Marine Biology Commons^™

Dynamics Of Carbon Allocation In A Deep-Water Population Of The Deciduous Kelp Pleurophycus Gardeneri (Laminariales), Clare M. Dominik, Richard C. Zimmerman

OES Faculty Publications

Pleurophycus gardneri (Laminariales) is common in the low intertidal of the Northeast Pacific, but dominates many deep (30 to 40 m) rocky reefs in central California. Seasonal dynamics of productivity and resource allocation of a deep-water population of this deciduous, stipitate kelp were studied to understand how blade abscission affects the annual carbon budget. Patterns of growth, metabolism, and carbon storage and mobilization were measured monthly for 1 yr relative to in situ light and temperature, and used to model the annual carbon budget. The resulting carbon budget was used to determine if blade abscission effectively reduced respiratory demand during …

Nitrogen Fixation And Release Of Fixed Nitrogen By Trichodesmium Spp. In The Gulf Of Mexico, Margaret R. Mulholland, Peter W. Bernhardt, Cynthia A. Heil, Deborah A. Bronk, Judith M. O'Neil

OES Faculty Publications

During a 3-yr study in the Gulf of Mexico, we measured dinitrogen (N₂) fixation and nitrogen (N) release by Trichodesmium and compared these rates with water column N demand and the estimated N necessary to support blooms of Karenia brevis, a toxic dinoflagellate that severely affects the West Florida shelf. Net and gross N₂ fixation rates were compared in simultaneous incubations using ¹⁵N₂ uptake and acetylene reduction, respectively. The difference between net and gross N₂ fixation is assumed to be an approximation of the rate of N release. Results demonstrate that Trichodesmium in …

Study Of Metals In Leached Soils Of A Municipal Dumpsite In Tampico, Tamaulipas, Mexico: Preliminary Results, P. F. Rodríguez-Espinosa, D. Chazaro Mendoza, J. A. Montes De Oca, G. Sánchez Torres E., Alejandro Fierro-Cabo

School of Earth, Environmental, & Marine Sciences Faculty Publications

The Zapote dumpsite measures 420000 m 2 and is 28 years old; an estimated 2.5 millions tons of waste have accumulated on the site (household waste, clinical waste, commercial waste). The thickness of the waste is 3 to 9 meters. Since operations began, no control regulations have existed on the residues received. The Zapote dumpsite is located within a salt-marsh between a system of channels and river lagoons of brackish water, located in a tropical sedimentary environment in the urban zone of Tampico, Tamaulipas, Mexico. Recently, the Zapote has been closed and work is presently underway in its rehabilitation since …

Red And Black Tides: Quantitative Analysis Of Water-Leaving Radiance And Perceived Color For Phytoplankton, Colored Dissolved Organic Matter, And Suspended Sediments, Heidi M. Dierssen, Raphael M. Kudela, John P. Ryan, Richard C. Zimmerman

OES Faculty Publications

Using field measurements and quantitative modeling, we demonstrate that red coloration of the sea surface is not associated with any particular group of phytoplankton and is strongly dependent on the physiology of the human visual system. Red or brown surface waters can be produced by high concentrations of most types of algae, colored dissolved organic matter, or suspended sediment. Even though light reflected by red tides commonly peaks in the yellow spectral region (570–580 nm), human color perception requires consideration of the entire spectrum of light relative to receptors within the human eye. The color shift from green to red …

The Role Of Lipids During Embryonic Development Of The Euphausiids Euphausia Pacifica And Thysanoessa Spinifera, Se-Jong Ju, H. Rodger Harvey, Jaime Gómez-Gutiérrez, William T. Peterson

OES Faculty Publications

To understand the role of lipids during early embryogenesis, major lipid classes together with individual fatty acid and sterol composition were determined in embryos from multiple developmental stages of the euphausiids Euphausia pacifica and Thysanoessa spinifera. Average lipid content in embryos of E. pacifica and T. spiniferafrom the earliest stage (multicell) were 4.45 and 3.69 µg embryo^-1,respectively. During development, the lipid content decreased at similar rates in the embryos of both species. In contrast to many crustacean eggs, phospholipids were the dominant lipid class in all embryonic stages, with decreasing concentrations seen during development. Individual …

Molecular Population Genetics Of The Atlantic Sand Fiddler Crab, Uca Pugilator, Along The Atlantic Coast, David A. Weese

