Cellular Aspects Of Oyster Shell Biomineralization, Mary Beth Johnstone, Karolyn Hansen, Neeraj V. Gohad, Douglas C. Hansen, Andrew S. Mount

Biology Faculty Publications

Abstract of Technical Paper Presented at the 101^st Annual Meeting National Shellfisheries Association Savannah, Georgia March 22–26, 2009

The Mineralization Front Of The Eastern Oyster Is Cellular, Andrew S. Mount, Neeraj V. Gohad, Mary Beth Johnstone, Karolyn Hansen, Douglas C. Hansen

Biology Faculty Publications

Abstract of Technical Paper Presented at the 101^st Annual Meeting National Shellfisheries Association Savannah, Georgia March 22–26, 2009

Town Of Sandown Wetland Evaluation Report, West Environmental

PREP Reports & Publications

Barrington is very fortunate to have an abundance and wide variety of natural resources. Given the Town’s location in the fast-growing seacoast region of New Hampshire, development can be expected to place increasing pressures on the Town and its natural resource base. As described throughout this Natural Resources Inventory, there are many natural resources, special habitats and ecosystems that are valuable and worthy of further consideration for further study, preservation and/or active management. Current zoning ordinances and land use regulations provide some protections. However, the Town can take several additional approaches to maintain and protect its rural character, and itsspecial …

Deep-Sea Fishes Of The Mid-Atlantic Ridge: Trophic Structure And Interactions, Tracey Sutton, Joel C. Hoffman, Jeanna Kidwell, Odd Aksel Bergstad, Tone Falkenhaug, F. M. Porteiro, M. Heino, C. I. H. Anderson, J. Horne, Ann Bucklin

Marine & Environmental Sciences Faculty Proceedings, Presentations, Speeches, Lectures

Because deep-sea fisheries are increasing as coastal fisheries decline, fisheries scientists need baseline data on deep-sea ecosystems prior to further development of deep-water fisheries. We present preliminary results and ongoing efforts to characterize the trophic structure and energy flow of the pelagic ecosystems of the northern Mid-Atlantic Ridge, from Iceland to the Azores. This study is one component of the international CoML field project MAR-ECO (www.mar-eco.no). We found a diverse deep-pelagic fish fauna (205 spp.), with unexpectedly high bathypelagic fish biomass and spatial complexity. Based on literature reports of species present, crustacean planktivory is the dominant trophic guild (79% of …

Spatial Distributions Of Bathypelagic Fishes Along The Mid-Atlantic Ridge, C. I. H. Anderson, J. Horne, Tracey Sutton

Marine & Environmental Sciences Faculty Proceedings, Presentations, Speeches, Lectures

The spatial distribution of organisms plays a key role in facilitating biological processes, such as trophic interactions, which influence pelagic ecosystem structure and function. This study combines discrete trawl net sampling with continuous, full water column, acoustic measurements to investigate the distribution of bathypelagic (1000- 3000 m depth) nekton biomass along the Mid-Atlantic Ridge from Iceland to the Azores in the North Atlantic. Two, previously unknown, distinct bathypelagic acoustic scattering layers (ASLs) were observed using 18 kHz echosounder data. One, extending down on average ~200 m from 2000 m depth, appears ubiquitous wherever bottom depth allows, while the second, found …

Chemical And Isotopic Characterization Of Size-Fractionated Organic Matter From Cryoturbated Tundra Soils, Northern Alaska, Chunhao Xu, Laodong Guo, Chien-Lu Ping, Daniel M. White, Thomas D. Lorenson

Faculty Publications

Recent studies indicate a second layer of organic matter often accumulates in the lower active layer and upper permafrost in arctic tundra soils as a result of cryoturbation. In this study, cryoturbated organic matter was characterized using a combination of physical size fractionation and modern analytical techniques for elemental composition (C and N), stable isotopes (delta(13) C and delta(15)N), radiocarbon content (Delta(14)C), and molecular fingerprinting (pyrolysis-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry, Py-GC/MS). The results indicated that cryoturbated organic matter could be highly bioavailable. Soil organic matter (SOM) associated with fine sand particles was considered to be the organic carbon pool most sensitive to …

