Marine Biology Commons^™

Predicting Marine Teleost Responses To Ocean Warming And Pollution, Akila Harishchandra

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Ocean warming and pollution are two detrimental anthropogenic factors causing rapid marine ecosystem degradation recorded in the past decades. These factors alter the marine environment intolerable for many marine species, forcing them to either adapt or shift their contemporary habitat ranges to reduce the extinction risk embedded with environmental degradation. Estimating marine species’ habitat range shifts, and their potential for developing adaptive mechanisms are critical for ecosystem conservation and management, human health risk assessment, and climate change vulnerability assessments. Given that, for the first chapter of this thesis, we focused on developing a species distribution model (SDM) integrating marine species …

Biophysical Factors Impacting Sea Lice Settlement And Survival, Eleanor R. Glahn

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) aquaculture production in Maine is a valuable contributor to the economy, the expansion of which has been challenged by the parasitic salmon louse Lepeophtheirus salmonis. As planktonic organisms, the life of the salmon louse is primarily dictated by the physical conditions of the environment: the temperature for development time, salinity for survival, and current velocity for transport. Salmon lice are obligate parasites for whom the successful infection of a suitable host is critical to completion of their life cycle. However, little is understood about the effects of current velocity on infection success. Hydrodynamic …

Dolphin Behavioral Responses To Uncrewed Aerial Systems As A Function Of Exposure, Height, And Type, Savannah Damiano

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) are becoming a standard tool in the study of cetaceans, however, a comparative assessment of animal responses to UAS has not been established to gauge the most effective systems for cetacean study. We utilized Dolphin Quest Bermuda’s eleven bottlenose dolphins as subjects for such an investigation taking place over five weeks in 2022 and five weeks in 2023. The dolphins were evaluated for investigative behavioral responses to six off-the-shelf UAS types and a custom fixed wing system. Each UAS was flown in decreasing height vertically above the main dolphin lagoon to evaluate dolphin behavioral responses in …

Optimizing Strategies To Hydraulically Plant Atlantic Salmon Eggs Based On Fry Dispersal Patterns, Ernest J. Atkinson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The Gulf of Maine Distinct Population Segment of Atlantic Salmon has suffered from habitat loss and exploitation over the last century. Hatchery supplementation has prevented the extirpation of the species, but stocking methods represent tradeoffs between survival, domestication, and logistics. Egg planting, the use of eyed embryos, maximizes natural rearing opportunities which can be important for adaptation. This method, however, is logistically demanding and requires significant labor over large spatial, but short temporal, scales dictated by the ontogeny of the fish. However, the survival and dispersal behavior of Atlantic Salmon fry immediately after emergence from eggs planted in artificial nests …

Ontogeny Of Size-Specific Prey Selection And Handling Behavior Of Larval Lobster (Homarus Americanus), Evelyn M. Layland

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The American lobster (Homarus americanus) plays an integral role in the coastal Northwest Atlantic as a benthic consumer and the target of the most valuable single-species fishery in North America. In the past decade, benthic recruitment of juvenile lobster has declined, even as egg production has increased, suggesting heightening levels of larval mortality. Recent correlative studies in the Gulf of Maine further suggest early stage larval survival may be related to the supply and composition of planktonic foods. Despite these correlative studies and the economic importance of the species, relatively little is yet known about how larval lobster …

Climate Change And An Evolving Fishery: Do Declining Maternal Size And Planktonic Foods Affect Lobster Larval Survival In The Gulf Of Maine?, Alexander J. Ascher

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Many marine organisms exhibit bipartite life-cycles whereby reproductive adults dwell on the benthos while the larvae are pelagic. The pelagic stage is subject to mortality rates which far exceed those experienced by the organism during its benthic existence. The larval phase therefore represents an important bottleneck to larval recruitment. Small changes to survivorship in the plankton can have large consequences for subsequent year-class strength. Understanding the factors influencing successful larval recruitment is an important step towards predicting future stock abundances and maintaining healthy fisheries. The American lobster (Homarus americanus) is a large benthic crustacean which is economically and culturally important …

Investigating Salinity Intrusion Effects On Sapelo Island, Georgia Using Benthic Macroinvertebrate Bioindicators, Raymond Paul Kidder Ii

