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Currents Publications by HCNSO

Summer 2003

Summer 2003NSU Oceanographic Center

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NSUWorks CitationNSU Oceanographic Center, "Summer 2003" (2003). Currents. Book 29.http://nsuworks.nova.edu/occ_currents/29

Summer 2003 • Volume XVII, Number 3

Nova Southeastern UniversityOceanographic Center

Variability of the coastal currentsimpact relevant issues such as navigation;acoustics; search and rescue operations;beach erosion; and coastal pollution fromsewage plants, harmful algal blooms, andoil spills. On June 18, a moored oceano-graphic buoy was redeployed by personnelfrom South Florida Ocean MeasurementCenter (SFOMC) member institutionsNova Southeastern University andUniversity of South Florida, using FAU’sresearch vessel Stephen. The buoy, alongwith a bottom mounted instrumentationarray, provides monitoring of the physical-oceanographic environment of the south-east Florida shelf.

The buoy and bottom array are locatednear a line extending east from the shore,starting at a point about 2.3 kilometers

south of the NSU Oceanographic Center.The surface buoy is located in 20 meters ofwater about 2.1 kilometers offshore andincludes an Acoustic Doppler CurrentProfiler (ADCP) and four Sea-BirdElectronics MicroCats at 5 or 10 meterintervals along the mooring cable for meas-uring water temperature and conductivityprofiles. The bottom array is located in 10meters of water about 1.65 kilometers off-shore and includes an ADCP and Sea-BirdElectronics wave and tide gauge. NSUdivers periodically recover the instrumentsto download data and replace batteries.

An intriguing feature of the circulationon the shelf off southeast Florida is theenergetic baroclinic supertidal oscillation,which produces 10-hour period currentvelocity oscillations with a 0.5-m s-1 ampli-tude. Four years of observations with the

NSU/USF environmental array have pro-vided important information concerningthis phenomenon. The phenomenonappears to be seasonally modulated (maxi-mal in summer months); there is also signif-icant interannual variability. The results ofthis four-year study have been presented atthe International Association of PhysicalSciences for the Oceans in Sapporo, Japan(July 1–11, 2003) and described in two arti-cles (Soloviev et al., 2003a; 2003b).

References: See page 2.

NSF/USF surface buoy and its deployment from the R/V Stephen

Diagram of surface buoy

Four Years of Observations Provide Vital Information Concerningthe Coastal Circulation on the Shelf off Southeast Florida.

Capt. Brian Ettinger (NCRI) and Jennie Cox (U.S. Army CHPPM) after a dive using the Kirby MorganSuperflow 27 and the Superlight 17 Diving Helmets in Santa Rosa Sound at the U.S. EPA Diver TrainingCenter in Gulf Breeze, Florida

People on the MoveAndrew Rogerson, Ph.D., attended

the annual meeting of the Society ofProtozoologists in Oregon on June 3 wherehe gave the vice presidential address "Talesof a wandering eukaryotic microbiologist."

Jane Dougan, Director of DistanceLearning and M.S. student ArloHemphill attended “Coastal Zone 03,”Coastal Zone Management ThroughTime Conference, in July in Baltimore,Maryland. The conference broughttogether over 1,000 international oceanand coastal management professionals.

At the end of July, M.S. students LanceJordan and Dan Fahy went to Eleuthera,Bahamas, to work with M.S. student BobPatterson on his thesis project. Whilethere, they surveyed the coral reef fishassemblages. Light traps (which attract andcapture larval fishes) were also deployedover several nights to examine the larvalfish supply on the Caribbean and Atlanticsides of the island.

Alex Soloviev, Ph.D., attended the2003 General Assembly of theInternational Association for the PhysicalSciences of the Oceans (IAPSO) that washeld in Sapporo, Japan, July 1–11. He pre-sented the paper, entitled “Horizontal mix-ing in the eastern Pacific warm pool,” co-authored by R. Lukas. Another IPSOpaper, “Energetic baroclinic oscillation onthe southeast Florida shelf,” coauthored byA. Soloviev, R. Weisberg, was presented byMark Luther (USF).

During the week of July 20, Solovievlectured at the Summer Geophysical FluidDynamics School at WHOI. For morethan two decades, this summer program hasbeen attracting top students in the field of

fluid dynamics, physical oceanography, andrelated areas. On July 24, Soloviev present-ed a seminar at the WHOI PhysicalOceanography Department, entitled“Horizontal T-S mixing in the westernPacific warm pool as a nonlinear diffusionprocess.”

