Southeastern Estuarine Research Society

Semiannual Meeting

October 19 – 21, 2012

University of North Florida Biological Sciences Building

Jacksonville, FL

PROGRAM & ABSTRACTS

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SEERS

The Southeastern Estuarine Research Society (SEERS) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit educational organization dedicated to the informal exchange of interdisciplinary information related to estuaries of the southeastern United States. SEERS promotes discussion of estuarine research, science, and management; promotes discussion of current research projects and management issues; and encourages participation of student colleagues. SEERS membership is largely, but not exclusively, from the states of NC, SC, GA and FL. SEERS typically meets twice per year, including the biennial Coastal and Estuarine Research Federation Conference. SEERS is an affiliate society of the Coastal and Estuarine Research Federation (CERF). SEERS website: www.SEERS.org 2012-13 SEERS Officers

President

Robert Virnstein, PhD Seagrass Ecosystems Analysts 142 Elgin Road East Palatka, FL 32131 Tel: 386-546-0204 email: seagrass3@gmail.com Past President

Denise M. Sanger, PhD Associate Marine Scientist Environmental Research Section Marine Resources Research Institute SC Department of Natural Resources 217 Fort Johnson Rd. Charleston, SC 29412 Tel: 843-953-9074 email: sangerd@dnr.sc.gov President-Elect

Eugene (Geno) Olmi, PhD Coordinator, NOAA Southeast and Caribbean Regional Team 2234 South Hobson Ave. Charleston, SC 29405 Tel: 843-740-1230 email: geno.olmi@noaa.gov Secretary

David Eggleston, PhD North Carolina State University Director, Center for Marine Sciences and Technology (CMAST) 303 College Circle Morehead City, NC 28557 Tel: 252-222-6301 Fax: 252-222-6302 email: dbeggles@ncsu.edu

Treasurer

Joan E. Sheldon Dept. of Marine Sciences University of Georgia Athens, GA 30602-3636 Tel: (706) 542-0286 Fax: (706) 542-5888 email: jsheldon@uga.edu Program Chair

Carla Curran, PhD Associate Professor Marine Science Program Savannah State University Dept. of Natural Sciences P.O. Box 20600 Savannah, GA 31404 email: curranc@savannahstate.edu Student Representative

Sylvia Schaefer Department of Marine Sciences University of Georgia Athens, GA 30602 Tel: 706-542-8144 email: sylvia@uga.edu Member-at-Large

Ed Proffitt, PhD Associate Professor and Associate Chair Dept. of Biological Sciences Florida Atlantic University Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute 5775 Old Dixie Hwy Ft. Pierce, FL 34946 Tel: 772-242-2207 email: cproffit@fau.edu

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SEERS would like to thank the following for their contributions to this meeting:

A special thanks to:

Our Sponsors:

YSI, Inc.

Friends of the GTM Reserve

University of North Florida

Southern Association of Marine Laboratories (SAML) for Student Travel Awards

Savannah State University

Our Local Host:

Courtney Hackney, University of North Florida

Michelle Davis, University of North Florida

Chair of Student Promotions Committee (Travel Awards): Bob Virnstein

Session Chairs

Anonymous Judges

The Program Chair would like to thank Kate Doyle and Sugeiry Rivera of

Savannah State University for their assistance with the program

SEERS Congratulates our Student Travel Award Winners:

Joe White, Bethune-Cookman University Andrew Kamerosky, Bethune-Cookman University

Elizabeth Salewski, University of South Florida SEERS Student Representative Sylvia Schaefer, University of Georgia

SEERS Lifetime Members

Donald Hoss (Honorary) 2007 Robert Virnstein 2008

Please be sure to check out the SEERS merchandise Sales help to support student awards

SEERS T-shirts and stainless steel water bottles with the new SEERS logo will be available for purchase during all registration times, lunch and breaks. They make

great Birthday gifts!

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This program has been provided courtesy of the College of Science and Technology, Department of Natural Sciences, and Marine Sciences Program at

Savannah State University

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Southeastern Estuarine Research Society October 19 – 21, 2012

University of North Florida Jacksonville, FL

PROGRAM

All events are in Building 59 on the UNF campus (see map at end of program).

Schedule at a Glance Friday, October 19 11:30 – 2:00 p.m. (Optional) individually registered kayaking trip through

GTM NERR 3:00 – 5:00 p.m. Statistics workshop on Information Theoretic Approaches

All Welcome: Building 59 Room 2703 4:30 – 5:30 p.m. Registration and poster setup, Bldg 59 Courtyard

Please load all talks for SEERS meeting Friday evening 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. Poster session and social with snacks and beverages Hallways adjacent to Room 2703 in Building 59 Saturday, October 20 8:00 – 8:30 a.m. Registration open- Building 59 Courtyard 8:15 a.m. Welcome- Building 59 Room 2701 8:30 – 10:00 a.m. Oral Presentations 10:00 – 10:30 a.m. Break 10:30 – 12:15 p.m. Plenary Session:

Estuarine Component of Everglades Restoration 12:15 – 2:00 p.m. Lunch and Poster Viewing 2:00 – 3:15 p.m. Oral Presentations 3:15 – 3:45 p.m. Break 3:45 – 5:00 p.m. Oral Presentations 5:00 – 5:15 p.m. Short Break 5:15 – 6:00 p.m. Business meeting and Student Travel Awards 6:00 – 6:30 p.m. Happy Hour 6:30 – 9:00 p.m. Banquet Sunday, October 21 8:30 a.m. Welcome- Building 59 Room 2701 8:45 – 9:45 a.m. Oral Presentations 9:45 – 10:15 a.m. Break 10:15 – 11:15 a.m. Oral Presentations 11:15 a.m. Closing Remarks and Presentation Awards

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PLATFORM PRESENTATIONS

Presenting author is underlined

Graduate student authors ( * )

Undergraduate student authors ( ** )

Saturday 8:15 Welcome: Courtney Hackney, local host; Robert Virnstein, SEERS

President; and Carla Curran, SEERS Program Chair

Saturday 8:30 – 10:00 a.m. Session I Moderator: Sylvia Schaefer, University of Georgia 8:30 Hermit crab (Clibanarius vittatus) kills gastropod (Melongena corona) for its

shell C. Edward Proffitt1, Donna J. Devlin1, Liliana L. Loreda*1,2, John Paul Kennedy*1,2, James Peters*1,2, Dana Smith*1,2, Lisa Vlaming*1,2 1Florida Atlantic University, Biological Sciences Department 2Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute

8:45 Limited gene flow in Uca minax (LeConte 1855) along a linear estuary J.L. Staton, S.A. Borgianini, I.B. Gibson**, R.J. Brodie University of South Carolina Beaufort

9:00 Long-term effects of invasive species and parasites on estuarine mud crab

communities Wendy E. Eash-Loucks1, Kathryn M. Petrinec1, Matthew E. Kimball1,2 1Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve 2Department of Biological Sciences, University of North Florida

9:15 Is the survivorship of the daggerblade grass shrimp Palaemonetes pugio

affected by the bopyrid Probopyrus pandalicola during starvation at two different temperatures? Michele B. Sherman*, Mary Carla Curran Marine Sciences Program, Savannah State University

9:30 Low-temperature tolerance of juvenile spotted seatrout, Cynoscion nebulosus,

in South Carolina Katie Anweiler*1, Michael Denson2 1College of Charleston GPMB

2SC Department of Natural Resources

9:45 Where were you and what have you been eating?: the correlation of bottlenose dolphin sightings and prey species abundance in the Lower St. Johns River Basin Stephanie Sowa* Jacksonville University

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BREAK 10:00 a.m.-10:30 a.m. Please take time to check out the SEERS merchandise

Saturday 10:30 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. Plenary Session: Science informing Adaptive Management and Restoration in Estuaries as part of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan Moderator: C. Ed Proffitt, Florida Atlantic University 10:30 Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Program Monitoring and Assessment

in the Northern Estuaries and the use of an Oyster Habitat Suitability Index Model Patricia Gorman1, Dr. Aswani Volety2 1South Florida Water Management District 2Florida Gulf Coast University

11:00 Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan Adaptive Management in

Southern Coastal Systems Andy LoSchiavo, US Army Corps of Engineers Jacksonville District

11:30 Past and future impacts of sea level rise on coastal habitats and species in the

greater Everglades — an integrated modeling approach Don DeAngelis, U. S. Geological Survey

12:00 Discussion

LUNCH 12:15 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. Poster Presenters: Please stand by your poster from 1:15-1:45 p.m. if you can

Saturday 2:00 – 3:15. Session II Moderator: Bob Virnstein, Seagrass Ecosystems Analysts 2:00 Linking paleoecology and regression models to simulate pre-drainage

Everglades hydrology and Florida Bay salinity response - a synthesis of five evaluations Frank E. Marshall1, G. Lynn Wingard2 1 Cetacean Logic Foundation, Inc. 2US Geological Survey

2:15 The bloomin’ lagoon – bloom and bust of Indian River Lagoon seagrasses

Lori Morris, Robert Chamberlain, Lauren Hall St. Johns River Water Management District

2:30 Monitoring of super algal blooms in Indian River Lagoon, FL using satellite

data Andrew Kamerosky*, Hyun Jung Cho Bethune-Cookman University

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2:45 Novel remote sensing techniques for monitoring estuarine water quality Deepak R. Mishra1, Sachi Mishra2

1University of Georgia 2Mississippi State University

3:00 Restoration initiative utilizing laboratory reared Ruppia maritima seedlings

Joseph White*, Hyun Jung Cho Bethune-Cookman University

BREAK 3:15 p.m. – 3:45 p.m.

Saturday 3:45 – 5:00. Session III Moderators: Michele Sherman, Savannah State University and Amanda Kahn, University of North Carolina Wilmington 3:45 Oyster ladders: A novel approach to developing sediment grain size profiles,

and associated oyster survival for intertidal oyster reefs in Apalachicola, Florida Joshua Solomon*, Melinda Donnelly, Linda Walters University of Central Florida

4:00 Influences of stress and pulse disturbance on oyster recruitment and development: St. Lucie River Estuary oyster reef restoration Elizabeth Salewski*1,2, C.E. Proffitt1 1Florida Atlantic University 2University of South Florida

4:15 Effects of hypoxia and low pH on mosquito insecticide toxicity in two

commercial shellfish species Robin Garcia*1, Marie DeLorenzo2, Katy Chung2, Peter Key2, Louis Burnett1, Loren Coen3 1College of Charleston 2NOAA/NOS/CCEHBR 3Florida Atlantic University

4:30 Predicting system-scale impacts of oyster filtration on phytoplankton productivity in a small sub-tropical estuary C. Buzzelli1, M. Parker2, S. Geiger2, Y. Wan1, P. Doering1, D. Haunert1 1Coastal Ecosystems Section, South Florida Water Management District 2Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Fish and Wildlife Research Institute

4:45 Microzooplankton grazing the Indian River Lagoon

Nikki Dix, Dennis Hanisak Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute – Florida Atlantic University

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SHORT BREAK 5:00 p.m. – 5:15 p.m.