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Author's abstract: The Atlantic sand fiddler crab, Uca pugilator, is an extremely abundant fiddler crab found along the eastern and Gulf coast of the United States. Fiddler crabs have a life cycle with an obligatory planktonic larval phase of 30-90 days, which might be expected to lead to widespread larval dispersal and consequent genetic homogeneity over considerable distances. However a large amount of morphological and behavioral variation is found between northern and southern populations along the eastern coast. This study was undertaken to determine the population genetic structure of U. pugilator and to determine whether these differences may have a …

Age Validation And Reproductive Biology Of Bluefish, Pomatomus Saltatrix, Along The East Coast Of United States, Eric Robillard

OES Theses and Dissertations

I describe a new preparation technique that increases readability of otoliths, along with criteria for the interpretation of otolith microstructure of bluefish, Pomatomus saltatrix, collected from Florida to New York during 2001-2003 (n = 2652). I validated annulus formation in otoliths for ages 1 to 8 using marginal increment analysis and thus extended validation by four years to include the preponderance of age classes in the catch. Although otoliths are typically superior for ageing, bluefish are routinely aged with scales; thus a side-by-side comparison of otoliths versus scales is necessary before otoliths can supplant scales. When compared, precision …

Detached Macrophyte Accumulations In Surf Zones: Significance Of Macrophyte Type And Volume In Supporting Secondary Production, Karen Ruth Crawley

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Detached macrophytes (sea grass and macroalgae) are transported from more offshore areas and accumulate in large volumes in surf zones, where they are commonly called wrack. In coastal regions in other parts of the world, wrack transported from one habitat to a second habitat can be considered as a "spatial subsidy" for the recipient habitat with significant consequences for community dynamics and food webs. The primary aim of this study was to determine the significance of the different components of wrack (i.e. sea grass and brown, red and green algae) as a direct and indirect food source and habitat for …

Nroc Coordination And Program Delivery, Frank Mitchell, Amanda Stone

PREP Reports & Publications

The primary goal of the Natural Resources Outreach Coalition (NROC) program is to provide education and outreach to communities in the NH Coastal Watersheds that are dealing with the effects of growth, and looking for ways to conserve open spaces and natural resources. Program objectives to meet this goal include: 1. NROC and client communities determine natural resource concerns of the communities. 2. NROC and client communities gather community information about these concerns 3. NROC develops and client communities host community presentations about natural resource-based planning. 4. Communities receive follow up technical and educational assistance as requested. In 2005, NROC …

Large-Scale, Manipulative Field Tests Involving Cultured And Wild Juveniles Of The Soft-Shell Clam, Brian F. Beal

PREP Reports & Publications

A series of field experiments to assess the efficacy of enhancing intertidal areas with cultured clam (Mya arenaria L.) seed (mean shell length [SL] = 7-10 mm) was conducted at Willows Flat, Hampton, New Hampshire from November 2004 to May 2005 and from June - October 2005. The first trial examined the interactive effects of size of planting area (4, 8, 12, 18 m2) and predator deterrent netting (none, 4.2 mm, and 6.4 mm aperture [flexible, plastic netting]) on clam growth and survival at one intertidal location. The second trial examined the effect of predator deterrent netting on clam growth …

Shellfish Tissue Monitoring In New Hampshire Estuaries 2003 And 2004, Phil Trowbridge

PREP Reports & Publications

The goal of this project was to provide data for two NHEP indicators of estuarine condition: TOX1 and TOX3. These two indicators report on “Shellfish tissue concentrations relative to FDA standards” and “Trends in shellfish tissue contaminant concentrations”, respectively. Both of these indicators depend on data from the Gulfwatch Program. In particular, TOX3 requires annual data at benchmark sites to assess trends. In 2003 and 2004, the NHEP supported the collection and analysis of tissue samples from benchmark sites in Portsmouth Harbor, Hampton-Seabrook Harbor and Dover Point.

Nhep Support For Des Shellfish Program 2005, Mark R. Wiley, Ann S. Reid

PREP Reports & Publications

For the past three years, Great Bay Coast Watch (GBCW) volunteers have provided the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NHDES) Shellfish Program with significant assistance in performing tasks necessary in managing shellfish resources for human safety. This report describes a continuation of this mutually beneficial partnership.

