Animal Sciences Commons^™

Estimation Of Relative Abundance Of Recreationally Important Juvenile Finfish In The Virginia Portion Of Chesapeake Bay Project Rfol-3 July 2001 - June 2002, Marcel M. Montaine, Herbert M. Austin, Patrick J. Geer, Wendy A. Lowery

Reports

No abstract provided.

Evaluation Of Striped Bass Stocks In Virginia, Monitoring And Tagging Studies, 1999-2003 Annual Report, 1 September 2001 - 31 October 2002, Philip W. Sadler, Robert J. Latour, Robert E. Harris, Kristin L. Maki, John E. Olney

Reports

This report presents the results of striped bass (Marone saxatilis) tagging and monitoring activities in Virginia during the penod 1 September 2001 through 31 October 2002. It includes an assessment of the biological characteristics of striped bass taken from the 2002 spring spawning run, estimates of annual survtval based on annual spring tagging, and the results of the fall 2001 directed mortality study that is cooperative with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. The information contained in this report is required by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission and is used to implement a coordinated management plan for striped bass …

Continuous In Vitro Culture Of The Carpet Shell Clam Tapes Decussatus Protozoan Parasite Perkinsus Atlanticus, Sm Casas, Jf La Peyre, Kimberly S. Reece, C Azevedo, A Villalba

VIMS Articles

Continuous in vitro cultures of the clam Tapes decussatus parasite Perkinsus atlanticus were established from infected gill fragments, infected haemolymph and parasite hypnospores isolated from infected gill fragments following incubation in Ray's fluid thioglycollate medium (RFTM). No continuous cultures could be initiated from P. atlanticus zoospores. Cultures initiated from hypnospores yielded the highest percentage of continuous cultures (100%, 6/6), followed by cultures initiated from gill fragments (93%, 43/46) and from haemolymph (30%, 3/10). Failures to establish continuous cultures were due to microbial contamination, The source of parasite influenced the success rate, the time taken to establish cultures and the size …

Assessing Larval American Shad Growth And Survival With In Situ Mesocosm Experiments In Three Differing Habitats Within A Coastal Estuary, Donna Marie Bilkovic, David Stanhope, Carl Hershner

Reports

Habitat can be defined as the place where the organism lives including all its physical, chemical and biological dimensions (Odum 1971; Hoss and Thayer 1993). These dimensions include water quality, physical structure, flow regime and biotic interaction. Essential fish habitat (EFH) is further defined as “those waters and substrate necessary to fish for spawning, breeding, feeding, or growth to maturity” (Magnuson-Stevens Act, 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.) With new mandates to identify and protect EFH for all species managed under fisheries management plans, evaluation of fish habitat has become a priority. The methods used to identify and define essential fish …

Marine Resource Bulletin Vol. 34, No. 2, Virginia Sea Grant, Virginia Institute Of Marine Science

Virginia Marine Resource Bulletin

In This Issue

Providing Sanctuary to An Old Friend By Dr. Romuald Lipcius & Jacques van Montfrans

Making a Case for the Oyster: Putting Ecological Benefits into Economic Terms By Thomas J. Murray When it Comes to Wild Ponies, Legends and Lore Abound By Charlie Petrocci

’Tis the Season for a Storm Surge By Dr. Carl H. Hobbs, III

Using Aquaculture to Slay the SOLs By Angela

Correa Bay Sites are Magnets for Cobia and Flounder By Jon Lucy

News from the Point

The Crest, Fall 2002, Virginia Institute Of Marine Science

Reports

Table of Contents:

• VIMS researchers win 5-year, $1.7 million NSF award
• Pair complete 3-year study of clam disease
• VIMS joins National Shark Research Consortium
• McNinch receives Young Investigator award
• Field research sheds light on barndoor skate
• Management is key to scallop fishery's success
• VIMS acquires new code for model
• Yes vote on bond referendum good news for VIMS
• CBNERR announces Summer 2003 educational programs
• Workshop series targets charter boat operators
• Ducklow elected AAAS Fellow
• VIMS takes to the air(port)
• VIMS scientists to host international conferences
• Web update
• VIMS researchers in educational videos
• Hoenig writes "hot paper"
• VIMS and partners win …