Brian Ettinger recently attendedWorking Diver Training at the U.S.Environmental Protection Agency DiverTraining Center in Gulf Breeze, Florida.The week long course included training inVariable Volume Drysuits, AGA Full FaceMasks, U/W Communications, Nitrox,Diving Accident Management, and divingprotocols of the U.S. EPA. The course alsoincluded dive rescue scenarios and trainingwith such tools as U/W metal detectors,Ping locators, U/W assembly and disassem-bly of devices using simple hand tools,search and recovery of heavy objects, sur-face supplied helmet diving using the Kirby

Morgan Superflow 27 and Superlight 17,and an introduction to dealing with con-taminated water diving and hazardousmaterials

The course was attended by U.S. EPA,local and federal law enforcement agenciesfrom around the United States, FDEP, U.S.Army, Mote Marine Laboratory, and mem-bers of environmental agencies from otherstates. Developed by the NOAA DivingProgram, the U.S. EPA Diving Programallows for reciprocity between NOAA andthe U.S. EPA working divers. The courseconcluded with a rather lengthy and thor-ough diving exam based on the NOAADiving Manual 4th Ed.

PublicationsSoloviev, A., R. Walker, R. Weisberg, and M. Luther (2003).

A Coastal Observatory Investigates Energetic CurrentOscillations on the Southeast Florida Shelf. EOS, AGUTransactions (in press). (Walker is an M.S. student atNSUOC.)

Soloviev., A.V., M. E. Luther, and R. H. Weisberg (2003).Energetic Baroclinic Super-Tidal Oscillations on the Shelf offSoutheast Florida. Geophysical Research Letters, vol. 30, no. 9.

Nielsen J.T., R. Duarte, and V. Dragojlovic. (2003)Oxidation of an Unknown Cycloalkene, Cycloalkanol, orCycloalkanone to a Dicarboxylic Acid: Discovery OrientedExperiment for Organic Chemistry Students. Chem. Educator, 8,241–243. (Janne Nielsen is an M.S. student at NSUOC, andRobert Duarte is an undergraduate student at the FarquharCollege of Arts and Sciences.)

Moyer, R.P., B. Riegl, K. Banks, and R.E. Dodge, (2003)Spatial Patterns and Ecology of High-latitute BenthicCommunities on a South Florida (Broward County, USA) RelictReef System. Coral Reefs, V. 22 (in press)

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Boat Finds New Life in Research

On July 15, a group set out on the inaugural voyage of NSUR/V Explorer. The boat was donated by Robert Fehlhaber of FortLauderdale. The Explorer is a 38 Foot Mark Bertram SportFisherman, refitted for research. After purchasing a larger boat,Fehlhaber decided to donate the Bertram to a facility that would

use it for educational purposes. NSUOC fit the bill. On board thevessel for its “maiden” voyage were scientist David Gilliam, Ph.D.,along with researchers Dan Fahey, Elizabeth Glynn, JamieVernacchio, Brian Walker, Brian Ettinger, and Shawn Gil withCaptain Lance Robinson at the helm.

The R/V Explorer heading off on its first mission to monitor hard coral transplants on the Hollywood Outfall Pipe

Other News

Coral spawning On the night of July 28, 2003, spawning of Acropora cervicor-

nis (staghorn coral) was observed in shallow, nearshore waters offFort Lauderdale. Coral polyps released pink bundles that containeggs and sperm, which are released as the bundles break-up nearthe surface. Gametes float along with the currents until they mix,and fertilization occurs, forming a larva that will settle to form anew coral colony. On the night of July 28, spawning occurredbetween 2300–2320h, with a moderate proportion of coloniesspawning. An estimated 50 percent of the colonies present at thestudy thicket spawned. Within those colonies that spawned,nearly 20–25 percent of the branches released gametes, mainlyalong the upper portions. This is the second time that NCRIresearchers have documented the reproductive activity ofstaghorn corals in Fort Lauderdale waters. According to priorobservations, this year’s spawning event was not as impressive asin 2001, and principal investigator Bernardo Vargas-Angel,Ph.D., suggests that staghorn colonies may continue spawningthroughout the month of August.

