Marine Biology Commons^™

Fisheries Research Contract Report No. 3 - Early Life History Of Abalone (Haliotis Rubra, H. Laevigata): Settlement, Survival And Early Growth. Final Report For Frdc Project 1998/306, Dr Sabine Daume

Fisheries Research Contract Reports

Australian abalone fisheries produce a high value, export-orientated products that provided 60% of the world supply in 1994 (Fleming, 2000). With wild abalone fisheries declining in countries worldwide, the interest in aquaculture products has increased substantially. The world production of abalone from aquaculture in 1999 was approximately 7,775 tonnes with only 89 tonnes (ca. 1%) being produced in Australia (Fleming, 2000). Abalone farming is expected to develop into a major industry and is a significant investment opportunity (McNamara, Victorian Aquaculture Strategy, May 1997). Future production from the numerous farms and sites either established, under construction or approved in Australia, could …

Characterization Of Ground Water Discharge To Hampton Harbor, Thomas Ballestero

PREP Reports & Publications

The project goals were to assess inter-tidal groundwater discharge and concurrent nutrient loading to Hampton Harbor. This will include maps of suspected groundwater discharge zones and measurements of nutrient loading. The principal means of assessment was an aerial survey of the study area during low tide using thermal infrared (TIR) imagery. The TIR imagery was used to detect and locate upwelling groundwater discharge zones within the harbor. The location of groundwater discharge zones as it relates to upgradient land use can be instructive for water quality.

2001 Storm Drain Monitoring And Municipal Training Project, Andrea F. Donlon

PREP Reports & Publications

This final report describes the training sessions held for municipal officials in the Seacoast on the topic of investigating and locating illicit discharges into the storm drainage system. A Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between NHEP and DES established funding for this project. DES held two, half-day training sessions in January 2003, one in Dover and one in Epping. Each training session offered four presentations from DES staff. NHEP funding paid for the printing costs of an illicit discharge detection and elimination manual, handout materials, compact discs containing all of DES’s illicit discharge monitoring data in the coastal watershed, and food …

Who Is Eating Most Of The Zooplankton In The Oceanic Gulf Of Mexico? The Impact Of Mesopelagic Fishes, Tracey Sutton, Scott E. Burghart

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

Deep-sea pelagic fishes are the most abundant vertebrates on Earth, yet their role in the overall economy of these is poorly known. Low latitude oligotrophic regimes, typified by the eastern Gulf of Mexico, constitute most of the world ocean and consequently support the largest global ecosystems. Thus, we have little information on the trophic role of most of Earth's vertebrates. To address this, the diets of an entire midwater fish assemblage (164 species, constituting > 99% of assemblage numbers) were analyzed to assess feeding guilds and predation impact. Zooplanktivory was the dominant feeding mode (80% of prey biomass taken), followed by …

2001 Coastal Illicit Connection Identification And Elimination Grant Project, Andrea F. Donlon

PREP Reports & Publications

This final report describes a grant program funded by NHEP and administered by DES. A Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between NHEP and DES created a grant program to provide assistance to coastal communities to identify and eliminate illicit discharges into the storm drain system. A total of $60,000 was available for grants to municipalities. DES issued a request for proposals (RFP), chose grant recipients, and managed the grant agreements. This report provides details on the projects completed by Exeter, Dover, and Somersworth. The deadline for completion of all grant projects was June 30, 2003

Summer 2003, Nsu Oceanographic Center

Currents

No abstract provided.

Field Observations Of Intraspecific Agonistic Behavior Of Two Crayfish Species, Orconectes Rusticus And Orconectes Virilis, In Different Habitats, Daniel A. Bergman, Paul A. Moore

Peer Reviewed Articles

Agonistic behavior is a fundamental aspect of ecological theories on resource acquisition and sexual selection.

