Life Sciences Commons^™

Determination Of Hydro-Morphological Effects Of The Rappahannock Shoal Channel On The District Of Columbia Nutrient Allocation Under The Chesapeake Bay Agreement, Harry V. Wang

Reports

No abstract provided.

Marine Pelagic Ecosystems: The West Antarctic Peninsula, Hugh Ducklow, Karen Baker, Douglas G. Martinson, Langdon B. Quetin, Robin M. Ross, Raymond C. Smith, Sharon E. Stammerjohn, Maria Vernet, William R. Fraser

VIMS Articles

The marine ecosystem of the West Antarctic Peninsula (WAP) extends from the Bellingshausen Sea to the northern tip of the peninsula and from the mostly glaciated coast across the continental shelf to the shelf break in the west. The glacially sculpted coastline along the peninsula is highly convoluted and characterized by deep embayments that are often interconnected by channels that facilitate transport of heat and nutrients into the shelf domain. The ecosystem is divided into three subregions, the continental slope, shelf and coastal regions, each with unique ocean dynamics, water mass and biological distributions. The WAP shelf lies within the …

Evaluation Of Striped Bass Stocks In Virginia: Monitoring And Tagging Studies, 2004-2008, 1 September 2005 - 31 August 2006, Philip W. Sadler, John M. Hoenig, Robert E. Harris

Reports

This report presents the results of striped bass (Morone saxatilis) tagging and monitoring activities in Virginia during the period 1 September 2005 through 31 August 2006. It includes an assessment of the biological characteristics of striped bass taken from the 2006 spring spawning run, estimates of annual survival and fishing mortality based on annual spring tagging, and the preliminary results of the fall 2005 study that documents the prevalence of mycobacterial infections of striped bass in Chesapeake Bay. The information contained in this report is required by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission and is used to implement a coordinated …

Genetic Analysis Of White Marlin (Tetrapturus Albidus) Stock Structure, John Graves, Jan Mcdowell

VIMS Articles

The genetic basis of stock structure of white marlin (Tetrapturus albidus Poey, 1860) was inferred from analyses of five tetranucleotide repeat microsatellite loci (n = 214) and the mitochondrial (mt)DNA control region (n = 99) of white marlin from four geographic regions in the Atlantic Ocean. Considerable genetic variation was present in all collections for all molecular markers. Analysis of replicate collections taken in different years from three regions revealed no significant differences in the distribution of allele frequencies among years within regions. The value of global F-statistics for both multilocus microsatellite data and mtDNA control region sequences approached significance …

Microbial Abundance, Composition And Enzymatic Activity During Decomposition Of Copepod Carcasses, Kw Tang, Kml Hutalle, Et Al

VIMS Articles

Literature suggests that zooplankton carcasses are prevalent at times in both freshwater and marine environments, and could be important substrate sources for water column microbes (Dubovskaya et al. 2003, Hydrobiologia 504:223-227; Tang et al. 2006b, Estuar Coast Shelf Sci 68:499-508). We conducted laboratory experiments to investigate the decomposition of copepod carcasses by ambient microbes from Lake Dagow, Germany. Bacteria rapidly colonized and decomposed the carcasses, mainly from the inside. The ambient bacterial abundance increased 2-fold or more at the peak of decomposition, but decreased afterward, presumably due to protozoan grazing. Initial increase in ambient bacteria was faster at 20 degrees …

Phylogeny Of Recent Billfishes (Xiphioidei), Bb Collette, Jan Mcdowell, John Graves

VIMS Articles

Billfishes are genetically and morphologically distinct enough from scombroids to merit placement in a separate suborder, Xiphioidei. Two extant families are usually recognized: Xiphiidae (swordfish, Xiphias) and Istiophoridae, currently containing three genera, Istiophorus (sailfishes), Makaira (marlins), and Tetrapturus (spearfishes, white, and striped marlins). Phylogenetic analyses of molecular data from mitochondrial and nuclear gene sequences (mitochondrial control region, ND2, 12S, and nuclear MN 32 regions) show a different picture of relationships. Makaira is not monophyletic: blue marlin cluster with sailfish and placement of black marlin is unstable. Accepting the molecular phylogeny gives two possible classifications: (1) two genera: blue marlin + …

Viability, Infectivity And Fatty Acid Synthetic Activity Of Perkinsus Marinus Meront Cells Incubated In Estuarine And Artificial Seawater, Fle Chu, Ed Lund

VIMS Articles

We investigated the viability and fatty acid synthetic activity of in vitro cultured Perkinsus marinus (Dermo) in lipid-free medium and estuarine water, and the infectivity of P. marinus maintained in artificial seawater (ASW). Viability and fatty acid synthetic activity in 7 d old R marinus meronts maintained in lipid-free medium and estuarine water were tested. The infectivity of meronts incubated in ASW was examined by first incubating P. marinus meronts in ASW for 2, 3 or 7 d, and then inoculating viable ASW-incubated meronts into the shell cavity of individual oysters Crassostrea virginica. P. marinus infection prevalence and intensity in …

Integrated Coastal Management Issues And The Choices We Make, Center For Coastal Resources Management, Virginia Institute Of Marine Science

Reports

Rivers & Coast is a periodic publication of the Center for Coastal Resources Management, Virginia Institute of Marine Science. The goal of Rivers & Coast is to keep readers well informed of current scientific understanding behind key environmental issues related to watershed rivers and coastal ecosystems of the Chesapeake Bay.