These observations are important, since waters off FortLauderdale may harbor the largest and northernmost A. cervicor-nis population in the continental United States. Staghorn coralsare fast growing species, pivotal to reef building and providingessential habitat to numerous species of invertebrates and fish.The staghorn coral population off Fort Lauderdale develops inclose proximity to the city’s highly urbanized coastal features and

presumed anthropogenic stressors, such as increased freshwaterdischarge, coastal runoff, sedimentation, sewage effluent, nutrientenrichment, and ship traffic (Thomas et al. 2000, Vargas-Angel etal. in press). Thus, their presence is ecologically significant, pro-viding an interesting counterpoint to the declining and disease-stricken A. cervicornis populations throughout the Caribbean,and especially in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.

Interestingly, other benthic cindarias observed to spawn dur-ing the days that followed the full of July included: Erithropodiumcaribbeorum, Eunicea sp., and Plexaura spp. The coral lab wants toexpress gratitude to Megan Berkle, Brian Ettinger, Ryan Moyer,Nick Garbarino, Arlo Hemphill, and Jessica Craft for their col-laboration and interest with the night dives.

A B

Cnidarian spawning off the coast of Fort Lauderdale, FL. (A) Colony ofAcropora cervicornis releasing egg-sperm bundles on the night of July 28. (B)Colony of Eunicea sp. releasing eggs on the night of July 20.

The shark conservation researchbeing conducted by Mahmood Shivji,Ph.D., and his graduate students continuesto receive widespread media attention,including a cover story in the magazineScience News (see right), and recent arti-cles in the San Jose Mercury News, OmanDaily Observer, New York Daily News, andCanadian Wildlife magazine. The forensictechniques developed in Shivji’s lab arebeing used to assist NOAA’s Office of LawEnforcement in their fisheries enforce-

ment duties. GHRI students JenniferMagnussen, Debra Abercrombie, MarcyHenning, and Janne Neilsen recentlyworked on five cases of confiscated sharkfins and found fins from prohibited speciesin four of the cases, resulting in over$100,000 in fines being assessed byNOAA against the fishery violators.

4

GHRI Shark Research Continues to Receive International Recognition.

GUY HARVEY RESEARCH INSTITUTE NEWS

Mahmood Shivji, Ph.D., and M.S.students Mark Corcoran and MatthewPotenski spent five months in theCayman Islands working withOceanographic Center adjunct facultymember Guy Harvey and BradWetherbee researching southern stingraymovement behavior and populationdemographics. The primary focus of theresearch was to determine if the daily feed-ing by tourists was affecting the naturalhistory of the stingrays. Preliminary datasuggests that the fed stingrays are highly

residential at the feeding sites, and havesmaller activity spaces compared to non-fed animals at adjacent locations. M.S.student Vince Richards and FarquharCollege of Arts and Sciences B.S. studentVeronica Akle are studying genetic rela-tionships of southern stingrays fromthroughout the Caribbean to determine ifthe Cayman animals form a geneticallyunique group. Ph.D. student DemianChapman and Mark Corcoran have justhad a paper documenting the matingbehavior of southern stingrays acceptedfor publication in the journalEnvironmental Biology of Fishes.

Stingray Ecology and Conservation Project

Photo: M. Potenski

Chapman, D.D., M.J. Corcoran, G.M. Harvey, S. Malan, andM.S. Shivji. 2004. Mating behavior of southern stingrays, Dasyatisamericana (Dasyatidae). Environmental Biology of Fishes. (inpress).

Chapman, D., D. Abercrombie, C. Douady, E. Pikitch, M.Stanhope, and M. Shivji. 2003. A streamlined, bi-organelle, mul-tiplex PCR approach to species identification: application to glob-al conservation and trade monitoring of the great white shark,Carcharodon carcharias. Conservation Genetics 4(4): 415–425.

Douady, C.J., M. Dosay, M.S. Shivji, and M.J. Stanhope. 2003.Molecular phylogenetic evidence refuting the hypothesis ofBatoidea (rays and skates) as derived sharks. MolecularPhylogenetics and Evolution, 26: 215–221.

Beerkircher, L., M. Shivji, and E. Cortes. 2003. A MonteCarlo demographic analysis of the silky shark, Carcharhinus falci-formis: implications of gear selectivity. Fishery Bulletin 101:168–174

Jordan, L.K.B., D.S. Gilliam, R.L. Sherman, P.T. Arena, F.M.Harttung, R. Baron, and R.E. Spieler. 2002. Spatial and TemporalRecruitment Patterns of Juvenile Grunts (Haemulon Spp.) inSouth Florida. Proc. Annual Gulf Caribb. Fish. Instit. (in press).

