Marine Biology Commons^™

Effects Of Intertidal Position On The Capacity For Anaerobic Metabolism And Thermal Stress Response In The Common Acorn Barnacle, Balanus Glandula, Kyra Anderson

Master's Theses

Intertidal habitats are characterized by dynamic, tidally-driven fluctuations in abiotic and biotic factors. Many of the environmental stressors that vary across the intertidal (e.g., temperature, oxygen, food availability, predation pressure) are strong drivers of metabolic rate in ectotherms. As such, we predicted that there may be pronounced differences in the metabolic and stress physiology of conspecific sessile invertebrates occupying at different relative tidal heights. The common acorn barnacle Balanus glandula represents an ideal model organism in which to investigate the possibility of tidal height-dependent physiological differences, owing to their wide distribution in the intertidal zone and their eurytolerant nature. In …

Offshore Spreading Of A Supercritical Plume Under Upwelling Wind Forcing: A Case Study Of The Winyah Bay Outflow, Alexander E. Yankovsky, Douglas Cahl, George Voulgaris

Faculty Publications

In this study, we present observations of the Winyah Bay (WB) plume (SC, United States) formed by high freshwater discharge and a moderate upwelling-favorable wind acting continuously for ∼1.5 days prior to the shipboard survey. If a similar wind forcing persists over a longer period, the plume turns upstream (against its natural propagation) and curves offshore forming a “filament” with minimal transverse spreading, as seen in numerous satellite images. The observed plume comprises a train of tidal sub-plumes undergoing rotational adjustment and being transported offshore by Ekman dynamics. The WB outflow is supercritical in terms of the interior Froude number. …

The Effect Of Marine Snow Particle Distribution On The Foraging Behavior Of Calanus Pacificus, Elena Beckhaus

Theses

Marine snow is a major component of the biological pump, through which carbon is exported to the deep ocean. The sinking of marine snow can be disrupted by organisms, including many species of zooplankton that ingest or break up aggregates. These processes can have important impacts on planktonic food web dynamics and carbon export. Marine snow can have vertically patchy distributions, occurring in thin layers, which may further affect interactions with zooplankton. In this lab-based study, we examined how the presence of a marine snow layer affects copepod behavior and ingestion.

We conducted a series of experiments in which copepods …

A Biological Condition Gradient For Caribbean Coral Reefs: Part Ii. Numeric Rules Using Sessile Benthic Organisms, Deborah L. Santavy, Susan K. Jackson, Benjamin Jessup, Christina Horstmann, Caroline Rogers, Ernesto Weil, Alina Szmant, David Cuevas Miranda, Brian K. Walker, Christopher Jeffrey, David Ballantine, William S. Fisher, Randy Clark, Hector Ruiz Torres, Brandi Todd, Sandy Raimondo

Marine & Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles

The Biological Condition Gradient (BCG) is a conceptual model used to describe incremental changes in bio- logical condition along a gradient of increasing anthropogenic stress. As coral reefs collapse globally, scientists and managers are focused on how to sustain the crucial structure and functions, and the benefits that healthy coral reef ecosystems provide for many economies and societies. We developed a numeric (quantitative) BGC model for the coral reefs of Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands to transparently facilitate ecologically meaningful management decisions regarding these fragile resources. Here, reef conditions range from natural, undisturbed conditions to severely altered or …

Crassostrea Gigas Invasion In Southern California: Macrofaunal Diversity And Local Community Impacts Of Ecosystem Engineers On Estuarine Habitats, Noah Jansen-Yee

Theses

Many marine ecosystems are facing the growing threat of biological invasions. These invasions can have a variety of different impacts on ecosystems and their inhabitants. The Pacific oyster, Crassostrea gigas, is currently in the relatively early stages of invasion in San Diego estuaries. Crassostrea gigas is a large, filter-feeding bivalve that forms dense oyster beds on hard substrate. These oysters are known to outcompete native counterparts and drastically alter habitats where they are present. Crassostrea gigas is an ecosystem engineer that, through shell creation and formation of a dense oyster matrix, impacts ecosystems in a variety of direct and indirect …

