Marine Biology Commons^™

Evaluation Of Striped Bass Stocks In Virginia, Monitoring And Tagging Studies, 1999-2003 Annual Report, 1 September 2000 - 31 October 2001, Philip W. Sadler, Robert J. Latour, Robert E. Harris, 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 2000 through 31 October 2001. It includes an assessment of the biological characteristics of striped bass taken from the 2001 spring spawning run, estimates of annual survtval based on annual spring tagging, and the results of the fall 2000 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 …

West Florida Shelf Response To Local Wind Forcing: April 1998, Robert H. Weisberg, Zhenjiang Li, Frank E. Muller-Karger

Marine Science Faculty Publications

We compare west Florida shelf velocity and sea level data with a model simulation for April 1998. Responses for three upwelling and three downwelling favorable wind events are documented. Along-shelf jets accompanied by oppositely directed upper and lower layer across-shelf flows (with connecting vertical velocity) comprise the fully three-dimensional inner shelf responses, which are sensitive to stratification. With an initial density field representative of April 1998 the model simulates velocity and sea level variations in general agreement with the observations, whereas substantial mismatches occur without stratification. Despite the winds being the primary motive agent for the inner shelf the stratification …

Broward County Proposed Beach Renourishment: Fishes Final Report, Richard E. Spieler

Marine & Environmental Sciences Faculty Reports

No abstract provided.

Town Of Barrington Open Space, Recreation, Town Center Plan, Strafford Regional Planning Commission

PREP Reports & Publications

The information provided in this document is a starting point for addressing the Town's future open space and recreation systems and the establishment of a town center. The Plan is to serve as a policy guide for decision-making regarding the development of the community.

Effects Of An Increasing Harbor Seal Population On Changes In Sites Used For Pupping, Nikolina Guldager

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Aerial survey data from 198 1 to 1997 of an increasing harbor seal (Phoca vitulina concolor) population in Penobscot and Blue Hill bays, Maine, were used to evaluate spatial and temporal patterns of use of pupping sites by mother-pup pairs. Pupping sites refer to haul-out sites where pups were observed during surveys, and are assumed to be used consistently from birth to weaning. Sites with pups were spatially clustered to remove spatial auto-correlation, reduce temporal variability and provide biologically cohesive and independent sample units. Spatial, temporal and habitat analyses were completed for 2 spatial scales: individual sites and …

Population Biology And Secondary Production Of The Suspension Feeding Polychaete Chaetopterus Cf. Variopedatus: Implications For Benthic-Pelagic Coupling In Lower Chesapeake Bay, Ml Thompson, Linda C. Schaffner

VIMS Articles

Benthic suspension feeders are functionally important components of many shallow estuarine and coastal ecosystems. Their relative importance in material and energy cycling depends on physical and biological factors, of which population dynamics of individual species are a key feature, We studied the demographics and secondary production of a population of the tubicolous, suspension feeding polychaete, Chaetopterus cf. variopedatus, of southern Chesapeake Bay, Virginia, to better understand its functional role in an estuarine ecosystem. Average worm densities in the study region ranged from 30 to > 1000 individuals m(-2) and were greatest after the summer recruitment period. Recruitment success varied threefold between …

Enhanced Water Quality Monitoring Of Virginia's Chesapeake Bay Tributaries, Kenneth Moore, Iris C. Anderson, Larry W. Haas, Howard Kator

Reports

No abstract provided.

Analysis Of Historical Distribution Of Submerged Aquatic Vegetation (Sav) In The York And Rappahannock Rivers As Evidence Of Historical Water Quality Conditions, Ken Moore, David J. Wilcox, Britt Anderson, R J. Orth

Reports

Historical black and white format photographs at scales of approximately 1:20,000, dating from 1952 to 1956 were used to delineate the maximum coverage of SAV in the study region. Coverage of photography from decades before and after this period were found to generally to be of poorer quality and show less SAV presence. Photo-interpretation of the aerial photographs was accomplished using a head-up, on-screen digitizing system at fixed image scale of 1:12,000 and followed as closely as possible the methods currently used to delineate SAV beds throughout the Chesapeake Bay as well as the delineation of historical SAV coverage for …

Swimming Mechanics And Behavior Of The Shallow-Water Brief Squid Lolliguncula Brevis, Ian K. Bartol, Mark R. Patterson, Roger Mann