Arena. P.T., L.K.B. Jordan, R.L. Sherman, F.M. Harttung, andR.E. Spieler. 2002. Presence of Juvenile Blackfin Snapper,Lutjanus Bucanella, and Snowy Grouper, Epinephelus Niveatus, onShallow-Water Artificial Reefs. Proc. Annual Gulf Caribb. Fish.Instit. (in press).

Recent scientific publications from the Guy Harvey Research Institute

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Conservation Genetics Lab Chases Sharks and Rays in Belize by Demian Chapman

Glover’s reef atoll rises from the abyssapproximately 30 miles east of the BelizeBarrier reef system. One of only four coralatolls in the Caribbean Sea, Glover’s is aUNESCO World Heritage Site and wastargeted for conservation in the mid-1990sby the establishment of a large MarineProtected Area (MPA) that encompassesapproximately one third ofthe lagoon. These conserva-tion efforts have beenremarkably successful andtoday the nearly 700 patchreefs that pepper the lagoonare replete with Caribbeanspiny lobsters, snapper, andgroupers, species decimatedby over-fishing elsewhere inthe region. Likewise, theshallow sea-grass meadowsthat fringe the reef crest arehome to large numbers ofqueen conch, permit, bone-fish, and sea turtles. Beyond the lagoon onthe outer reef, where the coral encrustedwall plunges back into the deep, enormousschools of grouper and snapper congregateto spawn each year, largely unmolested bythe fishers that have pushed their speciesto the brink of extinction. As populationsof all of these animals appear to be healthyand increasing, the Wildlife ConservationSociety (WCS), the organization largelyresponsible for developing this MPA andmaintaining a research station and base ofoperations for fisheries enforcement offi-cers, asked the question: What about thesharks and rays of Glover’s? Although fishand invertebrate surveys of the area hadbeen carried out, and revealed the mostdiverse assemblage of all the Caribbeanatolls, there have been no studies of whichsharks and rays utilize the atoll. In general,next to nothing is known about the sharksand ray fauna of the whole Belize Barrierreef system. This is quite disturbing, giventhe massive population crashes seen insome species in the Northwest Atlanticand the continuing exploitation of sharksin parts of the Caribbean, both for localconsumption and export to foreign mar-kets (particularly the Asian dried fintrade).

Since 2000, M.S. student DemianChapman has been working with EllenPikitch, Ph.D., of the WCS to find out

which sharks and rays live and breedaround Glover’s reef. In April and May2003, Chapman; his major professorMahmood Shivji, Ph.D.; M.S. studentsDebra Abercrombie; Vince Richards;Marcy Henning; Janne Nielsen; andother members of the Guy HarveyResearch Institute’s Conservation

Genetics Laboratory, traveled to Belize,with the goal of continuing the survey andbuilding upon findings from previousyears. The result of these four years of longlining, gillnetting, and field observationshas been the finding that at least ninespecies of sharks and three species of raycan be found at Glover’s in the spring andsummer. These species range in size fromdinner-plate sized yellow stingrays(Urobatis jamaicensis) to school-bus sizedwhale sharks, Rhincodon typus (see pic-ture). Most significantly, the team hasfound solid evidence that at least threesharks—the nurse, Ginglymostoma cirra-tum; lemon, Negaprion brevirostris; andCaribbean reef, Carcharhinus perezi—breed in the lagoon. This evidence isbased upon captures of free-swimmingnewborn animals and small juveniles andin some cases is backed up by the capturesof gravid females. In fact, this year, theteam was fortunate enough to witness a2.6 m (8.7 foot) female lemon shark givebirth to a baby, as she was being taggedand released. These findings establish thatGlover’s is an essential habitat for thesespecies and helps to strengthen the argu-ments that it should continue to be vigor-ously protected.

Aside from the species which breed inthe lagoon at Glover’s, the atoll is visitedby a number of more pelagic species.These include the tiger, Galeocerdo cuvi-

er (see picture); great hammerhead,Sphyrna mokarran; and silky sharks,Carcharhinus falciformis. Most interesting,however, was the capture, tagging andrelease of a juvenile Galapagos shark, C.galapagensis, the first record of this speciesin the entire western Caribbean. Notably,the identity of this species was confirmed

using DNA analysis, asopposed to traditional mor-phological identification,which would actually necessi-tate killing the animal andcounting its vertebrae!