Reef Sediments Can Act As A Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease Vector, Michael S. Studivan, Ashley M. Rossin, Ewelina Rubin, Nash Soderberg, Daniel M. Holstein, Ian C. Enochs

Faculty Publications

Stony coral tissue loss disease (SCTLD) was first observed in 2014 near Virginia Key in Miami-Dade County, Florida. Field sampling, lab experiments, and modeling approaches have suggested that reef sediments may play a role in SCTLD transmission, though a positive link has not been tested experimentally. We conducted an ex situ transmission assay using a statistically-independent disease apparatus to test whether reef sediments can transmit SCTLD in the absence of direct contact between diseased and healthy coral tissue. We evaluated two methods of sediment inoculation: batch inoculation of sediments collected from southeast Florida using whole colonies of diseased Montastraea cavernosa, …

Diversity And Time-Series Analyses Of Caribbean Deep-Sea Coral And Sponge Assemblages On The Tropical Island Slope Of Isla De Roatán, Honduras, Peter J. Etnoyer, Charles G. Messing, Karl A. Stanley, Tomasz K. Baumiller, Kate Lavelle, Thomas C. Shirley

Marine & Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles

Shore-based submersible operations, from 2006 to 2020, have allowed us to examine megabenthic assemblages along the island margin of Isla de Roatán from depths of about 150 to 750 m, including repeated observations of the same organisms. These dives were used to photo-document a diverse benthic assemblage and observe the health and condition of the sessile fauna in a well-explored but relatively undocumented area of the Mesoamerican Reef. Samples were collected by dip net, and some dives profiled the water column chemistry in the year 2011. The deep-sea coral assemblage observed off Roatan exhibits high abundance and diversity. The sessile …

Light-Driven Dynamics Between Calcification And Production In Functionally Diverse Coral Reef Calcifiers, Jennifer Mallon, Tyler Cyronak, Emily R. Hall, Anastazia T. Banaszak, Dan A. Exton, Adrian M. Bass

Marine & Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles

Coral reef metabolism underpins ecosystem function and is defined by the processes of photosynthesis, respiration, calcification, and calcium carbonate dissolution. However, the relationships between these physiological processes at the organismal level and their interactions with light remain unclear. We examined metabolic rates across a range of photosynthesising calcifiers in the Caribbean: the scleractinian corals Acropora cervicornis, Orbicella faveolata, Porites astreoides, and Siderastrea siderea, and crustose coralline algae (CCA) under varying natural light conditions. Net photosynthesis and calcification showed a parabolic response to light across all species, with differences among massive corals, branching corals, and CCA that …

Ranging Patterns And Site Fidelity Of Snubfin Dolphins In Yawuru Nagulagun/Roebuck Bay, Western Australia, Alexandra D’Cruz, Chandra Salgado Kent, Kelly Waples, Alexander M. Brown, Sarah A. Marley, Deborah Thiele, Holly C. Raudino, Yawuru Native Title Prescribed Body Corporate, Broome, Wa, Australia

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

For long-lived species such as marine mammals, having sufficient data on ranging patterns and space use in a timescale suitable for population management and conservation can be difficult. Yawuru Nagulagun/Roebuck Bay in the northwest of Western Australia supports one of the largest known populations of Australian snubfin dolphins (Orcaella heinsohni)—a species with a limited distribution, vulnerable conservation status, and high cultural value. Understanding the species’ use of this area will inform management for the long-term conservation of this species. We combined 11 years of data collected from a variety of sources between 2007 and 2020 to assess the ranging patterns …

Detecting The Feeding Habitat Zone Of Albacore Tuna (Thunnus Alalunga) In The Southern Indian Ocean Using Multisatellite Remote Sensing Data, Sandipan Mondal, Yang-Chi Lan, Ming-An Lee, Yi-Chen Wang, Bambang Semedi, Wan-Ya Su

