Marine Biology Commons^™

Environmental Influence On The Migratory Behavior Of The Brown Shrimp In Pamlico Sound North Carolina, Michael Andrew Matylewich

OES Theses and Dissertations

Environmental conditions in the nursery areas during times of development affect the migratory behavior of the brown shrimp (Penaeus aztecus) by influencing growth and natural mortality. A linearized logistic model and a multiple linear model are used to relate environmental factors (week number, water temperature, salinity, air temperature, precipitation, net heating degree days, river discharge) to the cumulative proportion of catch and catch-per-unit-effort, respectively. Multiple regression analysis yielded equations containing the week number, the water temperature and an interaction term as the independent variables. Predictions of total annual yield and total annual catch-per-unit-effort are made using the migratory …

The Effects Of Salinity On Growth And Survival Of The Blue Tilapia Oreochromis Aureus (Steindachner) (Pisces Cichlidae), Maylon Lowell White Jr.

OES Theses and Dissertations

The growth rate of the blue tilapia, Oreochromis aureus, was measured in fresh water, 15 ‰ salinity, and 30 ‰ salinity. The fish were given a hormone-treated feed to sex-reverse the females. Acclimations were achieved by raising the salinity only 5 ‰ per day. A biofilter and frequent water changes were used to maintain water quality in each 40 1 system. Synthetic sea salts were used to achieve desired salinity. The fish were grown for 87 days at 27°-30° C.

So significant difference in growth rate occurred among the three treatments. Salinity did not influence mortalities. All fish appeared to …

Feeding Behavior Of Three Species Of Spionid Polychaetes, Thomas Lane Stokes Jr.

Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations

Observations of feeding behavior of three species of spionid polychaetes (Paraprionospio pinnata, Polydora ligni, and Streblospio benedicti) were performed in currents ranging from 0 to 10 cm/sec over fine and coarse sediments and in high and low suspended particle loads. These interface feeders may suspension feed, deposit feed, or both simultaneously using a pair of anterior tentaculate feeding palps. P. ligni and S. benedicti were found to alter their palp behaviors in response to experimental manipulations. P. ligni reacted strongly to currents by suspension feeding with coiled palps. S. benedicti reacted strongly and complexly to food particle type and availability. …

Determining The Uptake And Possible Assimilation Of The Plant Component Of Spartina Detritus By Palaemonetes Pugio Using A Rapid Radiolabeling Method, Michael Peter Crosby

Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations

Assimilation of the plant components of Spartina alterniflora detritus by the grass shrimp, Palaemonetes pugio, was investigated in a laboratory feeding study. A new radiolabeling procedure was utilized to label the sterilized detritus with ¹⁴C. Organic carbon values were calculated for both S. alterniflora and P. pugio. The grass shrimp were found to assimilate significantly the detritus, with an assimilation efficiency of approximately 14%, and an approximate ingestion rate of 2.508 x l0^-4mg C detritus/mg C shrimp hour^-l occurred. It is hypothesized that coprophagous activity may be important to the completion of digestion of …

Feeding And Food Selection In The Japanese Oyster Crassostrea Gigas, Rickey D. Moore

Dissertations and Theses

The Japanese oyster Crassostrea gigas is commercially grown in bays and estuaries of the Pacific Northwest. The oyster's complex, ciliated, plicate gill is responsible for removing particles from surrounding waters for ingestion. In order to determine how this is accomplished, structural interrelationships of gill components were investigated using scanning electron microscopy and light microscopy. Particle movement was observed directly on both isolated gill sections and intact gills. Feeding data were obtained by comparing initial to final concentration and size of algal particles in a Coulter counter.

A Laboratory Study Of Nongenetic Embryonic Adaptation To Salinity And Its Subsequent Effects Upon Larval Development Of The Grass Shrimp Palaemonetes Pugio Holthius, Paul Jay Anninos

OES Theses and Dissertations

Fertilized embryos of the grass shrimp Palamonetes pugio Holthuis (Decapoda; Caridea) were exposed to two levels of salinity [5 ppt (exposed) and 20 ppt (control)] during incubation to determine the extent to which embryonic adaptation influences subsequent larval development. Larval response to embryonic exposure was measured at three salinities (5 ppt, 10 ppt, and 20 ppt) as the fraction of larvae surviving to metamorphosis and the duration (in days) of larval development. The survival rate of larvae hatched from control, or non-adapted, embryos was significantly influenced by rearing salinity. The differences in survival of pre-adapted larvae (exposed group), however, were …