Now that the collabora-tive work between the GHRIand the WCS has establishedwhat sharks live at Glover’s,more advanced projects areunderway. These includeDNA studies of certainspecies (Caribbean reef, nurse

and southern stingray, Dasyatisamericana) to better understand the con-nectivity of populations throughout thetropical western Atlantic. With theCaribbean reef shark, this will be taken astep further by using satellite tags to trackthe migrationsof specific indi-viduals to over-lay on thespecies geneticp o p u l a t i o nstructure. Anumber of indi-viduals of sever-al shark specieswill also be sur-gically fittedwith individual-ly coded trans-mitters andr e m o t e l ytracked with asystem of receivers moored on the bottomaround the atoll. These more advanced,integrative studies will build upon theimportant foundation derived from basicfield sampling efforts, to establish a com-prehensive database on the life history,habitat requirements and movement pat-terns of these threatened fish. Hopefully,this will provide useful information withwhich to plan conservation strategies anddesign MPAs for the sharks and rays ofBelize and elsewhere in the Caribbean.

A 6-m whale shark cruises at the surface in Belize. (Photo courtesy of M. Henning)

Vince Richards tags atiger shark. (Photo cour-tesy of D. Chapman)

6

MASTERCURRENTSINSTITUTE OF MARINE AND COASTAL STUDIES

M.S. degree specialties are marine biology, coastal zone management, and marineenvironmental science. Each course carries three credit hours or may be audited.Tuition is $525 per credit hour (50 percent less for audit). Classes meet once a weekfrom 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at the Oceanographic Center (unless otherwise specified).The fall term runs from September 29–December 19, 2003, (unless otherwise speci-fied). Registration ($25 nonrefundable fee) is September 15–October 13. Teachersmay take courses for recertification credits for $800 (nondegree-seeking status). For fur-ther information, call Andrew Rogerson, Ph.D., or Melissa Dore at (954) 262-3610or 800-396-2326, or email imcs@nova.edu. More information can be found at theWeb site www.nova.edu/ocean/.

Fall Term 2003 ClassesSept. 29–Dec. 19

MARINE ECOSYSTEMSOCOR-5602 This class focuses on marine ecologicalprocesses and functions. The course is oneof the five Core requirements and is com-mon to all three specialties. An overviewof the basic concepts of marine ecologywill be provided along with more detailedelements of the discipline includingdiversity of organisms, feeding relation-ships, ecological roles, growth, and repro-duction. Emphasis will be devoted tocoastal marine communities. LAB FEE$50. Meets Mondays. Instructor: CurtisBurneyPHYSICAL OCEANOGRAPHYOCOR-5607 This course covers basic ocean physicswith a focus on the large-scale circulationof the oceans and their relation to weath-er and climate. Topics include: the physi-cal properties of seawater, temperature andsalinity structure of the oceans, major cur-rent patterns, waves and tides, influencesof the wind, El Niño and tropicaloceanography, and some relations to cli-mate. This course should be appropriatefor students interested in a global view ofphysical oceanography. Students arerequired to take either this course orOCOR-5601 as a CORE course. LABFEE $50. Instructor: Sean Kennan

MARINE BIODIVERSITYCZMT-0685, MEVS-5107, OCMB-6315 Diversity of life on earth is now being dra-matically and irreversibly altered andreduced by human activities. Because somany species are still undescribed, and theecological roles of those that have beennamed are so poorly understood, the mag-nitude of these changes is difficult to eval-uate. The course will discuss multipleaspects of marine biodiversity including:definition and importance of marine bio-diversity to marine conservation issues;threats to marine biodiversity including

nonindigenous species introductions;impediments to marine conservation; sci-entific constraints; developing tools andforums for conserving marine biodiversity,and evaluating existing marine biodiversityinitiatives currently in place and planned.Management approaches such as marineprotected areas, no-take or completely pro-tected reserves, and special managementareas will be discussed and evaluated.

