Life Sciences Commons^™

Water Quality Conditions And Restoration Of Submerged Aquatic Vegetation (Sav) In The Tidal Freshwater James River 2009, Ken Moore, Betty Neikirk, Erin C. Shields, David Parrish

Reports

In 2009, wild celery (Vallisneria americana) and water stargrass (Heteranthera dubia) shoots were transplanted into shallow water sites in the Hopewell region of the tidal James River and sampled for survivorship and growth throughout the SAV growing season. Water quality sampling was conducted at bi-weekly to monthly 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. Objectives of this restoration and water quality study were to: 1) expand the SA V transplanted plots within the study areas previously transplanted; 2) conduct water quality sampling …

Developmental Origin Of Prebotzinger Complex Respiratory Neurons, Paul A. Gray, John A. Hayes, Guang Y. Ling, Isabel Llona, Srinivasan Tupal, Marina Cristina D. Picardo, Sarah E. Ross, Tsutomu Hirata, Joshua G. Corbin, Jaime Eugenin, Christopher A. Del Negro

Arts & Sciences Articles

A subset of preBötzinger Complex (preBötC) neurokinin 1 receptor (NK1R) and somatostatin peptide (SST)-expressing neurons are necessary for breathing in adult rats, in vivo. Their developmental origins and relationship to other preBötC glutamatergic neurons are unknown. Here we show, in mice, that the “core” of preBötC SST+/NK1R+/SST 2a receptor+ (SST2aR) neurons, are derived from Dbx1-expressing progenitors. We also show that Dbx1-derived neurons heterogeneously coexpress NK1R and SST2aR within and beyond the borders of preBötC. More striking, we find that nearly all non-catecholaminergic glutamatergic neurons of the ventrolateral medulla (VLM) are also Dbx1 derived. PreBötC SST+ neurons are born between E9.5 …

Development Of Hydrodynamic And Water Quality Models For The Lynnhaven River System, Mac Sisson, Harry V. Wang, Yuepeng Li, Jian Shen, Albert Y. Kuo, Wenping Gong, Mark Brush, Ken Moore

Reports

No abstract provided.

Representation Of Bed Stresses Within A Model Of Chesapeake Bay, Courtney K. Harris, J. Paul Rinehimer, Sung-Chan Kim

Reports

This project focused on numerical modeling of the Estuarine Turbidity Maximum (ETM) with the goal of improving the representation of the bottom boundary layer and turbulent mixing within the Chesapeake Bay Program’s model [see Cerco and Noel, 2004]. The effort has been part of the EPA’s sediment modeling initiative for the Chesapeake Bay, in coordination with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Engineering Research and Development Center (ERDC). Research activities focused on the Upper Chesapeake Bay and major tributaries in Maryland (such as the Potomac River); and assisted management of the U.S. EPA TMDL (Total Maximum Daily Load) project …

The Development Of A Management Tool To Assess Bacterial Impacts In Rudee Inlet, Virginia Beach, Mac Sisson, Jian Shen, W. G. Reay, Eduardo J. Miles, Albert Y. Kuo, Harry V. Wang

Reports

No abstract provided.

Numerical Modeling Scenario Runs To Assess Tss And Chlorophyll Reductions Caused By Ecosystem Restoration, Lynnhaven River, Mac Sisson, Yuepeng Li, Harry V. Wang, Albert Kuo

Reports

No abstract provided.

Life History, Trophic Ecology, & Prey Handling By Cownose Ray, Rhinoptera Bonasus, From Chesapeake Bay, Robert A. Fisher

Reports

No abstract provided.

Derelict Crab Pots In The Chesapeake Bay, 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.

An Examination Of Methods: Hand Picking Red Crabs And Keeping Them Alive On Shore, Dan Kauffman, Robert A. Fisher

Reports

No abstract provided.

The Peril Of The Plankton, Dawn Vaughn, Jonathan D. Allen

Arts & Sciences Articles

The pelagic environment is characterized by unevenly distributed resources and risks. Such unpredictability presents adaptive challenges to diverse planktonic organisms including the larvae of benthic marine invertebrates. Estimates of mortality during planktonic development are highly variable, ranging from 0% to 100% per day. Predation is considered a significant source of this mortality, but what explains the variability in estimates of the mortality of marine invertebrate larvae? While differential exposure of larval prey to predators may explain these widely variable estimates, adaptations that reduce vulnerability of marine larvae to predators may also be important. Although there are excellent reviews of predation …

Estuarine Blue Infrastructure: Final Priority Conservation Areas For Chesapeake Bay And Its Tidal Tributaries And Back Bay – Version 2.0 (Revised 09/2010), Center For Coastal Resources Management, Virginia Institute Of Marine Science

Reports

This project is an extension of earlier efforts within the coastal zone of Virginia to build a platform for enhanced Blue and Green Infrastructure planning. This project is motivated by an interest in extending statewide conservation efforts into estuarine systems and recognition that land use decisions on the upland effect water quality and habitat health in the receiving waters. The project in its entirety has been accomplished in distinct parts. Part one develops a Cumulative Resource Assessment to evaluate the distribution of aquatic natural resources within waters of Virginia’s Chesapeake Bay waters, Back Bay of Virginia Beach, Virginia, and the …