Journal of Marine Science and Technology–Taiwan

Remote sensing is an effective method for identifying potential feeding habitat zones. Spatial and temporal distribution patterns of albacore (ALB) tuna were studied using Taiwan longline fisheries data from 2009 to 2014. A generalized additive model (GAM) was used to compile a fishery database and statistically explore the relationship between distribution and environmental factors. Sea surface temperature (SST), sea surface chlorophyll-a concentration (SSC), sea surface salinity (SSS), sea surface height (SSH), mixed layer depth (MLD), and eddy kinetic energy (EKE) were examined. The results indicated SST as the largest contributor on ALB distribution, followed by SSS and SSC. Catches per …

Japanese Consumer Preference For Raw Fish: Best–Worst Scaling Method, Takahiro Sajiki, Yu-Heng Lu

Journal of Marine Science and Technology–Taiwan

Given the declining consumption of fish and shellfish in Japan, it is essential to better understand consumer needs to design policies that increase consumption. Therefore, we clarify the relative degree of importance Japanese consumers place on various attributes of raw fish during purchase based on a questionnaire survey employing best–worst scaling. We find that consumers prioritize freshness, price, taste, appearance, safety, seasonality, ease of cooking and eating, nutrition, origin, wild fish, and effect on natural environment and ecosystem, in that order. Wild fish has unexpectedly low importance, although Japanese consumers conventionally purchase captured fishery products rather than cultured ones. The …

Diel Vertical Distribution Patterns Of Pelagic Fish Larvae In Yilan Bay, Taiwan, Yi-Chen Wang, Su-Chen Tsai, Wen-Yu Chen

Journal of Marine Science and Technology–Taiwan

To study the diel migration distribution of larval fish in an area adjacent to the Kuroshio Current, samples were collected from six depths by using a Motoda horizontal net at a fixed station in Yilan Bay on July 30 and 31, 2007. A total of 591 larval fish were collected and assigned to at least 34 families and 57 species. The first five dominant species were Benthosama pterotum (40.95%), Diaphus B type (12.18%), Callionymidae spp. (8.46%), Gobiidae spp. (6.60%), and Apogonidae spp. (4.0%). The density of larval fish varied across time. The maximum larval density was 1220.34 individuals/1000 m3 at …

Long-Term Variation Of Sea Surface Temperature In Relation To Sea Level Pressure And Surface Wind Speed In Southern Indian Ocean, Sandipan Mondal, Ming-An Lee, Yi-Chen Wang, Bambang Semedi

Journal of Marine Science and Technology–Taiwan

Sea surface temperature (SST) is an essential parameter associated with fish habitat and changes in oceanic conditions. Long-term SST variation in relation to sea level pressure (SLP) and surface wind speed (SWS) was observed based on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) data of southern Indian Ocean. Mean monthly time series showed that February and November were the warmest and coolest months, respectively. Spatial distribution showed that 0°S–30°S was warm with SST of 20°–30°C, which was higher than that at all other places throughout the year. SLP (> 1010 millibar) and SWS (> 12 m/s) were high at 20°S–40°S …

Economic Conditions For New Entrants In Coastal Fishing In Miyazaki Prefecture, Japan, Takahiro Sajiki, Yu-Heng Lu, Norie Nishiguchi, Sonomi Akamine, Masaharu Nishiguchi

Journal of Marine Science and Technology–Taiwan

A significant decrease in the number of fishery workers is be-coming a problem in Japan. For new entrants to become estab-lished in the region, they must be profitable as fishing busi-nesses. Using the case of Miyazaki prefecture in Japan, this paper identifies the economic conditions required to make longline fishing and bottom gillnet fishing profitable by ap-plying the net present value (NPV) method. When operating on 200 days, which is the guideline for new entrants in longline fishing, if the value of investment is less than 44.1% of the minimum required, the investment will not provide positive returns. However, the …

Raw Garlic (Allium Sativum) Improves Nonspecific Immune Responses And Resistance Against Vibrio Alginolyticus Infection In Grouper (Epinephelus Coioides), Huai-Ting Huang, Po-Tsang Lee, Zhen-Hao Liao, Cheng-Ting Huang, Hsiang-Yin Chen, Zhi-Gu Huang, Fan-Hua Nan, Yu-Sheng Wu

