Occurrence Of An Intersexual Blacktip Shark In The Northern Gulf Of Mexico, With Notes On The Standardization Of Classifications For This Condition In Elasmobranchs,
2013
University of Southern Mississippi
Occurrence Of An Intersexual Blacktip Shark In The Northern Gulf Of Mexico, With Notes On The Standardization Of Classifications For This Condition In Elasmobranchs, Jill M. Hendon, David M. Koester, Eric R. Hoffmayer, William B. Driggers Iii, Angela M. Cicia
Faculty Publications
An intersexual Blacktip Shark Carcharhinus limbatus with a testis, immature female reproductive tracts (embedded), and claspers was caught in the Gulf of Mexico. Histology of the single gonad revealed that all stages of spermatogenesis were occurring; however, the absence of ovaries and a male duct system suggests that neither sex would have been functional in this individual. Intersexuality has been reported in 17 families and 36 species of elasmobranchs. The degree to which the different sexes are present in a given individual is often difficult to categorize by normal hermaphroditic standards, as this is typically an anomalous presentation in elasmobranchs. …
Assessing The Habitat Use, Diet, And Sex Ratios Of Atlantic (Acipenser Oxyrinchus) And Shortnose Sturgeon (Acipenser Brevirostrum) In The Saco River, Me,
2013
University of New England
Assessing The Habitat Use, Diet, And Sex Ratios Of Atlantic (Acipenser Oxyrinchus) And Shortnose Sturgeon (Acipenser Brevirostrum) In The Saco River, Me, Caitlyn Little
All Theses And Dissertations
Due to the questionable status of sturgeon populations along the east coast of the United States, there has been considerable research focus on these species in recent years. Previous studies have overlooked the Saco River as an important habitat for sturgeon in the Gulf of Maine. However, the incidental capture of a sturgeon in the Saco River in the fall of 2007 raised questions about the presence of this species and the role that the Saco River might play in the life cycle of these fish. The goals of this thesis were to evaluate the utilization of this habitat by …
How Do Shellfisheries Influence Genetic Connectivity In Metapopulations? A Modeling Study Examining The Role Of Lower Size Limits In Oyster Fisheries,
2013
Old Dominion University
How Do Shellfisheries Influence Genetic Connectivity In Metapopulations? A Modeling Study Examining The Role Of Lower Size Limits In Oyster Fisheries, Daphne M. Munroe, Eileen E. Hofmann, Eric N. Powell, John M. Klinck
CCPO Publications
Fisheries can potentially alter evolutionary processes such as genetic connectivity and lead to genotypic changes in stocks. Using an individual-based metapopulation genetics model, we examined the possible influence of oyster (Crassostrea virginica) fisheries on genetic connectivity. We simulated a range of realistic fishing pressures, with and without a minimum size limit (limit = 63.5 mm), over a range of fishing scenarios including single-area and stock-wide fisheries. Movement of a neutral marker gene provided an indicator of gene transfer between populations. Simulations showed that fishing may alter genetic connectivity. Increasing fishing pressure tended to decrease potential for fished populations …
Corrected Numbers For Fish On Red List,
2013
Old Dominion University
Corrected Numbers For Fish On Red List, Bruce B. Collette, Beth Polidoro, Kent Carpenter
Biological Sciences Faculty Publications
(First paragraph) Kelly Swing gives inaccurate numbers for marine fish species on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species. He also mistakenly conflates the scientific process of species assessment for the Red List with the separate political process of IUCN member voting (Nature 494, 314; 2013).
Nutrient Limitation Of Bioluminescent Dinoflagellates In Mangrove Lagoon, Salt River Bay, St. Croix, Usvi,
2013
University of South Carolina - Columbia
Nutrient Limitation Of Bioluminescent Dinoflagellates In Mangrove Lagoon, Salt River Bay, St. Croix, Usvi, Michelle Zimberlin
Theses and Dissertations
Bioluminescent bays resulting from dense concentrations of bioluminescent dinoflagellates are rare, with only 14 documented systems worldwide. One of these bays, Mangrove Lagoon, is located in Salt River Bay National Park in St. Croix, USVI. Very little is known about the environmental factors responsible for maintaining the high dinoflagellate densities in this lagoon. In order to assess the dynamics of the dinoflagellates, in situ nutrient addition bioassays were conducted to determine which nutrients regulate the phytoplankton community, which includes the bioluminescent dinoflagellate Pyrodinium bahamense. Bioassays were conducted in two different seasons, (January 2013 and May 2013) to examine seasonal responses …
Herbivory By Parma Mccullochi (Pomacentridae) : Its Role As An Ecosystem Engineer In Temperate Algal-Dominated Reefs,
2013
Edith Cowan University
Herbivory By Parma Mccullochi (Pomacentridae) : Its Role As An Ecosystem Engineer In Temperate Algal-Dominated Reefs, Frederico Vitelli
Theses: Doctorates and Masters
Pomacentridae is one of the most representative families of herbivorous fishes inhabiting both tropical and temperate reefs, yet the vast majority of studies examining feeding within this family have been undertaken in tropical rather than temperate regions. Despite the high abundances of the pomacentrid Parma mccullochi in temperate waters of Western Australia, and their likely importance in removing algae from reefs in the region, there is a lack of information on their diet and their impact on the reef algal community. This study aims to determine the role of Parma mccullochi as an ecosystem engineer on temperate algal-dominated reefs in …
State Of The River Report For The Lower St. Johns River Basin, Florida: Water Quality, Fisheries, Aquatic Life, And Contaminants 2013,
2013
University of North Florida
State Of The River Report For The Lower St. Johns River Basin, Florida: Water Quality, Fisheries, Aquatic Life, And Contaminants 2013, Environmental Protection Board, City Of Jacksonville, University Of North Florida, Jacksonville University
State of the River Report
No abstract provided.