Molecular Diagnostics, Field Validation, And Phylogenetic Analysis Of Quahog Parasite Unknown (Qpx), A Pathogen Of The Hard Clam Mercenaria Mercenaria, Na Stokes, Lm Ragone Calvo, Kimberly S. Reece, Em Burreson

VIMS Articles

Quahog Parasite Unknown (QPX) is a protistan parasite that causes disease and mortality in the hard clam Mercenaria mercenaria. PCR primers and DNA oligonucleotide probes were designed and evaluated for sensitivity and specificity for the QPX organism specifically and for the phylum Labyrinthulomycota in general. The best performing QPX-specific primer pair amplified a 665 bp region of the QPX small-subunit ribosomal DNA (SSU rDNA) and detected as little as 1 fg cloned QPX SSU rDNA and 20 fg QPX genomic DNA. The primers did not amplify DNA of uninfected hard clams M. mercenaria or of the thraustochytrids Schizochytrium aggregatum, Thraustochytrium …

Relative Strengths Of Competition For Space And Food In A Sessile Filter Feeder, David P. Lohse

VIMS Articles

Previous workers have demonstrated that sessile filter feeders compete for food and space, but little is known about the relative strengths of these two processes. To determine this, the density and position of barnacles (Balanus improvisus) in a unidirectional current were manipulated to alter the amount of competition for space and food, respectively. Results indicated that competition for space significantly reduced growth, and marginally reduced survivorship. Competition for food was also detected, but only among uncrowded individuals; thus, it appears to be the weaker of the two interactions. However, under crowded conditions, downstream individuals actually grew more than those upstream. …

Mycobacteriosis In Striped Bass Of The Chesapeake Bay: Expansion Of Studies Emphasizing Cultural And Rapid Molecular Diagnostic Methods To Evaluate Disease Prevalence: A Final Report, Ilsa Kaattari, Martha Rhodes Rhodes, Howard Kator

Reports

During 1997-99, the Aquatic Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (AADDL) at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) investigated and documented an epizootic of disease in wild striped bass, Morone saxatilis, from many portions of the lower Chesapeake Bay. Some of these fish exhibited an ulcerative dermatitis initially suspected of being caused by Pfiesteria piscicida, a dinoflagellate. Skin ulcers ranged from pinpoint, pigmented spots to large, shallow hemorrhagic (bloody) wounds. This disease was determined to be due not to Pfiesteria, but to a group of bacteria called Mycobacterium spp. This disease syndrome is referred to as mycobacteriosis. Further investigations by VIMS …

Evaluating The Recruitment Of American Eel, Anguilla Rostrata, To The Potomac - Spring 2002 : February 2002 - June 2002, Hank Brooks, M. Todd Mathes, Marcel M. Montane

Reports

Measures of juvenile recruitment success have long been recognized as valuable fisheries management tools. In Chesapeake Bay, these measures provide reliable indicators for future year class strength for blue crabs (Lipcius and Van Engel, 1990), striped bass (Goodyear, 1985), as well as several other recreationally and commercially important species (Geer and Austin, 1999).

The American Eel, Anguilla rostrata, is a valuable commercial species along the entire Atlantic coast from New Brunswick to Florida. Landings along the U.S. Atlantic coast have varied from 290 MT in 1962 to a high of 1600 MT in 1975 (NMFS, 1999). In recent years, harvests …

A Study Of The River Origin Of American Shad Captured In The Atlantic Ocean Intercept Fishery In Virginia : Final Report, 2001, Kristin L. Maki, John E. Olney, John M. Hoenig

Reports

The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (VDGIF) has been releasing larval American shad into the James and York river systems since 1993 and these fish are given river-specific marks before release. Our in-river monitoring program had established that we could estimate the proportion of fish returning to spawn in the rivers that have hatchery marks. Furthermore, we were able to obtain a sample of 200 fish from the intercept fishery off Chincoteague Island, Virginia, in 2000 and screening of the otoliths by VDGIF personnel revealed the presence of one fish with a James River hatchery mark and one …

Estimating Population Parameters Of American Shad In The York River, Virginia : Final Report, 2001, K. L. Maki, J. E. Olney, J. M. Hoenig

Reports

No abstract provided.

