Marine Biology Commons^™

Streamflow Reconstruction For The Upper Indus Basin, Syeda Saria Bukhary, Sajjad Ahmad

Civil and Environmental Engineering and Construction Faculty Research

The sustainability of water resources in Pakistan faces mounting challenges due to population growth, climate change, and declining groundwater reserves. The Indus River, vital for the country’s agriculture, energy, and economy, suffers from limited instrumental discharge records that do not capture long-term hydrologic variability or extreme flow events. This study addressed this gap by developing streamflow reconstructions for the Upper Indus Basin (UIB) using tree-ring chronologies (TRC) combined with sea surface temperature (SST) data—an approach not previously applied in this region—for four discharge stations: Partab, Daniyor, Besham Qila, and Kachora. Stepwise linear regression models using TRC and SST predictors explained …

Horseshoe Crabs, Jessie M. Roncevic

PANDION: The Osprey Journal of Research and Ideas

Horseshoe crabs (Limulus polyphemus) are fascinating animals known as “living fossils.” Older than dinosaurs, horseshoe crabs are arthropods, closely related to spiders and scorpions. Many shorebirds, including red knot, depend on the eggs of horseshoe crabs during migration. Horseshoe crabs are captured and bled alive for their blue blood. Rich in limulus amebocyte lysate (LAL), their blood is used for the Limulus Amebocyte Lysate (LAL) test, which is used worldwide to detect bacterial toxins in pharmaceuticals and medical devices.

Horseshoe crabs have an intricate anatomy, so I spent a lot of time researching it before I started drawing them. When …

Bull Shark (Carcharihinus Leucas) Chondrocranium, Nicholas Burchett, Michelle Bassali, David W. Kerstetter, Roman Devlin

All Scans: Kerstetter Fisheries and Avian Ecology 3D Scan Series

No abstract provided.

Design Principles For Deployable Fibers Inspired By Hagfish Defense, Mohammad Tanver Hossain, Wonsik Eom, Pallab Layak, Jeongmin Kim, Carolyn Darling, Andrew Lowe, Douglas S. Fudge, Sameh H. Tawfick, Randy Ewoldt

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

Hagfish produce extraordinary slime as a defense mechanism, releasing exudate from glands that rapidly form a fibrous, soft, ultra-dilute, water-capturing network upon contact with seawater (up to 10 000 times its original volume). The gland thread cell (GTC) produces high-strength protein threads (filament diameter df = 1–3 µm) meticulously coiled into skeins (coil diameter Do ∼ 150 µm) that rapidly unravel upon deployment to reveal their hidden length (Lf = 15 cm), forming a cohesive fibrous slime network through interaction with mucin vesicles and seawater. To date, no engineered material is able to replicate the fiber …

Cephalopod Consciousness: Asking The Right Questions, Gordon Burghardt

Animal Sentience

Jennifer Mather has provided a comprehensive and fascinating overview of the various cognitive accomplishments of cephalopods and their sensory, behavioral, and neurophysiological attributes. The advances in our understanding of a clade that has been separated from vertebrate evolution by well over half a billion years is a testament to advances in both methodology and the questions we now feel free to address. Mather embeds her review in the issue of consciousness, which is certainly a perennial issue in mental evolution, going back to Romanes and earlier. I argue that the term “consciousness” has such a checkered history and is used …

Carbon Capture By Expanding Temperate Mangrove Forests, R. Bulmer, M. M. Palacios, P. Masqué, C. J. Lundquist, L. Schwendenmann, S. M. Trevathan-Tackett, P. Waryszak, H. Kettles, P. I. Macreadie

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Mangrove forests provide a wide range of ecosystem services that benefit both people and nature. While many countries have lost nearly 50 % of their mangroves in the past 50 years, Aotearoa New Zealand's mangroves are rapidly expanding in many locations due to increased sediment inputs from land-use changes and urbanisation. In the Auckland region, where mangrove extent has increased 4.5-fold since 1940, we quantified the blue carbon sequestration benefits from seven mangrove expansion sites. Our results indicate that New Zealand's mangroves sequester 86,000 t CO2 annually, with an additional 3,400 t CO2 sequestered in 2020 due to mangrove expansion. …