Saturday 5:15 – 6:00 SEERS Business Meeting Saturday 6:00 – 6:30 Happy Hour Saturday 6:30 – 9:00 Banquet Dinner

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Sunday 8:30 a.m. Welcome: Robert Virnstein, SEERS President & Carla Curran,

SEERS Program Chair Sunday 8:45 – 9:45 a.m. Session IV Moderator: Dennis Allen, Baruch Marine Field Laboratory, University of South Carolina 8:45 The Indian River Lagoon Observatory (IRLO): biodiversity and ecosystem

function of an estuary in transition – water quality, seagrass, and phycology projects M. Dennis Hanisak Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute – Florida Atlantic University

9:00 Between friends: temporal dynamics of a rhizophytic algal seagrass bed

ecotone Laura A. Bedinger University of South Florida, Tampa

9:15 Seasonal variation of abundance and disturbance response of Halophila

johnsonii in the Loxahatchee River Estuary Jerry Metz Loxahatchee River Environmental Control District

9:30 Untangling the effects of galling on the performance and potential fitness of a native coastal halophyte Anthony M. Rossi, William Seemer**, Daniel Moon Department of Biological Sciences, University of North Florida

BREAK 9:45 a.m. – 10:15

Sunday 10:15 – 11:15 a.m. Session V Moderator: Kelly Smith, University of North Florida 10:15 Unprecedented blue-green algal blooms in the Cape Fear River, North Carolina

Michael A. Mallin, Matthew R. McIver, Jared D. Metheny**, Wendy K. Strangman, Jeffrey L. Wright, Justin Isaacs*, Amy Barbera* University of North Carolina Wilmington, Center for Marine Science

10:30 Partitioning use of an intertidal salt marsh creek basin by tidal migratory

nekton Dennis M. Allen, Ginger Ogburn-Matthews Baruch Marine Field Laboratory, University of South Carolina

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10:45 Planning for the future with the new Georgia Coastal Hazard Portal (GCHP) Angela Bliss1, 2, Dodie Sanders1, Clark Alexander3, CJ Jackson4 1University of GA Marine Extension Service (UGA MAREX) 2Center of Ocean Sciences Education Excellence SouthEast (COSEE SE) 3Skidaway Institute of Oceanography (SkIO) 4Georgia Southern University

11:00 An expanded and updated data and graphics for the Potomac Treatise

Norb Jaworski1, Bill Ramono2, Claire Buchanan3 1Environmental Protection Agency (Retired) 2 MD DNR 3 ICPBR

11:15 Closing Remarks and Award Presentations

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POSTER PRESENTATIONS (in order by number)

Listed Alphabetically by Primary Author, Presenting author is underlined

Graduate student authors ( * ), Undergraduate student authors ( ** )

1. A community-based social marketing plan for ecosystem protection in the Indian

River Lagoon

Donna Campbell*1, D. E. DeLorme1, R. A. Swett2, K. M. Hill3, L. J. Walters1

1University of Central Florida 2University of Florida 3Indian River Lagoon National Estuary Program

2. Evaluation of eastern oysters, Crassostrea virginica, on quonset spat collectors in

coastal Georgia

Thomas Bliss1, Patrick Swearingen1, Dick Roberts2, Dan Daquire2, Randal Walker1 1UGA-Marine Extension Service 2Whitehouse Seafood

3. Using remote sensing to assess historical changes in shellfish habitat in Mosquito

Lagoon, Florida

Stephanie Garvis*, Paul Sacks, Linda Walters

University of Central Florida

4. Watch out for that spat! The effect of Perna viridis, Megabalanus coccopoma and

Mytella charruana on the growth and survival of Crassostrea virginica

Wei Yuan*, Linda Walters, Eric Hoffman University of Central Florida

5. Botryllode nigrum's effects on Crassostrea virginica's larval settlement in

Mosquito Lagoon, Florida.

Stephany Silva**, Nicole Malizia**, Samantha Weiyuan*, Eric Hoffman, Linda Walters

University of Central Florida

6. Diversity and effects of macroalgae and sessile invertebrates on Crassostrea

virginica in Mosquito Lagoon, Florida.

Nicole Malizia**, Stephany Silva**, Linda Walters

University of Central Florida

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7. Wading bird community structure and behaviors indicate oyster reef restoration

success in Mosquito Lagoon, Florida

Noémi Rébeli-Szabó**1, William Gerrard**1, C. Anna Toline2, Linda Walters1

1University of Central Florida 2National Park Service – Southeast Region

8. Assessing seasonality of the free-ranging Florida Manatee (Trichechus manatus

latirostris)

Rachel L. Cimino*, Julie P. Richmond

University of North Florida

9. Don’t bite your mother: seasonality and sex differences in dolphin tooth rake

marks

Samantha Nekolny*, Quincy Gibson, Jessica Ermak*, Julie Richmond

University of North Florida

10. Determining residency patterns and seasonality of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops

truncatus) in the St. Johns River by photo-identification

Amber Stickel**, Quincy Gibson, Julie Richmond

University of North Florida

11. Temporal influences on the abundance and size distributions of flatfishes in a

shallow estuarine creek in GA

Robert Kiser**, Mary Carla Curran

Marine Sciences Program, Savannah State University

12. The effect of season on finfish abundance in trawls conducted along the coast of

Georgia

Anthony Hanley**, Mary Carla Curran

Marine Sciences program, Savannah State University

13. Fish assemblages near the mouth of the Savannah River from Cockspur Island to

Tybee Island, Georgia Jennifer A. Gut*1, Jessica M. Reichmuth2, Mary Carla Curran1 1Marine Sciences Program, Savannah State University 2Department of Biology, Augusta State University

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14. Community structure of larval fish entering the Guana-Tolomato-Matanzas

estuary

Breanna Korsman*1, Matt Kimball1,2

1University of North Florida 2Guana-Tolomato-Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve

15. An assessment of the fish communities comparability between two tidal creek

systems

Elijah Ferguson**1, Denise Sanger2, George Riekerk2 1Marine Science Program, Savannah State University 2Marine Resources Research Institute, South Carolina Department of Natural Resources

16. Effect of parasitization by Probopyrus pandalicola on the behavior of

Palaemonetes pugio in the presence of a predator, Fundulus heteroclitus

Brigette A. Brinton*, Joe LaBarre, Mary Carla Curran

Marine Sciences Program, Savannah State University

17. Abiotic and biotic forcings controlling plant zonation in the salt marsh

David M. Evans**, Stephen A. Borgianini

University of South Carolina Beaufort

18. MMM4 : Meeting on Mangrove Ecology, Functioning and Management Conference

(MMM4) in Florida

Ilka C. Feller

Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, Edgewater, MD 21037

19. Effects of prey and fertilizer addition on the hooded pitcher plant, Sarracenia

minor.

Justin Lemmons*, Dan Moon, Anthony Rossi

University of North Florida

20. Savannah and Wilmington River mixing assessed by salinity and pH

K. Michael Scaboo**, Christopher J. Hintz

Marine Sciences Program, Savannah State University

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ABSTRACTS

ORAL PRESENTATIONS Saturday 8:30 – 10:00 a.m. Session I Hermit crab (Clibanarius vittatus) kills gastropod (Melongena corona) for its shell C. Edward Proffitt

1, Donna J. Devlin

1, Liliana L. Loreda*

1,2, John Paul Kennedy*

1,2, James Peters*

1,2, Dana

Smith*1,2

, Lisa Vlaming*1,2

1Florida Atlantic University, Biological Sciences Department

2Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute

The gastropod, Melongena corona, and the hermit crab, Clibanarius vittatus are abundant in many Florida estuaries. M. corona is a key predator on oysters and associated fauna. C. vittatus has been variously described as a scavenger and predator on small prey items. Most C. vittatus in the central Indian River Lagoon (IRL) inhabit M. corona shells. In the field and lab we observed that C. vittatus commonly attacked and killed M. corona, despite literature indicating that they typically scavenge empty shells. We conducted three laboratory experiments to investigate M. corona / C. vittatus interactions in the central IRL. A preliminary experiment documented that crabs killied gastropods when together in an aquarium, while in treatments where C. vittatus were absent, M. corona survived and appeared healthy throughout the study. Experiment 1 tested if the interaction was driven by the hermit crabs’ requisite need for protective shells or for food. Satiated hermit crabs preyed on and killed gastropods in 40% of treatments. In Experiment 2, crabs were offered a choice of M. corona with shell sizes marginally smaller than the one they were wearing at experiment initiation. There were no lethal attacks on smaller gastropods. These results indicate that C. vittatus kills healthy M. corona to attain shells. These findings are unique in two distinct ways: 1) as an example of an animal that will kill another animal to extract a resource other than food and 2) because they suggest the possibility of the first example of a trophic cascade driven by “predation” for something other than a food resource.

