Marine Biology Commons^™

First Record In Honduras Of The Halfbeak Hyporhampus Roberti Hildebrandi, Jordan And Everman 1927, (Hemiramphidae) Collected In An Inland Reservoir, Wilfredo A. Matamoros, Julio E. Merida, Janise Palmer

Gulf and Caribbean Research

An inhabitant of tropical America, the Central American halfbeak (Hyporhamphus roberti hildebrandi), is one of 2 subspecies of halfbeaks of the subgenus Hyporhamphus (Collette 2003, Collette 2004) that belong to the family Hemiramphidae. This family has representatives from the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans (Greenfield and Thomerson 1997, Berra 2001, Collette 2004), and nearly all species are marine; however, some Hemiramphidae species in the Indo-Australian region are restricted to freshwater (Greenfield and Thomerson 1997).

The distributional range of H. r. hildebrandi extends along the Caribbean coast of Central America from Mexico to the Gulf of Uraba in Colombia …

Color Variation In The Caribbean Crab Platypodiella Spectabilis (Herbst, 1794) (Decapoda, Brachyura, Xanthidae), Joel W. Martin, Todd L. Zimmerman

Gulf and Caribbean Research

The use of color in brachyuran crab systematics, and in particular the use of subtle color differences to suggest or differentiate cryptic or morphologically similar species, is now well documented (e.g., see Campbell and Mahon 1974 for species of Leptograpsus, Williams and Felder 1989 for species of Menippe, Zimmerman and Felder 1991 for species of Sesarma). Less clearly understood is why color patterns and intensities can sometimes vary appreciably within a species, even within narrowly restricted geographic regions. An appreciation of color patterns is critical to correctly identifying species for conservation and resource management purposes, yet often …

Swordfish Reproduction In The Atlantic Ocean: An Overview, Freddy Arocha

Gulf and Caribbean Research

There are 3 unit stocks of Atlantic swordfish, Xiphias gladius, separated into Mediterranean, North and South Atlantic with no precise delimitation between them, and each contains its spawning grounds far from stock boundary areas. This overview characterizes the reproductive information for each stock unit and describes reproductive metrics in detail. Spawning in the western North Atlantic consists of 2 spawning groups: one in open ocean waters and the other in waters close to land masses and fast current systems. Spawning occurs from December to June within the subtropical area (13°N-35°N). Within the Mediterranean, spawning takes place between June and …

Where Do We Go From Here? A Summary Of Issues Of Concern And Recommendations Developed During The Panel Discussion Of The Large Pelagic Fishes Symposium, Nancy J. Brown-Peterson, James S. Franks, Mark S. Peterson, Patrick Mcconney, Brian E. Luckhurst

Gulf and Caribbean Research

One of the goals of the Large Pelagic Fishes Symposium was to provide a forum for development of a list of Issues of Concern regarding large pelagic fishes and their fisheries in the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico region. During the Symposium and ensuing Panel Discussion, it became clear that the level of consciousness concerning large pelagic fishes is of equal importance to that of other regional fisheries such as reef fishes and conch/lobster. Four major issues of concern regarding large pelagic fishes in the region surfaced during the Symposium. The Symposium Committee recommends that future resources and energy should …

The Phylum Cnidaria: A Review Of Phylogenetic Patterns And Diversity 300 Years After Linnaeus, Catherine S. Mcfadden, Marymegan Daly, Mercer R. Brugler, Paulyn Cartwright, Allen G. Collins, Michael N. Dawson, Daphne G. Fautin, Scott C. France, Dennis M. Opresko, Estefania Rodriguez, Sandra L. Romano, Joel L. Stake

All HMC Faculty Publications and Research

Systema Naturae includes representatives of every major lineage of the animal phylum Cnidaria. However, Linnaeus did not classify the members of the phylum as is now done, and the diversity of the group is not well represented. We contrast the Linnaean perspective on cnidarian diversity with the modern, phylogenetic perspective. For each order, we detail diversity at the family level, providing phylogenetic context where possible.