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Although squid are among the most versatile swimmers and rely on a unique locomotor system, little is known about the swimming mechanics and behavior of most squid, especially those that swim at low speeds in inshore waters. Shallow-water brief squid Lolliguncula brevis, ranging in size from 1.8 to 8.9 cm. in dorsal mantle length (DML), were placed in flumes and videotaped, and the data were analyzed using motion-analysis equipment. Flow visualization and force measurement experiments were also performed in water tunnels. Mean critical swimming speeds (U_crit) ranged from 15.3 to 22.8 cm s^-1, and mean …

Microbial Loop Carbon Cycling In Ocean Environments Studied Using A Simple Steady-State Model, T. R. Anderson, H. W. Ducklow

VIMS Articles

A simple steady-state model is used to examine the microbial loop as a pathway for organic C in marine systems, constrained by observed estimates of bacterial to primary production ratio (BP:PP) and bacterial growth efficiency (BGE). Carbon sources (primary production including extracellular release of dissolved organic carbon, DOC), cycling via zooplankton grazing and viral lysis, and sinks (bacterial and zooplankton respiration) are represented. Model solutions indicate that, at least under near steady-state conditions, recent estimates of BP:PP of about 0.1 to 0.15 are consistent with reasonable scenarios of C cycling (low BGE and phytoplankton extracellular release) at open ocean sites …

Fall 2001, Nsu Oceanographic Center

Currents

No abstract provided.

Pfiesteria: Review Of The Science And Identification Of Research Gaps. Report For The National Center For Environmental Health, Centers For Disease Control And Prevention, Jonathan Samet, Gary S. Bignami, Robert Feldman, William E. Hawkins, Jerry Neff, Theodore Smayda

Faculty Publications

In connection with the CDC National Conference on Pfiesteria, a multidisciplinary panel evaluated Pfiesteria-related research. The panel set out what was known and what was not known about adverse effects of the organism on estuarine ecology, fish, and human, health; assessed the methods used in Pfiesteria research; and offered suggestions to address data gaps. The panel's expertise covered dinoflagellate ecology; fish pathology and toxicology; laboratory measurement of toxins, epidemiology, and neurology. The panel evaluated peer-reviewed and non-peer-reviewed literature available through June 2000 in a systematic conceptual framework that moved from the source of exposure, through exposure research and dose, to …

Ncri 3-D Visualization Of Coral Reef Habitat, Brian K. Walker

Marine & Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles

No abstract provided.

The Crest, Fall 2001, Virginia Institute Of Marine Science

Reports

Table of Contents:

• VIMS Named World Reference Laboratory for Shellfish Diseases
• VIMS Scientists Receive 2001 Best Paper Award
• Domestic Interest Grows in Cobia Culture VIMS Foundation Established
• VIMS Environmental Scientists Spearheading BDE Research in USA
• VIMS Capital Campaign for Kauffman Aquaculture Center Meets its Goal
• Dr. William Reay Named New Manager of Chesapeake Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve
• Summer Course Connects Scientists with Science Teachers
• Beset near 68 degrees south, 69 degrees west
• New researcher studies tiny organisms that play a big role
• VIMS Welcomes New Students
• VIMS to initiate coastal observing program
• VIMS student Receives Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship …

Boat Scarring Effects On Submerged Aquatic Vegetation In Virginia (Year 1), R J. Orth, James R. Fishman, Amy Tillman, Sara Everett, Kenneth A. Moore

Reports

Submerged Aquatic Vegetation (SAV) in Chesapeake Bay has received significant attention in recent decades due to increasing understanding of the importance of these habitats for ecological functions, including fisheries habitat. Yet, SAV in many regions of the bay are at some of the lowest levels of abundance in recorded history. This has led state management agencies to adopt numerous policies and regulations to protect and restore these valuable communities. The Chesapeake Bay 2000 Agreement highlights SAV by recommitting to the goal of protecting and restoring 114,000 acres, revising existing restoration goals and strategies by 2002, and implementing a strategy to …

Identification Of Species Composition In The Hong Kong Shark Fin Trade Using Genetic Techniques And Trader Records, Shelley C. Clarke, Mahmood S. Shivji, Murdoch K. Mcallister

Marine & Environmental Sciences Faculty Proceedings, Presentations, Speeches, Lectures

Trade in shark fins represents one of the most serious threats to shark populations worldwide. Previous studies have indicated that certain types of fins are more valued than others, but due to the largely unregulated and often covert nature of the trade, information on actual species composition has been anecdotal and unverified. In order to examine the potential impacts of the shark fin trade on the abundance of various shark species, a study of the species composition in the world’s largest shark fin trading center, Hong Kong, was initiated. Several approaches for distinguishing the species identity of dried fins were …