What Is Known About Species Richness And Distribution On The Outer-Shelf South Texas Banks?,
2013
Texas A&M University, Corpus Christi
What Is Known About Species Richness And Distribution On The Outer-Shelf South Texas Banks?, Harriet L. Nash, Sharon J. Furiness, John W. Tunnell Jr.
Gulf and Caribbean Research
The outer-shelf South Texas Banks, also known as the snapper banks, are known by fishermen to be excellent fishing grounds. However, few scientific studies have been conducted to describe the ecology of these uncommon but distinctive habitats. This paper describes results of a literature review and an assessment to determine what is known about the biota of the South Texas Banks and to assist in developing renewed interest and focus on these topographic highs. The outer-shelf South Texas Banks include relict coralgal reefs and relict barrier islands, and we also include data for a nearshore site, which is geographically and …
Assessment Of Seagrass Floral Community Structure From Two Caribbean Marine Protected Areas,
2013
Montclair State University
Assessment Of Seagrass Floral Community Structure From Two Caribbean Marine Protected Areas, Paul A.X. Bologna, Anthony J. Suleski
Gulf and Caribbean Research
Seagrass communities represent spatially complex and biomass producing systems comprised of intermixed seagrass and algal species. We investigated shallow water communities from two Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in the Caribbean: St. John, United States Virgin Islands and Cayos Cochinos, Honduras. St. John sites (4) lie within the Virgin Islands National Park and the Coral Reef National Monument and are designated within an UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Honduran sites (4) lie within the designated Marine National Monument. Our results indicate that both MPAs were dominated by Thalassia testudinum with spatial coverage and shoot density significantly greater in Honduras. Many sites also showed …
Depuration Of Macondo (Mc-252) Oil Found In Heterotrophic Scleractinian Corals (Tubastrea Coccinea And Tubastrea Micranthus) On Offshore Oil/Gas Platforms In The Gulf,
2013
EcoRigs Non-Profit Organization
Depuration Of Macondo (Mc-252) Oil Found In Heterotrophic Scleractinian Corals (Tubastrea Coccinea And Tubastrea Micranthus) On Offshore Oil/Gas Platforms In The Gulf, Steve R. Kolian, Scott Porter, Paul W. Sammarco, Edwin W. Cake Jr.
Gulf and Caribbean Research
The impetus for this study began on 8 May 2011, when we noted sporadic mortality of colonies of orange—cup corals, Tubastrea coccinea (Lesson, 1829), and green sun corals, Tubastrea micranthus (Ehrenberg, 1834; Cnidaria, Anthozoa, Scleractinia) among colonies of coral that appeared to be in good health at the GI 90 block platforms. Colonies of T. coccinea which appeared to be healthy displayed markedly less tissue regression and were bright orange in color. The morbid polyps were dark brown or black. The corals were collected, transported to the laboratory, and segregated; healthy—appearing corals were placed in quarantine tanks. After 12 h …
Seasonal Dynamics Of Mesodinium Rubrum In Chesapeake Bay,
2013
Old Dominion University
Seasonal Dynamics Of Mesodinium Rubrum In Chesapeake Bay, Matthew D. Johnson, Doane K. Stoecker, Harold G. Marshall
Biological Sciences Faculty Publications
The photosynthetic ciliate Mesodinium rubrum is a common member of coastal phytoplankton communities that is well adapted to low-light, turbid ecosystems. It supports the growth of, or competes with, harmful dinoflagellate species for cryptophyte prey, as well as being a trophic link to copepods and larval fish. We have compiled data from various sources (n = 1063), on the abundance and distribution of M. rubrum in Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries. Because M. rubrum relies on obtaining organelles from cryptophyte algae to maintain rapid growth, we also enumerated cryptophyte algae in the portion of these samples that we collected …
Larval Connectivity And The International Management Of Fisheries,
2013
Old Dominion University
Larval Connectivity And The International Management Of Fisheries, Andrew S. Kough, Claire B. Paris, Mark J. Butler Iv
Biological Sciences Faculty Publications
Predicting the oceanic dispersal of planktonic larvae that connect scattered marine animal populations is difficult, yet crucial for management of species whose movements transcend international boundaries. Using multi-scale biophysical modeling techniques coupled with empirical estimates of larval behavior and gamete production, we predict and empirically verify spatio-temporal patterns of larval supply and describe the Caribbean-wide pattern of larval connectivity for the Caribbean spiny lobster (Panulirus argus), an iconic coral reef species whose commercial value approaches $1 billion USD annually. Our results provide long sought information needed for international cooperation in the management of marine resources by identifying lobster larval connectivity …
