Integrated conceptual ecosystem model development for the southwest Florida shelf coastal marine ecosystem: MARine Estuarine goal Setting (MARES) for South Florida

The overall goal of the MARine and Estuarine goal Setting (MARES) project for South Florida is “to reach a science-based consensus about the defining characteristics and fundamental regulating processes of a South Florida coastal marine ecosystem that is both sustainable and capable of providing the diverse ecosystem services upon which our society depends.” Through participation in a systematic process of reaching such a consensus, science can contribute more directly and effectively to the critical decisions being made by both policy makers and by natural resource and environmental management agencies. The document that follows briefly describes the MARES project and this systematic process. It then describes in considerable detail the resulting output from the first two steps in the process, the development of conceptual diagrams and an Integrated Conceptual Ecosystem Model (ICEM) for the second subregion to be addressed by MARES, the Southwest Florida Shelf (SWFS). What follows with regard to the SWFS is the input received from more than 60 scientists, agency resource managers, and representatives of environmental organizations beginning with a workshop held August 19-20, 2010 at Florida Gulf Coast University in Fort Myers, Florida.

Skin lesions on common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) from three sites in the Northwest Atlantic, USA

Skin disease occurs frequently in many cetacean species across the globe; methods to categorize lesions have relied on photo-identification (photo-id), stranding, and bycatch data. The current study used photo-id data from four sampling months during 2009 to estimate skin lesion prevalence and type occurring on bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) from three sites along the southeast United States coast [Sarasota Bay, FL (SSB); near Brunswick and Sapelo Island, GA (BSG); and near Charleston, SC (CHS)]. The prevalence of lesions was highest among BSG dolphins (P=0.587) and lowest in SSB (P=0.380), and the overall prevalence was significantly different among all sites (p<0.0167). Logistic regression modeling revealed a significant reduction in the odds of lesion occurrence for increasing water temperatures (OR=0.92; 95%CI:0.906-0.938) and a significantly increased odds of lesion occurrence for BSG dolphins (OR=1.39; 95%CI:1.203-1.614). Approximately one-third of the lesioned dolphins from each site presented with multiple types, and population differences in lesion type occurrence were observed (p<0.05). Lesions on stranded dolphins were sampled to determine the etiology of different lesion types, which included three visually distinct samples positive for herpesvirus. Although generally considered non-fatal, skin disease may be indicative of animal health or exposure to anthropogenic or environmental threats, and photo-id data provide an efficient and cost-effective approach to document the occurrence of skin lesions in free-ranging populations.

The coupling of St. John, US Virgin Islands Marine Protected Areas based on reef fish habitat affinities and movements across management boundaries [Poster]

NOAA's Biogeograpy Branch, the National Park Service (NPS), US Geological Survey, and the University of the Virgin Islands (UVI) are using acoustice telemetry to quantify spatial patterns and habitat affinities of reef fishes in the US Virgin Islands (USVI). The objective of the study is to define the movements of reef fishes among habitats within and between the Virgin Islands Coral Reef Nationla Monument (VICRNM), adjacent to Virgin Islands National Park (VIIS), and USVI Territorial waters. In order to better understand species habitat utilization patterns and movement of fishes among management regimes and areas open to fishing around St. John, we deployed an array of hydroacoutstic receivers and acoustically tagged reef fishes. A total of 150 fishes, representing 18 species and 10 families were acoustically tagged along the south shore of St. John from July 2006 to June 2008. Thirty six receivers with a detection range of approximately 300m each were deployed in shallow nearshore bays and across the shelf to depths of approximately 30m. Receivers were located within reefs and adjacent to reefs in seagrass, algal beds, or sand habitats. Example results include the movement of lane snappers and blue striped grunts that demonstrated diel movement from reef habitats during daytime hours to offshore seagrass beds at night. Fish associated with reefs that did not have adjacent seagrass beds made more extensive movements than those fishes associated with reefs that had adjacent seagrass habitats. The array comprised of both nearshore and cross shelf location of receives provides information on fine to broad scale fish movement patterns across habitats and among management units to examine the strength of ecological connectivity between management areas and habitats. For more information go to: http://ccma.nos.noaa.gov/ecosystems/ coralreef/acoustic_tracking.html

Nocturnal migration patterns of two Caribbean reef fishes, Haemulon sciurus and Lutjanus apodus [Poster]

In the Caribbean, many coral reef associated fishes have been observed making diel migrations, yet little is known about the detailed movement pathways and space use patterns of individual fish. Often these migrations occur along temporally or spatially consistent corridors that connect preferred resting and foraging habitats. Recent analysis of gut contents from Haemulids and Lutjanids, has provided evidence that these species forage in seagrass beds and other habitats near their coral reef refuges. Few studies have provided direct and spatially explicit evidence of nocturnal migrations and detailed day and night space use patterns for individual fish. This study integrated manual acoustic telemetry to track two common reef species, the bluestriped grunt (Haemulon sciurus) and schoolmaster snapper (Lutjanus apodus) throughout their daily home range. Space use patterns of these species were then examined using Geographical Information System (GIS) tools to link movement behavior to seascape structure derived in a benthic habitat map. This study represents a novel integration of spatial technologies to enhance our understanding of the movement ecology of adult H. sciurus and L. apodus.