Crustaceans are exemplary models for agonistic behavior within the laboratory, but agonistic behavior in natural habitats is often neglected. Laboratory studies do not achieve the same ecological realism as field studies. In an attempt to connect laboratory results to field data and investigate how habitat structure affects agonistic interactions, the nocturnal behavior of two crayfish species was observed by scuba diving and snorkeling in two northern Michigan lakes. Intraspecific agonistic interactions were analyzed in three habitats: two food resources—macrophytes and detritus—and one sheltered habitat. The …

Field Observations Of Intraspecific Agonistic Behavior Of Two Crayfish Species, Orconectes Rusticus And Orconectes Virilis, In Different Habitats, Dan A. Bergman, Paul A. Moore

Peer Reviewed Articles

Agonistic behavior is a fundamental aspect of ecological theories on resource acquisition and sexual selection. Crustaceans are exemplary models for agonistic behavior within the laboratory, but agonistic behavior in natural habitats is often neglected. Laboratory studies do not achieve the same ecological realism as field studies. In an attempt to connect laboratory results to field data and investigate how habitat structure affects agonistic interactions, the nocturnal behavior of two crayfish species was observed by scuba diving and snorkeling in two northern Michigan lakes. Intraspecific agonistic interactions were analyzed in three habitats: two food resources—macrophytes and detritus—and one sheltered habitat. The …

Prey Nutritional Quality Interacts With Chemical Defenses To Affect Consumer Feeding And Fitness, Edwin Cruz-Rivera, Mark E. Hay

Faculty Publications

Numerous studies have assessed the individual effects of prey nutritional quality or chemical defenses on consumer feeding behavior. However, little is known about how these traits interact to affect consumer feeding and performance. We tested the separate and interactive effects of prey chemical defenses and nutritional quality on the feeding behavior and fitness of six sympatric crustacean mesograzers. Natural concentrations of diterpene alcohols (dictyols) from the brown alga Dictyota menstrualis were incorporated, or not incorporated, into lower quality and higher quality foods to create artificial diets mimicking prey of variable value and defense. Five amphipods (Ampithoe longimana, A. valida, Cymadusa …

2001 Coastal Municipal Stormwater Infrastructure Mapping Project, Andrea F. Donlon

PREP Reports & Publications

This final report describes a mapping project and grant program funded by NHEP and administered by DES. A Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between NHEP and DES provided funding to map outfall pipes in the coastal area and created a grant program to provide assistance to coastal communities to develop storm sewer infrastructure maps. As part of the mapping project, DES collected global positioning system (GPS) readings of all outfall pipes in New Castle, Newington, Portsmouth, and parts of Durham and Madbury. For the grant project, DES issued a request for proposals (RFP), chose grant recipients, and managed the contracts. This …

An Education And Monitoring Program For An Ongoing Estuarine Habitat Restoration Project, Teri W. Grizzle

PREP Reports & Publications

No abstract provided.

Tidal Corrections For Topex Altimetry In The Coral Sea And Great Barrier Reef Lagoon: Comparisons With Long-Term Tide Gauge Records, D.M. Burrage, C.R. Steinberg, L.B. Mason, L. Bode

Faculty Publications

[ 1] The well-known capability of TOPEX/Poseidon altimetry to map sea levels precisely in the deep oceans motivates its application to the topographically complex Coral Sea and NE Australian continental margin. We assess several global tidal models for correcting TOPEX altimetry in the Coral Sea and find CSR3.0 offers good overall performance, based on comparisons of model-predicted and tide gauge harmonic constituents. Using CSR3.0 tidal corrections, we evaluate residual Sea Surface Height (SSH) Root Mean Square (RMS) variability and residual M2 tidal alias errors. Away from large reefs and islands, CSR3.0 amplitude and phase errors for M2 are typically less …

Pilot Conservation Commission Circuit Rider Program, Rockingham Planning Commission

