tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20902036249138660232024-03-19T06:05:38.773-07:00From Reefs to Rivers: Florida's Fisheries Science BlogGraduate researchers accounts of current Fisheries research in FloridaRoss Boucekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12227178107408079813noreply@blogger.comBlogger45125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2090203624913866023.post-79476960934249140512016-12-07T20:30:00.001-08:002016-12-08T08:15:10.858-08:00The Freeloading Lifestyle of Freshwater Mussels<h2 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #111111; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The Freeloading Lifestyle of Freshwater Mussels</span></b></h2>
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<span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">Carrie Schuman, University of Florida<br />(cross-posted from <a href="http://www.themeanderingscientist.com/">www.themeanderingscientist.com</a>)</span></h2>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="slide1120copy" class=" size-full wp-image-1279 aligncenter" sizes="(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px" src="https://themeanderingscientist.files.wordpress.com/2016/11/slide1120copy.jpg?w=640" srcset="https://themeanderingscientist.files.wordpress.com/2016/11/slide1120copy.jpg 500w, https://themeanderingscientist.files.wordpress.com/2016/11/slide1120copy.jpg?w=150 150w, https://themeanderingscientist.files.wordpress.com/2016/11/slide1120copy.jpg?w=300 300w" style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; display: block; font-size: 17.85px; height: auto; margin: 0px auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 5px;" title="" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Conglutinates of the Ouachita kidneyshell - Chris Barnhart</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #111111; font-family: inherit;">I study oyster-y things. In my little myopic scientific snowglobe, I know a few things about shellfish, and I know a few more things about oysters. Then I know the most things about oyster filtration. So there’s still plenty of room for surprise.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">This very thing happened this year during a local American Fisheries Society (AFS) meeting where I heard a talk about freshwater mussels. Probably because I always seem to be mucking about in briny water rather than its fresher counterpart, I was rather taken aback learning that many of these species have parasitic larval stages.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">After females collect sperm that males eject externally, they fertilize their eggs and stow them in their gills where they develop into a minuscule larval stage called glochidia. These juvenile mussels cannot fully develop however until they somehow reach a host fish. They will encyst themselves into the host’s tissue where they will stay until more fully formed, at which point they will drop off and settle on the river floor. The host fish has graciously and perhaps unknowingly provided the small creature with protection and dispersal.</span></div>
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<img alt="1333133491" class=" size-full wp-image-1267 aligncenter" sizes="(max-width: 331px) 100vw, 331px" src="https://themeanderingscientist.files.wordpress.com/2016/11/1333133491.jpg?w=640" srcset="https://themeanderingscientist.files.wordpress.com/2016/11/1333133491.jpg 331w, https://themeanderingscientist.files.wordpress.com/2016/11/1333133491.jpg?w=150 150w, https://themeanderingscientist.files.wordpress.com/2016/11/1333133491.jpg?w=300 300w" style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; display: block; height: auto; margin: 0.75em auto 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 5px;" /></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The strangest detail of this whole process seems to be the <a href="http://astronomy-to-zoology.tumblr.com/post/108117371028/super-conglutinates-conglutinates-in-my-last" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: inherit; color: #307777; margin-bottom: 0px; text-decoration: none; transition: all 0.1s ease-in-out; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank">intricate tactics</a> mussels have developed to get their little parasitic spawn into hosts. Some species concentrate their glochidia into structures called conglutinates that they then release into the water. Many resemble prey items attractive to fish like in the video and picture below:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Others, like mamas in the <em style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px;">Lampsilis </em>family keep their little ones closer to them while dangling parts of their mantle tissue to the same affect at the conglutinates described above.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://themeanderingscientist.files.wordpress.com/2016/11/lamp_ornata_coosa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://themeanderingscientist.files.wordpress.com/2016/11/lamp_ornata_coosa.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lampsilis’ display attracts host fish – Paul L. Freeman, Nature Conservancy</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">For most species of freshwater mussel, the choice of host fish seems to be relatively specific. In some cases, the species of host has yet to be discovered, which provides fertile ground for research into the topic such as the </span><a href="http://fwc%E2%80%99s%20blackwater%20research%20and%20development%20center%20in%20holt%2C%20florida/" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: inherit; color: #307777; font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; text-decoration: none; transition: all 0.1s ease-in-out; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank">work that Florida Wildlife Commission’s Blackwater Research and Development Center in Holt, Florida has done</a><span style="font-family: inherit;">.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">As with other symbiotic relationships within nature, freshwater mussels are incredibly dependent on the health of their host and the system around them. This has further increased the need for continued research and conservation, and in some instances agencies and institutions have fostered <a href="https://www.dgif.virginia.gov/wildlife/freshwater-mussels/" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: inherit; color: #307777; margin-bottom: 0px; text-decoration: none; transition: all 0.1s ease-in-out; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank">cultivation and propagation </a>efforts.</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13571840360063121651noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2090203624913866023.post-63114453282343905552016-11-10T11:35:00.001-08:002016-11-10T11:35:39.989-08:00Natural Tags<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<u><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Natural Tags</b></span><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">By: Julie Vecchio</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Many researchers and anglers know about tagging fish,
sharks, or even other organisms to learn about their movements. Anglers enjoy
participating in these programs because they can help with science and learn
something new about the fish in their area. However, an emerging topic in
ecology is the use of “natural tags.” Essentially, using natural tags means
using the internal chemistry of an organism to learn about its genetics,
origin, movements, or even chemical exposure levels. Currently there are three
main types of natural tags that are commonly used. These are genetic
signatures, otolith microchemistry, and tissue isotopes. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZAACfjjDOy_eIOASNp1J568OI2B6n4dFyE_2hAhjqQ2AGZh15bchvzFceUY2azohd2QS1BxRWpctY3tNNC6BIkfkAy47SwCb-Mif0krPQAUbnLPy-0F_usXBulwaoE-6kJVxST0Sj0Vk/s1600/drptarpon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZAACfjjDOy_eIOASNp1J568OI2B6n4dFyE_2hAhjqQ2AGZh15bchvzFceUY2azohd2QS1BxRWpctY3tNNC6BIkfkAy47SwCb-Mif0krPQAUbnLPy-0F_usXBulwaoE-6kJVxST0Sj0Vk/s400/drptarpon.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<u><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Genetic Signatures</span></b><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">In Florida, the primary species that has been studied on a
large scale using genetic signatures is the tarpon, <i>Megalops atlanticus,</i> a popular sportfish. Currently the Florida
tarpon fishery is entirely catch-and-release. During this project, citizen
scientists collected DNA samples from their catch. Before releasing the fish,
the angler would take a swab of the outer jaw, picking up a few skin cells.