Habitat-Based Intraguild Predation By Caribbean Reef Octopus Octopus Briareus On Juvenile Caribbean Spiny Lobster Panulirus Argus, Mark J. Butler Iv, Jennifer A. Lear

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Intraguild predation occurs when species simultaneously compete for resources and interact as predator and prey, which describes the interaction between juvenile Caribbean spiny lobster Panulirus argus and Caribbean reef octopus Octopus briareus in the Florida Keys, USA. Octopuses are notorious predators of decapod crustaceans, and their use of crevice shelters suggests that they may also compete for shelter with their lobster prey. Lobsters use mainly chemical cues to detect and avoid octopus, so we hypothesized that the negative association between these species may be as much the consequence of avoidance of a superior competitor as it is of direct predation. …

The Lobster Bulletin, Summer 2009, Lobster Institute, University Of Maine

Lobster Bulletin

The Lobster Bulletin newsletter includes research updates, and information on lobsters and the lobster industry. The Lobster Institute at the University of Maine is dedicated to protecting and conserving the lobster resource, and enhancing lobstering as an industry and a way of life.

Headlines in the Summer 2009 issue include:

• Development of Best Management Practices to Reduce or Eliminate Stress on Lobsters
• Mariner Beverages, USA Wine West Unveil New Wine to Benefit the Lobster Institute
• Lobster Institute Presents First Rising Star Award to Lobster Gram, Inc.
• Best Management Practices to Reduce or Eliminate Stress from Hauling & Handling of Lobsters …

Molluscan Models In Evolutionary Biology: Apple Snails (Gastropoda: Ampullariidae) As A System For Addressing Fundamental Questions, Kenneth Hayes

Department of Biology Faculty Publications

Molluscs constitute the second largest phylum in terms of the number of described species and possess a wide array of characteristics and adaptations for living in marine, terrestrial, and freshwater habitats. They are morphologically diverse and appear in the fossil record as far back as the early Cambrian (-560 mybp). Despite their high diversity and long evolutionary history, molluscs are often underused as models for the study of general aspects of evolutionary biology. Freshwater snails in the family Ampullariidae have a global tropical and subtropical distribution and high diversity with more than 150 species in nine currently recognized genera, making …

Habitat Mapping In The Farasan Islands (Saudi Arabia) Using Casi And Quickbird Imagery, Gwilym Rowlands, James A. Goodman, Bernhard Riegl, Philip Renaud, Samuel J. Purkis

Marine & Environmental Sciences Faculty Proceedings, Presentations, Speeches, Lectures

Map products derived from remote sensing technology increase our understanding and ability to manage tropical marine environments. The enhanced mapping capabilities of hyperspectral sensors are well understood; yet technology uptake, particularly for large scale tasks, has been slow. The study presented represents one of the largest hyperspectral projects to date, and paves the way towards increased use of this technology. Hyperspectral CASI-550 imagery and multispectral QuickBird imagery, was acquired over 3,168 km² of the Farasan Islands. In addition to the typical image processing steps, inopportune water condensation in the CASI sensors lens necessitated further processing to remove an across-track …

Surface Mucous As A Source Of Genomic Dna From Atlantic Billfishes (Istiophoridae) And Swordfish (Xiphiidae), John P. Hoolihan, Nerida G. Wilson, Ronald M. Faugue, Andrea Bernard, Rebekah L. Horn, Derke Snodgrass, Duane R. Schultz

Marine & Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles

Procedures for sampling genomic DNA from live billfishes involve manual restraint and tissue excision that can be difficult to carry out and may produce stresses that affect fish survival. We examined the collection of surface mucous as a less invasive alternative method for sourcing genomic DNA by comparing it to autologous muscle tissue samples from Atlantic blue marlin (Makaira nigricans), white marlin (Tetrapturus albidus), sailfish (Istiophorus platypterus), and swordfish (Xiphias gladius). Purified DNA from mucous was comparable to muscle and was suitable for conventional polymerase chain reaction, random amplified polymorphic DNA analysis, …

Identification And Assessment Of Water Quality Problems In Mill Dam Creek And Dey Cove Tributaries Of Lynnhaven, Virginia Beach, Mac Sisson, Harry V. Wang, W. G. Reay, Yueping Li

Reports

No abstract provided.