Limited gene flow in Uca minax (LeConte 1855) along a linear estuary J.L. Staton, S.A. Borgianini, I.B. Gibson**, R.J. Brodie University of South Carolina Beaufort Biological Sciences, Mount Holyoke College

For crab larvae in an estuary, swimming behaviors can normally move larvae upestuary in a step-wise manner by the larvae avoiding ebb tides in bottom boundary layers and actively swimming into the water column during flood tides (i.e., flood-tide transport [FTT]). Recently, a 1-D transport model that incorporated larval swimming behavior predicted that dispersal from the upper reaches towards the shelf is limited under most conditions (i.e., opposing forces of river discharge and tidal amplitude) in the Pee Dee River/Winyah Bay system of South Carolina, USA. The flow pattern also creates a dispersal barrier preventing recruitment of late stage larvae from the lower reaches to the more freshwater adult habitats of Uca minax (LeConte 1855). We sequenced a 394-bp amplicon of the mitochondrial cytochrome apoenzyme b for 226 adult U. minax, from four locales along a 49-km stretch of the Pee Dee River/Winyah Bay estuary, above and below the boundary of salt intrusion. Results of an analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) and an exact test of population differentiation showed a small, but statistically significant (α = 0.05) population subdivision among adults of the 4 subpopulations, as well as all subpopulations being significantly differentiated (α = 0.05). This pattern fitted with model predictions, which implies that larval transport within the estuary is limited. Long-term effects of invasive species and parasites on estuarine mud crab communities Wendy E. Eash-Loucks

1, Kathryn M. Petrinec

1, Matthew E. Kimball

1,2

1Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve

2Department of Biological Sciences, University of North Florida

Mud crabs are conspicuous and highly abundant members of the benthic community in mud and oyster habitats throughout estuaries. Non-indigenous species are commonly introduced into these estuarine habitats where they may compete with native species for habitat and food, prey upon native species, and carry with them new parasites and diseases. To examine the long-term impact of invasive species on native mud crab communities (e.g., species composition and abundance), crabs were sampled quarterly (using seven replicate oyster trays) for ten years in a mixed oyster/mud habitat in Marineland, Florida. A total of 10 species and 6,684 specimens were collected over the study period; four of these species made up 98% of all the

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specimens collected. Native common mud crab (Panopeus herbstii) abundance remained stable throughout the study period, while the invasive green porcelain crab (Petrolisthes armatus) population returned to early study abundance levels after a decrease in abundance during 2007. After being largely absent from collections, the number of stone crabs (Menippe mercenaria) collected drastically increased during 2011. The flat back mud crab (Eurypanopeus depressus), a native species, declined in abundance in the early years of the study, likely due to an introduced parasitic rhizocephalan barnacle that castrates its hosts. This parasite was introduced to the Chesapeake Bay sometime in the 1950s and migrated south, arriving in Marineland in 2004. Is the survivorship of the daggerblade grass shrimp Palaemonetes pugio affected by the bopyrid Probopyrus pandalicola during starvation at two different temperatures? Michele B. Sherman*, Mary Carla Curran Marine Sciences Program, Savannah State University

The daggerblade grass shrimp Palaemonetes pugio is prevalent in estuaries along the East Coast of the United States, and is an integral part of the estuarine food web. Probopyrus pandalicola is a bopyrid that parasitizes P. pugio and decreases the energy available to its host by feeding on the hemolymph of the shrimp. The parasite also causes both male and female shrimp to be sexually sterilized, presumably due to nutrient depletion. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of Probopyrus pandalicola on the survival time of P. pugio during starvation at two different temperatures. Trials were conducted between September 2009 and June 2012, with 3 trials conducted at 20

oC and 3 at 25

oC. For each trial, parasitized,

deparasitized, and unparasitized shrimp were placed into individual aquaria and starved until 100% mortality occurred. The bopyrid did have a significant effect on shrimp survival times, but only at 25

oC during which

parasitized shrimp survived a significantly shorter amount of time (21.8oC ± 0.81 d) than unparasitized shrimp

(25.2oC ± 0.96 d). In contrast, the bopyrid did not have a significant effect on shrimp survival times at 20

oC,

with all shrimp treatments surviving an average of 26.9-27.5 d. The results of this study have implications related to potential climate change, specifically warmer temperatures, as we found that a small increase in temperature affected the response of P. pugio to the bopyrid parasite. This supports research on other host-parasite interactions that were found to change as a result of increased temperature. Low-temperature tolerance of juvenile spotted seatrout, Cynoscion nebulosus, in South Carolina Katie Anweiler*

1, Michael Denson

2

1College of Charleston GPMB

2SC Department of Natural Resources

Spotted seatrout are vulnerable to winter mortality when air temperature drops, causing shallow water to chill rapidly. Temporary closures in response to population declines should be based on a thorough understanding of the magnitude of winter mortality. In this study, we used the chronic lethal method (CLM) to determine temperatures that are lethal to spotted seatrout when exposed to a -1° C/day change in temperature. Spotted seatrout (n=24) were found to experience loss of equilibrium at a mean (± SD) temperature of 3.57° ± 0.24° C, and mortality at a mean temperature of 3.08° ± 0.31° C. In the next phase of the study we are evaluating how spotted seatrout are affected by prolonged, sub-lethal temperatures, and how seatrout mortality is affected by temporary cooling and warming periods. These experiments use a modified acclimated chronic exposure (ACE) method, which allows acclimation to changing temperatures (-1° C/day) until a pre-determined base temperature is reached. The ACE method is performed with both static and fluctuating temperatures, at two base temperatures (5.25° and 4.25° C). These experimental temperature regimes mimic the natural variability observed in the environment. Fish (n=23) exposed to a stable temperature of 5.25° C for 5 days displayed 0% mortality and 4% loss of equilibrium, while fish (n=23) exposed to temperatures that fluctuated between 6.5° and 4.0° C displayed 4% mortality and 13% loss of equilibrium. The results of this study will be used to develop predictive management tools that incorporate these environmental parameters.

Where were you and what have you been eating?: the correlation of bottlenose dolphin sightings and prey species abundance in the Lower St. Johns River Basin Stephanie Sowa* Jacksonville University

Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) follow fish in the St. Johns River (SJR), Jacksonville, North East Florida. Dolphins have been sighted on aerial surveys and photo identification boat surveys of the St.

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Johns River. Dolphin sightings and fish abundance may be positively correlated with top species preference being striped mullet (Mugil cephalus). Aerial and Photo ID surveys are used to assess distribution and abundance of dolphins in the river. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Committee (FWC) Fisheries Independent Monitoring Program provides fish species and abundance data. Analysis of a correlation of fish species and abundance with the locations of bottlenose dolphin sightings and other independent variables will help to determine prey and habitat preference in the LSJRB. This information will serve as a baseline for future studies and conservation actions that detect economies in normal dolphin prey and habitat preferences.

Saturday 10:30 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. Plenary Session: Science informing Adaptive Management and Restoration in Estuaries as part of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Program Monitoring and Assessment in the Northern Estuaries and the use of an Oyster Habitat Suitability Index Model Patricia Gorman

1, Dr. Aswani Volety

2

1South Florida Water Managment District

2Florida Gulf Coast University

Regional and system-wide science-based ecosystem assessments are a major component of understanding the environmental restoration benefits of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP). This interagency program has been established as part of the Monitoring and Assessment Plan (MAP) by the REstoration COordination and VERification (RECOVER) branch of CERP. In the Northern Estuaries, the monitoring and assessment program has been designed around the conceptual ecological models presented in Wetlands (Sime 2005). The key indicator species have been identified as Oysters, Submerged Aquatic Vegetation, Benthic Invertebrates and Fisheries. The conceptual ecological models for each of these indicators outline the relationships between the stressors, key drivers and biological indicators themselves. A tool in the form of a habitat suitability index model (HSI) for the eastern oyster, Crassostrea virginica, was adapted to evaluate and compare the effects of the implementation of groups of CERP projects on oysters in the Northern Estuaries of South Florida. This tool simulates system response by examining the impact of freshwater inputs on oyster habitat in a given estuary. The eastern oyster is a good indicator species for modeling because of its sedentary nature and its susceptibility to natural and artificial changes. In addition, oysters form a complex three-dimensional reef structure which provides habitat and food for numerous species of fish and invertebrates. Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan adaptive management in Southern Coastal Systems Andy LoSchiavo, US Army Corps of Engineers Jacksonville District

The Central and Southern Florida Project infrastructure of canals and levees have altered the quantity, quality, timing and distribution (QQTD) of freshwater flow into the downstream estuarine and marine areas of Everglades National Park (ENP) and Florida Bay. Decades of research has described salinity as one of the major stressors affecting estuarine ecological change in the downstream areas of ENP constituted of sloughs, connected to lakes, embayments, and Florida Bay. The Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP), approved by the United States Congress in the 2000 Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) (U.S. Congress 2000), to help restore the Everglades and south Florida ecosystems. Congress recognized that an adaptive management (AM) approach was necessary to address uncertainties about how best to achieve the broad goals and objectives for restoring such a highly managed system. Generally speaking, the science aspect of the AM program uses research, modeling, field tests, monitoring and assessment to address key questions related to getting restoration right. This abstract focuses on one example of research supporting AM implementation in the Southern Coastal Systems to both understand how hydrology affects salinity and ecology, what historic salinities were once like, development of performance measures to evaluate the best restoration project plans to move towards those historic salinities, and assessment of actual results from restoration efforts to inform decision-makers on restoration success and/or needed improvements.

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Past and future impacts of sea level rise on coastal habitats and species in the greater everglades — an integrated modeling approach Don DeAngelis, U. S. Geological Survey A multi-disciplinary U. S. Geological Survey project integrates ecological and hydrological models to develop tools to help management deal with the consequences of rising sea level in coastal south Florida. The project builds on prior USGS research in support of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP) on ecological interactions in the estuarine ecosystem of coastal mangrove, marsh and seagrass habitats. This project develops quantitative models for mangroves and other components. These models have the ability to simulate restoration and water management scenarios, and include (1) futurecast capabilities for projected sea level rise and climate change and (2) hindcast capabilities to simulate past conditions. To calibrate and validate the efficacy of the models to capture conditions that support known vegetation, output from the hindcast model is compared to geo-referenced historic photos of past vegetation and shorelines. Retrospective analyses of the full hindcast output and a time series of past habitat photographs can identify patterns of ecosystem change and test and generate hypotheses of long-term ecological-hydrological processes. The new integrated modeling effort focuses on BISECT, a hydrodynamic model for the Everglades/Biscayne Bay area, and TTI, a model for the Ten Thousand Islands. Both simulate surface and groundwater flow under various water management scenarios. Three components are being developed as modules within BISECT: (1) representation of extreme storm disturbance (surge, windfields, and rainfall), (2) SLR scenarios, and (3) projected future precipitation, temperature, etc. from downscaled global climate models. Ecological interactions with the hydrodynamic models focus on mangrove-marsh habitats and submerged aquatic vegetation. Saturday 2:00 – 3:15. Session II Linking paleoecology and regression models to simulate pre-drainage everglades hydrology and Florida Bay salinity response - a synthesis of five evaluations Frank E. Marshall

1, G. Lynn Wingard

2

1 Cetacean Logic Foundation, Inc.

2US Geological Survey

A primary goal of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP) is restoration of freshwater patterns delivered to Florida Bay resulting in a restored salinity regime. Salinity performance measures for Everglades restoration are based on a method that uses paleoecologic characterizations and multiple linear regression models to simulate upstream freshwater flow and stage from paleo-based estimates of salinity. An updated procedure was applied using Florida Bay cores from Whipray Basin, Rankin Lake, Russell Bank, Little Madeira Bay, and Crocodile Point. The model outputs were synthesized using an Optimal Linear Combiner methodology that weights the model output according to the ability of the model to produce accurate estimates when driven by observed data. When the results are interpreted, the synthesized paleo-based flows in Shark River and Taylor Sloughs are about 2 times and about times the average existing flow, respectively. The paleo-based increase in Shark River and Taylor Sloughs water levels are about 0.25m and about 0.31m, respectively. Paleo-based salinity values in Florida Bay are about 10 salinity units less than observed values in nearshore areas and about 5 salinity units less in outer regions. The freshwater flow currently discharged from the managed hydrologic system in South Florida into tidal waters was found to be sufficient to make-up the estimated freshwater deficit. The bloomin’ lagoon – bloom and bust of Indian River Lagoon seagrasses Lori Morris, Robert Chamberlain, Lauren Hall St. Johns River Water Management District The Bloomin’ Lagoon – Bloom and Bust of Indian River Lagoon seagrasses Lori Morris, Robert Chamberlain, and Lauren Hall; St Johns River Water Management District

