Biology Commons^™

Thermal Tolerance Of Age-0 Gulf Of Mexico Striped Bass (Morone Saxatilis): Ontogenetic And Genetic Effects, Corey Robert Anderson

Master's Theses

Striped bass, Morone saxatilis, were historically abundant in the Gulf of Mexico region but were largely extirpated from most Gulf rivers by the early 1960s. Since 1967 hatchery stocking has supported populations in Mississippi rivers and to date there is no evidence of natural reproduction. Intolerance of striped bass to high water temperature is a potential factor negatively impacting Gulf striped bass survival and reproductive fitness, and may be a limiting factor to reintroduction of the species in Mississippi. This work contributed to restoration efforts by establishing molecular tools necessary for genetic monitoring of striped bass restoration, and evaluating …

The Illusion Of Plenty: Hyperstability Masks Collapses In Two Recreational Fisheries That Target Fish Spawning Aggregations, Brad E. Erisman, Larry G. Allen, Jeremy T. Claisse, Daniel J. Pondella Ii, Eric F. Miller, Jason H. Murray

Daniel Pondella

Fisheries that target fish spawning aggregations can exhibit hyperstability, in which catch per unit effort (CPUE) remains elevated as stock abundance declines, but empirical support is limited. We compiled several fishery-dependent and fishery-independent data sets to assess stock trends in the barred sand bass (Paralabrax nebulifer) and the kelp bass (Paralabrax clathratus) in southern California, USA, evaluate the interaction between spawning aggregations and fishing activities, and test for hyperstability. Annual and seasonal trends from fisheries and population data indicate that regional stocks of both species have collapsed in response to overfishing of spawning aggregations and changes in environmental conditions. The …

Feeding Selectivity And Habitat Usage Of Esox Americanus, Scott Richard Clark

Master's Theses

Patterns of piscine prey selection and habitat usage of Esox americanus were assessed through a series of field and experimental studies. Although few detailed studies exist on the foraging behavior and habitat usage of E. americanus, throughout its range it may be an important trophic component in maintaining fish assemblage structure in many lower order streams. Across 17 sampled streams, the presence of E. americanus among reaches within streams was found to be strongly correlated with increasing levels of habitat complexity. Reaches occupied by E. americanus featured increased amounts of in-stream physical structure, increased variability in stream width and …

Activation Of Amp-Activated Protein Kinase As An Early Indicator For Stress In The Lobster, Homarus Americanus, Stephanie Podolski

All Theses And Dissertations

Variations in water temperature, salinity, pH, and oxygen concentration are stressors that marine invertebrates face on a daily basis. Each of these physiological stressors creates a large cellular demand for energy. In mammals, energy metabolism is regulated by the enzyme AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), which is highly conserved during evolution. This project was designed to test the hypothesis that AMPK is present and activated by temperature, hypoxia, and anoxia stress in the lobster, Homarus americanus.

Animals were exposed to a rapid and progressive increase in temperature (6ºC per hour) beginning at 14 ºC. We measured lactate concentrations and AMPK …

Trace Metals (Cu, Zn, Cd And Pb) In Juvenile Fish From Estuarine Nurseries Along The Portugese Coast, Rita P. Vasconcelos, Patrick Reis-Santos, Anabela Maia, Miguel Ruano, Maria J. Costa Universidade De Lisboa

Faculty Publications

Organic and inorganic pollution can impact organisms directly and affect condition, growth and survival of juvenile fish which use estuaries as nurseries, and thereby affect marine adult populations quantitatively and qualitatively. Trace element contamination (Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb) in juveniles of commercial fish Solea solea, Solea senegalensis, Platichthys flesus, Diplodus vulgaris and Dicentrarchus labrax collected in putative nurseries of the main Portuguese estuaries (with diverse intensities and sources of anthropogenic pressures) was determined via atomic absorption spectrometry. Contamination was significantly different among species. Similar levels of contamination were found among estuaries, except for D. vulgaris. Cu and Zn concentrations …

Biology Department Newsletter, No.1, Sacred Heart University

Biology Newsletter

No abstract provided.

Distribution And Conservation Status Of Antillean Manatees (Trichechus Manatus Manatus) In Honduras, Daniel González-Socoloske, Cynthia R. Taylor, Olivia R. Rendon Thompson

Faculty Publications

The Antillean manatee, Trichechus manatus manatus, is among the most threatened mammals in Honduras, yet the last published study is from 1980. Since then, the North Coast of Honduras has experienced rapid population growth and land cover change possibly causing habitat loss for manatees. We conducted aerial, boat, and interview surveys between 2005-2007 along the northern and remote eastern coasts of Honduras to assess the current status and distribution of manatees. In addition, we compiled all available data on manatee mortality from museum specimens, unpublished reports, and interviews to determine current threats. We averaged 1.2 manatee sightings per survey hour …

