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Marine Biology Commons™

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2012

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Articles 181 - 201 of 201

Full-Text Articles in Marine Biology

Extinction Risk And Bottlenecks In The Conservation Of Charismatic Marine Species, Loren Mcclenachan, Andrew B. Cooper, Kent E. Carpenter, Nicholas K. Dulvy Jan 2012

Extinction Risk And Bottlenecks In The Conservation Of Charismatic Marine Species, Loren Mcclenachan, Andrew B. Cooper, Kent E. Carpenter, Nicholas K. Dulvy

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

The oceans face a biodiversity crisis, but the degree and scale of extinction risk remains poorly characterized. Charismatic species are most likely to gar- ner greatest support for conservation and thus provide a best-case scenario of the status of marine biodiversity. We summarize extinction risk and diagnose impediments to successful conservation for 1,568 species in 16 families of marine animals in the movie Finding Nemo. Sixteen percent (12–34%) of those that have been evaluated are threatened, ranging from 9% (7–28%) of bony fishes to 100% (83–100%) of marine turtles. A lack of scientific knowledge impedes analysis of threat status …

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Would Predatory Drillhole Frequency On Chione Spp. Increase Under The Suggested Climate Change Scenario? Comparing Pleistocene And Modern Rhodolith Beds, Carlos E. Cintra-Buenrostro Jan 2012

Would Predatory Drillhole Frequency On Chione Spp. Increase Under The Suggested Climate Change Scenario? Comparing Pleistocene And Modern Rhodolith Beds, Carlos E. Cintra-Buenrostro

School of Earth, Environmental, & Marine Sciences Faculty Publications

The analysis of predatory drillholes allow paleontologists to reconstruct trophic relationships of ancient systems. To evaluate the potential effects of climate and sea level change on predation frequency by gastropods on bivalves, species of the genus Chione from the Gulf of California were selected because they are a commercially exploited resource - at least locally - and abundant in both modern and Pleistocene (sea level high stand of oxygen substage 5e) samples from rhodolith beds. The present study focused to answer a practical question: would predation on Chione spp. increase under the suggested climate - warming - change scenario? A …

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Extensive Reproductive Disruption, Ovarian Masculinization And Aromatase Suppression In Atlantic Croaker In The Northern Gulf Of Mexico Hypoxic Zone, Peter Thomas, Md. Saydur Rahman Jan 2012

Extensive Reproductive Disruption, Ovarian Masculinization And Aromatase Suppression In Atlantic Croaker In The Northern Gulf Of Mexico Hypoxic Zone, Peter Thomas, Md. Saydur Rahman

School of Earth, Environmental, & Marine Sciences Faculty Publications

The long-term impacts on marine ecosystems of the recent dramatic worldwide increase in the incidence of coastal hypoxia are unknown. Here, we show widespread reproductive disruption in Atlantic croakers collected from hypoxic sites approximately 120 km apart in the extensive northern Gulf of Mexico continental shelf hypoxic zone. Gonadal growth and gamete production were impaired in croakers from hypoxic sites compared with fish from reference normoxic sites east of the Mississippi River Delta. Male germ cells were detected in approximately 19 per cent of croaker ovaries collected in the hypoxic region, but were absent in ovaries from normoxic sites. In …

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A Western Range Extension For Caprella Scaura (Amphipoda: Caprellidae) In The Aransas Bay Ecosystem, Texas, Nicholas L. Ahrens, Faye P. Grubbs Jan 2012

A Western Range Extension For Caprella Scaura (Amphipoda: Caprellidae) In The Aransas Bay Ecosystem, Texas, Nicholas L. Ahrens, Faye P. Grubbs

Gulf and Caribbean Research

During March 2009, the skeleton shrimp Caprella scaura and Paracaprella tenuis (Amphipoda: Caprellidae) were collected from several locations throughout the Aransas Bay, Texas ecosystem from Texas Parks and Wildlife fishery—independent trawl and oyster dredge samples. This is a western range expansion for C. scaura; P. tenuis has been reported from this area before. Both species were exclusively associated with a bryozoan, Bugula neritina. Densities of both species ranged between 0.1–3.4 individuals per gram of attached bryozoans. A reproductive population is likely established since several sizes, including adult males and gravid females, were observed. No caprellids were observed after …

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Evidence Of Spawning Capable Tarpon (Megalops Atlanticus) Off The Louisiana Coast, William Stein Iii, Nancy J. Brown-Peterson, James S. Franks, Martin T. O'Connell Jan 2012

Evidence Of Spawning Capable Tarpon (Megalops Atlanticus) Off The Louisiana Coast, William Stein Iii, Nancy J. Brown-Peterson, James S. Franks, Martin T. O'Connell