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Coastal wetlands are threatened by the compounding effects of sea level rise and historical land modification. Historically, much of Sapelo Island, Georgia was deforested and drained using a series of ditches and canals to create arable land fit for agriculture and to provide drainage to the inhabited parts of the island. Today, this network of artificial channels is believed to be facilitating the movement of saltwater from the nearby estuary into freshwater areas on the interior of the island. This study aimed to better understand the frequency and magnitude of salinity intrusion events along with their resulting impacts to the …

Use Of Hematological Markers To Assess Physiological Condition And Health Status In Free-Ranging Sand Tiger Sharks (Carcharius Taurus), Chestina N. Craig

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The contents of blood can provide information about the physiological condition and health of vertebrates. This study seeks to better understand the stress physiology and blood bacteria presence of the sand tiger shark (Carcharius taurus), as sharks are known to have unique physiology and immune systems. In this study the blood metabolites glucose, lactate, and ketones (3-hydroxybuteric acid and acetoacetate), were used to understand how biotic and abiotic factors affect the acute stress response to capture and handling. Metabolite concentrations from blood plasma were analyzed using colorimetric assays. Glucose and ketones showed no significant responses to capture and …

Strategies To Promote Value And Resilience In The American Lobster (Homarus Americanus) Industry, Nicole Orminski

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The American lobster (Homarus americanus) fishery is the most valuable single-species fishery in the United States and Canada (DFO, 2021; NOAA Fisheries, n.d.). Coastal communities on both sides of the border rely on the American lobster supply chain, which economically links the two countries with one another and with other countries around the globe. Ongoing disruptions (or shocks) threaten the functionality of the supply chain, and increased globalization leads to greater exposure to shocks as they are transmitted between systems. One research study described in this thesis aims to add value to the industry via post-harvest treatment of …

Understanding The Impacts Of Anthropogenic Effects An Habitat Variability Interactions On Maine's Rocky Intertidal Ecosystem, Laura Braun

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The rocky intertidal ecosystem is an important ecological and cultural aspect of the picturesque Maine coast, playing a vital role in not only Maine’s coastal ecosystem, but also to Maine’s economy. It’s distinct community structure along the sharp elevational gradient and the presence of daily stressors (wave action, heat, and desiccation), make the rocky intertidal ecosystem an important model ecosystem to monitor for effects from anthropogenic impacts. In this thesis, I describe attempts to monitor and understand the impacts of two of these anthropogenic impacts on this system: climate change and industrial harvesting of Ascophyllum nodosum along Maine’s coast. For …

Using Reflex Actions To Predict Delayed Post-Harvest Mortality Of American Lobster (Homarus Americanus) In Maine’S Lobster Supply Chain, Cassandra Leeman

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In live seafood industries, maintaining product quality and survivorship are critical aspects of the supply chain infrastructure. Post-harvest mortality in the American lobster (Homarus americanus) fishery can result in a significant loss in revenue for the largest single species fishery in North America. In Maine, the wholesale lobster distribution supply chain directly and indirectly supports state and local economies, providing almost $1 billion in revenue and dominates the fishery, producing 82% of the total lobster landings in the USA (Donihue, 2018; NOAA, 2021). However, at least 2% of the lobster landed in Maine die before they reach consumers, representing an …

Microplastic Accumulation In The Digestive Tract Of Young-Of-Year Atlantic Sharpnose Sharks (Rhizoprionodon Terraenovae) In The Grand Strand, Sc, Andrew Curtis Sitlinger

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study focused on the presence and accumulation of microplastic fibers in the digestive tract and livers of young-of-year Atlantic Sharpnose Sharks (Rhizopriondon terraenovae) from two sampling locations along the Grand Strand of South Carolina. R. terraenovae is a small, mesopredatory elasmobranch found abundantly along northwestern Atlantic Ocean coastlines. Thirty specimens of R. terraenovae were collected from May through August of 2020. Microplastics were found in all specimens. A total of 672 plastic particles were identified over the course of the study, with an average of 22.4 ± 10.5 (SD) plastics per specimen. The majority of the plastics were classified …

Remotely Sensed Assessment Of The Preferred Habitat Of Alexandrium Catenella In The Gulf Of Maine And The Bay Of Fundy, Andre F. Bucci