The Crest, Summer 2006, Virginia Institute Of Marine Science

Reports

Table of Contents:

• Menhaden research
• Sea Grant renews effort to manage cownose rays
• Food-web study aids management of biodiversity
• Horodysky throws light on fish vision Research reveals lobsters avoid sick neighbors
• New faculty brushes aside disciplinary boundaries
• Research helps created wetlands come to life
• Miselis chosen as Foster Scholar
• Wetlands workshop promotes informed management
• VIMS bestows 2005 Awards
• Duffy and Lipcius win Leopold Fellowships
• Alum coaches high school team to national recognition
• VIMS alumna receives prestigious national award
• Lucy wins Hutchinson conservation award
• Newsbriefs

Water Quality Conditions And Restoration Of Submerged Aquatic Vegetation (Sav) In The Tidal Freshwater James River 2005, Ken Moore, Betty Neikirk, Britt-Anne Anderson

Reports

In 2005, wild celery (Vallisneria americana) whole shoots, seeds and intact seed pods with seeds were transplanted into four sites in the Hopewell region of the tidal James River. The SAV transplants were sampled by the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) for survivorship and growth at bi-weekly to monthly intervals throughout the growing season. Concurrently, 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 SAV growth. Continuous underway sampling was also conducted along the James River tidal freshwater segments …

Biodiversity, Host Specificity, And Dominance By Eusocial Species Among Sponge-Dwelling Alpheid Shrimp On The Belize Barrier Reef, Kenneth S. Macdonald Iii, Ruben Rios, J. Emmett Duffy

VIMS Articles

Alpheid shrimp represent an abundant and diverse, but poorly characterized, component of the cryptic biodiversity of coral reefs worldwide. Sponge-inhabiting alpheids provide a promising model system for exploring patterns of cryptic reef biodiversity because their habitats (hosts) are discrete and qualitatively distinct units. We tabulated data from 14 years of collections at Carrie Bow Cay, Belize to quantify patterns of diversity, host specificity, and dominance among sponge-dwelling shrimp (Synalpheus), with special attention to eusocial species. From > 600 sampled sponges of 17 species, we recognized at least 36 Synalpheus shrimp species. Of these, 15 (42%) were new to science. Species accumulation …

Interactions Between Marine Snow And Heterotrophic Bacteria: Aggregate Formation And Microbial Dynamics, Hp Grossart, T Kiorboe, Kw Tang, Et Al

VIMS Articles

Macroscopic aggregates (marine snow) contribute to new production and nutrient dynamics in the upper ocean and vertical fluxes of organic matter to the deep ocean. To test whether microorganisms play a significant role in phytoplankton aggregate formation we studied particle abundance and size as well as abundance, colonization behaviour, and community composition of bacteria during the growth of 2 marine diatoms (Thalassiosira weissflogii and Navicula sp.) under axenic and non-axenic conditions. Community composition of free-living and attached bacteria during phytoplankton growth and aggregation was studied by amplification of 16S rRNA gene fragments and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). Our results …

Effectiveness Of The Blue Crab Spawning Sanctuary In Chesapeake Bay, Debra M. Lambert, Rom Lipcius, John M. Hoenig

Reports

The blue crab spawning stock in Chesapeake Bay sustained a severe and persistent decline beginning in 1992. As part of the effort to enhance the spawning stock, the spawning sanctuary in lower Chesapeake Bay was enlarged to over 240,000 ha. This marine reserve and corridor prohibits exploitation of mature females en route to or in the spawning grounds during the summer spawning season (1 June-15 September). To assess the effectiveness of the sanctuary, we tagged terminally molted, mature females inside and outside the sanctuary during three sanctuary seasons (2002-2004). Crabs were captured throughout the Bay and its tributaries, measured, tagged, …

Partners In Natural Resource Management : The Virginia Institute Of Marine Science And The Commonwealth Of Virginia, Virginia Institute Of Marine Science

Miscellaneous

Produced by the Office of Research and Advisory Services, this publication describes the Institute's duties as outlined in the Code of Virginia (2006) and the advisory services and natural resources management roles in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Campus Map Virginia Institute Of Marine Science, College Of William And Mary Gloucester Point May 2016, Virginia Institute Of Marine Science

Miscellaneous

No abstract provided.