The Indian River Lagoon (IRL) has been hit by two years of consecutive “super blooms.” The first bloom began in the Banana River Lagoon in March 2011 and consisted of a marine chlorophyte species from the Pedinophyte family, Resultor. Due to strong east to southeast winds, the bloom traveled west through the Barge Canal that connects the Banana River Lagoon to the IRL and then northward by April through Haulover Canal and into Mosquito Lagoon by August. The chlorophyll a reached unprecedented concentrations of 120 µg/L…categorizing it as a “super bloom.” The second bloom began in July 2012 and was composed of a Pelagophyte species, Aureoumbra, commonly called brown tide. At the peak of the brown tide, chlorophyll a

19

reached 200 µg/L and cell counts approached 3 billion cells/L…making it a super-super bloom. This time the bloom began in Mosquito Lagoon and traveled south to southwest into northern IRL. Brown tide blooms often follow other bloom events when inorganic nutrients have been reduced to low levels. Since both of these blooms occurred during the peak growing season for seagrasses there has been large reductions in total seagrass coverage. Average losses Lagoonwide, exceed 33,000 acres, approximately 42%. However, a 99% loss has been observed in some segments of the central IRL!

Monitoring of super algal blooms in Indian River Lagoon, FL using satellite data Andrew Kamerosky*, Hyun Jung Cho Bethune-Cookman University

Remote sensing of chlorophyll a (Chl a) in aquatic systems is often affected by bottom substrates including submerged aquatic vegetation, water absorption of Near InfraRed (NIR) and the light scattering from suspended particles. The Indian River Lagoon (IRL), FL is a productive lagoon system which supports diverse estuarine and marine-dependent organisms and processes. During the summer of 2011, an unprecedented super algal bloom lasted for seven months that spanned throughout the entire northern IRL. The study goals are: (1) calibrate and validate Chl a algorithms using satellite data of the Indian River Lagoon, FL, (2) Determine the accuracy of the algorithms in estimation of Chl a before, during, and after the 2011 super blooms, (3) Map the 2011 algal bloom by using the most effective algorithm. The MEdium Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MERIS) package aboard the ENVISAT provided high resolution spectral bands in the red and NIR, making it possible to quantify Chl a by both photosynthetically active radiation and fluorescence while minimizing interference. During the summer of 2012 the ENVISAT went offline with the replacement slated for launch in 2015, leaving a gap in satellite coverage. We have chosen to also assess the LANDSAT 7 satellite as a substitute. The IRL has had water quality data, including Chl a, gathered for over twenty years by the St. John’s Water Management District. This allows a large data pool to assess the many Chl a algorithms to show from where the bloom originated and how quickly it moved through the system. Novel remote sensing techniques for monitoring estuarine water quality Deepak R. Mishra

1, Sachi Mishra

2

1University of Georgia

2Mississippi State University

Spatio-temporal mapping of water quality parameters such as suspended sediment, chlorophyll (phytoplankton) concentration, cyanobacterial harmful algal concentration are important to monitor the estuarine environments. Traditional methods of quantification of these parameters only allow point measurements in space and time. On the other hand, remote sensing methods using in situ, air-borne, and space-borne sensors have been useful for instantaneous and synoptic estimation of these parameters. In this research, we discuss a novel algorithm, normalized difference chlorophyll index (NDCI), to predict chlorophyll-a (chl-a) concentration from remote sensing data in estuarine and coastal turbid productive waters. NDCI calibration and validation results derived from simulated and MEdium Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MERIS) datasets show its potential application to widely varying water types and geographic regions. NDCI was applied on images over the Chesapeake Bay and Delaware Bay, the Mobile Bay, Lake Pontchartrain, and the Mississippi River delta region in the northern Gulf of Mexico. The newly developed algorithm was successful in predicting chl-a concentration with approximately 12% overall bias for all above study regions. Findings from this research imply that NDCI can be successfully used on MERIS images to quantitatively monitor chl-a in inland coastal and estuarine waters. In case of remote coastal waters with no ground truth data, NDCI can be used to detect algal bloom and qualitatively infer chl-a concentration ranges very similar to NDVI's application in terrestrial vegetation studies. Restoration initiative utilizing laboratory reared Ruppia maritima seedlings Joseph White*, Hyun Jung Cho Bethune-Cookman University

Global seagrass bed biomass and species diversity have been reduced due to natural disasters, massive algal blooms, increases in coastal residencies and with industrialization. Seagrass beds can provide; safe locations for smaller organisms to thrive, sources of oxygen production and nutrient filtering, as well as a naturally occurring mechanism to reduce coastal erosion by absorbing wave energy. Much effort has been made recently to restore these coastal seagrass bed populations worldwide. Our project focuses on the seed germination and transplanting of a seed-bearing seagrass, Ruppia maritima L. The goal of this project is to

20

develop a protocol for the best transplanting units for laboratory reared R. maritima seedlings using various combinations of anchoring devices (shells, such as oyster shells) and natural bio-degradable plant holding materials and mesh to hold the shells together (i.e. coconut mats). Thus far, 965 seeds were harvested from natural beds of R. maritima from Indian River Lagoon, of which 90% were proven to be viable. The seeds were treated using both air-dried and cold-stratification for rapid germination after storage. The overall germination rate was approximately 40% according to our preliminary data and there are 400 Ruppia seedlings growing with different substrates and tanks to test optimal growing conditions. The success of the transplanting units will be assessed at a pilot field location, Halifax Point, Port Orange, FL. This project will help develop science-based technologies and cost-effective practices to restore and enhance coastal seagrass beds using Ruppia maritima seeds and seedlings. Saturday 3:45 – 5:00. Session III Oyster ladders: A novel approach to developing sediment grain size profiles, and associated oyster survival for intertidal oyster reefs in Apalachicola, Florida Joshua Solomon*, Melinda Donnelly, Linda Walters University of Central Florida

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, predicts sea level rise in the next century to be between 25 and 56 cm. Changing sea level and daily submersion times of intertidal species may result in significant changes in recruitment and survival related to changes in sedimentation patterns, predation and competition. Oyster ladders were developed to test this. The Eastern oyster Crassostrea virginica is an ecologically and commercially important species in Apalachicola Bay, Florida. Five “ladders” were deployed at two sites (one inside the Apalachicola National Estuarine Research Reserve, one within St. George Island State Park). Each ladder supported oyster shells and sediment traps at 5 heights (30cm increments from the benthos to just below the mean high tide water line), resulting in percent submersion times from 1% to 98%. Both sites were adjacent to live intertidal oyster reefs within Apalachicola Bay, Florida. Ladders were monitored for six weeks during the summer 2011 oyster recruitment season; abiotic factors were recorded daily, and sediment loads, and abundances of sessile and motile organisms were recorded biweekly. Sedimentation showed a significant pattern with more sediment accumulated closer to the benthos. Significant differences in spat recruitment also occurred with peaks at 70% submergence, while spat size peaked at the highest submersion times. Longer trials are scheduled to run in 2012.

Influences of stress and pulse disturbance on oyster recruitment and development: St. Lucie River Estuary oyster reef restoration Elizabeth Salewski*

1,2, C.E. Proffitt

1

1Florida Atlantic University

2University of South Florida

Oyster reefs are essential estuarine habitats that constitute a valuable fishery and provide numerous ecosystem services. Oyster declines have generated the need for restoration projects worldwide. In some cases anthropogenically modified freshwater releases have exacerbated oyster mortality. The St. Lucie River Estuary was selected as one of the Northern Estuaries to target oyster reef restoration as a component of Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan. In 2009, Martin County restored approximately 8.5 ha of oyster reef throughout the estuary primarily via subtidal placement of fossil shell. We measured oyster colonization and growth for 2 years and, using water quality data from DBHydro, modeled biotic responses to abiotic parameters using structural equation modeling (SEM). SEM allowed separate and combined testing of the multivariate theories including the stress gradient hypothesis (typical environmental conditions) and the intermediate disturbance hypothesis (several month-long pulse of freshwater) on oyster population development. Oyster abundance of all size classes (< 20mm, 20-60mm, > 60mm) was best modeled by SEM when both the typical environmental stress gradient and the pulse disturbance was included in the model (AIC = -831; RMSEA = 0.053; P = 0.409). Oysters < 20 mm were negatively affected by typical environmental conditions in the estuary, more than likely due to greater sensitivity to environmental fluctuations, while oysters > 20 mm were positively affected during typical conditions. Although the disturbance event did not reach levels to cause extensive mortality within the studied sites, moderate effects of maximum chlorophyll, turbidity, and total flow were detected.

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Effects of hypoxia and low pH on mosquito insecticide toxicity in two commercial shellfish species Robin Garcia*

1, Marie DeLorenzo

2, Katy Chung

2, Peter Key

2, Louis Burnett

1, Loren Coen

3

1College of Charleston

2NOAA/NOS/CCEHBR

3Florida Atlantic University

Insecticides are commonly used to control disease-carrying mosquitoes in coastal areas. This study aims to assess the risks of mosquito control insecticides to commercial molluscan species under various abiotic conditions. The effects of mosquito control insecticides on molluscan survival were determined at 96 h (larval and juvenile life stages) and 21 d (juvenile life stage) in the eastern oyster, Crassostrea virginica, and the hard clam, Mercenaria mercenaria, using two pyrethroids, resmethrin and permethrin, and the organophosphate, naled. Larval clams were more sensitive to resmethrin and permethrin than oysters. Naled was the most toxic compound tested in oysters. Larval clams were more sensitive to resmethrin than juvenile clams. Larval oysters and juvenile oysters were similar in sensitivity to the insecticides tested. Toxicity increased with chronic exposure except for resmethrin in juvenile clams. Effects of insecticides on growth (dry weight, shell area) were determined after 21 d in juvenile clams and oysters. Permethrin and naled caused decreased growth in juvenile clams, while all three compounds caused decreased growth in oysters. To determine whether stress from abiotic factors would modify insecticide toxicity, a larval clam acute test was conducted; comparing normal oxygen conditions and hypoxic (low dissolved oxygen) conditions with and without resmethrin exposure. There was a significant effect of hypoxia on resmethrin toxicity, with an eight-fold increase in toxicity (percent of control survival) under hypoxic conditions. Currently, we are testing the effects of low pH and a combination of hypoxia and low pH on resmethrin toxicity.