Conus: First Comprehensive Conservation Red List Assessment Of A Marine Gastropod Mollusc Genus,
2013
Old Dominion University
Conus: First Comprehensive Conservation Red List Assessment Of A Marine Gastropod Mollusc Genus, Howard Peters, Bethan C. O'Leary, Julie P. Hawkins, Kent E. Carpenter, Callum M. Roberts
Biological Sciences Faculty Publications
Marine molluscs represent an estimated 23% of all extant marine taxa, but research into their conservation status has so far failed to reflect this importance, with minimal inclusion on the authoritative Red List of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN). We assessed the status of all 632 valid species of the tropical marine gastropod mollusc, Conus (cone snails), using Red List standards and procedures to lay the groundwork for future decadal monitoring, one of the first fully comprehensive global assessments of a marine taxon. Three-quarters (75.6%) of species were not currently considered at risk of extinction owing …
Ontogenetic Shifts In Resource Allocation: Colour Change And Allometric Growth Of Defensive And Reproductive Structures In The Caribbean Spiny Lobster Panulirus Argus,
2013
Old Dominion University
Ontogenetic Shifts In Resource Allocation: Colour Change And Allometric Growth Of Defensive And Reproductive Structures In The Caribbean Spiny Lobster Panulirus Argus, Joshua R. Anderson, Angelo J. Spadaro, J. Antonio Baeza, Donald C. Behringer
Biological Sciences Faculty Publications
Resource allocation theory predicts a disproportionately large allocation of resources to defensive structures during early ontogeny in organisms that are subject to more intense predation at smaller than at larger body sizes. We tested this prediction on the Caribbean spiny lobster Panulirus argus, which exhibits a negative relationship between predation risk and body size with a high natural mortality of smaller individuals. Independent allometric growth analyses demonstrated that numerous defensive structures (e.g. orbital horns, segments supporting the antenna, the tail fan) display negative allometric growth throughout ontogeny. We interpret these findings as lobsters investing disproportionately more resources to defensive …
A Preliminary Examination Of An In Situ Dual Dye Approach To Measuring Light Fluxes In Lotic Systems,
2013
Old Dominion University
A Preliminary Examination Of An In Situ Dual Dye Approach To Measuring Light Fluxes In Lotic Systems, Elizabeth C. Minor, Elizabeth James, Jay A. Austin, Veronica Nelson, Ryan Lusk, Kenneth Mopper
Chemistry & Biochemistry Faculty Publications
Light is a critical parameter in aquatic ecosystems, affecting primary production and in situ photochemistry. However, measuring light exposure for suspended particles or dissolved components in a dynamic water column can be challenging with existing Eulerian approaches. Here, we assess the simultaneous deployment of two dyes differing in photolability (rhodamine WT and fluorescein) as a Lagrangian measure of sunlight exposure in a lotic system. Fluorescein is sensitive to light exposure; rhodamine WT is relatively photostable. We examined dye fluorescence at various pH, salinity, and temperature conditions. We also tested dye photolability as a function of pH and wavelength range. In …
Family Matters: An Analysis Of Genetic Relatedness Of Tetraclita Rubescens (The Pink Volcano Barnacle) Over Several Spatial Scales At Monterey And Bodega Bay, California,
2013
Scripps College
Family Matters: An Analysis Of Genetic Relatedness Of Tetraclita Rubescens (The Pink Volcano Barnacle) Over Several Spatial Scales At Monterey And Bodega Bay, California, Kelly N. Chang
Scripps Senior Theses
Inbreeding involves the mating of closely related individuals at a higher frequency than at random; this can decrease the average fitness of populations and individuals by reducing the presence of heterozygotes and augmenting the expression of deleterious genes. Since marine invertebrates exhibit widespread dispersal, their potential for inbreeding is often disregarded. The adult sessile state of barnacles creates the potential for inbreeding as a result of necessary copulation between neighboring individuals. Depending on the degree of mixing that occurs during dispersal, closely related individuals or siblings may settle in close proximity, generating the possibility of kin aggregation and consequent inbreeding. …
