Life Sciences Commons^™

Habitat Requirements For The Softshell Clam, Mya Arenaria In The Chesapeake Bay, Patrick Baker, Roger L. Mann

Reports

Large populations of softshell clams persist only in relatively shallow, sandy. mesohaline portions of Chesapeake Bay. These areas are mostly in Maryland, but can also occur in the Rappahannock River. Virginia. In some other portions of the bay, especially polyhaline portions. sparse populations of soft shell clams persist subtidally. Restricted populations exist intertidally.

Softshell clams grow rapidly in Chesapeake Bay, reaching commercial size in two years or less. They reproduce twice per year, in spring and fall, but probably only fall spawnings are important in maintaining population levels. Major recruitment events do not occur in most years. despite heavy annual …

Color Image-Analyzed Fluorescence Microscopy: A New Tool For Marine Microbial Ecology, Ml Sieracki, Cl Viles

VIMS Articles

BACTERIA, cyanobacteria, protozoa and small eukaryotic phytoplankton are now known to be funda- mental components of marine planktonic ecosystems (Azam et al., 1983; Sieburth, 1984). These organisms have high potential growth rates, are efficient convert- ers of material and energy, and usually constitute most of the plankton biomass (Davis et al., 1985; Fuhrman et al., 1989). Their different trophic levels are often closely coupled. These characteristics require that experimental and sampling designs for studying the microbial populations incorporate appropriate (i.e., small) temporal and spatial scales. The corollary to this is that large numbers of samples must be taken. If these …

A 100-Year Sediment Budget For Chesapeake Bay, Carl H. Hobbs Iii, Jeffery P. Halka, Randall T. Kerhin, Michael J. Carron

Reports

Chesapeake Bay is a depositional basin that is filling from both ends and the sides. During the century ended in the mid-1950s between 1.0 x 109 and 2.92 x 109 metric tons of sediment accumulated in the bay. The bay's largest tributary, the Susquehanna River, is a major source of fine-grained sediments; its coarser load being trapped by dams. The continental shelf is the largest single source of sediment for the basin. A massive quantity of sand, perhaps as much of forty percent of the net deposition, enters the bay between the Virginia capes and works its way tens of …

Estimation Of Standing Crop Of Oysters In The James River, Virginia, Using Commercial Fishing Records : Final Report, Bruce J. Barber, Roger L. Mann

Reports

Virginia was the leading producer of oysters, Crassostrea virginica, as recently as the late 1950's, when landings of market oysters from the 243,000 acres of public grounds was about 700,000 bushels (Hargis and Haven, 1988). Beginning about 1960, a major decline in market oyster production occurred, principally the result of two oyster pathogens, Haplosporidium nelsoni (MSX) and Perkinsus marinus ( Dermo) . These pathogens have essentially decimated productive oyster grounds in the main stem of Chesapeake Bay as well as the lower portions of all the major rivers. Market oyster landings from public grounds had declined to 328,338 bushels in …

Map And Guide: Vims 50th Year Open House, Virginia Institute Of Marine Science

Miscellaneous

Welcome to the Virginia Institute of Marine Science/Sclwol of Marine Science of the College of William and Mary. VIMS began as the Virginia Fisheries Laboratory in 1940, /.ocated in Yorktown and lwused in what had been a filling station. Today, join us as we o,pen our doors to celebrate 50 years that have made VIMS the nation's premier academic institution dedicated to the study of estuaries and the coastal oceans.

Use this flyer as your tour guide.

Early Life-History Implications Of Selected Carcharhinoid And Lamnoid Sharks Of The Northwest Atlantic, Steven Branstetter

VIMS Books and Book Chapters

The size of most newborn sharks makes them susceptible to predation from their own kind and other large fishes. In the northwestern Atlantic, juvenile nursery grounds can be generally classified according to whether or not the young are exposed to such predatory risk. Several related factors-breeding frequency, litter size, size at birth, early growth rate-may help offset early natural mortality. These factors are counterbalanced by the different species in several different ways, producing numerous early life history strategies. In general, slow growing species are either born at relatively large sizes or use protected nursery grounds, whereas faster growing species tend …

School Of Marine Science Graduate Program Catalog 1990-91, College Of William And Mary, School Of Marine Science

Miscellaneous

Catalog for the Graduate program of the School of Marine Science at the College of William and Mary for the listed academic year.