Journal of Marine Science and Technology–Taiwan

Garlic contains various nutrients and healthful ingredients. The content of garlic products is closely related to their processing methods, and each compound has specific biological effects. Allicin, a heat labile compound, is considered the most important factor in garlic. Garlic powder is commonly prepared by subjecting raw garlic to thermal processing before being grounded into powder,and it is of interest to compare the biological activity of garlic powder with raw garlic in fish. This study investigated immune effects of raw garlic and garlic powder on groupers (Epinephelus coioides). Although raw garlic and garlic powder did not promote growth performance of …

Asymptotic Numerical Solutions For Second-Order Quasilinear Singularly Perturbed Problems, Chein-Shan Liu, Chih-Wen Chang

Journal of Marine Science and Technology–Taiwan

For a second-order quasilinear singularly perturbed problem under the Dirichlet boundary conditions, we propose a new asymptotic numerical method, which involves two problems: a reduced problem with a one-side boundary condition and a novel boundary layer correction problem with a two-sided boundary condition. Through the introduction of two new variables, both problems are transformed to a set of three first-order initial value problems with zero initial conditions. The Runge–Kutta method is then applied to integrate the differential equations and to determine two unknown terminal values of the new variables until they converge. The modified asymptotic numerical solution satisfies the Dirichlet …

Simulation Of A Ship And Tension Leg Platform Wind Turbine Collision, Jiamin Guo, Yu Zhao, Weigang Chen, Guangeng Zhou

Journal of Marine Science and Technology–Taiwan

Collisions between ships and tension leg platform wind turbines (TLPWTs) result in the TLPWT damage, including tower damage and tension leg breakage. This paper details a collision between a ship and TLPWT simulated using the LS-DYNA software package. During simulation, the behaviors of the water around the ship and of the TLPWT were processed using the constant added mass and the fluid–structure interaction methods, respectively. The results indicate that the energy conversion during collision is generally consistent with the law of conversion of energy, suggesting that the simulation’s calculations are acceptable. The TLPWT simulation results imply that two distinct collisions …

The Influences Of Promising Feedstock Variability On Advanced Biofuel Production: A Review, Cherng-Yuan Lin

Journal of Marine Science and Technology–Taiwan

The contribution of biofuels is expected to continuously increase in the global fuel market, as they are environmentally-friendly and provide renewable energy. Four generations of biofuels are categorized and are primarily based on their feedstock sources and the production technologies that are used. The influence of promising feedstock types and the availability on the production technologies and the fuel properties of advanced-generation biofuels are not systematically examined in the literature. Hence, this research extensively reviews the potential impact of feedstock sources and their variability on the production and characteristics of biofuels. The approaches of theoretical analysis and inference referred to …

Characterization Of The Northern Star Coral, (Astrangia Poculata) Behavioral And Physiological Response To Microplastics, Alice Ball

Biology Honors Papers

Preliminary studies have shown that corals ingest microplastics mistaken as food or co-ingested as food, and that ingestion can have effects on physiology. Coral plastic feeding preferences and egestion times are still not well understood. In a series of experiments, I investigated how exposure to microplastics impacts Astrangia poculata, the Northern Star coral, behavior in response to microplastics (feeding and egestion), and whether microplastic exposure and ingestion has any physiology effects. In the first behavioral experiment, I exposed corals to either brine shrimp eggs, or 500 μm polyethylene spheres, and did not find a significant difference in feeding rates. In …

Underwater Video As A Tool To Quantify Fish Density In Complex Coastal Habitats, Ronald Baker, Dakota Bilbrey, Aaron Bland, Frank D’Alonzo Iii, Hannah Ehrmann, Sharon Havard, Zoe Porter, Sarah Ramsden, Alexandra Rodriquez