These cells were then processed for the genetic signature. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCkuA8_XUD2UdT8KHgvEilJkVoLre8Qxmaui_joqwgwzPsbGiJiw-UxfE0_qpT1J4aVtSaLW6jTpdQ5wbqMXBgDsjina5JaHKqKhEm7VzOiX_Ut2lnDFw0w3KuEVjoiVvRTF9qgUdJZEc/s1600/tarpon1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCkuA8_XUD2UdT8KHgvEilJkVoLre8Qxmaui_joqwgwzPsbGiJiw-UxfE0_qpT1J4aVtSaLW6jTpdQ5wbqMXBgDsjina5JaHKqKhEm7VzOiX_Ut2lnDFw0w3KuEVjoiVvRTF9qgUdJZEc/s640/tarpon1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Each individual has a unique genetic code. Using the genetic signature, researchers are
able to determine whether that particular individual has been sampled
genetically before. Based on the numbers of different individuals captured, and
the number of times a particular individual has been re-sampled, the
researchers can then get an idea of the total size of the tarpon population in
Florida’s waters. If the individual had been captured previously, the
researchers can also determine how far that fish has moved since the last time
it was captured. During the 10-year project, researchers analyzed over 22,000
genetic samples from tarpon. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">DNA sampling has a few distinct advantages over conventional
tagging techniques. First, it is relatively inexpensive. Since anglers are
already capturing the fish, additional research time is not needed to collect
samples. Second, it is relatively non-invasive. The fish barely feels the
scrape as the skin cells are collected. Finally, all organisms maintain their
DNA signature throughout their lives, negating the need to factor in
tag-shedding. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">To learn more about tarpon genetic signatures visit this
website. <a href="http://myfwc.com/research/saltwater/tarpon/genetics/">http://myfwc.com/research/saltwater/tarpon/genetics/</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<u><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Otolith Microchemistry</span></b><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Just like people, fish have three small bones in their ears,
used primarily for balance, but fish also use theirs for hearing. In fish they
are called otoliths. Fish otoliths are made of calcium carbonate, the same
material that makes up oyster shells. Each day of the fish’s life, it deposits
a miniscule new layer of calcium carbonate on the outside of the otolith. As these tiny rings accumulate, they form
seasonal patterns. These patterns can be counted to find out how old the fish
is. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqFcJ7uRkCIaOYP5ZPit5AwRZi6wi-xhV2HRh0K-1isprq1afBtRsNICyn0znEJnE3Mjq4igH4oRlfjvEOgXAkvS2ojlcBSXUtEocl9V1G7W4dijECoGYV8fLBhE-DBH0JhvhhGNR5cp8/s1600/otolith1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="548" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqFcJ7uRkCIaOYP5ZPit5AwRZi6wi-xhV2HRh0K-1isprq1afBtRsNICyn0znEJnE3Mjq4igH4oRlfjvEOgXAkvS2ojlcBSXUtEocl9V1G7W4dijECoGYV8fLBhE-DBH0JhvhhGNR5cp8/s640/otolith1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">However, otoliths are not made of 100% calcium carbonate. Other
elements, especially metals like aluminum, strontium, and many others are also
incorporated into the otolith matrix, and the signature of these elements can
reveal where a particular individual was living at some period during its life.