Virginia Oyster Reef Restoration Map Atlas, Marcia Berman, Sharon Killeen, Roger L. Mann, J. A. Wesson

Reports

The maps are generated to illustrate the results of the targeting effort following the protocol described above. The authors recognize this level of targeting does not preclude the need for field inspection at potential sites prior to reef construction. The atlas is comprised of a series of boxes preceded by an index locator. The scale of each box may vary. The potential restoration areas are illustrated in red. The legend reports the total acres available for restoration within the boundary of each box. At this time, the size of individual restoration sites can only be retrieved using the digital data …

Qpx Susceptibility In Hard Clams Varies With Geographic Origin Of Brood Stock, Lisa M. Ragone Calvo, Eugene Burreson

Reports

T he results of recent investigations by VIMS and collaborating scientists in Massachusetts and New Jersey indicate that clam strains produced from brood stocks of South Carolina and Florida origin are more susceptible to QPX (Quahog Parasite Unknown) disease than clam strains originating from Virginia, New Jersey, and Massachusetts brood stocks. During a 3-year study clam strains produced at VIMS from brood stocks originating from Massachusetts, New Jersey, Virginia, South Carolina, and Florida were grown at sites in Massachusetts, New Jersey and Virginia and evaluated for survival, growth, condition and QPX disease susceptibility. The clams originating from South Carolina and …

Marine Resource Bulletin Vol. 34, No. 1, Virginia Sea Grant, Virginia Institute Of Marine Science

Virginia Marine Resource Bulletin

CONTENTS

FEATURES ON EDUCATION

• Recruiting Marine Scientists for the Future by Sally Mills
• Resources for the Classroom & Beyond
• Life-long Learning Outside the Classroom by Sally Mills
• Reaching Out to Watermen & Their Families by Charlie Petrocci

NEW PUBLICATIONS

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Nuclear And Mitochondrial Dna Markers For Specific Identification Of Istiophorid And Xiphiid Billfishes, Jan Mcdowell, John Graves

VIMS Articles

Independent molecular markers based on mitochondrial and nuclear DNA were developed to provide positive identification of istiophorid and xiphiid billfishes (marlins, spearfishes, sailfish, and swordfish). Both classes of markers were based on amplification of short segments (

The Crest, Summer 2002, Virginia Institute Of Marine Science

Reports

Table of Contents:

• To B or not to B: Pair use trout to study kidney's role in nurturing fish immune cells
• VIMS researchers use sonar to study impact of pound nets on sea turtles
• New findings surprise Perkinsus researchers
• VIMS and Wales scientists initiate study of turbulence and sediment movement

Final Contract Report "Performance Of A 4" Ring Scallop Dredge In The Context Of An Area Management Strategy", William D. Dupaul

Reports

No abstract provided.

Two Epizootic Diseases In Chesapeake Bay Commercial Clams, Mya Arenaria And Tagelus Plebeius, Cf Dungan, Rm Hamilton, Kl Hudson, Cb Mccollough, Kimberly S. Reece

VIMS Articles

Declining Chesapeake Bay harvests of softshell clams, together with historical and emerging reports of epizootic diseases in Mya arenaria, prompted a survey in summer 2000 of the health status of selected commercial clam populations. All sampled populations (8 M. arenaria softshell clam, 2 Tagelus plebeius razor clam) were infected by Perkinsus sp. protozoans at prevalences ranging from 30 to 100% of sampled clams. Nucleotide sequences for the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of the rRNA gene complex were determined for clonal in vitro Perkinsus sp. isolates propagated from both M arenaria and T plebeius. Multiple polymorphic sequences were amplified from …

Study Of Perkinsosis In The Carpet Shell Clam Tapes Decussatus In Galicia (Nw Spain). I. Identification Of The Aetiological Agent And In Vitro Modulation Of Zoosporulation By Temperature And Salinity, Sm Casas, A Villalba, Kimberly S. Reece

VIMS Articles

Morphological characters of zoosporulation stages and DNA sequence of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region and the small subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU rRNA) gene confirmed that the aetiological agent of perkinsosis in the clam Tapes decussatus from Galicia (NW Spain) was Perkinsus atlanticus Azevedo, 1989. In vitro modulation by temperature and salinity of the zoosporulation of the parasite was studied. The optimum temperature range for zoosporulation was 19 to 28degreesC. The temperature range allowing zoosporulation in vitro was 15 to 32degreesC, which is broader than previously reported (24 to 28degreesC) for R atlanticus, and strongly suggests that zoospores can be …

Evaluation Of Comparative Watercraft Personal Property Taxation In Northern Neck Localities, Thomas J. Murray

Reports

No abstract provided.