University Faculty and Staff Publications

Habitat loss is a serious issue threatening biodiversity across the planet, including coastal habitats that support important fish populations. Many coastal areas have been extensively modified by the construction of infrastructure such as ports, seawalls, docks, and armored shorelines. In addition, habitat restoration and enhancement projects often include constructed breakwaters or reefs. Such infrastructure may have incidental or intended habitat values for fish, yet their physical complexity makes quantitatively sampling these habitats with traditional gears challenging. We used a fleet of unbaited underwater video cameras to quantify fish communities across a variety of constructed and natural habitats in Perdido and …

Fish And Invertebrate Use Of Restored Vs. Natural Oyster Reefs In A Shallow Temperate Latitude Estuary, Jonathan H. Grabowski, Christopher J. Baillie, Adam Baukus, Rachael Carlyle, F. Joel Fodrie, Rachel K. Gittman, A. Randall Hughes, David L. Kimbro, Juhyung Lee, Hunter S. Lenihan, Sean P. Powers, Kevin Sullivan

University Faculty and Staff Publications

Coastal marine habitats continue to be degraded, thereby compelling largescale restoration in many parts of the world. Whether restored habitats function similarly to natural habitats and fully recover lost ecosystem services is unclear. In estuaries, oyster reefs have been degraded by multiple anthropogenic activities including destructive fishing practices and reduced water quality, motivating restoration to maintain oyster fisheries and other ecosystem services, often at relatively high cost. We compared fish and invertebrate communities on recently restored (0–1 year post-restoration), older restored (3–4 years post-restoration), and natural oyster reefs to determine if and when restored reefs support functionally similar faunal communities. …

Population Dynamics, Relative Abundance, And Habitat Suitability Of Adult Red Drum (Sciaenops Ocellatus) In Nearshore Waters Of The North-Central Gulf Of Mexico, Crystal Hightower, J. Marcus Drymon, Amanda E. Jefferson, Matthew B. Jargowsky, Emily A. Seubert, Simon Dedman, John Mareska, Sean P. Powers

University Faculty and Staff Publications

In the Gulf of Mexico, the red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus) is an immensely popular sportfish, yet the Gulf of Mexico stock is currently managed as data-limited in federal waters. The results of the federal stock assessment conducted in 2016 for Gulf of Mexico red drum were not recommended for providing management advice. Consequently, we sought to address data gaps highlighted in the assessment by producing up-to- date overall and sex-specific growth models, standardized indices of relative abundance, and predictions of habitat suitability and by updating estimates of natural mortality. Using a time series for the period of 2006–2018, we assigned …

Water Assessment Of Plaster Creek, Lynda Steen, C.D. Tatko

Summer Research

Plaster Creek is a polluted water system in western Michigan that displays a variety of contaminants. Calvin University sits fully withing the Plaster Creek watershed, increasing its relevancy and importance. The Plaster Creek Stewards have a history of working to improve the quality of water and educate residents regarding their impact on the creek. Within the Silver Creek tributary there have been a number of interventions involving the reintroduction of native plant life and altering the creek's path when daylighting. The nutrient load of Silver Creek is important to both the water quality and biological thriving. The chemical analysis herein …

Predicting Responses Of Geo-Ecological Carbonate Reef Systems To Climate Change: A Conceptual Model And Review, Nicola K. Browne, Michael Cuttler, Katie Moon, Kyle Morgan, Claire L. Ross, Carolina Castro-Sanguino, Emma Kennedy, Dan Harris, Peter Barnes, Andrew G. Bauman, Eddie Beetham, Joshua Bonesso, Yves-Marie Bozec, Christopher E. Cornwall, Shannon Dee, Thomas M. Decarlo, Juan P. D'Olivo, Christopher Doropoulos, Richard D. Evans, Bradley Eyre, Peter Gatenby, Manuel Gonzalez, Sarah Hamylton, Jeff Hansen, Ryan Lowe, Jennie Mallela, Michael O'Leary, George Roff, Benjamin J. Saunders, Adi Zweilfer