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) of the toxic dinoflagellate Alexandrium catenella are an annually recurring problem in the Gulf of Maine (GoM), resulting in risks to human health and substantial economic losses due to shellfish harvesting closures. The monitoring approaches in the region are restricted to real-time identification of the HABs events, when they are clearly underway and already causing deleterious effects to the environment. To fully function as an early warning system rather than an immediate response, monitoring strategies need to be focused on environmental conditions preceding A. catenella HABs. However, the current understanding of the preferred habitat for A. …

Modeling Life History And Population Dynamics Of American Lobster And Atlantic Sea Scallops In A Warming Gulf Of Maine, Cameron T. Hodgdon

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Climate change is impacting many marine species distributions, life histories, and behaviors, as well as their associated fisheries and overall production. This is perhaps especially true for the Gulf of Maine (GOM). Here, warming rates are exceeding a vast majority of the world’s oceans. This highly dynamic system supports myriad species, but is both economically recognized and culturally known for its Atlantic sea scallop (Placopecten magellanicus) and American lobster (Homarus americanus) fisheries. This dissertation examines the influence of regional climate change on these species in an effort to predict how these stocks and their fisheries may …

Age, Growth, Foraging, And Trophic Ecology Of Bigeye (Thunnus Obesus) And Yellowfin (Thunnus Albacares) Tuna In Continental Shelf And Slope Regions Of The Northeast U.S., Riley S. Austin

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Traditional stock assessments require, in part, accurate knowledge of growth relationships to estimate a variety of aspects involved in population conservation management of exploited species. In addition, the local distribution and condition of top pelagic predators is driven by detection of abundant forage aggregations and along with traditional stock assessments, should be considered for effective management of marine populations. Empirical analyses of these data are severely lacking for bigeye (Thunnus obesus) and yellowfin (Thunnus albacares) tuna in the Atlantic Ocean, especially for the former. Given historical studies’ observations of these two top predators use as biological samplers due to their …

Linking Local Knowledge & Community Science In Support Of Coastal Marine Stewardship, Sarah Risley

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In the last two decades, there has been a shift towards more integrated, ecosystem-based approaches to marine management, including fisheries. At the same time, there have been calls for greater inclusion of diverse perspectives in conservation science and practice. For these reasons, there is renewed interest in the integration of indigenous and local knowledge into science, management, and environmental decision making. Despite these developments, local knowledge often is poorly integrated or treated as something of lesser value than knowledge generated or curated by professional researchers. Novel methods that integrate social and ecological data and prioritize local knowledge and community-based approaches …

Evaluation Of The Effectiveness Of Ventless Trap Survey In Capturing Sublegal American Lobster Abundance In The Inshore Gulf Of Maine, Shiyue Zhao

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The stock assessment of American lobster (Homarus americanus) plays an important role in managing the fishery in the Gulf of Maine (GOM). Various fishery-dependent and fishery-independent data are required in the stock assessment to estimate key fisheries parameters that define the population dynamics of American lobster. In the 2015 benchmark stock assessment, ventless trap survey (VTS) data were included for the first time to provide information about the sublegal lobster (carapace length < 83 mm) dynamics. However, the effectiveness of VTS data in monitoring sublegal lobsters has not been evaluated and we have little information on whether the VTS sampling design can capture sublegal lobster dynamics. The primary goal of this thesis research was to evaluate and determine whether the data collected from the Maine VTS provide robust estimation of design-based sublegal lobsters abundance index in the inshore GOM. To achieve this goal, I (1) estimated and evaluated variations in catch rates derived, respectively, from the first, second, and third ventless trap per site; 2) predicted sublegal lobster population at a high spatial resolution using generalized additive models (GAMs); (3) sampled the simulated sublegal lobster population following the sampling protocol used in the VTS program to derive a simulated VTS abundance index; and 4) compared the simulated VTS abundance index with the

predicted population abundance index in the simulated sublegal lobster population. The spatial scale of the study was defined by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) statistical areas in …

Evaluating The Foraging Ecology And Energetics Of Atlantic Bluefin Tuna (Thunnus Thynnus) In The Gulf Of Maine, Samantha Nadeau

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus, ABFT) have been a commercially and recreationally valuable species in the Gulf of Maine (GOM) since the early 1950s. Over the past few decades, abundance, spatial distribution, and physical condition of ABFT have shifted, possibly as a result of trophic changes including the composition, distribution, and/or condition of available prey. Historically, ABFT forage has most commonly consisted of Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus), Atlantic mackerel (Scomber scombrus), squids (Cephalopoda), bluefish (Pomatomus saltatrix), and sand lance (Ammodytes spp.). The current stock assessment for Atlantic herring, the dominant prey item for ABFT, suggests a reduction in spawning stock …