This can be especially useful for finding out where individuals were living as
juveniles, to better understand what habitats produce the most successful
adults.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfXgGnyBg-zsQZYydhucM4hcjU61izsZnpUliBU2uFtaepHNfJsTmwBI-eFeLeUFhyGxKmwc_Ywu0pAcz4IALzhb5Vb5vv2zg8LHxbOBDr4X3q-KsyKVpHxlZZ8shmWwNp6XNsYUpAsBQ/s1600/gag+microchem.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfXgGnyBg-zsQZYydhucM4hcjU61izsZnpUliBU2uFtaepHNfJsTmwBI-eFeLeUFhyGxKmwc_Ywu0pAcz4IALzhb5Vb5vv2zg8LHxbOBDr4X3q-KsyKVpHxlZZ8shmWwNp6XNsYUpAsBQ/s640/gag+microchem.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">What the above graphic shows is that juvenile gag grouper
living in each of Florida’s major west coast estuaries contains a unique
chemical signature. This information can be used to determine the locations
adults, which live offshore in mixed populations, had spent their juvenile
period. This information can help managers determine which specific nursery
areas are most important to protect. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Otolith microchemistry can also be used to determine
whether, and even when, an individual was exposed to environmental toxins, such
as an oil spill. This technique is currently being used to evaluate the impact
of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill on both estuarine and reef fish species in
the northern Gulf of Mexico.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<u><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Tissue isotope analysis</span></b><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">As a fish lives, eats, and grows within a particular
environment, the chemistry of the surroundings are incorporated into all of its
tissues. Many of the most common elements such as carbon and nitrogen exist in
the environment in a variety of forms, usually light (normal) or heavy (rare),
and sometimes radioactive (such as C-14). By chemically analyzing the ratio of
heavy to light versions of these elements, or counting the number of
radioactive atoms, we can learn information about where the fish has been
living and what it has been eating at various time-scales. We can even tell the
age of very old fish using this method. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Different body tissues recycle their cells at varying rates,
resulting in our ability to infer movement at different timescales. For
example, liver cells are recycled quickly (1-3 weeks) and muscle cells are
recycled much more slowly (1-3 months).
A recent pilot study of juvenile red grouper on the West Florida Shelf
showed that all of these 1-year old fish had traveled to their location from
the north over the previous month or so. Since liver values equilibrate with
their environment much faster, the graph shows that most of these individuals
had been living to the north, but then moved southward. Specimen 5 had probably
arrived to the area within the past week, while specimens 6 and 12 had probably
been in the area for at least 1 month.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">One tissue which never turns over is the eye lens. Like
otoliths, a fish will add material to the eye lens as it grows. We can then
peel back the layers of the lens, just like peeling an onion, and analyze the
chemistry to reveal not only where a fish has been living, but also what it has
been eating <b>throughout its entire
lifespan</b>. This is particularly useful for long-lived fish or species which
use a variety of habitats. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7hpRs3CekumSIZpACmkcWykOE0Qt_ABv_3TezUzIMC3X8143V-_bkzhsMZQlhbI_RJx8HMC_c2utooX_mCzfW2LsObG_xiHgBXvlq4SCZOSIpVqD8OoJ94Rgrx_ZC43SfUR10p4dqbMs/s1600/eye+lens.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="331" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7hpRs3CekumSIZpACmkcWykOE0Qt_ABv_3TezUzIMC3X8143V-_bkzhsMZQlhbI_RJx8HMC_c2utooX_mCzfW2LsObG_xiHgBXvlq4SCZOSIpVqD8OoJ94Rgrx_ZC43SfUR10p4dqbMs/s400/eye+lens.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">In most species, the ratio of heavy to light nitrogen can
tell researchers that the individual fish eat larger prey as they grow in size.
In the graph below, the shorter lines represent younger fish. Longer lines are
older fish. All fish display the same pattern of eating larger prey as they
grow throughout their lives.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCLrT0TSnUpPNgeGKio8DR-AeY6knhFvJprGSDirrmNKufjV9m-EefCxknX8Tr2uQP5kz1PzCo4YEJn-pHsVWtrafZ2SUFRRfRlwxL-jy1OoNhcSkZ9yogZElCKaIK7OrxytH0nwMtQuI/s1600/d15N.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="412" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCLrT0TSnUpPNgeGKio8DR-AeY6knhFvJprGSDirrmNKufjV9m-EefCxknX8Tr2uQP5kz1PzCo4YEJn-pHsVWtrafZ2SUFRRfRlwxL-jy1OoNhcSkZ9yogZElCKaIK7OrxytH0nwMtQuI/s640/d15N.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">A final use for the isotopes in the eye lenses of fishes is
to find out the age of very old fish or fish that don’t have a good record of
growth within their otoliths. A recent study measured the radioactive carbon in
the eye lenses of Greenland sharks and found them to be up to 200 years old. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0YncebDMvizGPI_JRy8MKkCSUGaDt2nnGA-Nlbsx1Za96BnmH9TjR1iqy0hFaiQinKsBzvKsDR2NSO1_9ZiYYE1QQOiA3CMrMOmeUBIBR5BjWTfZRyt7X5DILPW5Oqc1VIG9avTP9wwk/s1600/Nielsen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0YncebDMvizGPI_JRy8MKkCSUGaDt2nnGA-Nlbsx1Za96BnmH9TjR1iqy0hFaiQinKsBzvKsDR2NSO1_9ZiYYE1QQOiA3CMrMOmeUBIBR5BjWTfZRyt7X5DILPW5Oqc1VIG9avTP9wwk/s640/Nielsen.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Nielsen et al. 2016. Eye lens radiocarbon reveals centuries
of longevity in the Greenland shark (<i>Somniosus
microcephalus</i>). Science. 353 (6300): 702-704<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<u><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Conclusion</span></b></u></div>