Comparison Of Fish Assemblages Between Mitigation Boulder Reef And Neighboring Natural Hardbottom In Broward County, Florida, Usa, Jessica A. Freeman

HCNSO Student Theses and Dissertations

A beach renourishment project was initiated in May 2005 and completed in February 2006 to restore 11.1 km of shoreline in Broward County, Florida, USA. For mitigation of predicted nearshore hardbottom burial, a boulder reef totaling 3.6 ha was deployed in 2003. To examine the replacement value of the mitigation relative to fishes, this study compared fish assemblages on boulder reef to those on adjacent natural hardbottom. Twenty-five natural hardbottom sites and twenty-five boulder reef sites were surveyed six times between March 2005 and August 2007. Two non-destructive visual census methods, a transect count (30 m long x 2 m …

Final Report Overview - Kingston, Stone Environmental

PREP Reports & Publications

The objective of the Kingston project was to revise the town’s wetlands conservation district regulations and create new stormwater regulations. In October 2006 Stone Environmental and New Hampshire Soil Consulting (NHSC) submitted draft language to the Kingston Planning Board. The proposed stormwater regulations were consistent with state and federal stormwater requirements. The main areas covered in the proposed regulations were a prohibition against illicit discharges and illegal dumping to Kingston’s storm drainage system, erosion prevention and sediment control at construction sites, and post-construction (permanent) stormwater control. The proposed stormwater regulations were intended to replace an existing article in Kingston’s code …

Identify And Report Water Pollution: An Interpretive Guide To Surface Water Conditions Of The New Hampshire Coastal Watershed, 2nd Edition, New Hampshire Estuaries Project

PREP Reports & Publications

This gude was designed to help people who work or recreate outdoors to interpret surface water conditions so that they would recognize a pollution incident and know how to report it. The guide also suggests actions that communities can take to prevent water pollution and protect vital water resources. Finally, the guide includes helpful, relevant resources that will further explain particular surface water conditions.

Winter 2007, Nsu Oceanographic Center

Currents

No abstract provided.

Inside The Rainforests Of The Sea: Coral Reefs And Their Endangerment, Roxanne Greitz Miller

Education Faculty Articles and Research

This article focuses on coral reefs and their endangerment.

A Comparison Of Fish Assemblages Among Five Habitat Types Within A Caribbean Lagoonal System, Ivan Mateo, William J. Tobias

Gulf and Caribbean Research

Fish assemblages associated with patch reefs, rubble, seagrass, algal plain, and sandy habitats types were studied at St. Croix's Southeastern barrier reef lagoon using underwater visual census techniques. Higher species richness and fish density were observed over patch reefs/rubble habitat followed by seagrass, algal plain, and unvegetated sandy habitat types. Thalassoma bifasciatum, Haemulon flavolineatum, and Acanthuras chirurgus were the most common fishes in highly structured habitat types (patch reef, rubble). Halichoeres bivittatus, Sparisoma radians, newly settled grunts (l.e., Haemulon spp.), and juveniles of Ocyurus chrysurus were mainly associated with vegetated habitat types (seagrass, algal beds), while …

Abundance And Ecological Distribution Of The "Sete-Barbas" Shrimp Xiphopenaeus Kroyeri (Heller, 1862) (Decapoda: Penaeoidea) In Three Bays Of The Ubatuba Region, Southeastern Brazil, Rogerio C. Costa, Adilson Fransozo, Fulvio A.M. Freire, Antonio L. Castilho

Gulf and Caribbean Research

The influence of environmental factors on the abundance and spatial-temporal distribution of the shrimp Xiphopenaeus kroyeri was investigated in southeastern Brazil over 2 years. Monthly collections were conducted in Mar Virado, Ubatuba and Ubatumirim Bays using a commercial shrimp fishing boat equipped with 2 "double-rig" nets. Each bay was divided into 6 sampling stations, all of which were less than 25 m deep. The spatial distribution of X. kroyeri differed among Bays. Highest abundance values were recorded in areas where silt and clay comprised more than 70% of the bottom sediment. Abundance of X. kroyeri followed a seasonal trend, being …

Consequences Of Ocean Scale Hypoxia Constrained Habitat For Tropical Pelagic Fishes, Eric D. Prince, C. Phillip Goodyear