Eutrophication Of Lake Matoaka Assessment And Projection, Bruce Neilson, Gary F. Anderson, Martha Rhodes

Reports

No abstract provided.

Western North Atlantic Shark-Fishery Management Problems And Informational Requirements, Thomas B. Hoff, John A. Musick

VIMS Books and Book Chapters

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) has primary responsibility for the development ofihe Western North Atlantic Shark Fishery Management Plan (FMP). Currently, there is a consensus among the five East Coast Councils that an FMP for sharks should be prepared. The current concerns focus on many of the same issues that were germane a decade ago when a shark FMP was initiated and then halted mainly because of inadequate information. These issues include 1) an expanded, nondiscriminant, commercial longline fishery ; (2) an existing and rapidly expanding recreational fishery; (3) concern for the extensive waste which occurs from both recreational …

Recruitment And Growth Of Oysters On Shell Clutch Planted At Monthly Intervals (May-August 1986) At Jones Shore Basin The Lower Potomac River, Maryland, Reinaldo Morales-Alamo, Roger L. Mann

Reports

No abstract provided.

Research, Education And "Proper Extension Work" : The First 50 Years Of The Virginia Institute Of Marine Science, William J. Hargis Jr.

Miscellaneous

No abstract provided.

Vims 50th Year, Virginia Institute Of Marine Science

Miscellaneous

Brochures of the celebration program and map and guide of open house activities.

"Welcome to the Virginia Institute of Marine Science/School of Marine Science of the College of William and Mary. VIMS began as the Virginia Fisheries Laboratory in 1940, located in Yorktowm and housed in what had been a filling station. Today, join us as we open our doors to celebrate 50 years that have made VIMS the nation's premier academic institution dedicated to the study of estuaries and the coastal oceans."

Determination Of Macrophage Chemiluminescent Response In Fundulus Heteroclitus As A Function Of Pollution And Temperature Stress, Karen Kelly Reay

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

No abstract provided.

Automated Enumeration By Computer Digitization Of Age-0 Weakfish Cynoscion Regalis Scale Circuli, Stephen T. Szedlmayer, Margaret M. Szedlmayer, Michael E. Sieracki

VIMS Articles

There has been extensive use of daily otolith growth increments in age and growth ·studies of age-O fishes (Campana and Neilson 1985). Recently, the daily ageing method has been extended to scales (Szedlmayer et al. In press). However, visually counting increments is tedious, time consuming, and subject to human error (Rice 1987). In an effort to automate the counting of increments or daily circuli in scales of age-O juvenile weakfish Cynoscion regalis, a microcomputer-based system was used to digitize the video image of a scale, store the light intensities from a radial transect, and count circuli.

Systematics Of The Pearlfishes (Pisces, Carapidae), Df Markle, Je Olney

VIMS Articles

A review of taxonomy, anatomy, ontogeny, ecology, and phylogeny of the ophidiiform family Carapidae was conducted using over 2,300 larval, juvenile and adult specimens. A cladistic classification based on swimbladder morphology, developmental and osteological characters of the vertebral column, fins, pectoral and pelvic girdles, gill arches, ethmoid, jaws, and habitat is presented. A total of 31 species (6 new names and one unnamed larval form) in seven genera are recognized in two subfamilies. A species previously assigned to Echiodon is made the type of a new monotypic genus. Species of the tribe Carapini are rearranged in the genera Carapus and …

Small-Scale Organism Distributions And Patterns Of Species Diversity: Evidence For Positive Interactions In An Estuarine Benthic Community, Linda C. Schaffner

VIMS Articles

No abstract provided.

Population Dynamics Of Young-Of-The-Year Striped Bass, Morone Saxatilis, Populations, Based On Daily Otolith Increments, Lisa L. Kline

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

Validation of daily increment deposition in otoliths of juvenile striped bass up to 80 days of age was provided through sequential sacrifice of known age hatchery-reared fish in 1987 and 1989, and through tetracycline marking of otoliths of cage-cultured striped bass in 1989. Ages of fish between 80-110 days old were consistently underestimated by 1-3 growth increments. Known age juvenile striped bass were raised in the laboratory in 1989 under controlled environmental conditions. These experiments provided evidence of an endogenous circadian rhythm controlling daily increment deposition in juvenile striped bass otoliths. Juvenile striped bass were collected in the 4 Virginia …