Evaluating Recruitment Of American Eel, Anguilla Rostrata, In The Potomac River (Spring 2010), Troy D. Tuckey, Mary C. Fabrizio

Reports

The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) adopted the Interstate Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for the American eel in November 1999. The FMP focuses on increasing coastal states’ efforts to collect American eel data through both fishery-dependent and fishery-independent studies. Consequently, member jurisdictions agreed to implement an annual survey for young of year (YOY) American eels. The survey is intended to “…characterize trends in annual recruitment of the YOY eels over time [to produce a] qualitative appraisal of the annual recruitment of American eel to the U.S. Atlantic Coast” (ASMFC 2000). The development of these surveys began in 2000 with …

An Assessment Of Sea Scallop Abundance And Distribution In Selected Closed Areas: Georges Bank Closed Area I And Hudson Canyon Closed Area, David B. Rudders, William D. Dupaul

Reports

No abstract provided.

Virginia Institute Of Marine Science Programs And Services, Virginia Institute Of Marine Science

Miscellaneous

Programs and faculty, education and Institute support resources are described.

2010 Annual Report Estimating Relative Juvenile Abundance Of Ecologically Important Finfish In The Virginia Portion Of Chesapeake Bay Project Number: F-104-R-14, Troy D. Tuckey, Mary C. Fabrizio

Reports

No abstract provided.

Marine Resource Bulletin Vol. 42, No. 2, Virginia Sea Grant, Virginia Institute Of Marine Science

Virginia Marine Resource Bulletin

In This Issue

Scientists in the Classroom 2

The PERFECT Program is taking marine science graduate smdents out of their labs and into K-12 classrooms. Last year, nine VIMS smdents taught in local schools and developed their science communication skills in the process. This fall, a new cohort of scientists-in-training is poised to enter the program.

Spadefish Aquaculture 8

VIMS and Virginia Sea Grant researchers have reared this popular sportfish through the entire life cycle in captivity, opening the way to farming the species for food, for the aquarium trade, or for stock enhancement.

Planning Underwater I0

More and more …

Integrated Shoreline Management Decision Tree For Untreated Shorelines, 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.

Estimated Economic Impact Of Gulf Oil Spill On Virginia’S Oyster Industry – July 2010, Thomas J. Murray, James E. Kirkley

Reports

No abstract provided.

Estuarine Suspended Sediment Loads And Sediment Budgets In Tributaries Of Chesapeake Bay Phase 1: York, Patuxent, And Potomac Rivers, Julie Herman, Carl Friedrichs

Reports

Understanding the sources and sinks of suspended sediment in Chesapeake Bay tributaries is an important contribution to quantifying the Bay sediment budget, as well as an aid to management strategies. The purpose of the project was to identify estuarine sediment transport processes and estimate sediment loads and sediment budgets for the major tributaries of the Bay. The first phase included the York River, Va. and the Patuxent River, Md. Sediment transport processes, sediment loads, and a partial budget also were developed for the Potomac River, Md. The results of this study represent the most comprehensive calculations to date of sediment …

Annual Report - 2009 Data Collection And Analysis In Support Of Single And Multispecies Stock Assessments In Chesapeake Bay: The Chesapeake Bay Multispecies Monitoring And Assessment Program, Christopher F. Bonzek, James Gartland, Raemarie A. Johnson, Robert J. Latour

Reports

Historically, fisheries management has been based on the results of single-species stock assessment models that focus on the interplay between exploitation level and sustainability. There currently exists a suite of standard and accepted analytical frameworks (e.g., virtual population analysis (VPA), biomass dynamic production modeling, delay difference models, etc.) for assessing the stocks, projecting future stock size, evaluating recovery schedules and rebuilding strategies for overfished stocks, setting allowable catches, and estimating fishing mortality or exploitation rates. A variety of methods also exist to integrate the biological system and the fisheries resource system, thereby enabling the evaluation of alternative management strategies on …

Virginia Shellfish Aquaculture Situation And Outlook Report : Results Of The 2009 Virginia Shellfish Aquaculture Crop Reporting Survey, Thomas J. Murray, Michael J. Oesterling

Reports

Virginia’s shellfish aquaculture industry continues to add significant value to the State’s seafood marketplace. While Virginia’s watermen harvest hard clams and oysters from the State’s public resources, they also grow shellfish for consumers. In recent years, following the lead of the hard clam industry, there has been a significant transition toward intensive aquaculture of native oysters. The once-extensive oyster planting has disappeared primarily as a result of endemic oyster diseases and wildlife predation of seed oysters. It has been replaced by an expanding aquaculture sector, which is based on improved culture techniques and disease-resistant oyster seed. While these trends are …

Final Report Continuing The Time Series: Calibrating The Nmfs Sea Scallop Survey To The R/V Hugh R. Sharp, David Rudders, William D. Dupaul

Reports

No abstract provided.

Final Report An Assessment Of Sea Scallop Abundance And Distribution In Selected Closed Areas: Nantucket Lightship Closed Area, David Rudders, William D. Dupaul

Reports

No abstract provided.