PREP Reports & Publications

The purpose of this pilot project was to increase the effectiveness of the three Conservation Commissions in the Exeter River watershed. The Towns of Kensington, Kingston, and Sandown were selected based on their interest in the program and their need for professional planning assistance. Rockingham Planning Commission staff attended monthly meetings of each Conservation Commission to discuss and implement short-term and long-term projects. The three Conservation Commissions selected two natural resource protection projects to work on with RPC assistance. The scope of these projects ranged from very basic, such as establishing a process for record keeping in Kingston, to more …

Technical Assistance And Outreach Program For Landowners And Municipalities In The Upper Reaches Of The Exeter River Watershed, Rockingham Land Trust

PREP Reports & Publications

The Rockingham Land Trust (RLT) is nonprofit organization founded in 1980 to protect land and water resources in Exeter and surrounding communities. Recently, the Board of Directors of the RLT voted to expand the organization’s service region to include all the communities in Rockingham County. This action was taken due to an increased demand for the Trust’s services by municipalities and landowners.

The purpose of this project was to increase awareness of the Land Trust in towns in the new service area and to work with interested community officials and landowners to increase the amount of land protected by conservation …

Arsenic Concentrations In Private Bedrock Wells In Southeastern New Hampshire, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (Epa New England), New Hampshire Department Of Environmental Services, New Hampshire Estuaries Project, Nh Department Of Health And Human Services

PREP Reports & Publications

The quality of drinking water obtained from private wells in New Hampshire is not regulated; consequently, private wells are often not sampled for arsenic unless individual well owners choose to do so. To provide private well owners and Federal and State environmental and health officials with accurate information on arsenic concentrations from private wells in this region, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) conducted an arsenic occurrence and distribution study, in cooperation with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA New England), New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NHDES), New Hampshire Estuaries Project, and with the New Hampshire Department of Health and …

A Rapid Assessment Of Coral Reefs Near Hopetown, Abaco Islands, Bahamas (Stony Corals And Algae), Joshua Feingold, Susan L. Thornton, Kenneth W. Banks, Nancy J. Gasman, David S. Gilliam, Pamela Fletcher, Christian L. Avila

Marine & Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles

Coral reefs at 13 sites ranging in depth from 1-16 m near Hopetown, Abaco Islands, Bahamas were surveyed utilizing the Atlantic and Gulf Rapid Reef Assessment (AGRRA) benthos protocol. A total of 35 species of scleractinian corals and 2 species of calcareous hydrocorals were observed. The overall coral cover averaged just over 14%. Among corals that were at least 10 cm in diameter, small colonies (< 40 cm diameter) predominated in all sites except for the Fowl Cay pinnacles where 68% were larger than 60 cm in diameter. Large colonies (> 40 cm diameter) were also found in the Lynyard Cay spur-and-groove formations and the Sandy Cay fore reef. Zero-4% of the colonies were affected by disease. Total (recent + old) partial-colony mortality ranged from …

Fisheries Occasional Publication No. 8 - Department Of Fisheries Stakeholder Survey 2002, Tara Baharthah, Neil R. Sumner

Fisheries Occasional Publications

A telephone survey of Department of Fisheries' stakeholders was conducted in November 2002 in order to evaluate their perception of the Department's management of commercial and recreational fishing, pearling and aquaculture, and fish and fish habitat protection. The survey also assessed satisfaction with the level of service provided to stakeholders and their involvement in the decision making process.

The sample comprised of 149 interviews - 40 representing the commercial fishing sector, 40 representing the recreational fishing sector, 40 representing fish and fish habitat protection, and 29 representing aquaculture and pearling.