Gulf and Caribbean Research

Despite the fact that the tarpon (Megalops atlanticus) is a popular sport fish in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM; Ault et al. 2008), little is known of its spawning behavior. Spawning M. atlanticus have never been documented and fertilized eggs have not been observed in situ (Ault et al. 2008). While it has been suggested that adult M. atlanticus move to deep water off the southwest coast of Florida and into the Yucatan Channel to spawn, the actual locations of spawning grounds remain unknown (Smith 1980, Crabtree et al. 1995, Crabtree et al. 1997). Distribution patterns of larvae …

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How Selective Is Social Learning In Dolphins?, Stan A. Kuczaj Ii, Deirdre Yeater, Lauren Highfill Jan 2012

How Selective Is Social Learning In Dolphins?, Stan A. Kuczaj Ii, Deirdre Yeater, Lauren Highfill

Psychology Faculty Publications

Social learning is an important aspect of dolphin social life and dolphin behavioral development. In addition to vocal social learning, dolphins discover behaviors for foraging, play, and social interactions by observing other members of their social group. But dolphins neither indiscriminately observe nor mindlessly mimic other dolphins. To the contrary, dolphin calves are quite selective in their choices of who to observe and/or imitate. Calves are most likely to learn foraging behaviors from their mothers, but they are more likely to watch and reproduce the play behaviors of other calves than the play behaviors of adult dolphins (including their mothers). …

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Wounded Kelps: Patterns And Susceptibility To Breakage, Thibaut De Bettignies, Mads Thomsen, Thomas Wernberg Jan 2012

Wounded Kelps: Patterns And Susceptibility To Breakage, Thibaut De Bettignies, Mads Thomsen, Thomas Wernberg

Research outputs 2012

Kelps are highly productive seaweeds predominantly found in wave-exposed environments. Physical and biological processes such as sand abrasion, whiplash and grazing can wound kelp tissue, potentially weakening its ability to withstand wave forces. Despite the ecological importance of kelp tissue loss, few studies have quantified wounding patterns in kelps or how wounding might affect the biomechanical properties of kelps. We quantified the prevalence of wounds on 360 Ecklonia radiata kelps collected across 3 different reef lines (levels of wave exposure) in April (autumn), June (early winter), August (winter) and October (early spring) (i.e. before, during and after peak wave activity). …

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Role Of Food Availability In The Bathymetric Distribution Of The Starfish Marthasterias Glacialis (Lamk.)On Reefs Of Northern Portugal [Efecto De La Disponibilidad Alimenticia Sobre La Distribución Batimétrica De La Estrella De Mar Marthasterias Glacialis (Lamk.) En Arrecifes Del Norte De Portugal], Fernando Tuya, Pedro Duarte Jan 2012

Role Of Food Availability In The Bathymetric Distribution Of The Starfish Marthasterias Glacialis (Lamk.)On Reefs Of Northern Portugal [Efecto De La Disponibilidad Alimenticia Sobre La Distribución Batimétrica De La Estrella De Mar Marthasterias Glacialis (Lamk.) En Arrecifes Del Norte De Portugal], Fernando Tuya, Pedro Duarte

Research outputs 2012

We examined whether the abundance and size of the starfish Marthasterias glacialis (Lamk.) exhibit a depth-dependent partitioning on subtidal reefs. We tested the hypothesis that differences in food availability can result in habitat partitioning along a depth gradient. The abundance and size of M. glacialis was registered at 4 depth strata: 0-4 m, 4-8 m, 8-12 m, and >12 m; we also recorded the number of food items that they were preying on. The abundance and size of M. glacialis decreased with depth. Mussels (Mytilus galloprivincialis) were the most preyed food item across all depth strata, followed by …

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Fussy Feeders: Phyllosoma Larvae Of The Western Rocklobster (Panulirus Cygnus) Demonstrate Prey Preference, M I Saunders, P A Thompson, A G Jeffs, Christin Sawstrom, N Sachlikidis, L E Beckley, A M Waite Jan 2012

Fussy Feeders: Phyllosoma Larvae Of The Western Rocklobster (Panulirus Cygnus) Demonstrate Prey Preference, M I Saunders, P A Thompson, A G Jeffs, Christin Sawstrom, N Sachlikidis, L E Beckley, A M Waite