Effects Of River Inputs Into The Bay Of Bengal, Stephan D. Howden, Raghu Murtugudde

Faculty Publications

The effect of river runoff in the Bay of Bengal is examined using a reduced gravity primitive equation ocean model coupled to an atmospheric boundary layer model. Model simulations are carried out by including river discharges as surface freshwater forcing at the mouths of the rivers. To assess the effect of river inputs on the dynamics and thermodynamics of the tropical Indian Ocean, parallel simulations are carried out by neglecting the river inputs. Additionally, another set of parallel runs without penetrative radiation loss through the mixed layer is carried out. The freshwater flux due to rivers results in lower salinities …

Ocean Circulation Influences On Sea Surface Temperature In The Equatorial Central Pacific, Chunzai Wang, Robert H. Weisberg

Marine Science Faculty Publications

Velocity data from an array of acoustic Doppler current profilers moored about 0°, 140°W from May 1990 through June 1991 during the Tropical Instability Wave Experiment are used in conjunction with Tropical Atmosphere‐Ocean array data and a blended sea surface temperature (SST) product to study the processes that control SST variations. The horizontal velocity data allow us to calculate the vertical velocity component by vertically integrating the continuity equation. Given the three‐dimensional temperature flux divergence, we examine the role of the ocean circulation in SST. Upwelling and downwelling are found to be associated with cooling and warming, respectively, suggesting that …

Preface: Proceedings Of The National Coral Reef Institute's International Conference On Scientific Aspects Of Coral Reef Assessment, Monitoring And Restoration, James Darwin Thomas

Marine & Environmental Sciences Faculty Proceedings, Presentations, Speeches, Lectures

No abstract provided.

Degradation Of Reef Structure, Coral And Fish Communities In The Red Sea By Ship Groundings And Dynamite Fisheries, Bernhard Riegl

Marine & Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles

Reef degradation was investigated on 66 Egyptian Red Sea reefs—60 reefs for dynamite damage (using line transects) and six ship grounding sites (using 1 m sample squares). Ship groundings and dynamite fishing caused similar damage, reduction of the reef to rubble (65% of reefs were dynamited, mostly leeward, 58%). Changes in coral (line transect study) and fish communities (point count study) in impacted sites were documented. On impacted reefs, coral cover decreased, bare substratum and rubble increased, and fish dominance shifted away from Pomacentridae. Oceanographic conditions result in a stable pattern of coral communities (windward Acropora, leeward Porites). …

Site-Dependent Differences In Artificial Reef Function: Implications For Coral Reef Restoration, Robin L. Sherman, David S. Gilliam, Richard E. Spieler

Marine & Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles

There is an increasing use of artificial structure in coral reef restoration (for references, see Spieler et al., this volume). Often artificial reef structures are chosen for a restoration project simply because they were used elsewhere. However, it is questionable whether the results obtained at one restoration site can be extrapolated to another. In recent years, several studies have examined the effect of artificial reef site selection on formation of associated fish, algae, and/or invertebrate assemblages (Alevizon et al., 1985; Blinova et al., 1994; Bombace et al., 1994; Caley and St. John, 1996; Chang, 1985; Haughton and Aiken, 1989; Hixon …

Mapping And Monitoring Of Coral Communities And Their Spatial Patterns Using A Surface-Based Video Method From A Vessel, Bernhard Riegl, Jan L. Korrubel, Charles Martin

Marine & Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles

No Abstract Provided.

Applying Habitat Equivalency Analysis For Coral Reef Damage Assessment And Restoration, J. Walter Milon, Richard E. Dodge (Editor)

Marine & Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles

Quantifying economic damages and restoration measures for injuries to coral reefs has been a difficult task. In the U.S., habitat equivalency analysis (HEA) has emerged as a novel tool that combines biological and economic information to identify replacement habitats of an appropriate scale to substitute for the interim losses resulting from coral reef injuries. This article provides a review of the basic principles underlying HEA and a discussion of important considerations in applying HEA. These considerations include: how to describe coral reef functions and related human uses, recovery rates of coral reef organisms at injured sites with natural and active …

Artificial Substrate And Coral Reef Restoration: What Do We Need To Know To Know What We Need, Richard E. Spieler, David S. Gilliam, Robin L. Sherman

Marine & Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles

To use artificial substrate effectively in coral reef restoration certain basic knowledge is required: (1) what is the artificial substrate expected to accomplish relative to the goals of the restoration effort and (2) what are the expected interactions of the selected substrate’s composition, texture, orientation, and design with the damaged environment and the biota of interest. Whereas the first point is usually clear, at least in general terms, the second is not. In this review, we examine: the functions of artificial substrate in restoration and some of the physical (i.e., composition; surface texture; color and chemistry; and design in terms …