Predicting system-scale impacts of oyster filtration on phytoplankton productivity in a small sub-tropical estuary C. Buzzelli

1, M. Parker

2, S. Geiger

2, Y. Wan

1, P. Doering

1, D. Haunert

1

1Coastal Ecosystems Section, South Florida Water Management District

2Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Fish and Wildlife Research Institute

Oyster populations in south Florida estuaries have declined in part through altered salinity driven by anthropogenic changes in freshwater inputs. In particular, the St. Lucie Estuary (SLE) in southeastern Florida has suffered widespread loss of oyster habitat. With efforts underway to improve water quality and oyster habitat in the SLE, the goal of this study was to develop a model to assess ecosystem level impacts of oyster restoration. Phytoplankton and oyster biomass modeling targets were established from observational data collected from 2005-2009. Modeled oyster biomass production and filtration fluctuated with temperature, salinity, and total suspended solids (TSS) from a combination of observational and predicted input functions in 10 year simulations (1998-2007). Model estimates of oyster biomass fluctuated with salinity from near zero after extreme freshwater discharge in 2002-2003 and 2004-2005 to maximum values near 150.0 and 200.0 g C m-2 in spring 1999 and fall 2006. There was potential for algal blooms as turnover time for the phytoplankton standing stock (15.6 d) was faster than water mass turnover (21.0 d). While >1000 days were required for 50 ha of oyster habitat to filter the entire volume of the estuarine segment, filter time reduced to <20 d with an estimated 5 fold increase in net consumption of phytoplankton if the oyster habitat was increased to 300 ha. Re-establishment of biologically desirable salinity envelopes would stabilize oyster survival allowing the possibility for successful habitat restoration to benefit water quality and faunal attributes of the St. Lucie Estuary. Microzooplankton grazing the Indian River Lagoon Nikki Dix, Dennis Hanisak Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute – Florida Atlantic University

Zooplankton play a critical role in the ecological function of estuaries, mostly because of their place in the food web. More specifically, microzooplankton (< 200 µm) are thought to consume over half of the pelagic primary production in marine ecosystems. To better understand the role of microzooplankton in the Indian River Lagoon, an estuary of national significance, grazing experiments were conducted once per month with water from two sites January – August 2012. Results were variable in space and time with grazing rates ranging from -1.0 d

-1 – 2.26 d

-1. Positive grazing rates were observed from March – August suggesting that

microzooplankton actually had a net stimulatory effect on phytoplankton growth. Potential causes of this phenomenon will be discussed, as well as new questions and future research directions.

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Sunday 8:45 – 9:45 a.m. Session IV The Indian River Lagoon Observatory (IRLO): biodiversity and ecosystem function of an estuary in transition – water quality, seagrass, and phycology projects M. Dennis Hanisak Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute – Florida Atlantic University

The Indian River Lagoon (IRL) is a unique, highly diverse, shallow-water estuary of national significance stretching along 40% of Florida’s east coast. Urbanization, excessive freshwater releases, degradation of water quality, contaminant loading, loss of habitat, decline of fisheries, and emerging diseases in marine mammals are increasingly important issues in the IRL, as they are throughout the world’s estuaries and coastal waters. The Indian River Lagoon Observatory (IRLO) is a long-term, multidisciplinary and ecosystem-based program, designed to address emerging issues of environmental health in the IRL system by achieving a better understanding of the biodiversity and ecological functions and how they are impacted by the surrounding human population. IRLO’s goal is to acquire and disseminate new data and knowledge on components of the IRL critical to its ecological function and its sustainable management. Some of the current IRLO research questions are: (1) How does temporal and spatial variability of water quality affect biodiversity and ecological function in the IRL? (2) Do chronic and/or acute exposures to cyanobacterial metabolites lead to ecosystem degradation and impact human/marine mammal health? (3) How do environmental changes affect critical seagrass habitats? (4) How are macroalgal blooms in the IRL related to anthropogenic nutrient sources? (5) What is the macroalgal community of Florida's northernmost coral reef? IRLO’s researchers are actively working with federal and state agencies responsible for the IRL’s management to integrate IRLO research with existing and future agency programs and seek collaborations with other researchers who are interested in these and other important research questions. Between friends: temporal dynamics of a rhizophytic algal seagrass bed ecotone Laura A. Bedinger University of South Florida, Tampa (recent graduate)

Rhizophytic green algae (e.g. Caulerpa, Halimeda, Penicillus, and Udotea) are abundant macrophytes throughout tropical and subtropical regions that occur as an understory in seagrass meadows, as well as form beds composed only of mixed or monospecific rhizophytic algal species. Little is known about the interactions of native rhizophytic algae with co-occurring seagrasses, and studies suggest both that rhizophytic algae facilitate colonization by seagrasses and that competition may occur between these two groups. Six belt transects (divided into 14 quadrats) centered on the intersection of Thalassia testudinum (with some algal understory) and rhizophytic algae-only beds on the central west coast of Florida were monitored over two years to look for shifts in vegetation type. Over the course of the study, T. testudinum colonized 31% of plots in the algae-only zone and disappeared from none of the plots in either zone, with total short shoot numbers increasing on each sampling occasion. Similarly, the total abundance of uncalcified Caulpera prolifera increased at each sampling, and the species colonized 24 new plots over the course of the study while it disappeared from 7 plots it initially occupied. A calcified alga, Halimeda incrassata, showed the opposite pattern with fewer thalli at each sampling and extirpation from 25 plots over the two years, while it colonized only 3 new plots. Four other rhizophytic algal species showed seasonal or minor fluctuations in abundance. Overall, no consistent pattern was apparent among rhizophytic algal species, while T. testudinum expanded, albeit slowly, into the algae-only zone. Seasonal variation of abundance and disturbance response of Halophila johnsonii in the Loxahatchee River Estuary Jerry Metz Loxahatchee River Environmental Control District

Halophila johnsonii is a seagrass with distribution limited to the east coast of Florida within the Indian River Lagoon and associated estuaries. Within the Loxahatchee River Estuary, H. johnsonii is the most abundant seagrass on the basis of areal coverage and distribution. Since 2003 the Loxahatchee River District, in partnership with both the St. Johns River Water Management District and the South Florida Water Management District, has conducted high-frequency monitoring surveys to document the natural seasonal variation and environmental response of this seagrass. Observations have shown that H. johnsonii is a dynamic seagrass in terms of local distribution and response to major disturbance events. Our data document

23

the seasonal variation with distinct areal coverage peak in April/June followed by a coverage trough in August/October. Additionally, H. johnsonii expressed a very dynamic response to the storms of 2004 which denuded much of the seagrass within the Loxahatchee River Estuary. In the months following the storms, H. johnsonii rapidly recolonized the denuded beds by occupying spaces previously dominated by the much more robust seagrass Syringodium filiforme. In the subsequent years, H. johnsonii has nearly returned to its pre-storm abundance as S. filiforme has steadily re-established. This information is vital for assisting resource managers in establishing best management practices and making sound ecological decisions which will have overall minimal impact on the system.

Untangling the effects of galling on the performance and potential fitness of a native coastal halophyte Anthony M. Rossi, William Seemer**, Daniel Moon Department of Biological Sciences, University of North Florida

The gall midge Asphondylia borrichiae attacks the stem tips of its three host plants, sea oxeye daisy (Borrichia frutescens), marsh elder (Iva frutescens) and dune elder (I. imbricata). Female midges oviposit near the apical meristem resulting in a tumor-like structure (= gall) within which the juvenile midges develop. It is believed that the ancestral host plant of Asphondylia is Borrichia and the two species of Iva are derived hosts that have been incorporated into the host range of Asphondylia via ovipositional (i.e. egg-laying) mistakes. Theory suggests that incorporation of a novel host into an insect’s host range is typically prevented owing to reduced larval survival and performance on the derived plant as well as reduced survival of the new plant which is not adapted to damage caused by the novel insect. However, our results suggest that plant stem and flower production as well as stem survival benefit from attack by Asphondylia. Essentially, once the gall midges emerge from the gall, both the gall and stem tip senesce; however, senescence of the original tip often results in bifurcation and two stems (and flowers) rather than one. Increased plant performance caused by the attack of Asphondylia may help to relax selection against host range expansion to novel plants. Sunday 10:15 – 11:15 a.m. Session V Unprecedented blue-green algal blooms in the Cape Fear River, North Carolina Michael A. Mallin, Matthew R. McIver, Jared D. Metheny**, Wendy K. Strangman, Jeffrey L. Wright, Justin Isaacs*, Amy Barbera* University of North Carolina Wilmington, Center for Marine Science

The Cape Fear River is a nutrient-enriched system, yet algal blooms have historically been rare due to severe light attenuation from upstream-sourced turbidity and organic color from tributaries. In July 2009 reports began surfacing of green-flecked surface blooms centered near Lock and Dam #1. Water samples indicated the blooms consisted of the blue-green alga (cyanobacterioum) Microcystis aeruginosa. Chlorophyll a samples and BOD samples were both elevated well above normal, and measured microcystins levels were well above WHO recommended standards. The blooms ended in fall but recommenced in July 2010, with surface scums yielding up to 364 ppb of chlorophyll a. Summer 2011 saw expansion of the blooms above Lock and Dam #2 and downstream to the Black River; additional blue-green algal blooms occurred in the Northeast Cape Fear River, leading to severe hypoxia. In 2012 blooms returned in July, and expanded water column sampling revealed marked layering of chlorophyll and associated BOD. Bloom samples were collected in 2009 and 2012 and chemically analyzed for cyanopeptide production. We determined that both blooms produced milligram quantities of microcystins LR and RR. We have also determined that these blooms produce members of an additional family of secondary metabolites called micropeptins, including two new members; micropeptins 1106 and 1120. The biological activities for these new molecules have not yet been determined however protease activity has been well documented for this family. These blooms mark a changing paradigm for this river system, bringing new threats to its use as a drinking water source and fishery. Partitioning use of an intertidal salt marsh creek basin by tidal migratory nekton Dennis M. Allen, Ginger Ogburn-Matthews Baruch Marine Field Laboratory, University of South Carolina

Paired collections of nekton present on a salt marsh at high tide and in an adjacent intertidal creek pool at low tide were conducted to investigate temporal and spatial patterns of use for the tidal migratory assemblage. High (HT) and low (LT) tide collections were dominated by the same three species (spot, white shrimp, mummichog) and 8 of the 10 top-ranked species were the same in both sets of collections. Significant