A Comparison Of Recruitment Strategies Among Brachyuran Crustacean Megalopae Of The York River, Lower Chesapeake Bay And Adjacent Shelf Waters, David Franklin Johnson

OES Theses and Dissertations

Twenty-one stations forming a transect of the Pamunkey River, York River, lower Chesapeake Bay and adjacent coastal waters were sampled from July through September 1980. The megalopa stages of 11 brachyuran species were sampled. Vertical and horizontal distributions are described for each species in relation to salinity and water column stratification. The megalopae are assigned to three apparent recruitment strategies: retained estuarine, expelled estuarine and retained coastal megalopae. the megalopa stages of estuarine adults, such as Hexapanopeus angustifrons, Neopanope sayi, Panopeus herbstii and Pinnotheres ostreum, are retained in estuarine epibenthic waters, while Rhithropanopeus harrisii are retained in slightly shallower …

A Structural Analysis Of Phytoplankton In The Chesapeake Bay Plume And Adjacent Shelf Waters, Charles K. Rutledge

Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations

Community structures of phytoplankton populations from the southern portion of the Chesapeake Bight were examined and associated to real and environmental spaces. The sampling design was specifically intended to examine the small scale three dimensional structure of the Chesapeake Bay plume as characterized by its phytoplankton populations. The phytoplankton were sampled at 101 stations, non-synoptically, over a five day period in mid-June, 1980.

Several multivariate numerical techniques were used to determine the relationships between the phytoplankton species distributions and pattern the low salinity plume distribution. A pattern of distribution which approximated the salinity plume resulted from several clustering procedures. Environmental …

Effects Of Disruptive Grazing By The Mud Snail Ilyanassa Obsoleta On Mudflat Nematode Populations, David Ludwig

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

Population densities of the mud snail Ilyanassa obsoleta were manipulated in caging experiments on a salt marsh mudflat and in laboratory microcosms. Mud snails outcompete nematodes for food resources, but may increase resources available to deposit feeding groups. Mud snails reduce annelid (polychaete and oligochaete) populations by substrate disruption. Reduced annelid densities provide the nematode community with some release from predation and competition. In mudflat sediments, the nematode community responds to both primary (predation) and secondary (envirorm1ental release, food competition) interactions. Multiple levels of interactive coupling should be considered in any systems level investigation in this habitat.

Waterfowl Utilization Of A Submerged Vegetation (Zostera Marina And Ruppia Maritima) Bed In The Lower Chesapeake Bay, Elizabeth W. Wilkins

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

No abstract provided.

Adenine Nucleotide Levels And Adenylate Energy Charge In Zostera Marina (Eelgrass): Determination And Application, Damon A. Delistraty

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

An analytical technique was developed to measure adenine nucleotide levels (ATP, ADP, AMP) and adenylate energy charge (EC) in Zostera marina (eelgrass), a submerged marine angiosperm. A tissue comparison and seasonal survey provide baseline information on natural adenylate variability. The methodology developed can be suitably adapted to other macrophyte species as well. Plants were frozen, lyophilized, scraped free of epiphytes, and homogenized. Adenylates were extracted with boiling 1 mM EDTA + 5% (w/v) PVPP (pH 7.6), and assayed by enzymic conversion of AMP and ADP to ATP, followed by quantitative analysis of ATP via the firefly bioluminescent reaction. ATP, ADP, …

The Distribution And Ecology Of Gammaridean Amphipods In The Plankton Of The Middle Atlantic Bight, Cathy J. Womack

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

No abstract provided.

Zooplankton Communities In Chesapeake Bay Seagrass Systems, Cathy Elizabeth Meyer

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

No abstract provided.

Utilization Of A Zostera Marina And Ruppia Maritima Habitat By Four Decapods With Emphasis On Callinectes Sapidus, Deborah L. Penry

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

No abstract provided.

Myology And Osteology Of Lupinoblennius Herre (Pisces: Blenniidae, William A. Roumillat

Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations

Certain osteological characters of the genus Lupinoblennius Herre (Pisces: Blenniidae) indicate that it is a specialized member of the tribe Blenniini. Two of these characters are similar to those reported in more advanced tribes. Unifying this genus with the Blenniini are certain muscle patterns that appear unique for the tribe. A comprehensive description of blenny musculature is presented to correct previous literature misinterpretations, and to lay the groundwork for future infrafamilial comparative anatomical studies.