Performance Of A 4" Ring Scallop Dredge In The Context Of An Area Management Strategy Research Tac Set-Aside Georges Bank Scallop Exemption Program, Closed Area Access, William D. Dupaul

Reports

No abstract provided.

Evaluation Of Bycatch Reduction Devices To Facilitate Summer Flounder (Paralichthys Dentatus) Escapement From Sea Scallop Trawls, David Rudders, William D. Dupaul

Reports

No abstract provided.

Finfish And Invertebrate Bycatch In The Georges Bank And Hudson Canyon Closed Areas Using A 3.5-Lnch (88.9mm) And A 4.0-Inch (101.6mm) Ring Sea Scallop Dredge, William D. Dupaul, David Rudders, Kevin D. Goff

Reports

No abstract provided.

Monitoring Relative Abundance Of American Shad In Virginia’S Rivers 2001 Annual Report, John E. Olney, Kristin L. Maki

Reports

Concern about the decline in landings of American shad (Alosa sapidissima) along the Atlantic coast prompted the development of an interstate fisheries management plan (FMP) under the auspices of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Management Program (ASMFC 1999). Legislation enables imposition of federal sanctions on fishing in those states that fail to comply with the FMP. To be in compliance, coastal states are required to implement and maintain fishery-dependent and fishery-independent monitoring programs as specified by the FMP. For Virginia, these requirements include spawning stock assessments, the collection of biological data on the spawning run (e.g., age-structure, sex ratio, spawning …

Shellfish Culture Forum: Industry Issues An Annual Evaluation 2002, Michael J. Oesterling

Reports

No abstract provided.

The Crest, Spring 2002, Virginia Institute Of Marine Science

Reports

Table of Contents:

• Computer modelers solve real-world problems
• Scientists take a new look at sources of nitrogen in estuaries
• VIMS beach research reveals erosional hotspots
• Large squid discovered
• VIMS develops new online tools for managers
• Marine industry trends--a tale of two fisheries
• VIMS urges caution in commercial release of non-native oysters
• VIMS scientists part of national study in Antarctica
• Pilot Sam White

Status Of The Major Oyster Diseases In Virginia 2001 A Summary Of The Annual Monitoring Program, Lisa M. Ragone Calvo, Eugene M. Burreson

Reports

Thirty-nine oyster populations were surveyed for disease in fall 2001. Perkinsus marinus was found in all areas sampled and prevalence exceeded 90% at all but 5 sample locations. In the James River P. marinus prevalence ranged from 88-100% at Deepwater Shoal, Horsehead Rock, Point of Shoals, Wreck Shoal, Mulberry Point, Swash, Long Shoal, and Dry Shoal. A lower prevalence was observed down river at Thomas Rock, 72%, and at Nansemond Ridge, 12%. The extremely low prevalence at Nansemond Ridge is likely age and density related; the oyster population was primarily comprised of spat; few small to market oysters were present …

Performance Of A 4" Ring Scallop Dredge In The Context Of An Area Management Strategy Award No. Na16fm1030 Closed Area I And Nantucket Lightship Closed Area, William D. Dupaul

Reports

No abstract provided.

Settlement And Survival Of The Oyster Crassostrea Virginica On Created Oyster Reef Habitats In Chesapeake Bay, Janet A. Nestlerode, Mark W. Luckenbach, Robert J. Diaz

Reports

Efforts to restore Crassostrea virginica oyster reef habitats in Chesapeake Bay typically begin with the placement of hard substrata, such as oyster shell, in the form ofthreedimensional mounds on the seabed to serve as a base for oyster recruitment and growth. A shortage of sufficient volumes of oyster shell for creating large-scale reefs has led to widespread use of other materials, such as surf clam (Spisula solidissima) shell, as a substitute for oyster shell. We monitored oyster recruitment, survival, and growth on intertidal and subtidal reefs constructed shucked oyster and surf clam shell. Results indicate that oyster settlement occurred on …