Use Of The New England Aquarium To Evaluate Environmental Dna Metabarcoding Of Gulf Of Maine Vertebrates And Invertebrates, Samantha Silverbrand

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding is a tool that has been used to characterize biodiversity in a range of diverse systems. However, blind application of eDNA metabarcoding primer sets to new regions and species pools can result in poor taxon coverage and unaccounted detection biases. For the Maine-eDNA EPSCoR program, one of the main focuses is to understand and characterize community assemblages in the Gulf of Maine (GoM) using eDNA to further inform conservation, monitoring, and sustainability. In this study, I selected a subset of the best performing vertebrate and invertebrate metabarcoding assys to test against GoM species present in the …

The Development And Application Of Targeted Edna Metabarcoding For Monitoring Freshwater And Marine Ais, Yueyang Wu

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Species invasions are of critical concern due to their significant impacts on ecosystems and social economies, of which aquatic invasive species (AIS) often pose significant challenges in their control and management, notably because of difficulties in early detection. Environmental DNA (eDNA) provides a promising tool in advancing the detection of newly introduced aquatic organisms because of its high sensitivity and ease of use compared to traditional capture-based methods. Although eDNA-based methods are increasingly used worldwide, especially in aquatic ecosystems, most studies focus on a limited number of target species despite a pressing need for broad taxonomic monitoring for conservation and …

Environmental Impacts On The Reproduction Of Three Cold-Water Corals, With Implications For Their Vulnerability To Ocean Warming And Climate Change, Julia Johnstone

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Cold-water corals are important habitat builders in the deep ocean worldwide. Despite being known for centuries, recent technological advances and deep-sea exploration has revealed cold-water corals thriving at depths of up to 6000m. Similar to their warm-water relatives, cold-water corals are hotspots of diversity, with their structures creating habitat for thousands of associated species. Some cold-water corals create bioherms that stretch for tens of kilometers, while others come together to form vast undersea forests. These habitats are often home to commercially important fisheries species, and conservation efforts have recently begun to regulate fishing in cold-water coral ecosystems to protect them …

The Impacts Of Climate Change On The Gulf Of Maine Northern Shrimp (Pandalus Borealis) Distribution, Reproduction, And Life, Hsiao-Yun Chang

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The Gulf of Maine northern shrimp (Pandalus borealis) once supported a significant winter fishery for the Gulf of Maine (GOM). Although the shrimp fishery is not comparable to the lobster business, it provided fishermen and many coastal communities jobs and incomes in winters after lobster seasons. However, a moratorium has been put on the shrimp fishery since 2014 due to record low population abundance and perceived recruitment failures. The recruitment failures have been correlated with warming water temperatures over the past decade. The GOM has been recognized as experiencing rapid warming as a result of global climate change. …

The Impacts Of Embryonic Arsenic Exposure Of Fundulus Heteroclitus, Torey Bowser

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Arsenic is a toxic metalloid that exceeds safe drinking water standards in groundwater in many locations worldwide. Arsenic exposure in fish has been linked to destruction of gill tissues, impairment of growth, decreased muscle mass, memory impairment, increased aggression, and avoidance behaviors. We examined the behavior of mummichogs (Fundulus heteroclitus) following arsenic exposure during development in two studies. Embryos were collected from fish from three reference sites: Scorton Creek (SC), Massachusetts, Wells Harbor (WE), Maine, and Block Island (BLOC), Rhode Island and two contaminated sites: Callahan Mine (CM), Brooksville, Maine, and New Bedford Harbor (NBH), Massachusetts. Embryos were …

Examining Scale-Dependent, Nonstationary Environmental Effects On American Lobster (Homarus Americanus) Spatial Distribution And Habitat Suitability In A Changing Gulf Of Maine, Jamie Behan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The Gulf of Maine (GOM) is a highly complex environment and previous studies have suggested needs to account for spatial nonstationarity in species distribution models for the American lobster (Homarus americanus). Spatial nonstationarity can be defined as the presence of variation in relationships between independent and dependent variables across space (Windle et al., 2012). To explore impacts of spatial nonstationarity on species distribution, models with the following three assumptions were compared: (1) stationary relationships between species distributions and environmental variables; (2) nonstationary density-environment relationships between eastern and western GOM, and (3) nonstationary density-environment relationships across eastern, central, and western GOM. …