Photographic Survey Of Benthos Provides Insights Into The Antarctic Fish Fauna From The Marguerite Bay Slope And The Amundsen Sea,
2013
Ohio University
Photographic Survey Of Benthos Provides Insights Into The Antarctic Fish Fauna From The Marguerite Bay Slope And The Amundsen Sea, Joseph T. Eastman, Margaret O. Amsler, Richard D. Aronson, Sven Thatje, James Mcclintock, Stephanie C. Vos, Jeffrey W. Kaeli, Hanumant Singh, Mario La Mesa
Ocean Engineering and Marine Sciences Faculty Publications
We reviewed photographic images of fishes from depths of 381–2282m in Marguerite Bay and 405–2007m in the Amundsen Sea. Marguerite Bay fishes were 33% notothenioids and 67% non-notothenioids. Channichthyids (47%) and nototheniids (44%) were the most abundant notothenioids. The deep-living channichthyid Chionobathyscus dewitti (74%) and the nototheniid genus Trematomus (66%) were the most abundant taxa within these two families. The most abundant non-notothenioids were the macrourid Macrourus whitsoni (72%) and zoarcids (18%). Amundsen Sea fishes were 87% notothenioids and 13% non-notothenioids, the latter exclusively Macrourus whitsoni. Bathydraconids (38%) and artedidraconids (30%) were the most abundant notothenioids. We observed that Macrourus …
A Description Of Neoechinorhynchus (Neoechinorhynchus) Veropesoi N. Sp. (Acanthocephala: Neoechinorhynchidae) From The Intestine Of The Silver Croaker Fish Plagioscion Squamosissimus (Heckel, 1840) (Osteichthyes: Sciaenidae) Off The East Coast Of Brazil,
2013
Universidade Federal do Pará
A Description Of Neoechinorhynchus (Neoechinorhynchus) Veropesoi N. Sp. (Acanthocephala: Neoechinorhynchidae) From The Intestine Of The Silver Croaker Fish Plagioscion Squamosissimus (Heckel, 1840) (Osteichthyes: Sciaenidae) Off The East Coast Of Brazil, Francisco Tiago De Vasconcelos Melo, P. A.F.B. Costa, E. G. Giese, Scott Lyell Gardner, J. N. Santos
Harold W. Manter Laboratory of Parasitology: Faculty Publications
Plagioscion squamosissimus (Heckel, 1840) (Osteichthyes: Sciaenidae) is considered piscivorous and is a generalist species endemic to the Amazon region. This fish is an important part of the natural ecosystems in which it occurs and provides basic functional components in the food web. The genus Neoechinorhynchus Stiles & Hassall, 1905 is distributed worldwide and parasitizes fish and turtles, but there are few reports of parasites of this genus in South America, due to the high diversity of fish that can be found in this region. A new species of thorny-headed worm (Acanthocephala: Neoechinorhynchidae) is described from P. squamosissimus from Guajará Bay, …
Consumptive And Non-Consumptive Effects Of Predatory Fishes On Lobster In Southern Maine,
2013
University of New England
Consumptive And Non-Consumptive Effects Of Predatory Fishes On Lobster In Southern Maine, Erin B. Wilkinson
All Theses And Dissertations
The American lobster, Homarus americanus, is an important consumer in the Gulf of Maine benthic community and supports the most valuable fishery in New England. Many fish predators that feed on juvenile lobster are found in the Gulf of Maine, but their abundance has varied over the previous decades. For example, striped bass, Morone saxatilis, have recovered from near extinction to become a viable recreational fishery on the east coast, and previous work examining the gut contents of striped bass found that juvenile lobsters were a large component of their diet during the summer in Massachusetts. However, striped …
Spatial And Size Distribution Of Red Drum Caught And Released In Tampa Bay, Florida, And Factors Associated With Post-Release Hooking Mortality,
2013
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
Spatial And Size Distribution Of Red Drum Caught And Released In Tampa Bay, Florida, And Factors Associated With Post-Release Hooking Mortality, Kerry E. Flaherty, Brent L. Winner, Julie L. Vecchio, Theodore S. Switzer
Gulf and Caribbean Research
The recreational fishery for red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus) in Florida is unusual in that most red drum targeted are immature and caught within estuarine waters. Current state regulations rely exclusively on bag and size limits, resulting in the release of a large proportion of captured individuals. This study employed hook-and-line sampling conducted monthly in Tampa Bay, Florida and catch-and-release mortality experiments to determine the spatial and size distribution of red drum and the mortality rate of released fish, respectively. Of the 1,405 red drum collected, more than 70% were smaller than the minimum legal size (457 mm standard …