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<u><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></u></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">In short, the use of chemical signatures embedded in the
cells of fish has become an invaluable tool to understand the movements, living
habits, and food preferences of a variety of important fish species. These
techniques are expanding our understanding of fish in many directions that were
not possible just a few years ago. Using genetic signatures, microchemistry of
otoliths, tissue isotopes, and even yet-to-be developed chemical techniques
will continue to expand our knowledge of important fisheries species, improving
our ability to manage and conserve them for generations to come.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18294688166036113958noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2090203624913866023.post-49279737645432357052016-10-17T11:13:00.009-07:002016-10-17T11:18:08.967-07:00<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">What’s in a Name:
The Smalltooth Sawfish (<i>Pristis pectinata</i>)</span><o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b><i><br /></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Kelcee L. Smith</span><o:p></o:p></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">M.Sc. Student</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Lousiana State University</span></b></div>
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<b><i><br /></i></b>
<b><i><br /></i></b>
<b><i><br /></i></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXdI-kR46Pteu2TmoFK3fGUvHe2yKwM07RxqOm9kWO4YeB8BaBN4yP1okxlUsxqPkON2yopa6DGR9oVDcG4zHn9Gplvf1B1UAb0shlJb_6fU3tkCikxQYB4lpKvYhwVbTZCJW-vAO6Qsg/s1600/Sawtooth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXdI-kR46Pteu2TmoFK3fGUvHe2yKwM07RxqOm9kWO4YeB8BaBN4yP1okxlUsxqPkON2yopa6DGR9oVDcG4zHn9Gplvf1B1UAb0shlJb_6fU3tkCikxQYB4lpKvYhwVbTZCJW-vAO6Qsg/s400/Sawtooth.jpg" width="275" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><i><u>Interested
Person</u></i>: “Sawfish? … Oh! You mean swordfish?!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><i><u>Me</u></i>: ***
Shakes head***<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><i><u><span style="line-height: 107%;">Me</span></u></i><span style="line-height: 107%;">:
“No, I mean SAW-fish.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><i><u><span style="line-height: 107%;">Interested Person</span></u></i><span style="line-height: 107%;">: “Oh yeah! I see fish all the time.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><i><u><span style="line-height: 107%;">Me</span></u></i><span style="line-height: 107%;">:
***Face Palm***</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; line-height: 107%;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">As silly as this sounds, this is often the conversation I
have with people about Sawfish. At this point in the conversation, I usually
pull out my handy Sawfish figurine, which most times bridges the gap in the
misunderstanding. Get your own Sawfish figurine <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00GVT5UHM/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_dp_ss_1?pf_rd_p=1944687462&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B000H69T2W&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=MH23TTX7EK96YVEG7MPW">here</a>.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Unfortunately for Sawfish, their common name, though
accurate, is part of their downfall. I often hear “Sawtooth” or “Sawshark” –
which is a real creature (more on that later) – instead of the correct
verbiage. And you may say, “Kelcee, this is all just semantics. Who cares?”
Well, it is important. We know from research in psychology that if a person is
able to identify a particular creature, even an unappealing one, they will be
more likely to conserve it (Vincenot et al. 2015). Part of understanding what
Sawfish are is knowing how they are different from the Sawshark and Swordfish,
and knowing that Sawtooth isn’t even a word (unless the words are separated and
are in reference to the individual teeth on the tool we know as a saw).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 31.5pt; text-indent: -31.5pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Diagram of the tool we know
as a saw and a close up of an actual saw tooth. Images courtesy of Google.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdd8GzmBrHsUf2TUa1hDCzp8V9HsI4uf1TkZS895Ma9cOYZUnAx8y3AgFEDMkqPBNsTCBbp31WXCNhMWLV9lyhem-9-BLP01nd6Sdih3GOxU6_NecIsndrneYFcsmZokks0OfOZVBAOcU/s1600/Saw-Parts-Diagram.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdd8GzmBrHsUf2TUa1hDCzp8V9HsI4uf1TkZS895Ma9cOYZUnAx8y3AgFEDMkqPBNsTCBbp31WXCNhMWLV9lyhem-9-BLP01nd6Sdih3GOxU6_NecIsndrneYFcsmZokks0OfOZVBAOcU/s400/Saw-Parts-Diagram.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg62QpCKc7XXgr3_bD56MIadfI7aegUGGB-hEIE5JI-P8yarZKoatPlTDyqXeL8D2EbgpLrwSsOePc8KWS631dYCWNHV-tOCoCwkolbCy56HI3j3c0wZkUw1YkakrRTkozGVIz7ixab20c/s1600/Sawtooth+with+arrow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg62QpCKc7XXgr3_bD56MIadfI7aegUGGB-hEIE5JI-P8yarZKoatPlTDyqXeL8D2EbgpLrwSsOePc8KWS631dYCWNHV-tOCoCwkolbCy56HI3j3c0wZkUw1YkakrRTkozGVIz7ixab20c/s400/Sawtooth+with+arrow.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdd8GzmBrHsUf2TUa1hDCzp8V9HsI4uf1TkZS895Ma9cOYZUnAx8y3AgFEDMkqPBNsTCBbp31WXCNhMWLV9lyhem-9-BLP01nd6Sdih3GOxU6_NecIsndrneYFcsmZokks0OfOZVBAOcU/s1600/Saw-Parts-Diagram.png" imageanchor="1"></a><br /></span>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I’ll admit that the Smalltooth Sawfish common name is
quite confusing. The word “tooth” and the word “saw” are inherently the same in
some people’s heads (both having to do with cutting) and thus, often come out
the mouth the same way too. Not to mention the mental bridge that can be seen
with the words if they’re close together: Small<b>tooth Saw</b>fish can easily become <b>Sawtooth </b>Smallfish. Additionally, the size of the teeth really have
nothing to do with identifying the creature. Tooth spacing and saw size are