Benthic Habitat Mapping Of Miami-Dade County: Visual Interpretation Of Lads Bathymetry And Aerial Photography, Brian K. Walker

Marine & Environmental Sciences Faculty Reports

No abstract provided.

Environmental Indicator Report, Philip Trowbridge

PREP Reports & Publications

The following sections contain the most recent data for the 42 indicators tracked by PREP. In some cases PREP funds data collection and monitoring activities; however data for the majority of indicators are provided by other organizations with monitoring programs. The details of the monitoring programs and performance criteria for the indicators are listed in the PREP Monitoring Plan (PREP, 2008).

On The Mechanisms Of Episodic Salinity Outflow Events In The Strait Of Hormuz, Prasad G. Thoppil, Patrick J. Hogan

Faculty Publications

Observations in the Strait of Hormuz (26.26 degrees N, 56.08 degrees E) during 1997-98 showed substantial velocity fluctuations, accompanied by episodic changes in the salinity outflow events with amplitude varying between 1 and 2 psu on time scales of several days to a few weeks. These events are characterized by a rapid increase in salinity followed by an abrupt decline. The mechanisms behind these strong pulses of salinity events are investigated with a whigh-resolution (similar to 1 km) Hybrid Coordinate Ocean Model (HYCOM) with particular reference to the year 2005. In accordance with the observations, the simulated salinity events are …

Us Globec Nwa/Georges Bank: Processes Controlling Abundance Of Dominant Copepods On Georges Bank: Local Dynamics And Large-Scale Forcing, David W. Townsend

University of Maine Office of Research Administration: Grant Reports

A fundamental goal of Biological Oceanography is to understand how underlying biological-physical interactions determine abundance of marine organisms. For animal populations, it is well known that factors controlling survival during early life stages (i.e., recruitment) are strong determinants of adult population size, but understanding these processes has been difficult due to model and data limitations. Recent advances in numerical modeling, together with new 3D data sets, provide a unique opportunity to study the biological-physical processes controlling zooplankton population size. This project uses an existing state-of-the-art biological/physical numerical model (FVCOM) together with the recently processed large 3D data set from the …

Hydrodynamics Of Pulsed Jetting In Juvenile And Adult Brief Squid Lolliguncula Brevis: Evidence Of Multiple Jet 'Modes' And Their Implications For Propulsive Efficiency, Ian K. Bartol, Paul S. Krueger, William J. Stewart, Joseph T. Thompson

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

The dynamics of pulsed jetting in squids throughout ontogeny is not well understood, especially with regard to the development of vortex rings, which are common features of mechanically generated jet pulses (also known as starting jets). Studies of mechanically generated starting jets have revealed a limiting principle for vortex ring formation characterized in terms of a 'formation number' (F), which delineates the transition between the formation of isolated vortex rings and vortex rings that have 'pinched off' from the generating jet. Near F, there exists an optimum in pulse-averaged thrust with (potentially) low energetic cost, raising the question: do …

Alternative Life Cycle Strategies And Colonization Of Young Anurans By Gorgoderina Attenuata In Nebraska, Matthew G. Bolek, Scott D. Snyder, John J. Janovy Jr.

Biology Faculty Publications

Studies on life cycles and epizootiology of North American frog bladder flukes indicate that adult frogs become infected predominantly by ingesting tadpoles or other frogs that serve as second intermediate hosts for gorgoderid metacercariae. Other studies have indicated that newly metamorphosed frogs are rarely infected with these parasites because they are gape-limited predators that cannot feed on large intermediate hosts such as tadpoles and other frogs. We examined the role of potential intermediate hosts in the recruitment of the frog bladder fluke, Gorgoderina attenuata, to metamorphosed northern leopard frogs, Woodhouse’s toads, and bullfrogs from western Nebraska. We completed the …