In general, the stakeholders gave positive responses regarding the Department …

Fisheries Research Contract Report No. 2 - Towards An Assessment Of Natural And Human Use Impacts On The Marine Environment Of The Abrolhos Islands (Phase 1 : Data Consolidation And Scoping - Final Report For Frdc Project 2000/1 66), C. F. Chubb, K. Nardi

Fisheries Research Contract Reports

This project has drawn together existing research data relating to natural and human impacts on the Abrolhos Islands marine habitats. It has surveyed current uses of these habitats and placed anthropogenic impacts within the context of natural perturbations. Through public forum presentation and debate, this work has allowed real issues, not perceptions, to surface and be addressed properly. This was achieved by defining a strategic programme of research through a scientific workshop process involving all community stakeholders. A two volume Fisheries Research Report (WA) summarizes current knowledge and details the workshop proceedings and strategic research plan.

Exeter, A Special Place, Theresa Walker, Gwen English

PREP Reports & Publications

Through the Exeter, A Special Place initiative, a $3 million bond for open space protection was passed at the March, 2003 town meeting, with support from 73% of the voters. Prior to the vote, the bond received 100% approval from the Select board. The success of this initiative was due in large part to the public education and outreach campaign conducted for this project. A brochure and four newsletters were developed to increase public awareness of open space issues in Exeter. A number of media articles were written to publicize the efforts of the Special Place committee, and encourage citizens …

Unh Great Bay Coast Watch Involvement In The New Hampshire Estuaries Project, Bonnie S. Meeker, Ann S. Reid

PREP Reports & Publications

The Great Bay Coast Watch (GBCW) is a volunteer estuarine monitoring program established in 1989 that includes teachers, students, and local citizens with a diversity of backgrounds. Volunteers participate in a variety of training programs that enable them to monitor water quality parameters in Great Bay and coastal areas, sample for marine phytoplankton along coastal New Hampshire and conduct shoreline surveys and habitat evaluations. Since 1997 the New Hampshire Estuaries Project (NHEP) has relied on the ability of GBCW to recruit and train volunteers to assist with the implementation of its plan to protect, restore and manage the state’s estuarine …

Storm Drain Stenciling To Build Stormwater Awareness In Nh’S Estuarine Communities, Julia Peterson

PREP Reports & Publications

Storm drain stenciling is a community-based activity during which volunteers paint stenciled messages on the street next to stormwater grates indicating where the water entering those storm drains discharges. One of the biggest threats to water quality nationwide is stormwater runoff which enters storm drains and flows untreated to local water bodies. The purpose of this project is to educate stenciling volunteers, neighborhood residents and passers-by about the environmental connection between neighborhood streets and local waterbodies.

Stratham (Nh) Well Survey, Theresa Walker, George Miller

PREP Reports & Publications

At Town Meeting in 1996, Stratham residents authorized the establishment of a Water Commission in response to the proposal of the first commercial large volume groundwater withdrawal within the Town. The Stratham Board of Selectmen appointed members to the Commission in the spring of 2002 and charged the Commission with monitoring current water issues and forecasting the future water needs of the community. With no municipal water and sewer system, Stratham’s 7,500 residents and numerous commercial and industrial sites rely on wells to supply water. Very little data existed on these existing wells, making it difficult for the Water Commission …

Nhep Year 8 Workplan, New Hampshire Estuaries Project

PREP Reports & Publications

No abstract provided.

Water Quality Outreach, Phyllis E. Duffy

PREP Reports & Publications

The Town of Exeter was interested in creating an education program for nonpoint source pollution. Exeter was not designated as a small municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4) with the first group of Seacoast towns, but realized we had some of the same concerns and may be designated in the future. We partnered with other seacoast towns to create a video on storm water runoff. The video is an excellent tool for storm water education. We wanted to supplement the video with a hands-on activity. Storm drain stenciling created an excellent opportunity to get the public involved. The grant provided …

Squamscott Project Stratham Ad Hoc Conservation Bond Subcommittee To The Conservation Committee, Tracy Degnan

PREP Reports & Publications

Through the Stratham Ad Hoc Conservation Bond Subcommittee to the Conservation Committee (Ad Hoc Committee) the objectives under the Squamscott Project were to educate the citizens of Stratham on conservation options and estate planning, and to create a natural resource prioritization and criteria ranking for critical areas in town in need of protection efforts. The Ad Hoc Committee contracted with the Rockingham County Conservation District to assist with these efforts and to provide assistance with the preparation of funding applications to leverage the existing open space bond fund.