Assessing the impacts of experimental derelict fish traps in the U.S. Virgin Islands [Poster]

Fish traps are commonly used throughout the Caribbean to catch reef fish species and lobster and are the primary gear of choice for fishermen in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Once they are lost or abandoned they are referred to as derelict fish traps (DFTs)and a widespread concern exists that they contribute to ghostfishing. Ghostfishing occurs when derelict fishing gear continues to catch fish and induce mortality. Despite the public concerns that DFTs are an environmental threat, few studies have quantified the level of ghostfishing in the Caribbean. To address concerns from the fishing community and other marine stakeholders, this study provides the first experimental examination of ghostfishing impacts to fish and the potential economic impacts to fisheries in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

An ecological correction to marine reserves boundaries in the US Virgin Islands

Marine protected areas (MPAs) are important tools for management of marine ecosystems. While desired, ecological and biological criteria are not always feasible to consider when establishing protected areas. In 2001, the Virgin Islands Coral Reef National Monument (VICR) in St. John, US Virgin Islands was established by Executive Order. VICR boundaries were based on administrative determination of Territorial Sea boundaries and land ownership at the time of the Territorial Submerged Lands Act of 1974. VICR prohibits almost all fishing and other extractive uses. Surveys of habitat and fishes inside and outside of VICR were conducted in 2002-07. Based on these surveys, areas outside VICR had significantly more hard corals; greater habitat complexity; and greater richness, abundance and biomass of reef fishes than areas within VICR, further supporting results from 2002-2004 (Monaco et al., 2007). The administrative (political) process used to establish VICR did not allow a robust ecological characterization of the area to determine the boundaries of the MPA. Efforts are underway to increase amounts of complex reef habitat within VICR by swapping a part of VICR that has little coral reef habitat for a Territorially-owned area within VICR that contains a coral reef with higher coral cover.

Spatial and temporal patterns of coral bleaching around Buck Island Reef National Monument, St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands [poster]

Limited information currently exists on the recovery periods of bleached corals as well as the spatial extent, causative factors, and the overall impact of bleaching on coral reef ecosystems. During October, 2005, widespread coral bleaching was observed within Buck Island Reef National Monument (BUIS) St. Croix, USVI. The bleaching event was preceded by 10 weeks of higher than average water temperatures (28.9-30.1°C). Random transects (100 square meters) over hard bottom habitats (N=94) revealed that approximately 51% of live coral cover was bleached. Nineteen of 23 coral species within 16 genera and two hydrocoral species exhibited signs of bleaching; species-specific bleaching patterns were variable throughout the study area. Coral cover for Montastraea annularisand species of the genus Agariciawere the most affected, while other species exhibited variability to bleaching. Although a weak but significant negative relationship (r2=0.10, P=0.0220) was observed, bleaching was evident at all depths (1.5-28 m). Bleaching was spatially autocorrelated (P=0.001) and hot-spot analysis identified a cluster of high bleaching stations northeast of Buck Island. Bleaching was significantly reduced within all depth zones and habitat types upon subsequent monitoring during April (15%) and October (3%) 2006.