Estimating Relative Abundance Of Young Of Year American Eel, Anguilla Rostrata, In The Virginia Tributaries Of The Chesapeake Bay March 2000 - June 2001, Patrick J. Geer

Reports

Measures of juvenile recruitment success have long been recognized as a valuable fisheries management tool. In the Chesapeake Bay, these measures have provided reliable indicators for future year class strength for blue crabs (Lipcius and van Engel, 1990), striped bass (Goodyear, 1985), and several other recreationally important fishes (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 there seems …

Biological Survey Report For The Calypso Natural Gas Pipeline: Shore Approach Route North Of Port Everglades Entrance Channel With Landing South Of Port Everglades Entrance Channel, Richard E. Dodge, Susan L. Thornton, David S. Gilliam, Richard Shaul

Marine & Environmental Sciences Faculty Reports

The Calypso Natural Gas Pipeline Project (project) will include a 24-inch pipeline which will extend from the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) off the southeast Florida coastline to a shore approach at Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

This report, which was commissioned in May 2001 and completed in July, 2001, documents the results of a detailed biological survey of underwater marine habitats from 5 to 200 feet water depth for the pipeline route. The route, which was established based on the subsea survey that was completed in May 2001 by Williamson & Associates, Inc., includes a shore approach from the …

Thermal Adaptation Of Polar Macroalgae, Ian R. Davison

University of Maine Office of Research Administration: Grant Reports

Davison 9418033 The genetic adaptations that enable certain plant species to survive and grow in polar environments where temperatures are near or below 0oC year-round are poorly understood. Low- temperature adaptation is complicated in terrestrial plants by freezing, desiccation and stomatal conductance, and in marine phytoplankton by a variable and unpredictable physical environment. Polar macroalgae provide an experimental system that is not subject to these complications and that is well- suited to the study of cold-adaptation in plants. Cold- adaptation is particularly well developed in Antarctic macroalgae, in which rates of photosynthesis and growth at OoC are comparable to rates …

Emersion Stress In Intertidal Seaweeds: Role Of Active Oxygen, Ian R. Davison

University of Maine Office of Research Administration: Grant Reports

The study will examine stress-tolerance in two major groups of perennial intertidal macroalgae, the red and brown seaweeds. The research will test the hypothesis that active oxygen is involved in emersion stress of intertidal seaweeds. Damage due to active oxygen will be determined in stress-tolerant and stress- susceptible species exposed to emersion stress by measuring the peroxidation of membrane lipids. Plants will be grown in laboratory culture under conditions that increase their ability to withstand emersion stress. If the research hypothesis is correct, increases in stress tolerance should be associated with increased levels of antioxidants and/or protective enzymes. The proposed …

Managing Birds And Controlling Aircraft In The Kennedy Airport–Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge Complex: The Need For Hard Data And Soft Opinions, Kevin Brown, R. Michael Erwin, Milo E. Richmond, P A. Buckley, John Tanacredi Ph.D., Dave Avrin

Faculty Works: CERCOM

During the 1980s, the exponential growth of laughing gull (Larus atricilla) colonies, from 15 to about 7600 nests in 1990, in the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge and a correlated increase in the bird-strike rate at nearby John F. Kennedy International Airport (New York City) led to a controversy between wildlife and airport managers over the elimination of the colonies. In this paper, we review data to evaluate if: (1) the colonies have increased the level of risk to the flying public; (2) on-colony population control would reduce the presence of gulls, and subsequently bird strikes, at the airport; …

Density-Dependent Predation, Habitat Variation, And The Persistence Of Marine Bivalve Prey, Rochelle D. Seitz, Rom Lipcius, Ah Hines, Db Eggleston

VIMS Articles

The persistence of prey encountering intense predation varies by species, prey density, and habitat type; however, the collective impact of these factors has rarely been tested experimentally in natural marine systems. Using the thin-shelled clams Mya arenaria and Macoma balthica as prey, and the main epibenthic predator of whole adult clams, the blue crab Callinectes sapidus, we conducted a series of experiments in Chesapeake Bay tributaries that (1) links field abundance and distribution of bivalve prey species with habitat-specific mortality patterns; (2) represents the first comprehensive field test of species-specific, habitat-specific, and density-dependent mortality for subtidal, soft-bottom, deep-burrowing prey; and …