Marine Biology Commons^™

Evaluating The Use Of Marine Protected Areas By Endangered Species: A Habitat Selection Approach, Kelsey E. Roberts, Brian J. Smith, Derek Burkholder, Kristen M. Hart

Marine & Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles

1. Optimizing the design of marine protected area (MPA) networks for the conservation of migratory marine species and their habitats involves a suite of important considerations, such as appropriate scale requirements and the distribution of anthropogenic impacts. Often, a fundamental component of the conservation planning process is delineating areas of high use or high biodiversity within a region of interest.

2. However, basing conservation strategies off merely the number of individuals in an ecosystem is outdated and potentially subject to arbitrary thresholds. To be effective at protecting marine megafauna, MPAs would ideally encompass habitats used by focal species. Through satellite-tracking …

A Multi-Modal Approach To Measuring Particulate Iron Speciation In Buoyant Hydrothermal Plumes, Brandy D. Stewart, Jeffry V. Sorensen, Kathleen Wendt, Jason B. Sylvan, Christopher R. German, Karthik Anantharaman, Gregory J. Dick, John A. Breier, Brandy M. Toner

School of Earth, Environmental, & Marine Sciences Faculty Publications

Processes active within buoyant hydrothermal plumes are expected to modulate the flux of elements, such as Fe, to the deep ocean; however, they are yet to be described in a comprehensive manner through observations or models. In this study, we compare observed particulate Fe (pFe) speciation with thermodynamic (equilibrium) reaction path modeling for three vent fields in the Eastern Lau Spreading Center (ELSC). At each site, particles were collected from the buoyant rising portion of hydrothermal plumes using in situ filtration with a Remotely Operated Vehicle. Filter bound particles were analyzed by synchrotron micro-probe X-ray fluorescence mapping (XRF), X-ray diffraction …

Late Afternoon Seasonal Transition To Dissolution In A Coral Reef: An Early Warning Of A Net Dissolving Ecosystem?, Laura Stoltenberg, Kai G. Schulz, Coulson A. Lantz, Tyler Cyronak, Bradley D. Eyre

Marine & Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles

There are concerns that reefs will transition from net calcifying to net dissolving in the near future due to decreasing calcification and increasing dissolution rates. Here we present in situ rates of net ecosystem calcification (NEC) and net ecosystem production (NEP) on a coral reef flat using a slack-water approach. Up until dusk, the reef was net calcifying in most months but shifted to net dissolution in austral summer, coinciding with high respiration rates and a lower aragonite saturation state (Ω_arag). The estimated sediment contribution to NEC ranged from 8 – 21 % during the day and 45 …

Species Sensitivity Assessment Of Five Atlantic Scleractinian Coral Species To 1-Methylnaphthalene, Dorothy-Ellen A. Renegar, Nicholas Turner

Marine & Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles

Coral reefs are keystone coastal ecosystems that are at risk of exposure to petroleum from a range of sources, and are one of the highest valued natural resources for protection in Net Environmental Benefit Analysis (NEBA) in oil spill response. Previous research evaluating dissolved hydrocarbon impacts to corals reflected no clear characterization of sensitivity, representing an important knowledge gap in oil spill preparedness related to the potential impact of oil spills to the coral animal and its photosymbiont zooxanthellae. This research addresses this gap, using a standardized toxicity protocol to evaluate effects of a dissolved reference hydrocarbon on scleractinian corals. …

Autonomous In Situ Calibration Of Ion‐Sensitive Field Effect Transistor Ph Sensors, Philip J. Bresnahan, Yuichiro Takeshita, Taylor Wirth, Todd R. Martz, Tyler Cyronak, Rebecca Albright, Kennedy Wolfe, Joseph K. Warren, Keaton Mertz

Marine & Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles

Ion‐sensitive field effect transistor‐based pH sensors have been shown to perform well in high frequency and long‐term ocean sampling regimes. The Honeywell Durafet is widely used due to its stability, fast response, and characterization over a large range of oceanic conditions. However, potentiometric pH monitoring is inherently complicated by the fact that the sensors require careful calibration. Offsets in calibration coefficients have been observed when comparing laboratory to field‐based calibrations and prior work has led to the recommendation that an in situ calibration be performed based on comparison to discrete samples. Here, we describe our work toward a self‐calibration apparatus …

