Climate-Driven Stock Shifts And Expansions In The U.S. Northeast Shelf: Identifying Challenges, Opportunities, And Barriers Through Fishermen And Manager Perspectives,
2022
University of New England
Climate-Driven Stock Shifts And Expansions In The U.S. Northeast Shelf: Identifying Challenges, Opportunities, And Barriers Through Fishermen And Manager Perspectives, Sophie A. Swetz
All Theses And Dissertations
Climate-driven warming in the U.S. Northeast Shelf (NES) has led to changes in the spatial distributions of many marine resources. Shifts and expansions of commercially important fish stocks pose major challenges to fishermen and fisheries managers in this region. American lobster (Homarus americanus) in the Gulf of Maine (GOM) is one of these impacted stocks and is projected to continue its shift towards more northern and offshore areas. Continued ocean warming could potentially reduce the GOM lobster stock by up to 60% over the next several decades. Given Maine’s reliance on its lobster fishery—which contributes over 80% of …
Characterizing Gray Snapper (Lutjanus Griseus) Life History In The Northcentral Gulf Of Mexico: Age And Growth, Mortality, And Reproduction,
2022
University of South Alabama
Characterizing Gray Snapper (Lutjanus Griseus) Life History In The Northcentral Gulf Of Mexico: Age And Growth, Mortality, And Reproduction, Edward Kim
Graduate Theses and Dissertations (2019 - present)
Gray Snapper (Lutjanus griseus) constitute a significant recreational fishery and minor commercial fishery throughout the Gulf of Mexico, and review of the recent assessment determined that the stock is overfished and has been undergoing overfishing. The absence of regional baseline data in the northcentral Gulf of Mexico, combined with projections of range expansion and subsequent population growth due to climatic warming, highlight the need for the present investigation into the age and growth, mortality, and reproduction of this species in Alabama and Mississippi. Sex-specific growth curves constructed using the von Bertalanffy growth function demonstrated a significantly greater mean asymptotic length …
Site Fidelity Of Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops Truncatus) Using Elemental Analyses And Photo-Identification,
2022
University of South Alabama
Site Fidelity Of Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops Truncatus) Using Elemental Analyses And Photo-Identification, Lauren R. Clance
Graduate Theses and Dissertations (2019 - present)
The objective of this study was to determine if bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in Alabama waters acquire location-specific elemental signatures indicative of site fidelity. I measured trace metal concentrations (Chapter II) and stable isotope ratios (Chapter III) in skin from free-ranging dolphins remotely biopsied in Mobile Bay, the northern Gulf of Mexico (Gulf) and eastern Mississippi Sound (EMSS). Elemental findings were corroborated with photo-identification data. I found that dolphins acquired some location-specific elements indicative of site fidelity, with the greatest differences at geographic extremes, particularly relative to salinity. For trace metals, highest concentrations were found in winter, consistent with higher …
Coastal Sediment Response To The Diel Oxygen Cycle,
2022
University of South Alabama
Coastal Sediment Response To The Diel Oxygen Cycle, Kara Gadeken
Graduate Theses and Dissertations (2019 - present)
Shallow coastal sediments are sites of intense respiration and organic matter breakdown. Macroinfauna bioturbate and bioirrigate sediments which supplies microbes with oxygen and newly deposited organic material from surface sediments, facilitating microbial remineralization of organic matter. These processes depend heavily on the concentration of dissolved oxygen in overlying water. Shallow water oxygen patterns often follow a diel cycle as dissolved oxygen decreases at night due to respiration and then increases during the day with photosynthesis, creating recurring suboxic conditions that are potentially stressful to organisms. Sediment oxygen flux is known to depend on ambient dissolved oxygen concentration, but behavioral responses …
Evaluating Methods To Determine The Maximum Oxygen Consumption By The Gulf Killifish, Fundulus Grandis,
2022
University of New Orleans
Evaluating Methods To Determine The Maximum Oxygen Consumption By The Gulf Killifish, Fundulus Grandis, Sylvia Mullen
Senior Honors Theses
Metabolic rate is an essential feature of animal physiology and ecology. The rate of aerobic metabolism, as determined by oxygen consumption rate (MO2), is influenced by a variety of factors, including body size, temperature, and activity levels. Maximum aerobic metabolic rate (MMR) reflects the physiological capacity of an animal for oxygen extraction and utilization. As such, MMR is argued to be an important feature of an animal’s life history. For fish, MMR is frequently estimated as the peak MO2 immediately following an exhaustive chase, although several studies indicate that this value may underestimate MMR. Rather, MMR may be attained during …
Mycobacteriosis Of Striped Bass (Morone Saxatilis) In Virginia Tributaries Of The Chesapeake Bay,