The course will consist of assigned read-ings, extensive discussions and panel par-ticipation, review of latest developments inmarine biodiversity research and conserva-tion, and preparation of several review andplanning documents. In the course, students will also incorporate emerging scientific information from taxonomy, systematics [both morphological andmolecular methods], and evolutionary theory at both macro- and microscaleprocesses as it impacts and effects marinebiodiversity. While all marine systems willbe considered, the course will focus specifi-cally on tropical marine ecosystems, espe-cially coral reefs. Meets Tuesdays.Instructor: James Thomas

CORAL REEF GEOLOGY AND EVOLUTIONOCMB-7015 Throughout earth history, bioconstruc-tions, reefs being the most noticeable, havebeen focal points of organismal evolution,which is recorded in the fossil record aswell as the growth fabrics and lithologies ofthe reef rocks. Organism-environment, andenvironment-sedimentology feedbacks cre-ate distinct signatures that allow us to gain

detailed insight into the ecological func-tioning of reef communities long sincegone and the environment they lived in—if only we can make the rocks talk. LABFEE $50. Meets Thursdays. Instructor:Bernhard Riegl

SCIENTIFIC DIVING AND CORALREEF ASSESSMENTOCMB-9700 This course is designed to provide continu-ing SCUBA diving education and teachbasic scientific diving techniques, especial-ly as applied to coral reef assessment. Uponsuccessful completion of the course, thestudent will be a certified Scientific Diverin the NSUOC Scientific Diving Program.In addition, the student will have theopportunity to acquire higher recreationalPADI certifications including: AdvancedOpen Water Diver, Rescue Diver, and sev-eral other specialty certifications. LABFEE $473. ($100 Deposit due starting9/2/03) LIMITED TO 16 STU-DENTS. Meets Tuesdays. Instructors:David Gilliam and Capt. Lance Robinson

DISTANCE EDUCATIONCOURSES

Coastal PolicyCZMT-0612This Web-based distance education courseexplores the issues, problems, and potentialpolitical and public policy solutions to thechallenges of achieving smart, sustainablestewardship of the seashores. Primaryemphasis is on the United States experi-ence. Students read two outstanding booksand participate in online activities includ-

ing original case studies, online tests, andselected interactive discussion with eachother, the professor, and guests. Optionalweekend or extended 3-credit field trips toexperience and examine coastal policy ven-ues in Fort Lauderdale and Palm Beach(Florida, USA) and other coastal locationswill also be available. Instructor: SteffenW. Schmidt

Environmental Remote Sensing CZMT-0655Increasingly, work in coastal zone manage-ment requires at least a passable knowledgeof Geographic Information Systems (GIS)and Remote Sensing. This course provideshands on training with the latest GIS andRemote Sensing techniques. This Web-based course includes interactive hands oncomputer training and lesson-based Webinstruction. Environmental Remote Sensing deals withthe application of image processing tools toenvironmental problems. Areas covered bythese courses include: Remote SensingTheory, Type of Imagery, Mosaicking,Photo Interpretation, Image Enhancementand Classification Procedures, AccuracyAssessment Procedures, and ImportingGPS Polygons. The course will also provideyou with

1. Basic and Advanced Skills to use thelatest in Remote Sensing Software byERDAS, Inc.2. The necessary advanced training toapply these skills to environmental studies.3. The ability to apply these skills to “realworld” regional and global environmentalproblems.4. Training in techniques that cannotbe found in other online remote sensingcourses.

Class instruction will focus on applicationof these techniques to actual environmen-tal case studies. Instructor: Stacy Myers

Resolving Environmental and Public DisputesCZMT 0675 This course focuses on the theoreticalbases, practical applications, process orien-tations, and actual intervention into com-plex multiparty, multi-issue public disputesregarding management of the coastal zone.The emphasis is on social/environmentalinteractions and sources of political andeconomic conflict over human health,environmental protection, and naturalresource scarcity. Instructor: JeanmariePinto

Water: Cross-cultural, Scientific andSpiritual Perspectives, CZMT-0710 This course will introduce students to theexpanding international dialogue regardingwater and the coastal zone that is nowoccurring amongst the scientific, interfaithand policy communities. We will considerand evaluate whether this may result innew understanding and a greater commit-ment towards our stewardship of water, andparticularly the coastal environment.Instructor: O.P. Dwivedi

,

WINTER TERM CLASSESJanuary 5–March 26, 2004

Oil PollutionPlankton EcologyAspects of Marine PollutionConcepts of Physical Oceanography

Thesis DefensesFleur M. Ferro, “Spatial variability of

the coral reef fish assemblages offshoreBroward County, FL.” Committee mem-bers: Richard Spieler, Robin Sherman,and James Bohnsack, (NOAA/NMFS).June 24.