much more important identifiers (Whitty et al., 2014).</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: large;">So what’s a Smalltooth Sawfish scientist to do?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: large;"><u>Firstly</u>, pictures help a lot. And luckily, with
today’s technologies, it’s easy to pull up a picture of a Sawfish on your phone
if you don’t have your Sawfish figurine handy. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: large;"><u>Secondly</u>, I like to stick with one word, usually
just “Sawfish,” to keep things simple and easy to remember for someone who has
never encountered the creature or its name. This works well for the public as
well as other scientists. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: large;"><u>Thirdly</u>, be patient and persistent. One great
thing about Sawfish is that they’re hard to forget, so once a picture is
associated with the appropriate name, ignorance becomes less common. Don’t be
afraid to correct someone politely either; people are often too interested to
learn to feel threatened by your clarification. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: large;">Ultimately, conservation of Sawfish will only be
accelerated by understanding and education with consistent efforts. So, if you
ever find yourself chatting with your mom about the creatures of the deep,
explaining your research to other scientists, or exchanging a great fishing
story with another fishermen, keep your Sawfish figurine close and fight the good
fight. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCFbbzGhVHutpMnhCFLUG2oNXaQ-Iydjd59OveME2JoGxULNKHh_HJerQiFyGvvGaJJMwV4J6Ow8oP8dYTw8Wx5277psa7GjWxdgrVTr68UNdhg0tXQ8CePE_i726bvwoQxy02h0mmr1k/s1600/sawtoothvirginbirth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCFbbzGhVHutpMnhCFLUG2oNXaQ-Iydjd59OveME2JoGxULNKHh_HJerQiFyGvvGaJJMwV4J6Ow8oP8dYTw8Wx5277psa7GjWxdgrVTr68UNdhg0tXQ8CePE_i726bvwoQxy02h0mmr1k/s640/sawtoothvirginbirth.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="line-height: 107%;">A Smalltooth Sawfish (<i>Pristis pectinata</i>) sits on the bottom.
Photo courtesy of National Geographic. <span style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18294688166036113958noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2090203624913866023.post-71206717368926535212016-10-05T06:10:00.001-07:002016-10-05T13:05:29.005-07:00<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Fishes
in Ditches: Ongoing non-native fish research in the Tampa Bay area</span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: large;">By:
Katie Lawson</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: large;">PhD Student</span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">University
of Florida</span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: large;">The
Tampa Bay area is home to many ornamental aquaculture facilities. While these
farms maintain excellent compliance with the Best Management Practices required
for licensure by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
(Tuckett et al. 2016), fish do occasionally escape (Tuckett et al. <i>in press</i>). The county ditches of the
Tampa Bay area are not the most glamourous habitats to sample, but we have
learned and seen some interesting things while studying them. Although we have
seen a variety of ornamental fishes in ditches on and around farms, very few of
those species are found farther away from farm effluents. Non-native fishes we
have commonly found in ditches farther away from farms include green swordtail <i>Xiphophorus hellerii</i>, southern platyfish
<i>Xiphophorus maculatus</i>, pike killifish
<i>Belonesox belizanus</i>, Jack Dempsey <i>Rocio octofasciata</i>, and African jewel
cichlid <i>Hemichromis letourneuxi</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRxZU3Zf2g1ZT2DoGdcAL5R2HW449l703uGDJXwH-dzrlsliM4uAk9x0DsLuxUpQCwoNDUrLBIDyHHpsMMEZvRMcDrJzikR153-44bSPYCPDGkZDRC4IPILw_T-CyFF1d9yAMwDJ9H-1M/s1600/invasive+pic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRxZU3Zf2g1ZT2DoGdcAL5R2HW449l703uGDJXwH-dzrlsliM4uAk9x0DsLuxUpQCwoNDUrLBIDyHHpsMMEZvRMcDrJzikR153-44bSPYCPDGkZDRC4IPILw_T-CyFF1d9yAMwDJ9H-1M/s640/invasive+pic.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Clockwise from top left: Green Swordtail Southern Platyfish, African Jewel Cichlid, Jack Dempsey, Pike Killifish<br />
<i>All pictures courtesy of TAL staff</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Of these
five species, African jewelfish and pike killifish are widespread in the Tampa
Bay area across a variety of habitats. Green swordtails, southern platyfish,
and Jack Dempsey all have a similar pattern of distribution in the area. They
are found primarily in ditches, and their populations are disjunct and
localized in areas where there is a current or historic farm. Some of these
populations appear to be self-sustaining yet unlikely to spread, while others
appear to be reliant on new propagules for persistence. Jack Dempsey are
particularly interesting because small populations have popped up around the
state, but ultimately declined to extirpation. The mechanism behind these
declines is still unknown, however it is possible the same trend will be
observed in the current populations within the Tampa bay region. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Ditch fish
assemblages in the area are dominated by poeciliids, both non-native and
native. Native mosquitofish <i>Gambusia
holbrooki</i> dominate these assemblages and are known to be very aggressive
toward non-native small-bodied fishes like the swordtail and platyfish. This
aggressive behavior is possibly a strong biotic filter prohibiting spread and
success of these non-natives. As one would expect, swordtails and platyfish tend
to be more abundant in areas with lower mosquitofish densities. The pike
killifish has also been observed in many ditches around the Tampa Bay area,
although it is also in a variety of larger water bodies such as the Alafia and
Little Manatee Rivers. Pike killifish are unique poeciliids with a relatively