Distribution Of Foraging Shearwaters Relative To Inner Front Of Se Bering Sea, J. Jahncke, K. O. Coyle, Stephan I. Zeeman, N. B. Kachel, G. L. Hunt Jr.

Marine Sciences Faculty Publications

We examined the hypothesis that short-tailed shearwaters Puffinus tenuirostris aggregate to forage at the inner front of the SE Bering Sea because of enhanced production there. We tested this hypothesis by comparing primary production, the distribution of euphausiids and the distribution of shearwaters relative to the front during late spring and late summer/early fall of 1997, 1998 and 1999. We found enhanced primary production at the front and offshore of the front during summer but not during spring. Primary production varied between seasons and years. Major differences were related to anomalous conditions in 1997 and 1998. The density of euphausiids …

Detecting Submarine Groundwater Discharge With Synoptic Surveys Of Sediment Resistivity, Radium, And Salinity, John A. Breier, Crystaline F. Breier, Henrietta Edmonds

School of Earth, Environmental, & Marine Sciences Faculty Publications

A synoptic geophysical and geochemical survey was used to investigate the occurrence and spatial distribution of submarine discharges of water to upper Nueces Bay, Texas. The 17 km survey incorporated continuous resistivity profiling; measurements of surface water salinity, temperature, and dissolved oxygen; and point measurements of dissolved Ra isotopes. The survey revealed areas of interleaving, vertical fingers of high and low conductivity extending up through 7 m of bay bottom sediments into the surface water, located within 100 m of surface salinity and dissolved Ra maxima along with peaks in water temperature and lows in dissolved oxygen. These results indicate …

Estimation Of Iron Solubility From Observations And A Global Aerosol Model, Chao Luo, N. M. Mahowald, N. Meskhidze, Y. Chen, R. L. Siefert, A. R. Baker, Anne M. Johansen

All Faculty Scholarship for the College of the Sciences

Mineral aerosol deposition is the dominant source of iron to the open ocean. Soil iron is typically insoluble and understanding the atmospheric processes that convert insoluble iron to the more soluble forms observed over the oceans is crucial. In this paper, we model several proposed processes for the conversion of Fe(III) to Fe(II), and compare with cruise observations. The comparisons show that the model results in similar averaged magnitudes of iron solubility as measured during 8 cruises in 2001–2003. Comparisons show that results of cases including cloud, SO₂ and hematite processing are better than the other approaches used using …

Monthly Variability In Florida Bay Benthic Foraminifera Community Structure, C. Featherstone, Patricia Blackwelder

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

Florida Bay is a shallow subtropical estuary, which experiences highly variable environmental fluctuations due to natural forces (hurricanes, climatic variations and sea level rise) and anthropogenic influences (agricultural activity, water management and urbanization). Study of short time-scale variability in benthic community population structure and synchronous environmental change is essential to understanding forcing relationships between environment and its effects on population. Benthic foraminifera assemblage variability is an excellent indicator of environmental change in estuarine and coastal areas because populations may respond relatively quickly on spatial and temporal scales (Alve, 1995). Temporal resolution is enhanced because foraminifera may reproduce as often as …

2004 Coastal Municipal Stormwater Infrastructure Mapping Project, Jeffrey Marcoux

PREP Reports & Publications

The New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (DES) received funds in 2004 from the New Hampshire Estuaries Project (NHEP) to provide assistance to coastal communities to develop storm sewer infrastructure maps. This final report describes the grant project that was completed in Rochester. NHEP chose to fund stormwater infrastructure mapping projects for a number of reasons. Primarily, this grant was established in order to fulfill one of the water quality action plans identified in the NHEP Management Plan. In addition, the Coastal/Piscataqua watershed has been identified by DES as a priority watershed in need of restoration. Updated and comprehensive maps …

Summary Of Coastal And Estuarine Monitoring Programs In New Hampshire (2005), Phil Trowbridge

PREP Reports & Publications

The New Hampshire Estuaries Project (NHEP) compiles data from many coastal and estuarine monitoring programs to assess the status and trends of environmental indicators in the Great Bay and Hampton/Seabrook Harbor. The full list of NHEP environmental indicators has been published in the NHEP Monitoring Plan. The following catalog is a summary of the coastal and estuarine monitoring programs that provide data for NHEP indicators or for State water quality assessments. This list is limited to long-term monitoring programs that do not have an end date.