Research outputs 2012

The Western Rocklobster (Panulirus cygnus) is the most valuable single species fishery in Australia and the largest single country spiny lobster fishery in the world. In recent years a well-known relationship between oceanographic conditions and lobster recruitment has become uncoupled, with significantly lower recruitment than expected, generating interest in the factors influencing survival and development of the planktonic larval stages. The nutritional requirements and wild prey of the planktotrophic larval stage (phyllosoma) of P. cygnus were previously unknown, hampering both management and aquaculture efforts for this species. Ship-board feeding trials of wild-caught mid-late stage P. cygnus phyllosoma in the eastern …

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Δ13c Is A Signature Of Light Availability And Photosynthesis In Seagrass, Xingping Hu, David J. Burdige, Richard C. Zimmerman Jan 2012

Δ13c Is A Signature Of Light Availability And Photosynthesis In Seagrass, Xingping Hu, David J. Burdige, Richard C. Zimmerman

OES Faculty Publications

We explored the role of light-saturated (carbon-limited) photosynthesis on δ¹³C of turtlegrass (Thalassia testudinum Banks ex Konig) populations from the clear, blue waters of the Great Bahama Bank and the turbid, green waters of Florida Bay using field observations and radiative transfer models. Consistent with numerous previous observations, leaf δ¹³C decreased significantly with water depth in both regions. However the δ¹³C for Bahamas turtlegrass was 3 parts per thousand heavier than that for Florida Bay turtlegrass at equivalent depths, and broadband irradiance explained even less of the δ¹³C variations than depth. Instead, leaf δ¹³C showed a stronger relationship to …

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Controls On Dissolved Cobalt In Surface Waters Of The Sargasso Sea: Comparisons With Iron And Aluminum, R. U. Shelley, Peter N. Sedwick, T. S. Bibby, P. Cabedo-Sanz, T. M. Church, R. J. Johnson, A. I. Macey, C. M. Marsay, E. R. Sholkovitz, S. J. Ussher, P. J. Worsfold, M. C. Lohan Jan 2012

Controls On Dissolved Cobalt In Surface Waters Of The Sargasso Sea: Comparisons With Iron And Aluminum, R. U. Shelley, Peter N. Sedwick, T. S. Bibby, P. Cabedo-Sanz, T. M. Church, R. J. Johnson, A. I. Macey, C. M. Marsay, E. R. Sholkovitz, S. J. Ussher, P. J. Worsfold, M. C. Lohan

OES Faculty Publications

Dissolved cobalt (dCo), iron (dFe) and aluminum (dAl) were determined in water column samples along a meridional transect (∼31°N to 24°N) south of Bermuda in June 2008. A general north-to-south increase in surface concentrations of dFe (0.3-1.6 nM) and dAl (14-42 nM) was observed, suggesting that aerosol deposition is a significant source of dFe and dAl, whereas no clear trend was observed. for near-surface dCo concentrations. Shipboard aerosol samples indicate fractional solubility values of 8-100% for aerosol Co, which are significantly higher than corresponding estimates of the solubility of aerosol Fe (0.44-45%). Hydrographic observations and analysis of time series rain …

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Database Of Diazotrophs In Global Ocean: Abundance, Biomass, And Nitrogen Fixation Rates, Y. W. Luo, S. C. Doney, L. A. Anderson, M. Benavides, I. Berman-Frank, A. Bode, S. Bonnet, K. H. Boström, D. Böttjer, D. G. Capone, M. R. Mulholland Jan 2012

Database Of Diazotrophs In Global Ocean: Abundance, Biomass, And Nitrogen Fixation Rates, Y. W. Luo, S. C. Doney, L. A. Anderson, M. Benavides, I. Berman-Frank, A. Bode, S. Bonnet, K. H. Boström, D. Böttjer, D. G. Capone, M. R. Mulholland

OES Faculty Publications

Marine N2 fixing microorganisms, termed di-azotrophs, are a key functional group in marine pelagic ecosystems. The biological fixation of dinitrogen (N2) to bioavailable nitrogen provides an important new source of nitrogen for pelagic marine ecosystems and influences primary productivity and organic matter export to the deep ocean. As one of a series of efforts to collect biomass and rates specific to different phytoplankton functional groups, we have constructed a database on diazotrophic organisms in the global pelagic upper ocean by compiling about 12 000 direct field measurements of cyanobacterial diazotroph abundances (based on microscopic cell counts or …

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The Role Of Larval Dispersal In Metapopulation Gene Flow: Local Population Dynamics Matter, Daphne M. Munroe, John M. Klinck, Eileen E. Hofmann, Eric N. Powell Jan 2012

The Role Of Larval Dispersal In Metapopulation Gene Flow: Local Population Dynamics Matter, Daphne M. Munroe, John M. Klinck, Eileen E. Hofmann, Eric N. Powell