Effect Of Red And Blue Light On Lipid, Protein, Carbohydrate, And Pigment Contents Of Navicula Sp., Sofyan Maulana, Aulia Setyo Nurul Hida, Ismia Wulandari, Siti Mudrikah, Dedy Kurnianto, Khusnul Qonita Maghfiroh, Ria Amelia, Tia Erfianti, Renata Adaranyssa Egistha Putri, Irika Devi Anggraini, Septhian Marno, Eko Agus Agus Suyono

Makara Journal of Science

Light quality critically modulates the physiology of diatoms, influencing photosynthetic efficiency and metabolite synthesis. This study examines how monochromatic red (620–750 nm) or blue (450–495 nm) light affects the biochemical profiles and pigment production in Navicula sp. versus white light (control). Cultures were grown in sterile f/2 medium, and biomass was tracked via OD₆₈₀. Biochemical analyses included lipids (Bligh and Dyer method), carbohydrates (phenol-sulfuric acid assay), proteins (Bradford assay), and pigments (spectrophotometric quantification). The growth dynamics were modeled using logistic and Gompertz equations. No significant differences in OD-based growth rates, carbohydrates, proteins, or lipids content were observed with …

Observations On Predation Of The Flatback Turtle Natator Depressus By The Saltwater Crocodile Crocodylus Porosus At A Major Rookery In Northern Australia, Casper Avenant, James Gee

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Context: We examined predation by the saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus) on the flatback turtle (Natator depressus), an Australian endemic, at Cape Domett, a significant nesting site in Cambridge Gulf, northern Australia, where crocodile populations have recovered since legislative protection was implemented in the 1970s. Aims: The investigation aimed to document crocodile predation on flatback turtles across hatchling and adult life stages, assess predation strategies, and evaluate ecological impacts on this genetically distinct turtle stock. Methods: Conducted over three Austral winters (2021–2023), the study utilised infrared videography, unmanned aerial vehicles, and beach patrols to observe predation events in a population of …

Analysis Of A Human-Mediated Microbioinvasion: The Global Spread Of The Benthic Foraminifer Trochammina Hadai Uchio, 1962, Mary Mcgann, Maria Holzmann, Vincent M.P. Bouchet, Sibelle Trevisan Disaró, Patrícia P.B. Eichler, David W. Haig, Stephen J. Himson, Hiroshi Kitazato, Jean Charles Pavard, Irina Polovodova Asteman, André R. Rodrigues, Clément M. Tremblin, Masashi Tsuchiya, Mark Williams, Phoebe O'Brien, Josefin Asplund, Malou Axelsson, Thomas D. Lorenson

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

A non-indigenous species (NIS) of benthic foraminifera was first identified in a core collected in 1993 in San Francisco Bay, California, USA, and subsequently identified as Trochammina hadai Uchio, 1962. Archived samples and literature reviews were used to determine that the species, which is native to Asia, arrived in San Francisco Bay between the early 1960s and 1983. Through molecular analyses of specimens, archived samples and literature reviews from 1930-1983, and site surveys of harbors and estuaries along the western North American seaboard in 1994-2024, in total more than 2500 samples, we documented the presence of T. hadai at 73 …

Benthic Community Change And Stress-Tolerant Coral At A High-Latitude Coral Community In The Northwestern Gulf Of Mexico, Marissa F. Nuttall, Kelly O'Connell, Ryan J. Eckert, Emma L. Hickerson, Olivia Eisenbach, Donavon French, Jennifer L. Debose, Michelle Johnson, G. P. Schmahl