Fisheries Research Report No. 152 - Development Of A Dna Database For Compliance And Management Of Western Australian Sharks., Rory Mcauley, K. Ho, R. Thomas

Fisheries Research Reports

Final FRDC Report - Project 2003/067

The capability to identify individual shark species from processed body parts is necessary for the WA Department of Fisheries to ensure the compliance of all WA fisheries with both existing protected species regulations and proposed new management measures for commercially important shark species. This project established a reference database of genetic profiles or ‘fingerprints’ for nine of Western Australia’s protected and commercially important shark species. Fingerprints from a 10th species, the shortfin mako (Isurus oxyrinchus) could not be obtained due to probable primer sequence mismatching. The database, in conjunction with an associated inspection and …

2004 Coastal Illicit Connection Identification And Elimination Grant Project, Jeffrey Marcoux

PREP Reports & Publications

The New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (DES) received funds in 2004 from the New Hampshire Estuaries Project (NHEP) to administer grants to coastal municipalities to eliminate illicit discharges into their storm drainage systems. This final report describes the two projects that were funded under this grant. Projects in Dover, and Portsmouth involved eliminating sewage discharges into storm drainage systems from houses, apartment buildings, and commercial buildings. All of these efforts helped improve water quality in the coastal area by reducing pollution. NHEP chose to fund illicit discharge detection and elimination projects for a number of reasons. Primarily, this grant …

Fisheries Research Report No. 151 - Biology And Stock Assessment Of The Thickskin (Sandbar) Shark, Carcharhinus Plumbeus, In Western Australia And Further Refinement Of The Dusky Shark, Carcharhinus Obscurus, Stock Assessment., Rory Mcauley, R Lenanton, J. Chidlow, R. Allison, E. Heist

Fisheries Research Reports

Final FRDC Report - Project 2000/134

The purpose of this project was to collect the biological and fishery information necessary to conduct a stock assessment of the sandbar (known locally as ‘thickskin’) shark, Carcharhinus plumbeus and to improve and update the existing stock assessment for the dusky shark, Carcharhinus obscurus. Results from this project have already been used by the Western Australian Department of Fisheries to determine appropriate management arrangements for the State’s shark fisheries to ensure the sustainable exploitation of these species. Results have also assisted the WA target-shark fisheries in conducting Ecologically Sustainable Development (ESD) assessment in order …

Aquatic Animal Health Subprogram: Technical Guidelines For The Translocation Of Live Aquatic Animals - With Reference To Barramundi Nodavirus, Brian Jones

Fisheries Research Reports

FRDC Project No. 2005/640

A workshop was conducted involving input from most jurisdictions. Technical issues including hazard identification and risk management associated with the translocation of live finfish were documented.

A series of recommendations, which resulted from the workshop process, will be progressed through the National Aquatic Animal Health Technical Working group and the Aquatic Animal Health Committee.

Foraminiferal Faunas Of The Southern California Bight: A Temporal And Spatial Comparison Of Assemblages In The >150, 63-150, And >63 Μm Fractions, Amanda S. Shepard

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Analyses ofliving (Rose Bengal stained) deep-sea benthic foraminifera collected on the Southern California margin reveal temporal and spatial changes in foraminiferal assemblages related to changes in sea-surface productivity. Samples were collected from two sites in May, August, and October 1996. Results show that foraminiferal microhabitats are not static at these sites, and some species ( e.g., Bolivina spissa and Uvigerina peregrina) responded to the change in seasons with a change in their vertical distribution profiles, which is indicative of microhabitat preferences. Species such as Buliminella tenuata changed sediment depth in different stages of their life cycles, which has implications for …

Seagrass–Pathogen Interactions: ‘Pseudo-Induction’ Of Turtlegrass Phenolics Near Wasting Disease Lesions, Latina Steele, Melanie Caldwell, Anne Boettcher, Tom Arnold

Biology Faculty Publications

Marine protists of the genus Labyrinthula cause the seagrass wasting disease, which is associated with regional die-offs of eelgrass Zostera marina and also infects turtlegrass Thalassia testudinum . The ability of seagrasses to resist pathogen attack is determined by multiple factors, which are poorly understood. One factor hypothesized to influence seagrass disease resistance is the presence of (poly)phenolic natural products such as caffeic acid, which inhibits the growth of L. zosterae in in vitro laboratory bioassays. This hypothesis has been supported by reports of pathogen-induced phenolic accumulations in eelgrass Z. marina. To test the response of T. testudinum to …