OES Faculty Publications

The degree of genetic connectivity among populations in a metapopulation has direct consequences for species evolution, development of disease resistance, and capacity of a metapopulation to adapt to climate change. This study used a metapopulation model that integrates population dynamics, dispersal, and genetics within an individual-based model framework to examine the mechanisms and dynamics of genetic connectivity within a metapopulation. The model was parameterized to simulate four populations of oysters (Crassostrea virginica) from Delaware Bay on the mid-Atlantic coast of the United States. Differences among the four populations include a strong spatial gradient in mortality, a spatial gradient …

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Cryptic Species: A Mismatch Between Genetics And Morphology In Millepora, Craig Tepper, Benjamin J. Greenstein Jan 2012

Cryptic Species: A Mismatch Between Genetics And Morphology In Millepora, Craig Tepper, Benjamin J. Greenstein

Arts & Sciences Faculty Publications

Millepore morphology is highly variable and shows signs of phenotypic plasticity. Two species of Millepora are present around the islands of the Bahamas: one exhibiting a strong, blade-like structure, Millepora complanata, and the other having a delicate branch-like structure, Millepora alcicornis. The phylogenetic relationship of these corals has been under considerable debate for many years. The existence of a range of intermediate growth forms exhibiting characteristics of both recognized species has led to the re-examination of this species complex. Several methods were employed to examine the taxonomic relationship including ecological abundance surveys, morphological thin-section analysis, and sequencing of …

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Diversity And Dynamics Of Bacterial Communities In Early Life Stages Of The Caribbean Coral Porites Astreoides, Koty H. Sharp, Dan Distel, Valerie J. Paul Jan 2012

Diversity And Dynamics Of Bacterial Communities In Early Life Stages Of The Caribbean Coral Porites Astreoides, Koty H. Sharp, Dan Distel, Valerie J. Paul

Arts & Sciences Faculty Publications

In this study, we examine microbial communities of early developmental stages of the coral Porites astreoides by sequence analysis of cloned 16S rRNA genes, terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (TRFLP), and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) imaging. Bacteria are associated with the ectoderm layer in newly released planula larvae, in 4-day-old planulae, and on the newly forming mesenteries surrounding developing septa in juvenile polyps after settlement. Roseobacter clade-associated (RCA) bacteria and Marinobacter sp. are consistently detected in specimens of P. astreoides spanning three early developmental stages, two locations in the Caribbean and 3 years of collection. Multi-response permutation procedures analysis …

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Selective Capture Of Transcribed Sequences: A Promising Approach For Investigating Bacterium-Insect Interactions, Ruisheng An, Parwinder Grewal Jan 2012

Selective Capture Of Transcribed Sequences: A Promising Approach For Investigating Bacterium-Insect Interactions, Ruisheng An, Parwinder Grewal

School of Earth, Environmental, & Marine Sciences Faculty Publications

Bacterial interactions with eukaryotic hosts are complex processes which vary from pathogenic to mutualistic. Identification of bacterial genes differentially expressed in the host, promises to unravel molecular mechanisms driving and maintaining such interactions. Several techniques have been developed in the past 20 years to investigate bacterial gene expression within their hosts. The most commonly used techniques include in-vivo expression technology, signature-tagged mutagenesis, differential fluorescence induction, and cDNA microarrays. However, the limitations of these techniques in analyzing bacterial in-vivo gene expression indicate the need to develop alternative tools. With many advantages over the other methods for analyzing bacterial in-vivo gene expression, …

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Would Predatory Drillhole Frequency On Chione Spp. Increase Under The Suggested Climate Change Scenario? Comparing Pleistocene And Modern Rhodolith Beds, Carlos E. Cintra-Buenrostro Jan 2012

Would Predatory Drillhole Frequency On Chione Spp. Increase Under The Suggested Climate Change Scenario? Comparing Pleistocene And Modern Rhodolith Beds, Carlos E. Cintra-Buenrostro

School of Earth, Environmental, & Marine Sciences Faculty Publications

The analysis of predatory drillholes allow paleontologists to reconstruct trophic relationships of ancient systems. To evaluate the potential effects of climate and sea level change on predation frequency by gastropods on bivalves, species of the genus Chione from the Gulf of California were selected because they are a commercially exploited resource - at least locally - and abundant in both modern and Pleistocene (sea level high stand of oxygen substage 5e) samples from rhodolith beds. The present study focused to answer a practical question: would predation on Chione spp. increase under the suggested climate - warming - change scenario? A …

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Age Composition And Distribution Of Red Drum (Sciaenops Ocellatus) In Offshore Waters Of The North Central Gulf Of Mexico: An Evaluation Of A Stock Under A Federal Harvest Moratorium, Sean P. Powers, Crystal Hightower, J. Marcus Drymon, Matthew W. Johnson Jan 2012