Assessment Of Monochloramine Toxicity On Three Small Coastal Organisms, Ashley K. Le

All HCAS Student Capstones, Theses, and Dissertations

Monochloramine ( is a secondary disinfectant used by water treatment facilities to eliminate lingering bacteria in basins, filters, and pipelines. While an effective disinfectant, monochloramine can have negative effects on aquatic organisms. Organis ms affected by the chemical can include species whose environment is near to effluent sites and aquaculture facilities that use tap water lines or has water intake pipes near to effluent sites. Three species commonly found in south Florida that are lik ely exposed to MCA by effluent sites or aquaculture facilities are mosquitofish Gambusia affinis pink shrimp Farfantepenaeus duorarum and the hard clam Mercenaria mercenaria These …

Ontogenetic Variation In Sciaenid Otolith Morphometry With Fish Size From The Northern Gulf Of Mexico, Thomas C. Ingalls

All HCAS Student Capstones, Theses, and Dissertations

Sciaenids are a diverse family of coastal fishes and their fisheries are an important industry in the United States. In the northern Gulf of Mexico this industry is dominated by six species, specifically, red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus), black drum (Pogonias cromis), spotted seatrout (Cynoscion nebulosus), sand seatrout (C. arenarius), Atlantic croaker (Micropogonias undulatus), and spot (Leiostomus xathurus). Sagittal otoliths of all species were evaluated for changes in size and shape in relation to changes in fish total length and age across a variety of seasons and habitats. Evaluation …

A Predator-Based Methodology For Studying Predator-Prey Relationships In Fishes, Ashley Vettese

All HCAS Student Capstones, Theses, and Dissertations

Changes in the ocean including acidification, increasing temperatures, loss of habitat, and increased hypoxic events has the potential to change predator-prey relationships. These changes in single interactions can then have effects on population sizes, community structures, and changes in trophic cascades. Understanding how changing abiotic factors impact predator-prey relationships will be crucial for understanding what populations and communities will look like under future ocean conditions. In this review, the goals are to (1) summarize the current knowledge on how changing ocean conditions affect predator-prey relationships; (2) describe an example predator-based approach to examine how changing these changing factors impact predator-prey …

Seasonal Occurrence, Horizontal Movements, And Habitat Use Patterns Of Whale Sharks (Rhincodon Typus) In The Gulf Of Mexico, Eric R. Hoffmayer, Jennifer A. Mckinney, James S. Franks, Jill M. Hendon, William B. Driggers, Brett J. Falterman, Benjamin Galuardi, Michael E. Byrne

Faculty Publications

In the northern Gulf of Mexico (GOM), whale sharks (Rhincodon typus) form large aggregations at continental shelf-edge banks during summer; however, knowledge of movements once they leave aggregation sites is limited. Here we report on the seasonal occurrence of whale sharks in the northern GOM based on over 800 whale shark sightings from 1989 to 2016, as well as the movements of 42 whale sharks tagged with satellite-linked and popup satellite archival transmitting tags from 2008 to 2015. Sightings data were most numerous during summer and fall often with aggregations of individuals reported along the continental shelf break. Most sharks …

Social Familiarity Improves Fast-Start Escape Performance In Schooling Fish, Lauren E. Nadler, Mark I. Mccormick, Jacob L. Johansen, Paolo Domenici

Marine & Environmental Sciences Faculty Datasets

Using social groups (i.e. schools) of the tropical damselfish Chromis viridis, we tested how familiarity through repeated social interactions influences fast-start responses, the primary defensive behaviour in a range of taxa, including fish, sharks, and larval amphibians. We focused on reactivity through response latency and kinematic performance (i.e. agility and propulsion) following a simulated predator attack, while distinguishing between first and subsequent responders (direct response to stimulation versus response triggered by integrated direct and social stimulation, respectively). In familiar schools, first and subsequent responders exhibited shorter latency than unfamiliar individuals, demonstrating that familiarity increases reactivity to direct and, potentially, …

Waccamaw Mollusca Review Copy Pt. 8: Galeommatoidea, Cardidae, & Tellinoidea, Timothy Campbell