Stakeholder Input And Meeting Summary Report, D. B. Truslow Associates

PREP Reports & Publications

The Piscataqua Region Estuaries Partnership (PREP) is part of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) National Estuary Program, which is a joint local/state/federal program established under the Clean Water Act. PREP’s goal is to protect and restore the Great Bay Estuary watershed and Hampton-Seabrook Estuary watershed. The organization receives its funding from the EPA and is administered by the University of New Hampshire. PREP will complete its update of the Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan (CCMP) in early 2010. The first CCMP was released in 2000 when the organization was the New Hampshire Estuaries Project (NHEP). The NHEP management committee …

Aves Marinas Anidando En Islas De La Sonda De Campeche, Thor Morales, Enriqueta Velarde, Francisco Daniel Ruz, Edward O. Keith

Marine & Environmental Sciences Faculty Proceedings, Presentations, Speeches, Lectures

Esta zona arrecifal, la más norteña del Golfo de México mexicano alberga las mayores colonias de anidación de aves marinas de la región. El último censo se realizó en 1986. En la zona se practica la pesca, turismo y explotación petrolífera, que potencialmente constituyen un riesgo para la biodiversidad del arrecife. La zona está pobremente estudiada y es importante obtener información sobre sus recursos para manejarlos adecuadamente. Nuestro objetivo es actualizar la información sobre las especies de aves marinas que anidan en las islas del Parque Nacional Arrecife Alacranes y Cayo Arenas. Se visitaron 6 islas a mediados de marzo …

Year 14 Work Plan, Jennifer Hunter

PREP Reports & Publications

The Piscataqua Region Estuaries Partnership (PREP), formerly called the New Hampshire Estuaries Project, is part of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) National Estuary Program which is a joint local/state/federal program established under the Clean Water Act with the goal of protecting and enhancing nationally significant estuaries. PREP is housed at and administered through the University of New Hampshire. A 27-person Management Committee oversees the work of the program. The Management Committee has a diverse membership representing municipalities, planning commissions, state and federal natural resource management agencies, watershed groups, non-profit conservation organizations, energy producers, researchers, and fishermen. The Piscataqua Region …

Pulsed Jet Dynamics Of Squid Hatchlings At Intermediate Reynolds Numbers, Ian K. Bartol, Paul S. Krueger, William J. Stewart, Joseph T. Thompson

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Squid paralarvae (hatchlings) rely predominantly on a pulsed jet for locomotion, distinguishing them from the majority of aquatic locomotors at low/intermediate Reynolds numbers (Re), which employ oscillatory/undulatory modes of propulsion. Although squid paralarvae may delineate the lower size limit of biological jet propulsion, surprisingly little is known about the hydrodynamics and propulsive efficiency of paralarval jetting within the intermediate Re realm. To better understand paralarval jet dynamics, we used digital particle image velocimetry (DPIV) and high-speed video to measure bulk vortex properties ( e. g. circulation, impulse, kinetic energy) and other jet features [ e. g. average and …

Evaluation Of Groundwater Storage Monitoring With The Grace Satellite: Case Study High Plains Aquifer, Central United States, Gil Strassberg, Bridget Scanlon, D. Chambers

Marine Science Faculty Publications

Water scarcity is a critical issue in semiarid regions; however, regional groundwater monitoring is extremely limited. This study evaluates the ability of the GRACE satellites to monitor groundwater storage in the semiarid High Plains aquifer, United States (450,000 km² area), which is subjected to intense irrigation. GRACE-derived terrestrial water storage (TWS) is highly correlated with the sum of soil moisture (SM) and groundwater storage (GWS) (R = 0.96 for in situ measured SM from 78 stations and R = 0.95 for simulated SM with the Noah land surface model with root-mean-square difference of 38 mm and 36 mm, …

New Hampshire Estuaries Probabilistic Monitoring Program In 2008, Phil Trowbridge

PREP Reports & Publications

The New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NHDES), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the University of New Hampshire (UNH) partnered in 2008 to implement the National Coastal Assessment in NH’s estuarine waters. USEPA provided the study design and field protocols. UNH collected the samples and field data at the designated sites in the estuary. Funding for this sampling effort was provided by the Piscataqua Region Estuaries Partnership, NHDES, and the New Hampshire Coastal Program. The purpose of this memo is to document the quality assurance checks that were performed by NHDES. The data were not collected as part …