Age Composition And Distribution Of Red Drum (Sciaenops Ocellatus) In Offshore Waters Of The North Central Gulf Of Mexico: An Evaluation Of A Stock Under A Federal Harvest Moratorium, Sean P. Powers, Crystal Hightower, J. Marcus Drymon, Matthew W. Johnson

University Faculty and Staff Publications

Because of a lack of fishery- dependent data, assessment of the recovery of fish stocks that undergo the most aggressive form of management, namely harvest moratoriums, remains a challenge. Large schools of red drum (Sclaenops ocellatus) were common along the northern Gulf of Mexico until the late 1980s when increased fishing effort quickly depleted the stock. After 24 years of harvest moratorium on red drum in federal waters, the stock is in need of reassessment; however, fishery dependent data are not available in federal waters and fishery-independent data are limited. We document the distribution, age composition, growth, and condition of …

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The Dynamics Of Reproductive Rate, Offspring Survivorship And Growth In The Lined Seahorse, Hippocampus Erectus Perry, 1810, Qiang Lin, Gang Li, Geng Qin, Liangmin Huang, Hushan Sun, Peiyong Feng Jan 2012

The Dynamics Of Reproductive Rate, Offspring Survivorship And Growth In The Lined Seahorse, Hippocampus Erectus Perry, 1810, Qiang Lin, Gang Li, Geng Qin, Liangmin Huang, Hushan Sun, Peiyong Feng

Ocean Engineering and Marine Sciences Faculty Publications

Seahorses are the vertebrate group with the embryonic development occurring within a special pouch in males. To understand the reproductive efficiency of the lined seahorse, Hippocampus erectus Perry, 1810 under controlled breeding experiments, we investigated the dynamics of reproductive rate, offspring survivorship and growth over births by the same male seahorses. The mean brood size of the 1-year old pairs in the 1st birth was 85.4±56.9 per brood, which was significantly smaller than that in the 6th birth (465.9±136.4 per brood) (P<0.001). The offspring survivorship and growth rate increased with the births. The fecundity was positively correlated with the length of brood pouches of males and trunk of females. The fecundity of 1-year old male and 2-year old female pairs was significantly higher than that from 1-year old couples (P<0.001). The brood size (552.7±150.4) of the males who mated with females that were isolated for the gamete-preparation, was larger than those (467.8±141.2) from the long-term pairs (P<0.05). Moreover, the offspring from the isolated females had higher survival and growth rates. Our results showed that the potential reproductive rate of seahorses H. erectus increased with the brood pouch development.

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Differences In Immune Defense Evasion Of Selected Inbred Lines Of Heterorhabditis Bacteriophora In Two White Grub Species, Ruisheng An, Marcio Voss, Ganpati B. Jagdale, Parwinder Grewal Jan 2012

Differences In Immune Defense Evasion Of Selected Inbred Lines Of Heterorhabditis Bacteriophora In Two White Grub Species, Ruisheng An, Marcio Voss, Ganpati B. Jagdale, Parwinder Grewal

School of Earth, Environmental, & Marine Sciences Faculty Publications

We determined virulence of seven Heterorhabditis bacteriophora strain GPS11 inbred lines possessing superior infective juvenile longevity, and heat and ultra violet radiation tolerance against white grubs Popillia japonica and Cyclocephala borealis. At 1 and 2 weeks after treatment, inbred line A2 was significantly more virulent towards P. japonica compared to the parent strain GPS11 and inbred lines A7, A8, A12 and A21; and line A2 caused significantly higher C. borealis mortality than lines A6 and A12. Penetration, encapsulation and survival of two inbred lines, A2 and A12, that showed the highest and lowest virulence against both grub species were then …

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Geostatistical Spatiotemporal Modelling With Application To The Western King Prawn Of The Shark Bay Managed Prawn Fishery, Ainslie M. Denham Jan 2012

Geostatistical Spatiotemporal Modelling With Application To The Western King Prawn Of The Shark Bay Managed Prawn Fishery, Ainslie M. Denham

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Geostatistical methodology has been employed in the modelling of spatiotemporal data from various scientific fields by viewing the data as realisations of space-time random functions. Traditional geostatistics aims to model the spatial variability of a process so, in order to incorporate a time dimension into a geostatistical model, the fundamental differences between the space and time dimensions must be acknowledged and addressed. The main conceptual viewpoint of geostatistical spatiotemporal modelling identified within the literature views the process as a single random function model utilising a joint space-time covariance function to model the spatiotemporal continuity. Geostatistical space-time modelling has been primarily …

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