Fisheries Occasional Publication No. 29 - Western Rock Lobster Fishery Effects Of Fishing On The Ecosystem - Scientific Reference Group (Chairman's Report No. 3, February 2005), Department Of Fisheries, Western Australia

Fisheries Occasional Publications

The Western Rock Lobster Effects of Fishing on the Ecosystem Scientific Reference Group (the SRG) was convened jointly by the Department of Fisheries and the WA Fishing Industry Council (WAFIC). The SRG met on Tuesday 1 February 2005 at the Fremantle Sailing Club, and this document is the official report from that meeting.

Surveying The Stakeholder: Understanding Public Perception Of The New Hampshire Estuaries Project, New Hampshire Estuaries Project

PREP Reports & Publications

The New Hampshire Estuaries Project (NHEP) commissioned The UNH Survey Center to conduct two surveys to assist in the implementation and evaluation of the 2004 NHEP Strategic Communication Plan. Both surveys were completed and the results are informing outreach activities. The attitudinal survey of the Planning Board members and Conservation Commissioners in coastal watershed communities suggested that there is moderate familiarity and awareness of the NHEP, with 57% of respondents expressing some level of familiarity with the NHEP. Respondents who live in Zone A seem to be much more likely to be familiar with the NHEP (13% are very familiar; …

Potential Of Modis Evi And Surface Temperature For Directly Estimating Per-Pixel Ecosystem C Fluxes, Abdullah Rahman, Daniel A. Sims, Vicente D. Cordova, Bassil Z. El-Masri

School of Earth, Environmental, & Marine Sciences Faculty Publications

We tested the potential of estimating per-pixel gross primary production (GPP) directly from the MODIS enhanced vegetation index (EVI) and respiration directly from MODIS surface temperature (MOD11). Carbon flux data were obtained from 10 eddy covariance tower sites representing a wide range of North American vegetations. The correlation between across-site tower GPP and EVI was comparable (r = 0.77) to that between tower GPP and MOD17-GPP (r = 0.73), suggesting that EVI could be used to provide reasonably accurate direct estimates of GPP on a truly per-pixel basis. There was also a strong relationship (r2 = 0.67) between respiration and …

A Numerical Study Of The Western Cosmonaut Polynya In A Coupled Ocean-Sea Ice Model, T.G. Prasad, Julie L. Mcclean, Elizabeth C. Hunke, Albert J. Semtner, Detelina Ivanova

Faculty Publications

[1] Employing results from a 0.4 degrees, 40-level fully global, coupled ocean - sea ice model, we investigated the role of physical processes emanating from atmosphere, ocean, and ice in the initiation, maintenance, and termination of a sensible heat polynya with a focus on the western Cosmonaut polynya that occurred during May - July 1999. The Cosmonaut polynya first appeared in early May 1999 in the form of an ice-free embayment, transformed into an enclosed polynya on 5 - 9 July, and disappeared by late July, when the ice from the surrounding regions began to encircle the embayment. Except for …

Integrated Fisheries Management. Draft Allocation Report. Western Rock Lobster Resource A Discussion Paper, Integrated Fisheries Allocation Advisory Committee

Fisheries Management Papers

In this report the Committee had given a number of draft recommendations regarding the allocations of the West Coast Rock Lobster Managed Fishery. This paper allows for the public to view these allocations and put forward their submissions.

Fisheries Occasional Publication No. 32 - Allocation Of The Western Australian Abalone Resource Between User Groups, Department Of Fisheries Western Australia

Fisheries Occasional Publications

In this submission to the Integrated Fisheries Allocation Advisory Committee (IFAAC), the Department will outline what it believes are the most practical and cost effective ways of managing a system for allocating the abalone resource between the commercial, customary and recreational sectors.

In preparing this submission, it has been noted that because of the limited data on recreational catch outside of the metropolitan area, the Sustainable Harvest Limit (SHL) set for the fishery relates only to the area that is equivalent to Area 7 of the commercial fishery. Further, it is acknowledged that the Minister has approved that proportional catch …