2022
Old Dominion University
Mycobacteriosis Of Striped Bass (Morone Saxatilis) In Virginia Tributaries Of The Chesapeake Bay, Joshua S. Mcgilly
Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations
Mycobacteriosis was first documented in Chesapeake Bay striped bass (Morone saxatilis) in 1997 after fish exhibited emaciation and skin lesions. Since it was first identified, studies of mycobacteriosis in the mainstem of the Chesapeake Bay (2003-2007) and the Rappahannock River (2005-2012) have shown high disease prevalence and disease-associated mortality. Until this study, no current prevalence data existed from the Rappahannock River, and no published prevalence data existed for the James River, leaving a gap in our understanding of this disease in major Chesapeake Bay tributaries. We began gathering mycobacteriosis prevalence data from an existing survey collecting striped bass …
Red Harvester Ant (Pogonomyrmex Barbatus F. Smith; Hymenoptera: Formicidae) Preference For Cover Crop Seeds In South Texas,
2022
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
Red Harvester Ant (Pogonomyrmex Barbatus F. Smith; Hymenoptera: Formicidae) Preference For Cover Crop Seeds In South Texas, Lilly Victoria Elliott-Vidaurri, Daniella Rivera, Adrian Noval, Robin A. Choudhury, Hannah J. Penn
School of Earth, Environmental, & Marine Sciences Faculty Publications
Harvester ants often selectively forage seeds, causing these ants to be viewed as pests in agricultural areas where they may forage on crop seeds. While little research has been done on harvester ant preferences for cover crop seeds, grower observations in the Lower Rio Grande Valley (LRGV) suggest that ants may remove these seeds before germination. We examined red harvester ant (Pogonomyrmex barbatus F. Smith) preferences for cover crop seeds (fescue, oat, sunn hemp, radish, vetch, and wheatgrass) and the effects of a commonly used bacterial seed inoculant. We evaluated relative preferences using seed depots presented to colonies with no …
The Deep-Pelagic Sergestid Shrimp Assemblage In The Gulf Of Mexico In The Vicinity Of The Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill,
2022
Nova Southeastern University
The Deep-Pelagic Sergestid Shrimp Assemblage In The Gulf Of Mexico In The Vicinity Of The Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill, Erik W. Hine
All HCAS Student Capstones, Theses, and Dissertations
This thesis focuses on the geographical (near-slope vs. offshore) and temporal analyses (2011 – 2018) of the Sergestidae assemblage, the crustacean family with the fourth highest total biomass, in the Gulf of Mexico near the location of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. The abundance and biomass of the assemblage were analyzed to determine if statistical differences were present between the near-slope and offshore environments. In addition, this study analyzed the vertical distributions of sergestid species in the epipelagic, mesopelagic, and bathypelagic zones to determine the extent of the migratory behavior of these species. Lastly, the abundance and biomass in the …
Accumulation Of Persistent Organic Pollutants In Marine Mammals: A Case Study On Cetaceans, Pinnipeds, And Sirenians,
2022
Nova Southeastern University
Accumulation Of Persistent Organic Pollutants In Marine Mammals: A Case Study On Cetaceans, Pinnipeds, And Sirenians, Alydia Moorhead
All HCAS Student Capstones, Theses, and Dissertations
Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are lipophilic semi-volatile organic chemicals that present a range of challenges to marine biota, specifically marine mammals that often occupy a high trophic position in the food web. POPs have become a global problem since they have been shown to cause immunologic, teratogenic, carcinogenic, neurological, and reproductive complications in living organisms due to their resistance to biodegradation and their lipophilic nature. Marine mammals can accumulate these toxic substances through direct ingestion, trophic transfer, adsorption, and maternal offloading. They are susceptible to both bioaccumulation and biomagnification of POPs. Accumulation of POPs is affected by many variables, including …
A Spatial Assessment Of Impacts To The Flats Fishery By Recreational Boating In The Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary,
2022
Nova Southeastern University
A Spatial Assessment Of Impacts To The Flats Fishery By Recreational Boating In The Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, Kristin Anderson
All HCAS Student Capstones, Theses, and Dissertations
The recreational flats fishery in the Florida Keys is a significant component of the marine resource-based economy, exceeding $465 million (USD) in annual economic impact. Permit (Trachinotus falcatus), bonefish (Albula vulpes), and tarpon (Megalops atlanticus) are the three main species targeted by flat fishers. Those participating in this fishery generally practice catch-and-release angling therefore, the fishery is considered a more sustainable marine use compared to more traditional commercial fisheries. However, with population and tourism rising in South Florida, the fishery is increasingly threatened by habitat degradation and user conflicts. Ongoing revisions to the Florida …