2005 Annual Awards, Virginia Institute Of Marine Science

Miscellaneous

The Annual Awards ceremony is an occasion in which new employees and volunteers are introduced, employee service is recognized and student and faculty awards are presented.

The Status Of Virginia's Public Oyster Resource 2005, Melissa Southworth, Juliana Harding, Roger L. Mann

Reports

This report summarizes data collected during 2005 in the Virginia portion of the Chesapeake Bay. The report is comprised of two parts, part one, oyster recruitment (shell string) in Virginia and part two, dredge survey of selected oyster bars in Virginia.

Limits To Top-Down Control Of Phytoplankton By Oysters In Chesapeake Bay, Lawrence R. Pomeroy, Christopher F. D'Elia, Linda C. Schaffner

VIMS Articles

Restoration of the oyster Crassostrea virginica population in Chesapeake Bay is often advocated as an easy solution for controlling phytoplankton blooms. Even at their pre-colonial densities, oysters are unlikely to have controlled blooms, despite the fact that sediment cores suggest that pre-colonial spring blooms were smaller than at present. Lack of access to all bay water and low springtime filtration rates would make it impossible for oysters to control the spring bloom and the resulting summer hypoxia. Previous studies have overestimated potential oyster filtration rates, because they extrapolated summer rates to spring conditions that are 20 degrees C cooler. Previous …

Depth-Specific Differences In Growth Of The Reef Sponge Callyspongia Vaginalis: Role Of Bottom-Up Effects, Geoffrey C. Trussell, Michael P. Lesser, Mark R. Patterson, Salvatore J. Genovese

VIMS Articles

Callyspongia vaginalis, a common reef sponge in the Florida Keys, USA, exhibits depth-specific differences in bioenergetics and growth that are a function of food availability. We measured several physiological parameters in situ to construct the bioenergetic budgets of sponges living in deep and shallow waters. Respiration rates were measured in a recirculating flow respirometer and pumping rates were measured by filming dye ejected from sponge oscula. In addition, inhalent and exhalent water sampled from around sponge colonies at both depths was analyzed using flow cytometry to quantify the concentration and clearance rates of picoplankton. These parameters were used to construct …

A Molecular Technique For Specific Identification Of Western Atlantic Ocean Scombrids And An Analysis Of A Larval Scombrid Assemblage Off The Kona Coast Of Hawaii, Melissa A. Paine

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

No abstract provided.

Developing A Stock Assessment For The Barndoor Skate (Dipturus Laevis) In The Northeast United States, Todd Gedamke

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

The barndoor skate Dipturus laevis is one of seven species in the United States Northwest Atlantic skate complex. The species received little attention until a recent article published in Science reported that the barndoor skate might be on the brink of extinction. In this study, we address not only the virtual lack of information on the life history of the species, but also develop methodologies to assist in the assessment of the barndoor skate population. to investigate the life history of the species, data were collected from 2,310 specimens caught during commercial sea scallop dredging in the southern section of …

The Effects Of Climate Change On The Population Ecology Of The Atlantic Surf Clam, Spisula Solidissima, In The Middle Atlantic Bight, Adriana Picariello

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

No abstract provided.

Growth And Development Of Veined Rapa Whelk Rapana Venosa Veligers, Jm Harding

VIMS Articles

Planktonic larvae of benthic fauna that can grow quickly in the plankton and reduce their larval period duration lessen their exposure to pelagic predators and reduce the potential for advection away from suitable habitats. Veined rapa whelks (Rapana venosa, Muricidae) lay egg masses that release planktonic veliger larvae from May through August in Chesapeake Bay, USA. Two groups of veliger larvae hatched from egg masses during June and August 2000 were cultured in the laboratory. Egg mass incubation time (time from deposition to hatch) ranged from 18-26 d at water temperatures between 22 degrees C and 27 degrees C. Four …

Diving Behavior And Delayed Mortality Of Olive Ridley Seat Turtles Lepidochelys Olivacea After Their Release From Longline Fishing Gear, Yonat Swimmer, Randall Arauz, Marti Mccracken, Lianne Mcnaughton, Jorge Ballestero, Mike Musyl, Keith Bigelow, Richard Brill

VIMS Articles

We deployed pop-off satellite archival tags (PSATs) on 14 olive ridley turtles Lepidochelys olivacea and 1 green turtle Chelonia mydas in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean between November 2001 and June 2003 to determine dive behavior and post-release mortality following interactions with longline fishing gear. Nine olive ridleys and 1 green turtle were captured by longline fishing gear, and 5 free swimming olive ridleys were hand-captured at the surface to serve as controls. Hooks were removed from all longline-caught turtles, with the exception of 1 olive ridley turtle. PSATs remained on control- and longline-caught olive ridleys for an average of …