Gulf and Caribbean Research

Large areas of cold hypoxic water occur as distinct strata in the eastern tropical Pacific and Atlantic oceans as a result of high productivity initiated by intense nutrient upwelling. Recent studies show that this stratum restricts the depth distribution of tropical pelagic marlins, sailfish, and tunas in the eastern tropical Pacific by compressing the acceptable physical habitat into a narrow surface layer. This layer extends downward to a variable boundary defined by a shallow thermocline, often at 25 m, above a barrier of cold hypoxic water. The depth distributions of marlin and sailfish monitored with electronic tags and mean dissolved …

Relative Abundance Of Pelagic Sharks In The Western North Atlantic Ocean, Including The Gulf Of Mexico And Caribbean Sea, Enric Cortes, Craig A. Brown, Lawrence R. Beerkircher

Gulf and Caribbean Research

Little information exists on the status of pelagic shark populations in the Atlantic Ocean, especially in the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea. We derived indices of relative abundance for pelagic sharks based on mandatory logbooks and observer reports from a scientific observer program of the United States (US) pelagic longline fleet. Time series data from the pelagic longline logbook program (1986-2005) and the pelagic longline observer program (1992-2005) were standardized with Generalized Linear Model (GLM) procedures. Declines in relative abundance for the 6 pelagic shark species or genera examined in the logbook data analysis ranged from 43% for mako …

Large Pelagic Fishes In The Wider Caribbean And Northwest Atlantic Ocean: Movement Patterns Determined From Conventional And Electronic Tagging, Brian E. Luckhurst

Gulf and Caribbean Research

Conventional tagging data has documented long distance movements (including trans-Atlantic movements) in blue marlin (Makaira nigricans) and yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) within the Atlantic. Swordfish (Xiphius gladius) have also been shown to move substantial distances, although primarily in a north-south direction. There is, however, a paucity of data for wahoo (Acanthocybium solandri). In the past several years, electronic archival (i.e., data recording) tags have significantly advanced our understanding of the behavior and movement patterns of large pelagic fishes. Data from electronic arcltival tags have generally corroborated conventional tagging data with respect to …

A History Of Change And Reorganization: The Pelagic Longline Fishery In Gouyave, Grenada, Sandra Grant, Fikret Berkes, Johnson St. Louis

Gulf and Caribbean Research

This paper traces the history of the pelagic surface longline fishery in Gouyave, Grenada, noting 4 major periods of change from pre-1985 to 2004. Reconstructed from document reviews, newspaper articles, oral history, and key informant interviews 1) the pre-1985 period was the time when the longline was introduced and popularized by the Cubans, 2) the period of institutionalization and technology development (1986-1990) corresponded to the strengthening of institutional arrangements and the initial improvements in technology, 3) the Coastal Fisheries Development Project (CFDP) of 1991-1999 was the period of international donor support and further technology change in longline construction, and finally …

Management In The Gulf And Caribbean: Mosaic Or Melting Pot?, Patrick Mcconney, Hazel A. Oxenford, Milton Haughton

Gulf and Caribbean Research

Does ''managing large pelagic fishes" mean the same thing across the diversity of maritime jurisdictions, governance arrangements, economies, languages, cultures, scales of operation and other features of the Gulf and Caribbean region? It would be surprising if it did. Yet international fisheries management urges this mosaic of management to become a melting pot; at least integrated, even if differentiated. This paper examines some themes underlying whether a mosaic or melting pot is the most apt metaphor for where we are, and are headed, in attempts to manage large pelagic fishes in the region. We pay particular attention to the multi-dimensional …

Phytoplankton Productivity In The Tidal Regions Of Four Chesapeake Bay (Usa) Tributaries, Kneeland K. Nesius, Harold G. Marshall, Todd A. Egerton

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Monthly and annual phytoplankton productivity rates of four Virginia tidal rivers were determined based on a 12-year monitoring study that included sampling stations from tidal freshwater, oligohaline, and mesohaline regions in these rivers. The mean monthly rates and range at these locations were 5.52 (Dec.) to 175.12 (Aug.) mg C m^-3 h^-1 for tidal freshwater, 12.21 (Jan.) to 149.90 (May) mg C m^-3 h^-1 in oligohaline regions, and 16.20 (Jan.) to 151.33 (May) mg C m^-3 h^-1 for the mesohaline. The estimated mean annual 12 year productivity for the different Virginia river sites in …