Population Genomic Dynamics Of Mesopelagic Lanternfishes Diaphus Dumerilii, Lepidophanes Guentheri, And Ceratoscopelus Warmingii (Family: Myctophidae) In The Gulf Of Mexico,
2022
Nova Southeastern University
Population Genomic Dynamics Of Mesopelagic Lanternfishes Diaphus Dumerilii, Lepidophanes Guentheri, And Ceratoscopelus Warmingii (Family: Myctophidae) In The Gulf Of Mexico, Andrea Bernard, Kimberly A. Finnegan, Tracey Sutton, Ron Eytan, Max Weber, Mahmood Shivji
Marine & Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles
Assessing the impacts of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill (DWHOS) on deep-sea fish assemblages of the Gulf of Mexico (GOM) has been hindered by an absence of baseline (pre-spill) data concerning the population genetic dynamics of these fishes. The lanternfishes (Myctophidae) are a speciose, yet understudied, taxonomic group, that comprise a significant portion of the global deep-sea biomass, making them integral members of meso- and bathy-pelagic food webs. Herein, we used a genomic approach (double digest restriction site associated DNA sequencing) to investigate the temporal genetic dynamics of three species of lanternfishes within the northern GOM in the region of …
The Effects Of Increasing Ocean Temperatures On The Survivorship Of A Subtropical Population Of The Sea Urchin Arbacia Punctulata,
2022
Bellarmine University
The Effects Of Increasing Ocean Temperatures On The Survivorship Of A Subtropical Population Of The Sea Urchin Arbacia Punctulata, Rhianna Clemons
Undergraduate Theses
Most sea urchin species have critical ecological roles in their ecosystems, such as keystone grazers. There is an increasing need to understand the impacts of rising temperatures on species that are vital to the health of their environments. Studies have shown that increasing temperatures may significantly negatively affect several important biological processes including reproduction, development, and excretion in many species including sea urchins. However, very little is known about the sea urchin species Arbacia punctulata. In this study, individuals were exposed to 21˚C (control, n = 12) and 27˚C (experimental, n = 12) for seven days, and survivorship was …
Assemblage Composition And Vertical Distributions Of Deep-Sea Anglerfishes (Suborder: Ceratioidei) Of The Northern Gulf Of Mexico,
2022
Nova Southeastern University
Assemblage Composition And Vertical Distributions Of Deep-Sea Anglerfishes (Suborder: Ceratioidei) Of The Northern Gulf Of Mexico, Kimberly S. Schmutz
All HCAS Student Capstones, Theses, and Dissertations
The bathypelagic zone, despite being the largest cumulative ecosystem on the planet, represents the largest data gap in biological oceanography. In a deep environment with no solar light and pressures so high that survival is impossible for most marine organisms, some species have been able to adapt and overcome these challenges to radiate into diverse and successful taxa. Among the most notable of these successful taxa are the deep-sea anglerfishes (Lophiiformes: Ceratioidei). Ceratioid anglerfishes possess unique adaptations such as a symbiotic bioluminescent lure (females) and extreme dwarfism (males) that make them a particularly interesting group to study. Despite this research …
Trophic Ecology Of A Dominant Mesopredatory Fish Family (Alepisauridae) In The Western North Atlantic Revealed By Stomach Content And Stable Isotope Analysis,
2022
Nova Southeastern University
Trophic Ecology Of A Dominant Mesopredatory Fish Family (Alepisauridae) In The Western North Atlantic Revealed By Stomach Content And Stable Isotope Analysis, Ellyn Willse
All HCAS Student Capstones, Theses, and Dissertations
The mesopelagic zone of the ocean is gaining increased notice due to its potential for commercial value and the lack of knowledge of its ecosystems. Lancetfishes, Alepisaurus spp., are large mesopelagic predators and common bycatch species in commercial fishing operations that potentially play a role in connecting epipelagic and mesopelagic waters and may be a source of carbon from near the surface to the mesopelagic. While little is known about the behavior and biology of Lancetfishes, they share many food sources, and are themselves a food source for important commercial fisheries species such as tuna and swordfish. This study examines …
Baseline Health And Nutritional Parameters Of Wild Sand Tigers Carcharias Taurus Sampled In Delaware Bay,
2022
Department of Research and Conservation, Aquarium, Atlanta, Georgia
Baseline Health And Nutritional Parameters Of Wild Sand Tigers Carcharias Taurus Sampled In Delaware Bay, Lisa A. Hoopes, Tonya M. Clauss, Bradley M. Wetherbee, Dewayne A. Fox
Marine & Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles
Species-specific hematological reference values are essential for diagnosis and treatment of disease and maintaining overall health of animals. This information is lacking for many species of elasmobranchs maintained in zoos and aquaria, thus reducing the effectiveness of care for these animals. Descriptive statistics and reference intervals were calculated for hematocrit and complete blood cell counts, biochemistry and protein electrophoresis parameters, trace minerals, vitamins, heavy metals, reproductive hormones, and fatty acids in the blood of 153 wild Sand Tigers Carcharias taurus of both sexes and a range of sizes caught in Delaware Bay (Delaware, USA). Mean hematocrit, total white blood cell …