John L. Reguzzoni, “Feed trials offatty acid composition, feeding frequen-cy, and ration size of Litopenaeu van-namei.” Committee members: Bart Baca,Curtis Burney, and Tom Capo(UM/RSMAS). June 27.

Aaron Hartz, “The Effects ofPhysical and Biological Parameters onthe Survival of Fecal Indicator Bacteriain Beach Sand and Seawater in a Sub-Tropical Environment.” Committeemembers: Andrew Rogerson, DonMcCorquodale, and Scott Schatz (NSUHPD). July 10.

Demian D. Chapman, “Applicationof molecular techniques to studies of repro-ductive natural history and conservation ofsharks: Case studies involving the bonnet-head, Sphyrna tiburo (Sphyrhindidae) andgreat white, Carcharodon carcharias(Lamnidae).” Committee members:Mahmood Shivji, Andrew Rogerson ,andCharles Messing. July 18.

Milan Manasijevic, D.V.M.,“Histopathology of cardiovascular lesionsin 17 rough toothed dolphins (Stenobredanensis) stranded in the Florida pan-handle during 1977, 1998 and 2001.”Committee members: Edward O. Keith,Keith Ronald, and Ruth Ewing (NOAAFisheries). July 21.

Ali Miller, “A descriptive epidemio-logical study of stranded dolphins alongthe Florida coastline.” Committee mem-bers: Edward O. Keith, Curt Burney, andRuth Ewing (D.V.M.) July 28.

SeminarsBill McGraw, Ph.D., an independ-

ent aquaculture consultant, presented atalk on “Inland farming of marine shrimpin freshwater in the USA” on July 2.

Bernhard Riegl, Ph.D., “Coral reefsand climate change: Implications for sci-ence and management.” July 11.

Ray Wolcott, M.S. 2002, gave a talktitled, “Tripneustes ventricosus and thefuture of aquaculture in South Florida”on July 25.

Capstone ReviewKevin Row, “Marine aquariums:

Their use in education, science, conser-vation, and impacts on coral reef biodi-versity.” Committee members: JamesThomas and Curt Burney. June 13.

Ali M. Qasem, “The effects of dis-persants and dispersed oil on the marineenvironment.” Committee members:Don McCorquodale and AndrewRogerson. June 17.

Ian Gibson, “Fish Use of MitigatedSalt Marshes in the United States.”Committee members: Bart Baca andSteffen Schmidt. July 17.

Renée Geithner, “Distribution andMovement of the Polar Bear (Ursus mar-itimus): Study and Analysis Methods, andTheir Implications on Management.”Committee members: Keith Ronald andStacy Myers. July 29.

7

8

On June16 and 17, the OceanographicCenter welcomed twenty-four St. Louisninth graders and their chaperones for theNSUOC portion of the SEA SCIENCEAquatic Ecology Program. While visitingthe center, these not-quite-high-schoolstudents participated in a variety of activi-ties both at the OC campus and theAquaculture Research Center (ARC).Their first day began with an introductionto the center by James Thomas, Ph.D., fol-lowed by a general tour around the campusled by graduate students Lauren Shuman,Fleur Ferro, Becky Freeland, and JimSchiffbauer. While on the tour, studentswere taken to various “stations” in order tolearn about current projects. These proj-ects included a discussion of the coral labled by graduate students Heather Halterand Erin Hodel, a tour of the aquaculturemangrove and shrimp ponds led by projectmanager Cathy Mattison, a tour of thecoral and wet labs in the Melon buildingwith a discussion on coral cores by doctor-al candidate Kevin Helmle, and a demon-stration and video on fish counts presented

by doctoral candidate Paul Arena. Thestudents were then presented with anintroduction to marine mammals byEdward Keith, Ph.D., who gave them achance to guess the identity of the mam-malian skeleton located in the Formanlobby. After this exhausting morningschedule, the students broke for a brieflunch only to resume their hectic day withan investigative beach tour led by Thomas.By far the highlight of the entire programfor many in the group was the introductionto sea turtles and a hatchling releasedemonstration that evening, led by gradu-ate student Stefanie Oullette, who is proj-ect manager for the Broward County SeaTurtle Conservation Program.