Estuarine Blue Infrastructure: Priority Conservation Areas For The Seaside Of Virginia’S Eastern Shore, Center For Coastal Resources Management, Virginia Institute Of Marine Science

Reports

This project is an extension of earlier efforts within the coastal zone of Virginia to build a platform for enhanced Blue and Green Infrastructure planning. This project is motivated by an interest in extending statewide conservation efforts into estuarine systems and recognition that land use decisions on the upland effect water quality and habitat health in the receiving waters. The project in its entirety has been accomplished in distinct parts. Part one develops a Cumulative Resource Assessment to evaluate the distribution of aquatic natural resources within waters of Virginia’s Chesapeake Bay waters, Back Bay of Virginia Beach, Virginia, and the …

Sponge Host Characteristics Shape The Community Structure Of Their Shrimp Associates, Kristen M. Hultgren, J. Emmett Duffy

VIMS Articles

Both body size and habitat architecture have pervasive effects on the form, function, and interactions of organisms, and can play especially important roles in structuring intimate associations between host organisms and their obligate associates. In this study, we examined how body size is related to host use in a diverse clade of closely related snapping shrimp species (Synalpheus) that live in the interior canals of sponges. Using data from an extensive survey of sponge-dwelling Synalpheus from Jamaica, we tested how sponge morphology (interior canal size and individual sponge volume) was related to the identity and diversity of Synalpheus …

The Pseudophosphatase Mk-Styx Interacts With G3bp And Decreases Stress Granule Formation, Shanta D. Hinton, Michael P. Myers, Vincent R. Roggero, Lizabeth A. Allison, Nicholas K. Tonks

Arts & Sciences Articles

MK-STYX [MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinase) phospho-serine/threonine/tyrosine-binding protein] is a pseudophosphatase member of the dual-specificity phosphatase subfamily of the PTPs (protein tyrosine phosphatases). MK-STYX is catalytically inactive due to the absence of two amino acids from the signature motif that are essential for phosphatase activity. The nucleophilic cysteine residue and the adjacent histidine residue, which are conserved in all active dual-specificity phosphatases, are replaced by serine and phenylalanine residues respectively in MK-STYX. Mutations to introduce histidine and cysteine residues into the active site of MK-STYX generated an active phosphatase. Using MS, we identified G3BP1 [Ras-GAP (GTPase-activating protein) SH3 (Src homology 3) …

Evaluating Ecosystem Response To Oyster Restoration And Nutrient Load Reduction With A Multispecies Bioenergetics Model, Rs Fulford, Dl Brietburg, Mark Luckenbach, Rie Newell

VIMS Articles

Many of the world's coastal ecosystems are impacted by multiple stressors each of which may be subject to different management strategies that may have overlapping or even conflicting objectives. Consequently, management results may be indirect and difficult to predict or observe. We developed a network simulation model intended specifically to examine ecosystem-level responses to management and applied this model to a comparison of nutrient load reduction and restoration of highly reduced stocks of bivalve suspension feeders (eastern oyster, Crassostrea virginica) in an estuarine ecosystem (Chesapeake Bay, USA). Model results suggest that a 50% reduction in nutrient inputs from the watershed …

Data Collection And Analysis In Support Of Single And Multispecies Stock Assessments In The Mid-Atlantic: Northeast Area Monitoring And Assessment Program (Neamap) Near Shore Trawl Program 2010 - 2012, Neamap Near Shore Trawl Program, Virginia Institute Of Marine Science

Reports

This Environmental Assessment (EA) describes, and evaluates the impacts of, the proposed research activities for 2010, 2011, and 2012 for a coastal ocean bottom-trawling program in the Mid-Atlantic and Southern New England waters of the United States, the Northeast Area Monitoring and Assessment Program (NEAMAP) Near Shore Trawl Survey. The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) administers NEAMAP, and the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) executes the field sampling, laboratory processing, and data analysis components of this survey. The proposed work for the 2010–2012 period will follow the successful completion by VIMS of the survey’s first two-and-a-half years of …

Understanding The Effects Of Low Salinity On Fertilization Success And Early Development In The Sand Dollar Echinarachnius Parma, Jonathan D. Allen, Jan A. Pechenik

Arts & Sciences Articles

Free-spawning marine invertebrates that live near shore or in estuaries may experience reduced fertilization success during low-salinity events. Although several studies have documented reproductive failure at reduced salinity in estuarine animals, few have looked at whether developmental failure is due to a failure of fertilization or to a failure of fertilized eggs to cleave. In this study, we examined the effects of salinities ranging from 18 to 32 psu on fertilization success and early development in the sand dollar Echinarachnius parma. In addition to decoupling the effects of low salinity on fertilization from its effects on early cleavage, we also …

A Numerical Modeling Assessment For The Implementation Of A Runoff Reduction Strategy Plan For The Restoration Of Thalia Creek, Virginia Beach, Mac Sisson, Jian Shen, W. G. Reay, Eduardo J. Miles, Albert Y. Kuo, Harry V. Wang

Reports

No abstract provided.