Utilization Of Marsh And Seagrass Habitats By Early Stages Of Callinectes-Aapidus - A Latitudinal Perspective, R J. Orth, J Van Montfrans

VIMS Articles

Seagrass beds and marshes have been identified as important nurseries for the blue crab, Callinectes sapidus. This nursery paradigm is based on blue crab abundance data from trawl, seine and drop-net sampling that has revealed greater abundances in these habitats than in adjacent unvegetated areas. Recently, more quantitative and intensive sampling in seagrass beds and marshes over broad latitudinal scales, combined with manipulative experiments, indicate that the same habitat may vary in utilization on regional scales. Mechanisms accounting for enhanced abundances in these nursery habitats have not been elucidated from a latitudinal perspective. Regional comparisons of blue crab catch data …

Seasonal Composition Of Finfish In Waters Behind The Virginia Barrier Islands, Brenda L. Norcross, David Hata

VIMS Articles

Semi-monthly sampling of finfish was conducted in the lagoons and marshes behind Parramore and Cedar Islands at Wachapreague Inlet, Cobb and Wreck Islands at Sand Shoal Inlet, and on the northwest side of Fisherman Island from September 1986 through September 1987. Although all lifestages were collected, the study was designed to focus on utilization of this area by juvenile finfish. Sixty-nine species offinfish were collected. Species diversity and abundance fluctuated widely among seasons. Both were highest in the fall and lowest in the winter. The most abundant species over all seasons and locations were silversides (Menidia menidia) and bay anchovy …

Blue-Crab Population-Dynamics In Chesapeake Bay - Variation In Abundance (York River, 1972-1988) And Stock-Recruit Functions, Rom Lipcius, Wa Van Engel

VIMS Articles

Blue crab abundance in the York River, Virginia was analyzed for interannual, monthly and spatial variation at two stations sampled by bottom trawl from 1972-1988. Various stock-recruitment and recruit-stock functions were derived from trawl abundance and commercial fishery landings statistics. The key component of variation was due to interannual fluctuations in abundance, which remained consistently high or low for two or more years before changing, suggesting internal population feedback mechanisms, such as cannibalism, or long-term climatic control. In addition, significant cyclic patterns in residuals from stockrecruitment functions further indicated the existence of long-term variability in abundance. Peak seasonal abundance and …

Utilization Of A Seagrass Meadow And Tidal Marsh Creek By Blue Crabs Callinectes-Sapidus Ii. Spatial And Temporal Patterns Of Molting, Ch Ryer, J Van Montfrans, Rj Orth

VIMS Articles

Blue crabs were collected weekly from a lower Chesapeake Bay seagrass meadow and adjacent tidal marsh creek over 2 months (July-August 1987) and molt staged. Molting activity, determined from a total of I ,220 crabs, was greater in the grassbed than in the marsh creek, and greater for small crabs and females. The difference between the two habitats in molting activity decreased from the first to the second month of sampling, possibly in response to seasonal decline in seagrass biomass. The proportion of small (<70 mm) females in both habitats was greatest on full moons. There was a lunar rhythm of molting activity by large crabs (2:70 mm), with peak molting activity on fuIl moons. SmaIl crabs demonstrated a similar, but nonsignificant rhythm of molting. We suggest that blue crabs approaching ecdysis aggregate in seagrass meadows, taking advantage of the refuge from predation that this structurally complex habitat affords. Lunar rhythmicity of molting activity may further reduce predation mortality through a dilution effect.

Foraging Behavior Of The Blue-Crab, Callinectes-Sapidus, On Juvenile Oysters, Crassostrea-Virginica - Effects Of Prey Density And Size, Db Eggleson

VIMS Articles

Blue crabs (Callinectes sapidus) are major predators of juvenile oysters (Crassostrea virginica) in Chesapeake Bay, yet little information exists on the foraging behavior and predatorprey dynamics for this predator-prey system. Laboratory experiments assessed functional responses of blue crabs to six densities of three size-classes of juvenile American oysters. Behavioral subcomponents of the crabs' functional response were quantified: total and successful encounter rates, proportional attack success, persistence time in unsuccessful encounters, and breaking, eating and handling times in successful encounters. Specific opening techniques were used by crabs for the three oyster size-classes. Blue crabs exhibited a hyperbolic type II functional response …

Molting In The Mature Female Blue-Crab, Callinectes-Sapidus Rathbun, Kirk J. Havens, Jr Mcconaugha