Publications

High-latitude coral communities exist in variable environmental conditions and provide an opportunity to study the response of biological communities to changing environmental conditions. A 30-year monitoring dataset, initiated in 1993, was used to investigate how biological communities have changed in relation to environmental parameters over time. During the study period, major components of the sessile benthic community underwent periods of stability and significant phase shifts, where hydrocoral and sponge cover declined while macroalgal cover increased, with no recovery to observed historical states in more than a decade. However, despite the significant changes in major components of the benthic community, scleractinian …

Fisheries Occasional Publication No. 149 - Economic Contribution Of Wild-Catch Fishing In Western Australia, 2024: Beyond Gross Value Of Production, Dipesh Maharjan, Vilaphonh Xayavong, Ben Fraser, Rebecca Thomas

Fisheries Occasional Publications

The wild-catch fishing industry plays a significant role in Western Australia’s economy, particularly in regional communities. This report summarises the economic contribution of the commercial wild-catch fishing sector in 2024, based on REMPLAN’s input-output (I-O) modelling methodology and DPIRD data and analysis. This report focuses on key economic indicators including total economic output, gross value added (GVA), and employment (FTEs).

Key findings:

• Total Economic Output of the wild-catch fishing industry is $1.22 billion (total value of goods and services produced, including intermediate inputs)
• Gross Value Added (GVA) of the wild-catch fishing industry is $487 million (value of profit, wages, salaries …

Shallow Coastal Bays As Sediment Carbon And Nutrient Reservoirs In The Baltic Sea, Betty Gubri, Joakim P. Hansen, Sofia A. Wikström, Martin Snickars, Martin Dahl, Martin Gullström, Emil Rydin, Pere Masqué, Andrius Garbaras, Mats Björk, Christoffer Boström

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Coastal vegetated ecosystems are being increasingly recognized for their capacity to capture carbon, provide long-term biogenic storage, and alleviate nutrient pollution. To assess the ability of shallow, vegetated coastal bays to function as blue carbon and nutrient (nitrogen and phosphorus) sinks, we collected sediment cores in nine shallow enclosed bays (representative of the EU Habitats 1153 and 1154) in the archipelago areas of Sweden (Stockholm), Åland Island, and southwestern Finland. Our study showed strong uniformity of carbon and nutrient storage, substantial accumulation of carbon and nutrients, and minimal regional differences in carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus sediment stocks. These findings are …

Miscanthus × Giganteus Increases Soil Maximum Water Holding Capacity Compared To Maize, Jessica T. Nelson, Maoz Dor, Andy D. Vanloocke, Jacob E. Studt, Perla K. Schrock, Marshall D. Mcdaniel

School of Earth, Environmental, & Marine Sciences Faculty Publications

Soil ecosystem services, like the ability to store water, have been depleted after a century of conventional, annual cropping, and perennial crops offer a solution to this and other agricultural environmental issues. We assessed the impact of Miscanthus × giganteus (miscanthus), a perennial biomass crop, on soil water holding capacity and structure compared to continuous maize (Zea mays L.) at two sites in Iowa. After three growing seasons, we measured the following: (1) maximum water holding capacity (MWHC) with and without soil structure, and (2) total porosity and pore size distribution (PSD) via micro-computed tomography (microCT). Miscanthus increased MWHC …

Exploring Potential Impacts Of Polyethylene Mesh And Polypropylene Rope Leachate On Bay Scallop (Argopecten Irradians) Survival And Growth, Katherine R. Johnson

Graduate Masters Theses

The bay scallop (Argopecten irradians), a commercially and ecologically significant bivalve along the Eastern coast of the United States, has faced severe population declines due to various anthropogenic impacts. At the same time, the proliferation of plastics, particularly in maritime industries, has introduced new threats to marine environments through both physical pollution and chemical leaching. This study aimed to assess the acute toxicological effects of leachates from two commonly used plastic products, polyethylene Netron and polypropylene rope, on A. irradians larvae. Experiments were conducted in June–July 2023 at the Nantucket Shellfish Hatchery. Leachates were prepared by incubating 0.5, …