large body size, and are predatory from birth. They seem to favor preying on
mosquitofish over non-native swordtails and at one site in particular, both
pike killifish and green swordtails were more abundant than mosquitofish. This
suggests facilitation of green swordtail persistence by the pike killifish’s
predation on the aggressive mosquitofish. All of these interactions are
currently being researched at the University of Florida’s Tropical Aquaculture
Laboratory in experiments led by Dr. Quenton Tuckett. While not many people
think about the fish assemblages of central Florida’s ditches, there are some
fascinating patterns and interactions we are learning. These provide valuable
insights relating to community assembly theory and biotic resistance, the
invasion process, and potential impacts by non-natives. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="MsoSubtleEmphasis"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">References:<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: large; text-indent: -0.5in;">Tuckett,
Q.M., J.L. Ritch, </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: large; text-indent: -0.5in;">K.M. Lawson</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: large; text-indent: -0.5in;">, and
J.E. Hill. 2016a. Implementation of best management practices for Florida
ornamental aquaculture with an emphasis on non-native species. North American
Journal of Aquaculture, 78: 113-124.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large; text-indent: -48px;">Tuckett, Q.M., J.L. Ritch, K.M. Lawson, and J.E. Hill</span><span style="background: white; color: #212121; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large; text-indent: -48px;">. 2016b<i>.</i> Landscape-scale survey of non-native fishes near ornamental aquaculture facilities in Florida, USA. Biological Invasions. DOI 10.1007/s10530-016-1275-2</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18294688166036113958noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2090203624913866023.post-36399910168690344662016-08-21T18:44:00.001-07:002016-10-05T05:49:21.400-07:00Satisfying the Demand for Dorys: UF Tropical Aquaculture Lab Successfully Breeds Pacific Blue Tang in Captivity<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; margin: 0px;">Satisfying the Demand for Dorys: UF
Tropical Aquaculture Lab Successfully Breeds Pacific Blue Tang in Captivity</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>A major breakthrough in saltwater aquarium fish
reproduction took place at the UF Tropical Aquaculture Lab in July, as Rising
Tide Conservation announced that for the first time, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Paracanthurus hepatus</i>, widely known as the Pacific blue tang or
“Dory,” was successfully bred in captivity.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Working in conjunction with the Oceanic Institute, which
pioneered captive reproduction of the yellow tang just last year, Rising Tide
Conservation and the UF Tropical Aquaculture Lab replicated and applied similar
methods to crack the code for breeding and raising blue tang in captivity. </span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; margin: 0px;">The
significance of this breakthrough is apparent given the surge in demand for
Pacific blue tang expected following the release of the Disney-Pixar movie
“Finding Dory” on June 17, 2016. The animated hit movie has generated over $800
million at the box office, raising concern over the exploitation of real-life
Dorys, the Pacific blue tang, a highly valued reef fish found throughout the
Indo-Pacific. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; margin: 0px;">The
blue tang, like many popular ornamental fish species, is supplied to aquarists
solely through the capture of wild specimens. In fact, according to </span><a href="http://www.reef2rainforest.com/2015/12/22/captive-bred-marine-fish-species-list-2016/"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; margin: 0px;">CORAL Magazine’s list of captive-bred marine fish</span></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; margin: 0px;">,
only about 12.5 to 15 percent of commercially available aquarium fish species
have been bred in captivity. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; margin: 0px;">Aside
from its high demand due to the “Finding Dory Effect,” the blue tang was also a
major target for Rising Tide researchers because of concern regarding local
overfishing and destructive capture methods, such as the use of cyanide. While
cyanide use in tropical aquarium fisheries is banned in most countries, it is
still practiced in countries like Indonesia and the Philippines, which serve as
major sources for US imported aquarium fish. This chemical compound is used to
stun fish for easy capture, however, it also poses a deadly threat to coral and
other organisms that share the blue tang’s habitat. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0px; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; margin: 0px;">While
there is still plenty of work to be done before laboratory-bred Pacific blue
tang make their way into aquarium stores, captive reproduction of the species
may eventually curb the use of cyanide and lower the demand for wild-caught
blue tang. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; margin: 0px;">Throughout
the world, marine biologists are searching for answers to similar concerns
regarding hundreds of other overexploited fisheries. </span><a href="http://www.worldwildlife.org/threats/overfishing"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; margin: 0px;">According
to the World Wildlife Fund</span></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; margin: 0px;">, over 85 percent of the world’s
fisheries have been pushed to or beyond their biological limits. With the human
population constantly growing, especially in less developed parts of the globe,
fisheries will continue to be a vital food source for future generations.