24

positive relationships between the HT and LT catches of total nekton and of transients (top 8 species, e.g. spot, white shrimp, mullets) indicated that what remained in the in pool was representative of what used the flooded marsh on the previous high tide. No relationship was observed for resident species, indicating their tendency to remain in shallow isolated pockets of water upstream of the main intertidal pool. Among the transient species, some (white mullet, striped mullet, Atlantic menhaden) were disproportionately more abundant at HT, signaling a tendency to move out of the basin rather than remain in intertidal pools, whereas others (spot, pinfish, spotfin mojarra) were more likely to remain in pools. White shrimp abundances were highest at HT, and they tended to leave the area during ebb tide; those that remained in the pool were significantly smaller. Species specific differences in the timing and distance of movements across the tidal landscape indicate that a partitioning of use enables many species of both resident and transient nekton to share use of the intertidal zone. Planning for the future with the new Georgia Coastal Hazard Portal (GCHP) Angela Bliss

1, 2, Dodie Sanders

1, Clark Alexander

3, CJ Jackson

4

1University of GA Marine Extension Service (UGA MAREX)

2Center of Ocean Sciences Education Excellence SouthEast (COSEE SE)

3Skidaway Institute of Oceanography (SkIO)

4Georgia Southern University

Created to assist coastal communities with planning for poised and potential hazards, the Georgia Coastal Hazard Portal (GCHP) is an interactive GIS web based tool comprised of many coastal hazard data layers. Set in a user friendly program, these layers of GA coast data can be searched, captured, and shared. Layers range from coastal erosion and accretion rates, armored shoreline, and estimated inundations with sea level rise. This presentation by the UGA MAREX educator will introduce the portal and briefly go through the scenario based tutorial the GCHP team created to showcase GCHP's possibilities to researchers, planners, and all those living or loving the coast. An expanded and updated data and graphics for the Potomac Treatise Norb Jaworski

1, Bill Ramono, Claire Buchanan

1Environmental Protection Agency (Retired)

2 MD DNR

3 ICPBR

In March 2007, the Potomac Treatise was completed. The principal goal of the treatise was to provide a broad a broad historical analysis of the landscape loading changes an resulting water quality trends of both the Potomac River Basin and its Estuary for the past century. We expanded and updated the data and graphics for the Potomac Treatise. This presentation focuses on the Estuary. In the late 1890s and early 1900s, over 50 mgd of wastewater flowed into the Upper Estuary untreated. Drinking water from wells and the Potomac River in the DC area were contaminated with human pathogens resulting in over 2,000 deaths. As a result of enforcement actions, the construction grants program, and the NDPES program, the collection and treatment of wastewater has dramatically reduced the amount of BOD, TN, and TP discharged to the Upper Estuary as shown below; the POTWs are state-of-art facilities and are providing very high degree of wastewater treatment. Chlorination of the POTW effluents and reduction of untreated sewerage overflows dramatically reduced the coliform contamination of the Upper Estuary. A major improvement was in summer dissolved oxygen concentrations of the Upper Potomac in the DC area. In the late 1940s through the 1960s, the summer oxygen levels were often less than 2.0 mg/l. Since the 1990s, the DO concentrations were > 6.0 mg/l.

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POSTER PRESENTATIONS (Alphabetical Order) Evaluation of eastern oysters, Crassostrea virginica, on quonset spat collectors in coastal Georgia Thomas Bliss

1, Patrick Swearingen

1, Dick Roberts

2, Dan Daquire

2, Randal Walker

1

1UGA-Marine Extension Service

2Whitehouse Seafood

The University of Georgia Marine Extension Service is developing an oyster aquaculture industry for the State of Georgia. This project examines various forms of Quonset hut devices designed and constructed by Whitehouse Seafood to collect oyster spat. Huts are 1.2m x 1.5m formed into a semi-circle 38cm high. We tested six different designs on spat recruitment and oyster growth; 15cm wire grid; 7.5cm wire grid; 15cm wire grid and mussel rope; 15cm wire grid and 7.5cm strips of burlap; 15cm wire grid and sisal rope; ¾ inch PVC bars at 10cm spacing. Huts were deployed on May 2 and sampled on September 19, 2011. The PVC Quonset huts performed the best. PVC huts had the second highest density of oyster spat and growth of oysters was consistently larger than oysters grown on other treatments. By February 2012 PVC huts produced 4.5 bushels of legal sized oysters of which approximately half were legal size singles and others were doublets or triplet oyster clusters. Oysters on PVC huts grew too fast which resulted in thin shells and needed to be replanted on the bottom to thicken shells. The experiment showed that marketable single oysters can be produced within a year when grown in coastal Georgia. Effect of parasitization by Probopyrus pandalicola on the behavior of Palaemonetes pugio in the presence of a predator, Fundulus heteroclitus Brigette A. Brinton*, Joe LaBarre, Mary Carla Curran Marine Sciences Program, Savannah State University

The daggerblade grass shrimp Palaemonetes pugio plays a crucial role in estuarine communities of the Atlantic and Gulf coasts. Parasitization by the bopyrid Probopyrus pandalicola affects some aspects of shrimp physiology, but does not affect diel and tidal behavior. The mummichog Fundulus heteroclitus is a visual predator that consumes grass shrimp. Backward thrusting is an anti-predatory shrimp behavior, potentially permitting escape at the cost of increased visibility. The purpose of this study was to determine how parasitization affected the behavior of P. pugio in the presence of F. heteroclitus. Each laboratory tank contained 1 pair of fish plus 1 parasitized and 1 unparasitized P. pugio. Trials lasted a maximum of 30 min, and shrimp behavior just before consumption was recorded. The 4 types of behavior in order of increasing visibility and energy investment were: motionless, walking, swimming, and backward thrusting. Prey selection by F. heteroclitus was greatest for backward-thrusting shrimp (92.9%) regardless of whether shrimp were parasitized. Parasitized shrimp were less likely to exhibit this behavior (8.7%) than unparasitized shrimp (30.4%), which may be attributable to decreased energy reserves caused by the parasite. Despite any behavioral differences between parasitized and unparasitized shrimp, there was no significant difference (p=0.11) in their selection by F. heteroclitus. An unexpected benefit of reduced energy levels in parasitized shrimp may be the resulting reduction in mobility, and thus visibility to a predator. Conversely, unparasitized shrimp are able to employ the more energy-demanding behavior of backward-thrusting. By affecting energy availability, parasitization may affect host anti-predatory behavior. A community-based social marketing plan for ecosystem protection in the Indian River Lagoon Donna Campbell*

1, D. E. DeLorme

1, R. A. Swett

2, K. M. Hill

3, L. J. Walters

1

1University of Central Florida

2University of Florida

3Indian River Lagoon National Estuary Program

The Indian River Lagoon (IRL) system on the east coast of central Florida is one of the most biologically diverse waterways in North America. However, growing urbanization and human behaviors, especially recreational motorized boating, threatens its habitats and biodiversity. All keystone estuarine species (oysters, seagrasses, marsh grasses, and mangroves) have been negatively impacted by recreational motorized boats in the IRL. These impacts include propeller scars, boat strikes, eroded shorelines, and piles of empty oyster shells where live oyster reefs once existed. We plan to collaborate with social scientists to create a community-based social marketing (CBSM) program with innovative approaches to increase voluntary Ecologically Responsible Recreational Boating (ERRB) to help protect these habitats. We will delineate eco-sensitive zones in Mosquito Lagoon (northernmost IRL) which warrant better protection using GIS and field reconnaissance, and create a smart phone navigational application to assist recreational boaters in identifying

26

these zones. We will be recording erosion, organism metrics, and boater activity at highly impacted and ecologically-stable control sites before and after the CBSM program. We will analyze any changes in boater activity, erosion, reef death, or prop scarring following the CBSM program to determine its effectiveness. Assessing seasonality of the free-ranging Florida Manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostris) Rachel L. Cimino*, Julie P. Richmond University of North Florida

Growth hormone (GH), a component of the somatotropic axis, links energy regulation and nutritional status. Growth hormone increases lipolysis when nutritional status is low (energy deficit), and inhibits lipogenesis. In some species, GH concentrations are greater during short photoperiods (less than 12 hours of daylight) than in long photoperiods (greater than 12 hours of daylight), likely increasing adipose utilization to meet maintenance energy requirements during times of limited or reduced intake. The Florida manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostris) is a marine mammal with a unique adipose storage site. Manatee blubber structure is distinctive from other marine mammals and exhibits seasonal changes in quantity. The objective of this research was to investigate the seasonality of GH in the Florida manatee. We hypothesized that GH concentrations would be greater during short photoperiods corresponding with diminished blubber layer and low metabolic rate. Serum GH concentrations were quantified in adult manatee serum during short (females: n=10; males: n=8) and long (females: n=9; males: n=9) photoperiods by radioimmunoassay. Growth hormone concentrations in all animals were greater during the short photoperiod (p=0.02). Males tended to have greater GH concentrations than females (p=0.06), but exhibited a similar pattern between photoperiods (p=0.36). Increased GH in conjunction with reduced blubber thickness may indicate low nutritional status and an increased reliance on blubber energy reserves during short photoperiods similar to other mammal species. Abiotic and biotic forcings controlling plant zonation in the salt marsh David M. Evans**, Stephen A. Borgianini University of South Carolina Beaufort

Salt marshes on the southeastern U.S. coasts exhibit consistent and distinct zonation of vascular flora beginning at the bank of tidal creeks and terminating in the maritime forest. The transitions between each vegetative zones are abrupt. In this physiologically stressful environment, plant distribution may be determined by a suite of abiotic and biotic factors including salinity, soil pH, topography, sediment moisture, soil carbon content, durations of inundation, aeration from fiddler crab burrows and distribution of mussels. In an attempt to identify the abiotic forcings and biotic interactions responsible for the distinct zonation patterns we assessed the real-world plant distribution by examining each of three transects for carbon content, soil moisture and pH, duration of inundation, and topography. We used quadrat sampling to estimate the number of active fiddler crab burrows (Uca punax, Uca pugilator, Uca minax), marsh periwinkles (Littoraria irrorata) and ribbed mussels (Geukensia demissa) within each vegetative zone. Uca burrow density decreased moving landward from the creek. Littoraria density was highest in short-form Spartina and Salicornia. Geukensia density was random and sparse. Topography, soil moisture, and inundation were found to co-vary. Both tall and short Spartina was found in areas of lowest topography, highest soil moisture, highest soil carbon and maximum inundation. Borrichia and Juncus were found in areas of higher topography, lower soil moisture and minimum inundation. This finding is consistent with Spartina marshes serving as particulate organic carbon sinks. Variability of pore-water salinity increased moving landward from the tidal creek, reaching maximums in the stands of Salicornia. MMM4: Meeting on Mangrove Ecology, Functioning and Management Conference (MMM4) in Florida Ilka C. Feller Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, Edgewater, MD 21037

The Meeting on Mangrove Ecology, Functioning and Management (MMM) is a global conference on mangrove ecosystems, held every 4 years. MMM1 was in Mombasa, Kenya, 7-11 September 2000. MMM2 was in Coolangatta, Australia, 25-30 June 2006. MMM3, organized by Vrije Universiteit Brussels, Universite Libre de Bruxelles, University of Ruhuna, and Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute, was in Galle, Sri Lanka, 2- 6 July 2012. These conferences were attended by ~200 mangrove scientists from around the world. Mangrove ecologists in the USA have been asked by the MMM3 organizers to host MMM4 in Florida in September 2016. Planning is underway, but the exact venue is still under consideration. As at previous MMM conferences, MMM4 will include mid-conference excursions and will be followed by week-long workshops in mangrove sites to identify research gaps through fieldwork, analyses and brainstorming. All mangrove

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scientists in the USA are hereby invited to help plan, organize, contribute to, and attend MMM4. If you and your home institution would like to take on a major role in planning this conference, there is a place for you on the Organizing Committee. If you can help review abstracts and judge student presentations, there is a place for you on the Scientific Committee. Contact Candy Feller, Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, for further information (felleri@si.edu; 443-482-2269).