Impact Of Temperature On Larval Mortality And Performance Of The Acorn Barnacle Chthamalus Fissus In San Diego, Ca, Alberto Rivera

Theses

Rising ocean temperatures and increasingly frequent marine heatwaves threaten the physiological performance and survival of marine larvae. This study quantifies the thermal tolerance, respiration, and swimming behavior of Chthamalus fissus cyprid larvae to establish a baseline for understanding their vulnerability under future climate scenarios. Larvae were collected from the Scripps Pier in La Jolla, CA and exposed to a range of temperatures (12–50°C, dependent on the experiment) to assess oxygen consumption, mortality, and swimming speeds. Oxygen consumption rates increased significantly with temperature, peaking at 30°C, with cyprids exposed to temperatures above 26°C showing significantly higher respiration rates than those below …

Montserrat Developments Impacting Local Coral Reefs, Emma I. Bartholomew

2025 Symposium

Montserrat is a small island in the Caribbean, and over half of the island is in the exclusion zone because of the active volcano, Soufrière Hills. In that half was the old capital, Plymouth, which has since been abandoned, and its old port. The old port was getting less reliable and accessible, so they decided to build a new port in Little Bay, closer to the seat of government in Brades. This study explored how the addition of the new port impacted the corals in that area. We explored several different bays and recorded the diversity and health of the …

Tracking The Type Of Specimens Of Parazoanthus Axinellae (Hexacorallia: Zoanthidea) And Its Subspecies, Annika Markovich

DoMES Seminar Series

No abstract provided.

Effects Of Oil Spill Response Agents On Scleractinan Corals Acropora Cervicornis And Porites Divaricata, Austin Blakeslee

All HCAS Student Capstones, Theses, and Dissertations

Coral reefs are biodiverse coastal ecosystems at risk of exposure to spilled oil; spills reaching shorelines can damage corals, mangroves, and many other species in nearshore shallow-water tropical environments. Efforts to remediate such spills have evolved over the years through the introduction of various chemical response agents that efficiently and effectively control the spread of oil. Chemical herding agents and dispersants, which can contain and control the oil spread, are promising additions to the spill response toolbox as potential alternatives to other response methods. These response agents are designed to be biodegradable and minimize potential harm to aquatic ecosystems. However, …

Abundance, Distribution, And Shoaling Of Driftfishes And Allies (Scombriformes: Stromateoidei) In The Pelagic Gulf Of Mexico, Juliet Tretler

All HCAS Student Capstones, Theses, and Dissertations

The suborder Stromateoidei contains 80 species of mesopelagic fishes in five families distributed throughout temperate and tropical seas worldwide, including the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf hereafter). Mesopelagic fishes, especially those that spatially aggregate, serve as important forage items for commercially, recreationally, and ecologically important species of fish, marine mammals, and seabirds. However, knowledge of the ecology and trophic importance of stromateoid fishes in the Gulf is extremely limited. This study provides quantitative information on the species composition, abundance, distribution, and biomass contribution of the stromateoid species to the Gulf deep-pelagic fish assemblage, with comparison to “archetypal” mesopelagic fish families (e.g., …

Acute Toxicity Of Arsenate And Arsenite In Two Scleractinian Coral Species: Acropora Cervicornis And Orbicella Faveolata, Cailey Dorman

All HCAS Student Capstones, Theses, and Dissertations

Inorganic arsenic (As), specifically arsenate (As(V)) and arsenite (As(III)) are well-documented toxicants to a range of marine organisms. However, their specific impacts on coral reef species remain largely unstudied. This study is the first to assess the acute and subacute toxicity of inorganic arsenic on two threatened scleractinian coral species, Acropora cervicornis and Orbicella faveolata. Corals were exposed for 96 hours to five analytically verified concentrations and a negative control of either arsenate or arsenite. Toxicity was evaluated through three endpoints: mortality (LC50), coral condition (EC50), and photosynthetic efficiency (IC50). The lethal concentrations to result in 50% mortality (LC50) …