VIMS Articles

The present study examined the hypothesis that mature female blue crabs, Callinectes sapidus, do not enter a terminal anecdysis. Induced molting via eyestalk ablation, size frequency distributions, gonad development and limb regeneration indices from field collected animals are used as indicators of potential post maturity molts. Eyestalk ablation of 15mature females resulted in ecdysis in II individuals approximately 51 days (standard error = 0.64) after ablation, indicating a physiological ability of mature females to complete ecdysis. Analysis of size frequency distributions from catch data indicated two distinct shifts from smaller to larger females, one in early spring and a second …

Daily, Monthly And Annual Settlement-Patterns By Callinectes-Sapidus And Neopanope-Sayi Megalopae On Artificial Collectors Deployed In The York River, Virginia - 1985-1988, J Van Montfrans, Ca Peery, R J. Orth

VIMS Articles

Daily, monthly and annual settlement of dominant brachyuran megalopae on six replicate artificial settlement substrates (collectors) was examined at one site in the York River, Virginia, from mid-July or early August to early December during 1985-1988. Callinectes sapidus Rathbun, an exported estuarine species, and Neopanope sayi (Smith), a retained estuarine species, were the numerically dominant colonizers of collectors. C. sapidus settlement was highly episodic (l-3-day duration) and significantly associated with the full moon period (lunar day 15-22). The temporal mean of settlement for C. sapidus each year fell within a 12-day period (24 September-6 October) over the 4 years. C. …

Settlement Patterns Of Crassostrea Virginica (Gmelin, 1791) Larvae In Relation To Tidal Zonation, G. Curtis Roegner, Roger L. Mann

VIMS Articles

Experiments were conducted to determine the settlement distribution of the oyster Crassostrea virginica (Gmelin) in relation to tidal zonation in an area where adult populations are largely confined to the intertidal zone. Hatchery-reared pediveliger larvae were interned in PVC tubes positioned at known tidal heights. The influence of non-tidal factors was limited: mesh covering the ends of the tubes prevented loss of larvae to dispersal or predation, the settling substrate was not colonized by competitors, and the effects of light and horizontal currents were minimized. Settlement was found to occur throughout the intertidal zone but predominated at the bottom of …

Shelter Scaling Regulates Survival Of Juvenile Caribbean Spiny Lobster Panulirus Argus, Db Eggleston, Rom Lipcius, Dl Miller, L Cobacetina

VIMS Articles

No abstract provided.

Planktonic Availability, Molt Stage And Settlement Of Blue Crab Postlarvae, Rom Lipcius, Ej Olmi, J Van Montfrans

VIMS Articles

No abstract provided.

Variation In Planktonic Availability And Settlement Of Blue-Crab Megalopae In The York River, Virginia, Ej Olmi, J Van Montfrans, Rn Lipcius, R J. Orth, Pw Sadler

VIMS Articles

Blue crab, Callinectes sapidus, megalopae and juveniles were sampled in the plankton and on natural (grassbeds) and artificial settlement substrates (collectors) at two sites in each of two areas of a lower Chesapeake Bay tributary (York River, Virginia) to examine spatial variability in blue crab recruitment. Spatial patterns of abundance were not consistent across habitats (plankton, artificial collectors and grassbeds) or time. Densities of planktonic megalopae were homogeneous at 1-2 m (within site) but varied at spatial scales of hundreds of meters (between sites) and kilometers (between areas). Settled megalopae were distributed unevenly within and between sites, but their abundance …

Marine Mammal Project : Semi-Annual Report, 1 Jan-30 June 1990, John A. Musick

Reports

The Virginia Institute of Marine Science/School of Marine Science is the marine mammal stranding coordinator for the state of Virginia. Its purpose is to collect data from strandings, conduct population estimates from local marine mammal fauna, and to provide rehabilitation efforts to live stranded marine mammals.

Thirteen marine mammals, including twelve cetaceans and one pinniped, have been reported stranded in Virginia since 1 January 1990. The strandings were comprised of six different species. The most reported stranded species has been Tursiops truncatus (6). Two marine mammals, a harbor porpoise Phocoena phocoena and a humpback whale Megaptera novaeangliae, were stranded live. …

Public Oyster Shoal Survey - Spring 1990, Bruce Barber

Reports

This report summarizes data collected during 1990 in the Virginia portion of the Chesapeake Bay. The report focuses on the spring public oyster shoal survey in Virginia.