A Photographic Guide to the Gelasian (Early Pleistocene) Mollusca of Southeastern North Carolina

The Lower Waccamaw Formation contains a rich basal Pleistocene (early Gelasian, 2.4-2.0 million years old) fauna with an extreme abundance and diversity of mollusks (>90% of the fossils and 900+ species) in addition to various echinoderms, arthropods, annelids, corals, bryozoans, and vertebrates. Based upon the ranges of the extant species, the climate seems to have been warmer than today. This diverse subtropical fauna can be found in patches in southeastern North Carolina and northeastern South Carolina. It is roughly equivalent to the modern fauna of central South Carolina to North Florida, however, there was dramatic faunal turnover about 1.7 …

Lower Waccamaw Formation Review Copy Pt. Iii: Neogastropoda Incertae Sedis, Buccinoidea, & Muricidae, Timothy Campbell

A Photographic Guide to the Gelasian (Early Pleistocene) Mollusca of Southeastern North Carolina

The Lower Waccamaw Formation contains a rich basal Pleistocene (early Gelasian, 2.4-2.0 million years old) fauna with an extreme abundance and diversity of mollusks (>90% of the fossils and 900+ species) in addition to various echinoderms, arthropods, annelids, corals, bryozoans, and vertebrates. Based upon the ranges of the extant species, the climate seems to have been warmer than today. This diverse subtropical fauna can be found in patches in southeastern North Carolina and northeastern South Carolina. It is roughly equivalent to the modern fauna of central South Carolina to North Florida, however, there was dramatic faunal turnover about 1.7 …

Waccamaw Mollusca Review Copy Pt. Ii: Truncatelloidea, Vanikoroidea, Calyptraeidae, Cypraeoidea, Personidae, Ficidae & Xenophoridae, Timothy Campbell

A Photographic Guide to the Gelasian (Early Pleistocene) Mollusca of Southeastern North Carolina

The Lower Waccamaw Formation contains a rich basal Pleistocene (early Gelasian, 2.4-2.0 million years old) fauna with an extreme abundance and diversity of mollusks (>90% of the fossils and 900+ species, of which I illustrate 743) in addition to various echinoderms, arthropods, annelids, corals, bryozoans, and vertebrates. Based upon the ranges of the extant species, the climate seems to have been warmer than today. This diverse subtropical fauna can be found in patches in southeastern North Carolina and northeastern South Carolina. It is roughly equivalent to the modern fauna of central South Carolina to North Florida, however, there was …

Caribbean Fad Tracking Project Dataset, Erin E. Kimak, David W. Kerstetter, Thomas D. Pitchford

Kerstetter Fisheries and Avian Ecology Lab Datasets

This dataset encompasses crowd-sourced reports of abandoned, lost or otherwise discarded fishing gear (ALDFG), particularly drifting Fish Aggregating Devices (dFADs) from citizen scientists around the North Atlantic Ocean and greater Caribbean region. Data collection did not involve survey efforts, but rather keyword searches of affiliated terms such as "bamboo raft" and "satellite buoy", as well as collection of reports via email and Facebook. Although this dataset is incomplete and an under representation of the total number of ALDFG dFADs as a result of widespread nature of stranding locations, it provides a minimum estimate of the numbers of FADs stranding in …

Waccamaw Mollusca Review Copy Pt. 6: Heterobranchia, Timothy Campbell

A Photographic Guide to the Gelasian (Early Pleistocene) Mollusca of Southeastern North Carolina

The Lower Waccamaw Formation contains a rich basal Pleistocene (early Gelasian, 2.4-2.0 million years old) fauna with an extreme abundance and diversity of mollusks (>90% of the fossils and 900+ species) in addition to various echinoderms, arthropods, annelids, corals, bryozoans, and vertebrates. Based upon the ranges of the extant species, the climate seems to have been warmer than today. This diverse subtropical fauna can be found in patches in southeastern North Carolina and northeastern South Carolina. It is roughly equivalent to the modern fauna of central South Carolina to North Florida, however, there was dramatic faunal turnover about 1.7 …

Waccamaw Mollusca Review Copy Pt. Iv: Volutoidea, Cancellariidae, Costellariidae, & Olivoidea, Timothy Campbell