Age And Growth Of Wild Suminoe (Crassostrea Ariakensis, Fugita 1913) And Pacific (C-Gigas, Thunberg 1793) Oysters From Laizhou Bay, China, Jm Harding, Roger L. Mann

VIMS Articles

Shell height at age estimates from Suminoe (Crassostrea ariakensis) and Pacific (C. gigas) oysters from a natural oyster reef in Laizhou Bay, China were compared with shell height at age estimates from triploid C. ariakensis of known age from the Rappahannock River, Virginia. C. ariakensis and C. gigas reach shell heights in excess of 76 mm (3 inches) within 2 years after settlement regardless of the source location. This fast growth appears to continue through at least we 4 or age 5 in wild individuals, because the growth trajectories for both specie, had not reached asymptotic height in (he oldest …

Sources Of Mortality, Movements And Behavior Of Sea Turtles In Virginia, Katherine Lamont. Mansfield

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

Aerial surveys are commonly used to evaluate in-water sea turtle abundances. A correction is applied to account for turtles diving below the observed surface. Historically, observations of summer/fall surfacing behavior were used for this correction, assuming constant behavior among seasons. Using radio/acoustic telemetry, seasonal differences in sea turtle surfacing behavior were determined among Kemp's ridleys and loggerheads. Mean time spent at surface in the spring ranged between 9.9%-30.0% with significant differences among individuals. Observed surfacing times were higher than historic summer/fall observations (Byles 1988; 5.3%), indicating that historic springtime abundances were overestimated by 50%-80%. Aerial surveys (2001-2004) indicated a 65%-75% …

Why Biodiversity Is Important To Oceanography: Potential Roles Of Genetic, Species, And Trophic Diversity In Pelagic Ecosystem Processes, J. Emmett Duffy, John J. Stachowicz

VIMS Articles

The functioning of the global ecosystem is mediated in large part by pelagic marine organisms through their influence on biomass production, elemental cycling, and atmospheric composition. Growing theoretical and empirical evidence suggests that the stability and functioning of this complex system may depend, not only on aggregate biomass and production of pelagic producers and consumers, but also on the composition and richness of taxa within those compartments, Yet rigorous experimental tests of relationships between diversity and these aspects of pelagic ecosystem functioning are virtually unknown, Here, we argue for more attention to such research, and we marshal preliminary evidence that …

Ecology And Conservation Of Virginia Shark Species: Analysis Of Thirty Years Of Virginia Long-Line Shark Census Data, 1974--2004, Daniel Stuart Ha

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

Sharks of the Atlantic coast of the United States have suffered increased fishing pressure in last three decades. Commercial and recreational catches jumped in the mid to late 1980's, leading to regulation by the National Marine Fisheries Service in the early 1990's. The Virginia Institute of Marine Sciences' shark long-line survey, begun in 1974, and continuing to the present day, is thus well positioned to look at the effects of this fishing mortality on sharks. Using GAM modelling, six of ten shark species analyzed, including the most common species, Carcharhinus plumbeus, suffered declines of from 98-99% of early abundances in …

Incorporating Space Into Stock Assessments Of Marine Species, John F. Walter

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

Spatial management of marine resources requires population dynamic parameters in much greater spatial detail than traditional stock assessments provide. This dissertation presents a suite of methods to improve the spatial prediction of population abundance, fishing and natural mortality and to make greater use of commercial catch data. The main objectives of this dissertation are to determine the efficacy of using the vast amount of data collected by on-board observers on commercial vessels in model-based estimation of abundance and to use the spatial autocorrelation to improve resource mapping and abundance estimation. The first paper presents a methodology for improving variogram estimation …

Temporal And Vertical Dynamics In Picoplankton Photoheterotrophic Production In The Subtropical North Pacific Ocean, M. J. Church, H. W. Ducklow, Et Al

VIMS Articles

Heterotrophic microbial production is a fundamental determinant in the flow of bioelements and energy within the pelagic ecosystems of the open ocean. To characterize the temporal dynamics in rates of heterotrophic picoplankton production (HPP), we examined vertical profiles of H-3-leucine (H-3-leu) and [methyl-H-3]-thymidine (H-3-TdR) incorporation at Stn ALOHA (22 degrees 45'N, 158 degrees W) in the oligotrophic North Pacific Ocean. Euphotic zone rates of H-3-leu and H-3-TdR incorporation were measured in situ under light and dark conditions on cruises to Stn ALOHA between April 2000 and August 2005. Rates of H-3-leu and H-3-TdR incorporation were elevated in the well-lit upper …