Program Director Rick Voskuil andcrew returned to the center for even moreoceanography lessons the next day.Lectures resumed with an introduction toelectron microscopy led by PatriciaBlackwelder, Ph.D., followed by yetanother guided tour. This go round includ-ed different projects such as an overview ofthe research being conducted in the micro-

biology lab, led by doctoral candidate TinaGwaltney and graduate students KaraNowosielski and Marie Cuvelier; anoverview of the EM led given by MissyDore; a glimpse at the aquaculture tanksand how they connect to the rest of ouraquaculture work, led by Cathy Mattisonand librarian Kathy Maxson; and finally, asnack break in the houseboat, with a brief-ing on NCRI’s Coral Nursery and/or someof the shark research going on inMahmood Shivji’s lab. The students thenheaded off for the ARC, where they metwith graduate students Jenna Barrett andMichele Blackburn in order to “fish” thefish tanks. This was a favorite for others inthe group, many of whom had never fishedbefore. It’s not an experience they’ll forgetsoon, either. The Miami Herald did a fea-ture story about their ARC visit, completewith color photos.

This summer’s visit was a pilot projectbetween SEA SCIENCE and the OC toexplore the feasibility of perhaps conduct-ing several more sessions next summer.

The Oceanographic Center Welcomes St. Louis Studentsby Rebecca Freeland

Undergrads Liam Murphy, Dana Wingate, Matthew Mitchell, and SarahMaurer at Heart Breaker Hill on Bartolome Island in the Galapagos as part ofJoshua Feingold’s Ecology of the Galapagos class.

Roger Anderson, Ph.D., of Lamont-Doherty Earth

Observatory of Columbia University, New York, visited the

laboratory of Andrew Rogerson, Ph.D., to devise sampling

methods for determining the abundance of amoebae in the

neustonic layer of mangroves and coastal waters. He is also

the external examiner on Ph.D. candidate Christina

Gwaltney’s B. F. dissertation looking at the role of amoe-

bae in mangrove carbon degradation.

The photo depicts Anderson and Gwaltney sampling surface mangrovewaters.

9

Student in the NewsIan Gibson, a scientist with the Connecticut Department of

Environmental Protection, had his picture featured in a July 6New York Times article titled, “In Sound’s New Economy, Fewer

Old Salts.” Gibson, an M.S. student at the center, defended hiscapstone review on July 17.

Charles Messing, Ph.D., and NCRIresearch assistant Ryan Moyer are study-ing the distribution of benthic macrofaunaoff the northern Straits of Florida from 65to 200 meters using Remotely OperatedVehicle (ROV) technology. After thePhantom-class ROV is launched andabout fifty feet of tether paid out, ahydrographic wire held vertically by a200–600-pound weight is lowered;additional tether is fastened at inter-vals to the wire as it descends, takingthe ROV with it into deeper water.Running this operation in the GulfStream with 5-foot seas, a 4-knot cur-rent and 15-knot winds required con-siderable mastery of technique andcoordination between the ship’s andthe ROV’s crew. Video and digital stillphotographs were transferred up thetether to on-board monitors and com-

puter. In March and April, the team com-pleted work on the Florida platform mar-gin just off the coast of Fort Lauderdale. InJune, Messing and Moyer traveled toFreeport, Grand Bahama Island, to per-

form the deep-water surveys there as well.Based on the data collected, Messing andMoyer are working with Brian Walkerand Richard Dodge, Ph.D., to map thedistribution of the benthic macrofauna on

either side of the Straits of Florida.Their preliminary results indicate that,except for typical reef-dwelling organ-isms such as corals, gorgonians andsponges at the shallow end of the depthrange, the large attached organisms onthe Florida side of the Straits are com-pletely different from those on theBahamas side. Many-armed sea starsand burrowing anemones dominatethe gently sloping, muddy sea floor offFort Lauderdale, while gorgonians andblack corals are the most prominentlarge organisms on the steep, sand-veneered rocky Bahamas slopes.

Deep Water ROV Surveys

Phantom-class ROV awaiting deployment

08-161/03 gjl

Published quarterly byNova Southeastern University3301 College AvenueFort Lauderdale, Florida 33314-7796

Editor: Kathy Maxson

NOTICE OF NONDISCRIMINATIONNova Southeastern University admits students of any race, color, sex, age, nondisqualifying disability, religion or creed, or national or ethnicorigin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school, and does notdiscriminate in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.

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Currents, Summer 2003

Marcy Henning about to release a juvenile Caribbean reef shark.(Photo courtesy of M. Henning)

Elizabeth Glynn inventories stony corals for the Southeast Florida Monitoring project.