分子标记技术在甘兰型杂交油菜育种上的研究与应用

本文应用RAPD分标记技术对我国重要的油料作物“杂油59”杂种种子的Fl���杂种的纯度进了技术鉴定，并完善了这一技术，摸索出这一适合于目前生产应用的实用方法，填补了这一技术在油菜作物应用上的空白。用RFLP技术对我国重要的雄性不育材料“陕2A”细胞质进行了分子水平的鉴定，为证明“陕2A”是一类新型的雄性不育材料提供了重要的实验证据。 对甘蓝型油菜采用DNA快速提取法、酚仿法和CTAB法应用于不同的分子标记分析，实验结果显示： CTAB法适用于样品量大，纯度要术高的RFLP技术，酚仿法适用于引物筛选、DNA模板用量大的PCR反应，而快速提取法特别适合于生产上对种子纯度检测，是生产上推广前景很好的实用技术。 对甘蓝型油菜RAPD技术应用当中PCR体系的建立进行了探讨。实验结果显示：热启动对PCR结果的影响至关重要。而Mg++浓度、dNTP浓度、模板浓度、Tag酶用量对反应结果有不同程度的影响。经过反复实验：当PCR各组分按Mg++，2mM;dNTP，200uM;模板浓度，50ng - lOOng时，PCR的结果最好。PCR反应条件经反复实验后确定为：第一个循环：（热启动）94℃，Imin20sec．OoC 2min循环一次;第二个循环：（解链）94℃ 50sec，（退火）40℃ Imin30sec;（延伸）72℃lmin;循环40次。第三个循环：72℃lOmin，循环1次。反应总体积为20ul时最为适用。 用40个lOmer的RAPD随机引物对“杂油59”的2个亲本“垦C8”和“陕3A” 进行RAPD分析，共出现290条带，分布于3530-220bp之间。引物opA-06、opK-03、opK-13、opj-12出现阳性扩增。经重复实验后确定： opK-03的PCR结果重复性最好，该引物序列为：CCAGCTTAGG。用它对两个亲本进行RAPD分析，PCR结果共出现9条带，其中510bp、260bp为二条特征带。在Fl���中这两条特征带重现性很好。用50个商品用种萌发的F1单株进行验证，检测结果为3个个体没有出现510bp的特征带，4个个体没有出现260bp的特征带，有5个个体出现了其它带，纯度为78%，与生产用种的纯度相符。 通过对“杂优59”不同生育时期及不同取样部位作酯酶同工酶电泳方法与RAPD方法相比较，结果显示：RAPD方法可以弥补同工酶方法的缺限。由于它是基于基因水平的分析技术，可以不受环境条件、发育时期、取材部位等客观条件的限制，并具有取样量小、易操作、费用低、灵敏度高、可以检测出亲缘关系相当近的种闾或种内的材料，具有独到的优点。是值得今后在生产上推广的新技术。 用6个雄性不育材料线粒体的特异探针：ALXR 18（线粒体ATPaseα亚基）;COB 640(脱辅基细胞色素-b);COX -I（细胞色素氧化酶亚基-I）;COX -Ⅱ（细胞色素氧化酶亚基-II;PDC - 12（胡萝卜线粒体随机片断）;C2（玉米线粒随机片断），对“陕2A”，Hybrides Polima，Ogura NSL 94/96, Ogura MLCH036, Ogura NSL, Polima, Fu27,Fu38, Anand等9个材料进行RFLP分析，结果显示：用限制性内切酶EcoR I消化后的DNA与探针COB 640杂交，“陕2A”材料在4.5 kb处缺失，与ALXR 18探针杂交，在4.4 kb、4.2 kb处也明显缺失，证明“陕2A”显然不同与其它不育材料。用ALXR l8为探针，与用内切酶Nc01的酶切片断作Sourthern杂交，在RFLP谱带上6.1 kb、2.4 kb、2.5 kb处明显缺带，进一步为“陕2A”是一种新型的甘蓝型油莱雄性不育系提供了证据。

PCR-based assay for detection of four coral pathogens

Several microorganisms have been identified as pathogenic agents responsible for various outbreaks of coral disease. Little has been learned about the exclusivity of a pathogen to given disease signs. Most pathogens have only been implicated within a subset of corals, leaving gaps in our knowledge of the host range and geographic extent of a given pathogen. PCR-based assays provide a rapid and inexpensive route for detection of pathogens. Pathogen-specific 16S rDNA primer sets were designed to target four identified coral pathogens: Aurantimonas coralicida, Serratia marcescens, Vibrio shilonii, and Vibrio coralliilyticus. Assays detected the presence of targets at concentrations of less than one cell per microliter. The assay was applied to 142 coral samples from the Florida Keys, Puerto Rico, and U.S. Virgin Islands as an in situ specificity test. Assays displayed a high-level of specificity, seemingly limited only by the resolution of the 16S rDNA.

Status of coral reef ecosystems in a marine managed area in St. Croix, USVI [poster]

This poster presents information on the status and trends of coral reef ecosystems in St. Croix, US Virgin Islands (USVI). Data were collected by NOAA’s Center for Coastal Monitoring and Assessment Biogeography Branch (CCMA-BB) from 2001-2006 at 1,275 random locations in and around Buck Island Reef National Monument (BIRNM). The main objective was to quantify changes in fish species and assemblage diversity, abundance, biomass and size structure; to provide spatially explicit information on the distribution of key species or groups of species; and to compare community structure inside versus outside of BIRNM.

1987 ecosystem view of management research in the Myakka River: review of Phase I and Phase II reports

This memorandum has four parts. The first is a review and partial synthesis of Phase 1 and Phase 2 Reports by Dr. Ernest Estevez of the Mote Marine Laboratory to the Board of County Commissioners of Sarasota County, Florida. The review and synthesis emphasizes identification of the most important aspects of the structure of the Myakka system in terms of forcing functions, biological components, and major energy flows. In this context, the dominant primary producers, dominant fish species and food habits, and major environmental variables were of articular interest. A major focus of the review and synthesis was on the river zonations provided in the report and based on salinity and various biological indicators. The second part of this memorandum is a review of a draft report by Mote Marine Laboratory on evaluation of potential water quality impacts on the Myakka River from proposed activities in the watershed. This Memorandum's third part is a review of resource-management related ecosystem models in the context of possible future models of the Myakka River Ecosystem. The final part of this memorandum is proposed future work as an extension of the initial reports.