Marine Aquaculture In Maine: Understanding Diverse Perspectives And Interactions At Multiple Scales, Melissa L. Britsch

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Coastal oceans are changing and experiencing increased use. The social and ecological benefits of healthy coastal oceans are well documented and include habitats for marine species, storm protection, and recreational opportunities (MEA, 2005). As the impacts of human activities are recognized, questions about how ocean spaces should be used are becoming more common. These questions are complex and involve many tradeoffs. Understanding the values people hold about uses, and how activities and ecosystems overlap, is critical for weighing tradeoffs and improving future management. I use the northeastern U.S. state of Maine to study human interactions with coastal oceans. Maine is …

Characterization Of The Whale Shark (Rhincodon Typus) Melanocortin-2 Receptor, Brianne Hoglin

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Among bony vertebrates, the melanocortin-2 receptor ortholog is unique among the family of five melanocortin receptors on the basis that it is dependent on its accessory protein, MRAP1, for trafficking and activation, and is selective for activation by ACTH alone. Previous studies on the MC2R orthologs of select cartilaginous fish, the elephant shark (Callorhinchus milii) and the red stingray (Dasyatis akajei), revealed divergent traits in a less obligatory relationship on MRAP1 and its ability to be activated by ACTH or the MSH-sized peptides. However, observed traits were not consistent between these two cartilaginous fish species, posing …

Novel Quantification And Localization Of Water And Solute Transporters In The Tissues Of The Spiney Dogfish (Squalus Acanthias), Tolulope B. Ojo

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The dogfish, Squalus acanthias is a marine cartilaginous elasmobranch found in the North Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Dogfish synthesize and excrete urea as a product of nitrogen metabolism. They also convert ammonia into urea and retain this urea, such that their plasma is isosmotic or slightly hyperosmotic to the surrounding seawater. To facilitate the regulation of body fluid and to maintain ionic concentrations and osmotic pressure, Dogfish use ion and solute transporters (e.g., NCC, UT-1) and aquaporin water channel proteins. Studies have identified some of the aquaporin genes in the elasmobranch genome, but their functions are mostly uncharacterized. Recent transcriptomic …

Assessing Habitat Suitability Of Ribbed Mussels (Geukensia Demissa) In Georgia Salt Marshes By Examining Predicted Mussel Densities And Mussel Population Parameters, William K. Annis Jr

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Geukensia demissa (ribbed mussel) is an ecology important bivalve that has the potential to contribute to salt marsh restoration. Understanding the factors that contribute to the distribution of mussels can help inform managers on choosing locations to optimize the survivorship of mussels in restoration projects. This study sought to model mussel densities across the coast of Georgia and to compare predicted mussel densities with mussel population parameters as means to gauge habitat suitability. Mussel densities were collected through field surveys across a range of salt marshes along the coast of Georgia and were compared with spatial data such as distance …

The Role Of Symbiotic Algae In The Acclimatization Of Oculina Arbuscula To Ocean Acidification, Erin M. Arneson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Ocean acidification (OA) caused by CO₂ emissions is projected to decrease seawater pH to 7.6 by 2100. Scleractinian corals are at risk because excess H⁺ in seawater binds to carbonate (CO₃^2-), reducing its availability for CaCO₃ skeletons. The energy demand for skeletal growth increases as pH decreases because corals must actively purge excess H⁺ from their seawater sourced calcifying fluid to maintain high calcification rates. In scleractinian corals it is hypothesized that photosynthesis by symbiotic algae is critical to meet this increased energy demand. To test this hypothesis, I conducted laboratory and field …

Assessing The Utility Of Environmental Dna Techniques To Monitor White Shrimp (Litopenaeus Setiferus) Abundance On The Georgia Coast, Raven Hurt

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Environmental DNA (eDNA) surveys have developed over the last decade from once being a novel tool to now acting as an effective technology often used in complement to traditional capture surveys for assessing the distribution of organisms in freshwater and marine environments. However, many uncertainties on how to properly develop, operate, and analyze eDNA based techniques still hinder this technology effectiveness in the field. The white shrimp, Litopenaeus setiferus, is a common, commercially and recreationally important species in the United States, with landings exceeding $254 million in 2020. L. setiferus is also used as a key indicator species to changes …