Age And Growth Of Blackfin Tuna (Thunnus Atlanticus) In The Gulf Of Mexico,
2022
Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College
Age And Growth Of Blackfin Tuna (Thunnus Atlanticus) In The Gulf Of Mexico, Elsa M. Gutierrez
LSU Master's Theses
Tunas are highly migratory species that are ecologically and economically important components of oceanic ecosystems worldwide. Unfortunately, life history information for the smallest true tuna (genus: Thunnus), blackfin tuna Thunnus atlanticus, is scarce despite the fact that it is the most abundant tuna found throughout much of the western Atlantic. In this study an otolith-based aging approach was used to evaluate age and growth relationships, examine sexual dimorphism in growth, and derive mortality estimates for blackfin tuna in the Gulf of Mexico. Age and growth relationships were evaluated using two models commonly applied to age-at-length data for tunas: the …
Please Keep Plastics Out Of My Lagoon!,
2022
University of Central Florida
Please Keep Plastics Out Of My Lagoon!, Linda Walters
CEELAB Children's Books
Everyone is talking about plastic pollution. In this book for young audiences, we provide information on plastic pollution, including microplastics. We describe some of the many animals found in our favorite estuary, the Indian River Lagoon, that are impacted by plastics. This book asks young readers to pick the items they want to see in their lagoon, "This animal friend or that harmful piece of plastic?"
A Nematode Community-Based Integrated Productivity Efficiency (Ipe) Model That Identifies Sustainable Soil Health Outcomes: A Case Of Compost Application In Carrot Production,
2022
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
A Nematode Community-Based Integrated Productivity Efficiency (Ipe) Model That Identifies Sustainable Soil Health Outcomes: A Case Of Compost Application In Carrot Production, A. Habteweld, A. Kravchencko, Parwinder Grewal, H. Melakeberhan
School of Earth, Environmental, & Marine Sciences Faculty Publications
Percent soil organic matter (SOM), pH and crop yield are among the biophysicochemical process-driven soil health indicators (SHIs). However, identifying sustainable soil health conditions using these SHIs is limited due to the lack of Integrated Productivity Efficiency (IPE) models. We define IPE as a concept that identifies best-to-worst-case soil health outcomes by assessing the effect of agronomic practices on weighted abundance of functional guilds (WAFG) of beneficial soil organisms and SHIs simultaneously. Expressing WAFG of all beneficial nematodes (x-axis) and SHIs (y-axis) as a percent of untreated control and regression of x and y reveals four quadrants describing worst-to-best-case outcomes …
Pre-Growth Environmental Stresses Affect Foodborne Pathogens Response To Subsequent Chemical Treatments,
2022
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
Pre-Growth Environmental Stresses Affect Foodborne Pathogens Response To Subsequent Chemical Treatments, Amandeep Singh, Veerachandra K. Yemmireddy
School of Earth, Environmental, & Marine Sciences Faculty Publications
Foodborne pathogens such as Salmonella, E. coli O157:H7, and Listeria monocytogenes are known to survive under different environmental stresses with an effect on their physiological properties. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of different environmental stresses on the foodborne pathogens response to subsequent chemical treatments. Three types of pathogens Salmonella, E. coli O157:H7, and Listeria monocytogenes were subjected to different environmental stresses: (i) Desiccation (ii) high salt (iii) low pH, and (iv) temperatures (14, 23, and 37 °C) during their growth. The cells harvested at their early stationary growth phase were subsequently subjected to chlorine (100 …
Movement Patterns Of The Shovelnose Guitarfish (Pseudobatos Productus) And California Bat Ray (Myliobatis Californica) In The Southern California Bight,
2022
University of San Diego
Movement Patterns Of The Shovelnose Guitarfish (Pseudobatos Productus) And California Bat Ray (Myliobatis Californica) In The Southern California Bight, Annabel Gong
Theses
While the movement patterns of large elasmobranch species have been studied extensively, those of smaller, mesopredatory species remain understudied. The shovelnose guitarfish (Pseudobatos productus) and the California bat ray (Myliobatis californica) are among the least studied elasmobranchs in the Southern California Bight. This study quantified the broad- and fine-scale movement patterns of these species using passive acoustic telemetry. Twelve guitarfish were surgically implanted with coded acoustic transmitters at a known aggregation site off La Jolla (San Diego County), California, USA and tracked for 849.5 days each, on average. Six bat rays were also implanted here and tracked for …