However, with so many fisheries already exploited at or beyond their capacity,
we are left to wonder how the world’s growing seafood demand will be met. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Aquaculture, the cultivation of aquatic organisms in
natural or controlled environments, may be the only sustainable solution.
According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO),
global fish production from wild capture has peaked at roughly 90 million tons
per year since the early 90s. As demonstrated in the chart below, aquacultural
production has also skyrocketed. While the field of aquaculture still has
plenty of hurdles to overcome, organizations like Rising Tide Conservation and
the Oceanic Institute have shown promise with their recent breakthroughs. </span></div>
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</span></span>
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<div style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0px;">
<a href="http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2016/07/wildlife-blue-tang-aquarium-trade/"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; margin: 0px;">http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2016/07/wildlife-blue-tang-aquarium-trade/</span></a></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0px;">
<a href="http://www.reef2rainforest.com/2015/12/22/captive-bred-marine-fish-species-list-2016/"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; margin: 0px;">http://www.reef2rainforest.com/2015/12/22/captive-bred-marine-fish-species-list-2016/</span></a></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0px;">
<a href="http://vitalsigns.worldwatch.org/vs-trend/aquaculture-continues-gain-wild-fish-capture"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; margin: 0px;">http://vitalsigns.worldwatch.org/vs-trend/aquaculture-continues-gain-wild-fish-capture</span></a></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0px;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; margin: 0px;">About
the Author:</span></b></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white; line-height: 200%;">
"August (Gus) Plamann is a
South Florida native pursuing a bachelor’s degree in natural resource
conservation at the University of Florida. With a background in sport fishing,
he intends to focus his studies on fishery management, stock enhancement,
gamefish biology, and marine habitat restoration. In his free time, Gus enjoys
fishing, playing basketball, watching Gators football, and going to the beach
whenever he gets the opportunity."</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtnThu2FwBfv5lcuQq41gymHsRwBv6Q8IY1bYiskKtMu2liu7O3UjP4SoHyxpt9CmoDBE2GKSMXamFDaTUk5cmcpD0bFWDucY9U0W0_xIKhyphenhyphenq7h13Gn-4XiDJXEWoP58NCUmHoYDjIpWW8/s1600/blue+tang+author.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtnThu2FwBfv5lcuQq41gymHsRwBv6Q8IY1bYiskKtMu2liu7O3UjP4SoHyxpt9CmoDBE2GKSMXamFDaTUk5cmcpD0bFWDucY9U0W0_xIKhyphenhyphenq7h13Gn-4XiDJXEWoP58NCUmHoYDjIpWW8/s320/blue+tang+author.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Emily Gipsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18207478433237824349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2090203624913866023.post-26699714381901471552016-08-18T18:56:00.001-07:002016-10-05T05:48:22.700-07:00Awe, Schucks: An Oyster Tasting Guide<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Awe, Schucks: An Oyster Tasting Guide</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"></span></b><br />
Natalie Simon, University of Florida</div>
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The waiter sets your glass of wine on the table. First, you check its color, opacity, and viscosity. Then, you gently swirl the wine in your glass and inhale the fragrance, searching for subtle notes of flavor. Are there aromatic hints of fruit, herb, or earth? Next, you take a sip, and your palate observes the wine’s subtle texture. Your taste buds detect the delicate changes in salinity, sweetness, or bitterness. Lastly, you make an inference of the wine tasting. Did you like the overall flavor profile of the wine, the texture, the uniqueness? Much like sommeliers (certified wine tasters) take the time to taste a wine, oyster connoisseurs take the time to appreciate the flavor nuances of the oyster in a half shell.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYH-dZQLwD4B9ykeDfNgjA6yL6orncU0Lbk5fK-Li5uTezOaCzG3pdlWddtrAoOe1tiWuXq1D-qz3Uw27E5p2P4xa9-1vI9aVOuy_muE1elF_1Wxxiy4UZXomlYZJzuEKgxlzQ5R1M5oj-/s1600/oyster1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYH-dZQLwD4B9ykeDfNgjA6yL6orncU0Lbk5fK-Li5uTezOaCzG3pdlWddtrAoOe1tiWuXq1D-qz3Uw27E5p2P4xa9-1vI9aVOuy_muE1elF_1Wxxiy4UZXomlYZJzuEKgxlzQ5R1M5oj-/s320/oyster1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo Credit: </span><a href="http://denver.thedrinknation.com/uploads/Oysterology%20full.JPG"><span style="font-size: x-small;">http://denver.thedrinknation.com/uploads/Oysterology%20full.JPG</span></a></div>