Angler Survey Of The Connecticut River, Justin P. Davis

EEB Articles

The Connecticut River is the largest and most diverse inland fishery resource in the State of Connecticut. Significant improvements in water quality over the past 30 years have led to progressive increases in recreational use, presumably increasing fishing pressure on some species and possibly decreasing overall fishing quality. To address this concern, the Inland Fisheries Division (IFD) of the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (CT DEEP) conducted an angler survey on the entire portion of the Connecticut River within the state during March-October of 2008-09. The survey used a similar design as a smaller-scale survey of the river’s …

Decadal-Scale Changes In Southern California Sciaenids Under Different Levels Of Harvesting Pressure, Eric F. Miller, Daniel J. Pondella Ii, D Shane Beck, Kevin T. Herbinson

Daniel Pondella

A unique 38-year time-series of power-plant entrapment data collected across ∼170 km of the southern California coastline was examined to describe the decadal-scale trends in common Southern California Bight sciaenid abundance in relation to oceanographic conditions. Adult catches for five of seven species declined at differing rates and severity. Declines of up to 94% were detected in historically common species such as Genyonemus lineatus, whereas historically less abundant species have increased dramatically, e.g. Umbrina roncador (2626%). Over time, the entrapped community became increasingly influenced by species with more southerly distributions, indicated by a significant decline in the average latitudinal midpoint …

Behavior Constrains The Dispersal Of Long-Lived Spiny Lobster Larvae, Mark J. Butler Iv, Claire B. Paris, Jason S. Goldstein, Hirokazu Matsuda, Robert K. Cowen

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Behavior such as ontogenetic vertical migration (OVM) limits the transport of marine larvae with short pelagic larval durations (PLDs), but its effect on the supposed long-distance dispersal of larvae with long PLDs is unknown. We conducted laboratory tests of ontogenetic change in larval phototaxis and examined size-specific patterns of larval distribution in the plankton to characterize OVM in the Caribbean spiny lobster Panulirus argus during its long (6 mo) PLD. We then used a coupled biophysical model to explore the consequences of OVM and hydrodynamics on larval P. argus dispersal in the Caribbean Sea. Larvae reared in the laboratory were …

Two Distinct, Geographically Overlapping Lineages Of The Corallimorpharian Ricordea Florida (Cnidaria: Hexacorallia: Ricordeidae), H. Torres-Pratts, T. Lado-Insua, Andrew L. Rhyne, L. Rodríguez-Matos, N. V. Schizas

Arts & Sciences Faculty Publications

We examined the genetic variation of the corallimorpharian Ricordea florida; it is distributed throughout the Caribbean region and is heavily harvested for the marine aquarium trade. Eighty-four distinct individuals of R. florida were sequenced from four geographically distant Caribbean locations (Curaçao, Florida, Guadeloupe, and Puerto Rico). Analysis of the ribosomal nuclear region (ITS1, 5.8S, ITS2) uncovered two geographically partially overlapping genetic lineages in R. florida, probably representing two cryptic species. Lineage 1 was found in Florida and Puerto Rico, and Lineage 2 was found in Florida, Puerto Rico, Guadeloupe, and Curaçao. Because of the multi-allelic nature of the ITS …

Contemporary And Historical Separation Of Transequatorial Migration Between Genetically Distinct Seabird Populations, M J. Rayner, M E. Hauber, T E. Steeves, H A. Lawrence, D R. Thompson, P M. Sagar, S J. Bury, R A. Phillips, T J. Landers, L Ranjard, Scott A. Shaffer

Scott A. Shaffer

Pelagic seabirds are highly mobile, reducing the likelihood of allopatric speciation where disruption of gene flow between populations is caused by physically insurmountable, extrinsic barriers. Spatial segregation during the non-breeding season appears to provide an intrinsic barrier to gene flow among seabird populations that otherwise occupy nearby or overlapping regions during breeding, but how this is achieved remains unclear. Here we show that the two genetically distinct populations of Cook's petrel (Pterodroma cookii) exhibit transequatorial separation of non-breeding ranges at contemporary (ca. 2–3 yrs) and historical (ca. 100 yrs) time scales. Segregation during the non-breeding season per se appears as …

Contemporary And Historical Separation Of Transequatorial Migration Between Genetically Distinct Seabird Populations, M J. Rayner, M E. Hauber, T E. Steeves, H A. Lawrence, D R. Thompson, P M. Sagar, S J. Bury, R A. Phillips, T J. Landers, L Ranjard, Scott A. Shaffer

Faculty Publications, Biological Sciences

Pelagic seabirds are highly mobile, reducing the likelihood of allopatric speciation where disruption of gene flow between populations is caused by physically insurmountable, extrinsic barriers. Spatial segregation during the non-breeding season appears to provide an intrinsic barrier to gene flow among seabird populations that otherwise occupy nearby or overlapping regions during breeding, but how this is achieved remains unclear. Here we show that the two genetically distinct populations of Cook's petrel (Pterodroma cookii) exhibit transequatorial separation of non-breeding ranges at contemporary (ca. 2–3 yrs) and historical (ca. 100 yrs) time scales. Segregation during the non-breeding season per se appears as …

Resource Assessment Framework (Raf) For Finfish Resources In Western Australia, Department Of Fisheries

Fisheries occasional publications

No abstract provided.