A Photographic Guide to the Gelasian (Early Pleistocene) Mollusca of Southeastern North Carolina

The Lower Waccamaw Formation contains a rich basal Pleistocene (early Gelasian, 2.4-2.0 million years old) fauna with an extreme abundance and diversity of mollusks (>90% of the fossils and 900+ species) in addition to various echinoderms, arthropods, annelids, corals, bryozoans, and vertebrates. Based upon the ranges of the extant species, the climate seems to have been warmer than today. This diverse subtropical fauna can be found in patches in southeastern North Carolina and northeastern South Carolina. It is roughly equivalent to the modern fauna of central South Carolina to North Florida, however, there was dramatic faunal turnover about 1.7 …

Waccamaw Mollusca Review Copy Pt. 7: Protobranchia, Pteriomorpha, Carditita, Lucinidae, Gastrochaenidae, Pharidae, & Hiatellidae, Timothy Campbell

A Photographic Guide to the Gelasian (Early Pleistocene) Mollusca of Southeastern North Carolina

The Lower Waccamaw Formation contains a rich basal Pleistocene (early Gelasian, 2.4-2.0 million years old) fauna with an extreme abundance and diversity of mollusks (>90% of the fossils and 900+ species) in addition to various echinoderms, arthropods, annelids, corals, bryozoans, and vertebrates. Based upon the ranges of the extant species, the climate seems to have been warmer than today. This diverse subtropical fauna can be found in patches in southeastern North Carolina and northeastern South Carolina. It is roughly equivalent to the modern fauna of central South Carolina to North Florida, however, there was dramatic faunal turnover about 1.7 …

Waccamaw Mollusca Review Copy Pt. 5: Conoidea, Timothy Campbell

A Photographic Guide to the Gelasian (Early Pleistocene) Mollusca of Southeastern North Carolina

The Lower Waccamaw Formation contains a rich basal Pleistocene (early Gelasian, 2.4-2.0 million years old) fauna with an extreme abundance and diversity of mollusks (>90% of the fossils and 900+ species) in addition to various echinoderms, arthropods, annelids, corals, bryozoans, and vertebrates. Based upon the ranges of the extant species, the climate seems to have been warmer than today. This diverse subtropical fauna can be found in patches in southeastern North Carolina and northeastern South Carolina. It is roughly equivalent to the modern fauna of central South Carolina to North Florida, however, there was dramatic faunal turnover about 1.7 …

Waccamaw Mollusca Review Copy Pt. Ix: Ungulinidae, Chamidae, Cyrenidae, Veneridae, Mactroidea, Myida, & Anomalodesmata, Timothy Campbell

A Photographic Guide to the Gelasian (Early Pleistocene) Mollusca of Southeastern North Carolina

The Lower Waccamaw Formation contains a rich basal Pleistocene (early Gelasian, 2.4-2.0 million years old) fauna with an extreme abundance and diversity of mollusks (>90% of the fossils and 900+ species) in addition to various echinoderms, arthropods, annelids, corals, bryozoans, and vertebrates. Based upon the ranges of the extant species, the climate seems to have been warmer than today. This diverse subtropical fauna can be found in patches in southeastern North Carolina and northeastern South Carolina. It is roughly equivalent to the modern fauna of central South Carolina to North Florida, however, there was dramatic faunal turnover about 1.7 …

An Exceptionally Small New Polycotylid Plesiosaur (Reptilia: Sauropterygia) With Raptorial Eyes From The Western Interior Seaway Of North America, Robert O’Brien Clark

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Polycotylidae is a family of plesiosaurian marine reptiles that evolved during the Early Cretaceous and radiated into multiple genera during the Late Cretaceous, achieving a worldwide distribution. Derived polycotylids of the subclade Polycotylinae have a gracile and elongated rostrum, homodont dentition, an extended mandibular symphysis, and foreshortened temporal fenestrae. In this thesis, I describe a small and highly derived new polycotylid taxon based on three specimens from the Campanian of the Western Interior Seaway in North America. A high number of maxillary teeth, fused neural arches, propodials with well-defined facets, and heavily remodeled cortical bone indicate the specimens are adults, …