Marine & Environmental Sciences Faculty Books and Book Chapters

[Chapter Abstract] 230Coral reefs provide critical ecological and geomorphic (e.g. sediment production for reef-fronted shoreline maintenance) services, which interact in complex and dynamic ways. These services are under threat from climate change, requiring dynamic modelling approaches that predict how reef systems will respond to different future climate scenarios. Carbonate budgets, which estimate net reef calcium carbonate production, provide a comprehensive ‘snap-shot’ assessment of reef accretionary potential and reef stability. These budgets, however, were not intended to account for the full suite of processes that maintain coral reef services or to provide predictive capacity on longer timescales (decadal to centennial). To …

One Shell Of A Problem: Cumulative Threat Analysis Of Male Sea Turtles Indicates High Anthropogenic Threat For Migratory Individuals And Gulf Of Mexico Residents, Micah Ashford

Masters Theses

Human use of oceans has dramatically increased in the 21st century, with some of the highest rates of change found within the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean. Sea turtles are particularly vulnerable to anthropogenic stressors in the marine environment as they make lengthy migrations between foraging and breeding sites often along coastal migration corridors. Sea turtles face severe population pressure from humans, yet little is known about how movement and threats interact specifically for male sea turtles. To better understand male sea turtle movement, and the threats they encounter within their expansive ranges, we tagged 40, adult male sea turtles …

Clypeasteroida Sp., Sand Dollar Test, Delaney Deinlein, Sarah Gerega, Amy Hirons

Hirons Field Techniques

Test from Clypeasteroida sp. Collected from Sanibel Island, Florida just before Hurricane Ian (before Sep 28, 2022) by Sarah Gerega.

Sentience In Decapods: An Open Question, Mark Briffa

Animal Sentience

Crump et al.’s framework is a powerful tool designed to assist decisions on the ethical treatment of decapod crustaceans. However, the question of whether decapods are sentient (i.e., whether they feel), remains open, perhaps indefinitely. More optimistically, we might design experiments that distinguish among different levels of awareness, sometimes viewed as components of sentience. We should strike a balance between assuming that all organisms are sentient and making unnecessary anatomical assumptions about sentience. Refining current experiments may provide concrete insights about awareness in Decapoda and other taxa.

Ms Environmental Biology Capstone Project, Catherine Shapiro

Regis University Student Publications (comprehensive collection)

Chapter 1: Artificial light at night disrupts the biology of fishes. Chapter 2: Grant proposal to determine how artificial light at night affects Pumpkinseed fish. Chapter 3: Management of pinyon-juniper woodland impacts the occupancy of Pinyon Jays. Chapter 4: Stakeholder analysis of horseshoe crab fishing and its impacts on the Red Knot and biomedical industry.

Ecological Risk Assessment For The Western Rock Lobster Resource : Workshop Procedure And Outcomes, R Stoklosa

Fisheries Occasional Publications

No abstract provided.

Ubiquitous Microplastics In The Upper Gastrointestinal Tracts Of Florida Coastal Seabirds, Jonathan J. Clark, Dorothy-Ellen A. Renegar, Dave Kerstetter

Marine & Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles

Plastic pollution is increasingly recognized as a global problem. In particular, plastic pieces <5 mm in size (‘microplastics’) are of interest due to their prevalence and association with harmful, persistent organic pollutants (POPs). Very little is known about the prevalence of microplastics in coastal birds. Yet, these water-associated birds are at a high risk of ingesting microplastics that accumulate near the water’s surface. This study describes the microplastics found in the proventriculus and ventriculus of four species of coastal birds regarding quantity, size, type (fiber or fragment), and color (light, mid, or dark). A total of 643 microplastic particles were identified, with 43 of the 44 study specimens containing microplastics (97.7% frequency). The ‘fiber’ type and the ‘mid’ color were the most common microplastics. There were no significant differences between species for particle sizes, but Brown Pelicans contained significantly more particles than the other three species. These results highlight the prevalence of plastic pollution in medium-sized seabirds, but more work is needed to determine microplastic patterns between taxa and foraging environments.