Amurocrangonyx, A New Genus Of Subterranean Amphipod (Crangonyctidae) From The Russian Far East, With A Redescription Of The Poorly Known Crangonyx Arsenjevi And Comments On Biogeographic Relationships, Dmitry A. Sidorav, John R. Holsinger

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Amurocrangonyx n. gen. is described on the basis of recently collected specimens of Crangonyx arsenjevi (Derzhavin, 1927), a very poorly known subterranean amphipod crustacean originally described from springs in the Khor River basin of the Ussury River drainage in the Russian Far East. The species is redescribed from specimens obtained from the type-locality, Orekhovy spring, and a neotype is designated. A careful examination of the newly acquired material, although closely similar morphologically to Crangonyx, suggests that it represents a new genus in Crangonyctidae. However, determination of the precise phylogeographic relationship of Amurocrangonyx to Crangonyx or to other crangonyctoid genera …

Cframp's Large Pelagic Fish Tagging Program, Susan Singh-Renton, John Renton

Gulf and Caribbean Research

CFRAMP's Large Pelagic Fish Tagging Program was established to examine the distribution and movement patterns of Thunnus atlanticus (blackfin tuna), Acanthocybium solandri (wahoo), Coryphaena hippurus (dolphinfish), and Scomberomorus cavalla (king mackerel), large pelagic fish species of commercial importance to several Caribbean countries. The Program explored several means to facilitate fish tag and release activities, involving collaborative partnerships with national fisheries administrations, the recreational fishing sector, and individual commercial fishers. A Iotal of 1,143 fish were tagged and released in the coastal waters of several islands within the Eastern Caribbean: 787 blackfin tuna, 250 wahoo, 89 dolphinfish, and 17 king mackerel. …

Breeding Season And Molt Cycle Of The Fiddler Crab Uca Rapax (Brachyura, Ocypodidae) In A Subtropical Estuary, Brazil, South America, Daniela Da Silva Castiglioni, Maria Lucia Negreiros-Fransozo, Rosana Carina Flores Cardoso

Gulf and Caribbean Research

This is the first account of the breeding season and molt cycle of Uca rapax on the Brazilian coast during a one-year period (April 2001-March 2002). At 2 sites, the ltamambuca and Ubatumirim mangrove forests, 2 collectors captured crabs once a month at low tide far 15 minutes by the catch-per-unit-effort procedure, digging into the sediment and removing the crabs. The gonad-development stages of crabs of both sexes were determined by direct observation, and the molt stage was estimated from the hardness of the tegument. Crabs with developed gonads were found mostly in warmer seasons, with ovigerous females occurring mainly …

Large Pelagic Fishes In The Caribbean Sea And The Gulf Of Mexico: Current Status And Integrated Management, Mark S. Peterson, Nancy J. Brown-Peterson, James S. Franks

Gulf and Caribbean Research

A symposium convened on 7 November 2006 in conjunction with the 59th annual meeting of the Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute in Belize City, Belize.

Distribution Of Molidae In The Northern Gulf Of Mexico, Gregory L. Fulling, Dagmar Fertl, Kevin Knight, Wayne Hoggard

Gulf and Caribbean Research

We compiled all available sighting, stranding and bycatch data for the Family Molidae (molas) in the northern Gulf of Mexico (NGOM) to assess spatial and temporal distribution. Overall, 483 records were collected from shipboard and aerial surveys, fisheries bycatch, and strandings. Molas were recorded year-round, with a ubiquitous distribution in both nearshore and offshore waters. Ocean sunfish (Mola mola) were sighted with greatest frequency during the winter (December thru April) in sea surface temperature < 24° C. Potential reasons for increased sightings during winter may be related to the lack of a well-defined thermocline in the NGOM; the species' "basking" behavior associated with thermoregulation; and oxygen replenishment after long, deep dives to oxygen-deficient depths.

Fisheries Ecology Abstracts

Gulf and Caribbean Research

Abstracts of presentations from the Large Pelagic Fishes Symposium in Belize City, Belize during November 2006.