An assessment of the fish communities comparability between two tidal creek systems Elijah Ferguson**

1, Denise Sanger

2, George Riekerk

2

1Marine Science Program, Savannah State University

2Marine Resources Research Institute, South Carolina Department of Natural Resources

The mouth of Stringer Creek is being altered by bridge reconstruction over the Folly River in Charleston, South Carolina USA. A Before After Control Impacted (BACI) study design was used to assess potential effects on nekton communities. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the comparability of the nekton community of Stringer Creek to a reference creek from the first before-impact sampling event in the spring of 2012. In addition, an assessment of the nekton community down the length of the creek was also evaluated. Each creek was divided into segments or orders to ensure the entire system was evaluated (first order – shallow headwaters and second order – larger mainstream). Three sites were sampled by seine net in each order and creek. The total abundance in Stringer Creek and the reference creek was 56.5±13.8 individuals per square meter (mean± standard error) and 34.7±14.9 individuals per square meter, respectively. The nekton abundance and species diversity between the two creeks and between orders were found to be similar. Out of 30 total species caught the two most dominant groups in both creeks were grass shrimp, Palaemonetes spp., and Penaeidae shrimp. The initial results indicate that the reference creek is an appropriate control creek for the assessment of future potential impacts in Stringer Creek. Using remote sensing to assess historical changes in shellfish habitat in Mosquito Lagoon, Florida Stephanie Garvis*, Paul Sacks, Linda Walters University of Central Florida

The severe loss of the eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica) has encouraged different types of restoration efforts throughout its native range, including in Mosquito Lagoon, Florida. Restoration focuses on providing additional stable substrate for larval recruitment via mesh mats with adult oyster shells perpendicularly attached to the mesh. To assess the current area of natural, dead and restored oyster reefs within Mosquito Lagoon, aerial photographs from 2009 were digitized using ArcGIS software. The live reefs, restored reefs and dead reefs were screen digitized using a reef ‘signature’ to estimate the area of each type of reef. A random subset of natural reefs was visited to confirm accuracy of the digitization. 2009 maps were used as a guide to digitizing the remaining historical aerial photographs (1943, 1951, 1967, 1971, 1984, 1995, and 2006). Overall, Mosquito Lagoon has lost 24% of its original natural reef habitat since 1943. Dead reefs increased both in number and aerial extent during the study period (1943 – 2009), with 2009 having over 10 acres of dead reef coverage. Dead reefs were significantly more likely to be found along major boating channels, especially within Canaveral National Seashore. Many dead reefs exhibited a migration into the mangrove islands located behind the reef, with some dead reefs completely washing up into the shoreline. Our research demonstrates that boating channels are linked with the formation of dead reefs and that over time these dead reefs will wash up into the adjacent saltmarsh if they are not restored. Fish assemblages near the mouth of the Savannah River from Cockspur Island to Tybee Island, Georgia Jennifer A. Gut*

1, Jessica M. Reichmuth

2, Mary Carla Curran

1

1Marine Sciences Program, Savannah State University

2Department of Biology, Augusta State University

Fish assemblages are indicators of habitat degradation and environmental contamination of an ecosystem. Industrial, agricultural, and municipal activities in and around Savannah, Georgia contribute pollution to the lower Savannah River, which is currently the 4th most toxic river in the United States. The purpose of this study was to determine fish biodiversity near the mouth of the Savannah River from Cockspur Island to Tybee Island, Georgia. Fish were collected by seine from June to September 2012, identified to species, and measured. Species diversity was determined using the Shannon-Weaver diversity index. Eleven different species were collected, the majority of which (71.3%), were in the families Carangidae, Mugulidae, and Sciaenidae. Mullet (Mugil spp.) comprised 39.8% of the individuals. Mullet and Florida pompano

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(Trachinotus carolinus) were the only species collected at both study sites, and size varied by location. Mullet were bigger near Tybee Island (12.52 ± 2.35 cm) than Cockspur Island (11.62 ± 4.05 cm), but the average size of Florida pompano were bigger near Cockspur Island (7.25 ± 0.64 cm) than Tybee Island (6.88 ± 1.67 cm). Cockspur Island had a higher biodiversity (4.70) than Tybee Island (3.22). Both study sites exhibited high biodiversity, which may indicate that the sample areas are not substantially impacted by anthropogenic effects. The effect of season on finfish abundance in trawls conducted along the coast of Georgia Anthony Hanley**, Mary Carla Curran Marine Sciences Program, Savannah State University

The abundance of finfish can be used to assess the health of estuaries. Finfish abundance studies in Georgia estuaries have been conducted through the National Science Foundation OEDG program at Savannah State University for several years. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of season on the abundance of finfish. Trawls were conducted aboard the R/V Savannah between December 2011 and August 2012 at stations in Wassaw Sound, the Wilmington River, and the Savannah River. Fewer fish were collected in winter than during other times, although trawling location may have played a role as well. During the December cruise, 44 individuals were caught within 10 species. This number increased to 118 individuals within 21 species in April. The number of finfish caught remained high during the June cruise with 139 individuals representing 20 different species. In August, 96 individuals within 13 species were collected. Three of the most abundant species belonged to the drum family. These species include the spot (n=52), banded drum (n=35), and southern kingfish (n=33). Sciaenids accounted for 30% of the catch. These results are similar to a larger scale monitoring effort conducted by Georgia Department of Natural Resources (GADNR) for which the dominant family was also the Scianenidae. Temporal influences on the abundance and size distributions of flatfishes in a shallow estuarine creek in GA Robert Kiser**, Mary Carla Curran Marine Sciences Program, Savannah State University

Temperature and seasonal changes may play crucial roles in the selection of nursery habitats by flatfishes. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the patterns in use of a shallow estuarine creek by flatfishes to determine the effect of season on species composition and abundance over multiple years. Monthly samples were collected during ebbing tide between January 2004 and September 2012 in Wylly Creek (31°59’52”N, 81°03’18”W) in Savannah, Georgia. Three replicate tows were conducted for 2 minutes each using a 1 m-wide beam trawl with a 3 mm mesh net. Means were calculated as the number of individuals per sample date by season. Six species were collected throughout the study: the blackcheek tonguefish Symphurus plagiusa, the bay whiff Citharichthys spilopterus, the fringed flounder Etropus crossotus, the summer flounder Paralichthys dentatus, the southern flounder Paralichthys lethostigma, and the ocellated flounder Ancylopsetta quadrocellata. Flatfish species were found to use the creek at different times of the year. The most abundant species throughout the study was Symphurus plagiusa (6.60 ± 0.77), with peak abundance during summer (11.96 ± 2.14). Citharichthys spilopterus were most abundant during winter (12.28 ± 4.54) when mean size was shortest (18.1 ± 0.4 mm) and least abundant during fall (1.10 ± 0.51) when mean size was longest (81.9 ± 5.3 mm). The major finding of this study was that recently settled Citharichthys spilopterus used Wylly Creek as a nursery in early winter while the other species utilized this creek in later juvenile stages. Community structure of larval fish entering the Guana-Tolomato-Matanzas estuary Breanna Korsman*

1, Matt Kimball

1,2

1University of North Florida

2Guana-Tolomato-Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve

In order to determine temporal patterns of distribution and abundance of larval fish ingressing to the Guana-Tolomato-Matanzas estuary, ichthyoplankton were sampled from Fort Matanzas and the St. Augustine public marina every two weeks during nighttime spring flood tides beginning in March 2012. Samples were collected with a circular plankton net (1 m diameter with 1 mm mesh), equipped with a mechanical flowmeter. Three replicate collections were made per sampling event. The plankton net was suspended 1 m below the surface in the water column with the current from a fixed point. Over 15,000 fish have been collected and identified, representing 62 species. Four families make up 87% of the total number of fish collected: Gobiidae (32%), Engraulidae (29%), Gerreidae (15.5%), and Sciaenidae (10.5%). Seasonal trends in the taxa

29

collected, the number of species collected per event, and in the density of ichthyoplankton are apparent. The density of fish per 100 cubic meters water trends upward as water temperature increases. Spring and summer pulses in recruitment are evident in species that spawn year-round (e.g. gobies and anchovies), and peaks in recruitment are evident in seasonal spawners (e.g. Archosargus probatocephalus, Leiostomus xanthurus and Micropogonias undulatus). The seasonal pulses and fish densities correlated with water temperature corroborate the results of similar studies in other geographic locations along the US Atlantic coast. Effects of prey and fertilizer addition on the hooded pitcher plant, Sarracenia minor. Justin Lemmons*, Dan Moon, Anthony Rossi University of North Florida