Squamscott Project Newfields Open Space Committee, Tracy Degnan

PREP Reports & Publications

Through the Newfields Open Space Committee (NOSC) the objectives under the Squamscott Project were to educate the citizens of Newfields on conservation options and estate planning, the goals and objectives of the NOSC, and to finalize a natural resource prioritization for critical areas in town in need of protection efforts. The NOSC contracted with the Rockingha m County Conservation District to assist with these efforts, and to provide assistance with the coordination of conservation projects and the preparation of funding applications to leverage the existing open space bond fund.

Restoration Strategies For Oysters And Soft-Shell Clams, Phil Trowbridge

PREP Reports & Publications

No abstract provided.

Phytoplankton Response To Intrusions Of Slope Water On The West Florida Shelf: Models And Observations, John J. Walsh, Robert H. Weisberg, Dwight A. Dieterle, Ruoying He, Brian P. Darrow, Jason K. Jolliff, Kristen M. Lester, Gabriel A. Vargo, Gary J. Kirkpatrick, Kent A. Fanning, Tracey Sutton, Ann E. Jochens, Douglas C. Biggs, Bisman Nababan, Chuanmin Hu, Frank E. Muller-Karger

Marine & Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles

Previous hypotheses had suggested that upwelled intrusions of nutrient-rich Gulf of Mexico slope water onto the West Florida Shelf (WFS) led to formation of red tides of Karenia brevis. However, coupled biophysical models of (1) wind- and buoyancy-driven circulation, (2) three phytoplankton groups (diatoms, K. brevis, and microflagellates), (3) these slope water supplies of nitrate and silicate, and (4) selective grazing stress by copepods and protozoans found that diatoms won in one 1998 case of no light limitation by colored dissolved organic matter (CDOM). The diatoms lost to K. brevis during another CDOM case of the models. In …

Phytoplankton Response To Intrusions Of Slope Water On The West Florida Shelf: Models And Observations, John J. Walsh, Robert H. Weisberg, Dwight A. Dieterle, Ruoying He, Brian P. Darrow, Jason K. Jolliff, Kristen M. Lester, Gabriel A. Vargo, Gary J. Kirkpatrick, Kent A. Fanning, Tracy T. Sutton, Ann E. Jochens, Douglas C. Biggs, Bisman Nababan, Chuanmin Hu, Frank E. Muller-Karger

Marine Science Faculty Publications

Previous hypotheses had suggested that upwelled intrusions of nutrient‐rich Gulf of Mexico slope water onto the West Florida Shelf (WFS) led to formation of red tides of Karenia brevis. However, coupled biophysical models of (1) wind‐ and buoyancy‐driven circulation, (2) three phytoplankton groups (diatoms, K. brevis, and microflagellates), (3) these slope water supplies of nitrate and silicate, and (4) selective grazing stress by copepods and protozoans found that diatoms won in one 1998 case of no light limitation by colored dissolved organic matter (CDOM). The diatoms lost to K. brevis during another CDOM case of the models. In …

Local And Deep-Ocean Forcing Contributions To Anomalous Water Properties On The West Florida Shelf, Robert H. Weisberg, Ruoying He

Marine Science Faculty Publications

Material property distributions on continental shelves result from the mixing and modifications of estuarine and deep-ocean source waters. How this occurs depends on the momentum and buoyancy that are input either locally on the shelf or from the deep-ocean at the shelf break. We address this question of local versus deep-ocean forcing for the West Florida Shelf (WFS) using in situ data and a numerical circulation model. The spring and summer seasons of 1998 and 1999 show distinctively different water properties on the shelf and at the shelf break. We account for these differences by a combination of local forcing, …