New Records Of Alien Mollusca In The Hawaiian Islands: Non-Marine Snails And Slugs (Gastropoda) Associated With The Horticultural Trade, Kenneth Hayes, C. Tran, Robert Cowie

Department of Biology Faculty Publications

The  nonmarine  snails  of  the  Hawaiian  Islands  have  been  cataloged  by  Cowie  (1997),reviewed by Cowie (1998a), and subsequent new records reported by Cowie (1998b, 1999,2000). The horticultural industry has been implicated in the transport and introduction ofsnails and slugs in various parts of the world (e.g., Robinson 1999; Barrientos 2000; Cowie&Robinson 2003; Robinson & Slapcinsky 2005), including Hawai‘i (e.g., Cowie 1998b,1999, 2000). Therefore, between 2004 and 2006 we undertook field surveys of nurseries,botanical gardens, and other similar facilities involved in the cultivation of plants, includ-ing aquatic plants, for sale, recreation or research on the six largest of the main HawaiianIslands, …

Retrospective Analysis Of Epiphyte Assemblages In Relation To Seagrass Loss In A Eutrophic Coastal Embayment, Ml Cambridge, Jr How, Paul Lavery, Ma Vanderklift

Research outputs pre 2011

This is a retrospective study of shifts in species composition of epiphytic macroalgae that occurred during a period of seagrass loss in Cockburn Sound, Western Australia. Detailed analysis of data on relative abundances of 108 epiphytic taxa collected over 2 yr from 27 widely dispersed sites around Cockburn Sound showed differences in epiphyte composition between sites with loss of seagrasses (Loss sites) and those with no loss in the the long-term (No Loss sites). Future seagrass losses, however, were not predicted by shifts in species composition. Most species were rare and varied with season of sampling. Hence, varying assemblages of …

Effect Of Leaf Movement On Epiphytic Algal Biomass Of Seagrass Leaves, Paul Lavery, Tara Reid, Glenn Hyndes, Beverley Van Elven

Research outputs pre 2011

We tested the hypothesis that the movement of seagrass leaves affects the accumulation and composition of algal epiphytes by comparing the standing crop and composition on tethered (T) and untethered (UT) artificial seagrass units (ASUs) over 4 and 8 wk. We also tested whether any effect of leaf movement on standing crop was dependent on the degree of water movement by repeating the experiment over 8 wk at sheltered and exposed sites. To eliminate the possibility of inter-regional differences between exposed and sheltered sites and to test for interactive effects of light availability and leaf movement on epiphyte biomass, we …

Morphological, Growth And Meadow Characteristics Of The Seagrass Posidonia Sinuosa Along A Depth-Related Gradient Of Light Availability, Cj Collier, Paul Lavery, Rj Masini, Pj Ralph

Research outputs pre 2011

Morphological and growth characteristics of the meadow-forming seagrass Posidonia sinuosa (Cambridge et Kuo), were measured along a depth-related gradient of light to infer its response to long-term differences in light availability. Morphometric measurements were carried out at 6 depths between 1.6 and 9.0 m in summer and winter at Cockburn Sound and summer only at Warnbro Sound in south-western Australia. The minimum light requirement for P. sinuosa of 8.5% sub-surface light was among the lower range reported for seagrasses. Its slow growth rate (0.5–1.5 mgdry shoot–1 d–1), relative to similarly sized species, may contribute to the low light requirements of …

Phytoplankton Productivity In The Tidal Regions Of Four Chesapeake Bay (U.S.A.) Tributaries, Kneeland K. Nesius, Harold G. Marshall, Todd A. Egerton

Virginia Journal of Science

Monthly and annual phytoplankton productivity rates of four Virginia tidal rivers were determined based on a 12-year monitoring study that included sampling stations from tidal freshwater, oligohaline, and mesohaline regions in these rivers. The mean monthly rates and range at these locations were 5.52 (Dec.) to 175.12 (Aug.) mg C m^-3 h^-1 for tidal freshwater, 12.21 (Jan.) to 149.90 (May) mg C m^-3 h^-1 in oligohaline regions, and 16.20 (Jan.) to 151.33 (May) mg C m^-3 h^-1 for the mesohaline. The estimated mean annual 12 year productivity for the different Virginia river sites in …

The Discovery Of The First Cuban Blind Cave Fish: The Untold Story, Aldemaro Romero Jr.

Publications and Research

No abstract provided.