Carnivorous plants are typically found in high-light, moist habitats with nutrient-deficient substrates. Although prey is proposed to supply vital nutrients (especially nitrogen) to carnivorous plants, the importance of nutrients derived from prey versus soil on plant performance remains unclear. The hooded pitcher plant, Sarracenia minor, is a threatened species in Florida and considered an ant specialist. Ants obtain sugars from nectaries and benefit S. minor not only through nutrients provided, but also through defense against herbivores. This study examined the effects of prey and fertilizer addition on a naturally occurring population of S. minor through a pulse experimental design at McGirt’s Creek Park, Jacksonville, FL. Five treatments consisted of: 1) prey addition; 2) fertilizer addition; 3) prey + fertilizer addition; 4) cotton plugs only; 5) control. The total sample size was 75, which was randomly divided into 15 replicates per treatment. The prey source was the introduced fire ant, Solenopsis invicta, due to their prevalence and colonization of disturbed areas. The nitrogen content of S. invicta was determined to be 10% by use of a CHNS/O Analyzer. Thus, a 10% ammonium nitrate (NH4NO3) solution was used as the fertilizer. A total of 40 ants (14mg) and 100ml of NH4NO3 were administered monthly. The nitrogen content of the fertilizer volume represents equivalent nitrogen content to the mass of ants. Morphological measurements were recorded monthly to analyze growth, survival and fitness rates, and degree of carnivory expression. Results may offer implications for conservation practices of both S. minor and S. invicta. Diversity and effects of macroalgae and sessile invertebrates on Crassostrea virginica in Mosquito Lagoon, Florida. Nicole Malizia**, Stephany Silva**, Linda Walters University of Central Florida

Crassostrea virginica provides food and shelter for over 140 species, helps stabilize shorelines, and filters water in Mosquito Lagoon, Florida. Recently, Botrylloides nigrum, a colonial ascidian, has become prevalent within the estuarine habitat overgrowing oyster shells. However, little is known about its effects on settlement of C. virginica. Therefore, we wanted to see the overall number of larvae settled differed if B. nigrum was present in the habitat. We ran trials with clean oyster shells and compared settlement to trials in which half of the oyster shells were overgrown by B. nigrum. We also wanted to see if there were any differences in the larval settlement locations amongst shells when B. nigrum was present. Using a block design, we ran 3 trials in a flume with 60 randomized oyster shells, 30 of which had an average of 15.3% of B. nigrum attached to them, and 3 trials with only clean oyster shells. Each trial ran for one hour with approximately 35,000 oyster larvae. All shells were counted for larval settlement. We found that the blocks (larval batches) were not significantly different (Block ANOVA, p=0.3161) and neither were the trials (p=0.3092). Therefore, B. nigrum does not seem to have a substantial effect on numbers of settling larvae. However, no larvae were found on ascidian-covered surfaces. So, oyster larvae do avoid settling in close proximity to a potential spatial competitor. We plan to repeat this experiment with a higher percent of ascidian coverage to better understand B. nigrum's interactions with C. virginica. Don’t bite your mother: seasonality and sex differences in dolphin tooth rake marks Samantha Nekolny*, Quincy Gibson, Jessica Ermak*, Julie Richmond University of North Florida

Although aggression among conspecific dolphins is rarely observed, tooth rake marks that result from such interactions serve as a useful tool for evaluating aggression levels in a population. This study examined seasonality and sex differences in recency and coverage of tooth rake marks on bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus; n=278) in Jacksonville, Florida. Photographs (n=2395) from March 2011-February 2012 were examined for dorsal surface rake marks. The dolphin body was divided into seven sections. Each section was assigned a code for percentage of rake coverage (>or<50%). Rakes were categorized as new, obvious, or

30

faint. The female category included individuals with confirmed calves; unknown sex included behaviorally-presumed males and a few possible females not yet observed with a calf. The percentage of dolphins with rakes was high in all seasons (range=92.6-99.2%). Females (96.9%) and unknown sex (100%) were most likely to have rakes in winter, but spring also had a high percentage of females with rakes (95.8%). In all seasons except spring, fewer females than unknown sex had rakes. Winter had the greatest incidence of new rakes for females (22.6%) and unknown sex (50.5%). Winter also had the highest percentage of females (61.3%) and unknown sex (65.6%) with extensive coverage of rakes in at least one body section. Individuals with rakes on at least four body sections were most abundant in spring for females (16.7%) and winter for unknown sex (24.7%). These results indicate that conspecific aggression occurs more frequently in winter and among individuals of unknown sex than females.

Wading bird community structure and behaviors indicate oyster reef restoration success in Mosquito Lagoon, Florida Noémi Rébeli-Szabó**

1, William Gerrard**

1, C. Anna Toline

2, Linda Walters

1

1University of Central Florida

2National Park Service – Southeast Region

The purpose of this study was to determine if oyster reef restoration efforts have been successful in Mosquito Lagoon, FL by using wading bird behaviors as indicators of ecological function on restored intertidal oyster reefs. Using scan and focal observations, we compared whether wading birds use restored oyster reefs as often and in the same way as natural and dead reefs. The study included sites consisting of one dead reef, one restored reef, and one natural reef. Overall, 89 individual birds were observed during the summer 2012 study. When intertidal reefs were exposed, the largest number of individual birds was observed on restored reefs (43%) over natural (35%) and dead (22%) reefs. When diversity of bird species was considered, there were 10 species observed on dead margins and 8 species on natural and restored reefs. While dead reefs had similar species richness as natural and restored reefs, the birds on dead margins included some species not considered wading birds (e.g. vultures). Of all recorded bird activity on natural reefs, 84% of the behavior observed was foraging and 16% was non-foraging. Foraging comprised 67% of all recorded activity on restored reefs, while on dead reefs, non-foraging behavior comprised 57% of the observed activity. Chi-square and Nonmetric Multidimensional Scaling statistics suggest that restored oyster reefs do function in a manner similar to natural oyster reefs, in terms of wading bird distribution, abundance and behaviors. Using wading birds as bio-indicators of restored ecological function, we document that our oyster reef restoration is successful. Savannah and Wilmington River mixing assessed by salinity and pH K. Michael Scaboo**, Christopher J. Hintz Marine Sciences Program, Savannah State University

The Georgia Port Authority is seeking federal and state approval to deepen the Savannah River from 14 m to 16 m by 2016. While impacts to the Savannah River ecosystem have been studied, the impact to the adjacent Wilmington River and Wassaw Sound are unknown. To understand the current state of mixing between the river-dominated Savannah River with the tidal-dominated Wilmington River, salinity and pH were measured along fixed points within the Wilmington, Bull and Savannah Rivers. Alkalinity is conserved with salinity as the separate river waters mix, but pH is not conserved. Over short distances and time periods, mixing of the different river carbonate systems is observed in the pH response. A salt wedge was present at high tide from 9-20 km up the Wilmington River from the mouth at Wassaw Sound. The bottom and surface pH data indicate the two rivers’ carbonate systems mix in a range of 14-20 km up the Wilmington River during high tide. During low tide, the mixing region indicated by pH expands to 10-20 km, however, the salt wedge largely disappears. These data suggest that pH used in conjunction with salinity may be a more sensitive indicator of system mixing. With this baseline data of system interaction, future studies will be able to clearly identify impacts of a deeper tidal river on connected ecosystems. Botryllode nigrum's effects on Crassostrea virginica's larval settlement in Mosquito Lagoon, Florida. Stephany Silva**, Nicole Malizia**, Samantha Weiyuan*, Eric Hoffman, Linda Walters University of Central Florida

Crassostrea virginica reefs provide food and shelter for more than 140 different species, helps stabilize eroding shorelines and filters water in the Indian River Lagoon, located on the east coast of central Florida. Previous studies have shown negative relationships between macroalgal species and oysters;

31

currently, there are no studies showing the relationship between macroalgal species and C. virginica in Mosquito Lagoon. The settlement of algae on the oyster reefs could be decreasing the oysters' ability to grow, reproduce, and filter water. By monitoring and conducting field experiments, we hope to fill this research gap. Three dead reefs, three restored reefs and three live reefs were chosen to conduct monthly monitoring. Ten samples of algae were collected from 0.25 m

2 quadrats at both intertidal and subtidal levels on each reef.

Post-collection, samples were cleaned and sorted by species before drying and weighing. Approximately 84.3% of the biomass collected was found on the subtidal level of the live reefs. Monthly monitoring will be continued to collect data in order to gain a better understanding of the relationship between C. virginica and macroalgal species. Once the growing season begins and there is an abundance of macroalgae, we will test whether macroalgae decreases the amount of water an oyster can filter and whether oysters covered by macroalgae are more likely to be dislodged from reefs.

Determining residency patterns and seasonality of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in the St. Johns River by photo-identification Amber Stickel**, Quincy Gibson, Julie Richmond University of North Florida

The St. Johns River (SJR) may be an important estuarine habitat for Bottlenose dolphins. However, it is not yet known whether these dolphins inhabit the river year-round, seasonally, or are transient. From March 2011 to February 2012, the UNF Marine Mammal Research team has conducted weekly photo-identification surveys of dolphins in the SJR. This effort has generated sighting histories for 284 individual dolphins (non-calves). Of these, 43.0% have been sighted on more than 5 survey days and 9.9% have been sighted on 10 or more days. Four dolphins were seen in 9 or more months; however, no dolphins were sighted every month of the study. Out of all individuals, 17.3% were sighted in all 4 seasons, 24.3% in 3 seasons, 25.0% in 2 seasons, and 33.5% in 1 season. More than half of the individuals (57.8%) were sighted in summer (Jun-Aug), but not in winter (Dec-Feb). Of these, 68.9% were only sighted once or twice during the summer. These data indicate that the majority of dolphins present only during the summer are transient; however, some dolphins are using the river year-round. Contrary to previous data, these data suggest that the SJR is an important year-round habitat for dolphins.

Watch out for that spat! The effect of Perna viridis, Megabalanus coccopoma and Mytella charruana on the growth and survival of Crassostrea virginica Wei Yuan*, Linda Walters, Eric Hoffman University of Central Florida

Crassostrea virginica is a keystone species that provides great economic benefits and ecological services. However, less than 15% of shellfish habitat exists globally compared to historical abundance, making it one of the most impacted marine ecosystems. Many factors such as diseases, overharvesting, acidification, and global warming have contributed to the decline of oyster ecosystems. Currently, C. virginica in Mosquito Lagoon, Florida, is potentially threatened by non-native species. This study directly examines the growth and survival of juvenile oysters (spat) in the presence three non-native species: Perna viridis, Mytella charruana, and Megabalanus coccopoma and one native species Geukensia demissa. In 2011, we tested three treatments: spat-only, spat with P. viridis and spat with M. coccopoma. We found the survival of spat was significantly different between P. viridis treatment and spat-only treatment (Survival analysis, p = 0.0061). In 2012, we tested five treatments with cages: spat-only, spat with P. viridis, spat with M. charruana, spat with M. coccopoma, and spat with native G. demissa, and one treatment of spat-only without cage. Overall, our results showed a decline in oyster spat survival in both 2011 and 2012 in the presence of non-native species. We found that spat survival were significantly different among the treatments (Survival analysis, p = 0.0059). With growth, we found the presence of non-native species did not affect the growth of oyster spat (ANCOVA, p = 0.2193). These results can help determine future management plan for these non-native species as we continue to investigate how they impact native oysters.

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University of North Florida Campus Map

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NOTES