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In the United States, five species of oysters are harvested for human consumption: The Atlantic or East Coast (Crassostrea virginica), Pacific or West Coast (Crassostrea gigas), Kumamoto (Crassostrea sikamea), European Native or Flat (Ostrea edulis), and the Olympia or West Coast native (Ostrea conchaphila). Sadly, none of these oysters produce pretty pearls but they are jam-packed with vitamins and minerals and are farmed sustainably! In fact, 95% of the oysters consumed worldwide are cultivated using aquaculture techniques, making them an ocean-friendly seafood choice. The health and environmental benefits, along with unique and distinct flavors have made the oyster a popular dish among food enthusiasts. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7OdaCNdAkV3i0EBwvop4K4WgZzTlx6mSfxp2igKX5jPinOlJbynVnkspdh8W-yH1VM3fDbl7DW1tlbrCEzKt_OeiKsGOm0yAAwsa6Kt9DW8RuUGlSxPyyj_wHrRJAN3AW-YT7aWuMuWMn/s1600/pigalle+oyster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7OdaCNdAkV3i0EBwvop4K4WgZzTlx6mSfxp2igKX5jPinOlJbynVnkspdh8W-yH1VM3fDbl7DW1tlbrCEzKt_OeiKsGOm0yAAwsa6Kt9DW8RuUGlSxPyyj_wHrRJAN3AW-YT7aWuMuWMn/s320/pigalle+oyster.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo Credit: </span><a href="http://pigallerestaurants.co.za/capetown/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/5-Star-Dining_2-588x390_c.jpg"><span style="font-size: x-small;">http://pigallerestaurants.co.za/capetown/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/5-Star-Dining_2-588x390_c.jpg</span></a></div>
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Oyster production occurs worldwide, including China, Australia, South Africa, France, Argentina, Mexico, United States, and Canada. While the same species might be grown in different places, the unique environmental conditions in each country vary biologically, chemically, geologically, and physically, resulting in diverse and unique flavor profiles of the oysters produced (Just like wine!). In North America alone there are 300 unique oyster varieties. Rather than feeling overwhelmed by the immense selection available, focus on ordering a few oyster varieties, usually between 4 and 6, and make sure to order two of each. This will give you a better sense of the flavor diversities found in each oyster variety. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAszxxLKfKkvgkKY8zq0vXYkh_i9SYYxUWns0H8p8jOhHczah8mkpIHxUTlC4dW8mlgFej7sn_l55cmvQGbsXqnVcVXvHipgilUc_V_GAyB92PunrlvrZ7Y1jDK6vkPp5AjlJw6MFjBAvL/s1600/oyster2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAszxxLKfKkvgkKY8zq0vXYkh_i9SYYxUWns0H8p8jOhHczah8mkpIHxUTlC4dW8mlgFej7sn_l55cmvQGbsXqnVcVXvHipgilUc_V_GAyB92PunrlvrZ7Y1jDK6vkPp5AjlJw6MFjBAvL/s320/oyster2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo Credit: </span><a href="http://www.inahalfshell.com/wp-content/uploads/cache/2014/04/929215_746269272097795_930015022_n/2942394874.jpg"><span style="font-size: x-small;">http://www.inahalfshell.com/wp-content/uploads/cache/2014/04/929215_746269272097795_930015022_n/2942394874.jpg</span></a></div>
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When tasting oysters, it is important to keep in mind that similarly to wine tasting, oyster tasting has its own etiquette for fully appreciating the flavors and textures cultivated by the oyster. First, look at the size and shape of the shell. Are there any grooves? Is it smooth or rough? What is the color of the shell? The color of the meat inside? Does the meat appear to be plump and juicy? Next, smell the oyster for an aroma. Does it remind you of the ocean’s scent? Is it sweet? Follow this by sipping the oyster liquor, which is the natural juice found inside the oyster. The liquor should not be rinsed or dumped out because it gives the taster a sense of the salinity or brininess. Finally, the moment we’ve been waiting for, slurp the loose oyster meat by tilting the flat edge of the shell to your lips and savor the moment. Chew the meat a few time to release its essences and give your taste buds the opportunity to get aquatinted with the aroma, texture, saltiness, and progression of flavors. You have now fully experienced what food critics call meroir, or the difference in flavor profiles due to growth in different geographical locations. This means that even though the species of oyster is the same, the flavor profile could be subtly or drastically different depending on the environment it came from. If you ever taste an oyster and are at a loss for words to describe the flavor, try using Patrick McMurray’s Oyster Tasting Wheel!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCYLRDSge3M4oLLlyC4mM0d0ajZmh2XrVYLiMo-DkeaiXcrQUpsLU9dSrh748N1ioXoPcre861rqsoixv689j5Q3hOhcdfDQy9aYi2VX6WsJd9ckABL-TnbSGV6YlFmBdigye1an6PVRuK/s1600/oyster+wheel.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCYLRDSge3M4oLLlyC4mM0d0ajZmh2XrVYLiMo-DkeaiXcrQUpsLU9dSrh748N1ioXoPcre861rqsoixv689j5Q3hOhcdfDQy9aYi2VX6WsJd9ckABL-TnbSGV6YlFmBdigye1an6PVRuK/s320/oyster+wheel.PNG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo Credit: </span><a href="https://www.was.org/documents/MeetingPresentations/AQ2013/AQ2013_1216.pdf"><span style="font-size: x-small;">https://www.was.org/documents/MeetingPresentations/AQ2013/AQ2013_1216.pdf</span></a></div>
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So what are the possible flavors you could taste? Often times you hear terms such as oystery, salty, or fruity to describe the taste of an oyster. Some other terms include cucumber, melon, and honeydew notes. When someone refers to an oyster having a cucumber finish they are referring to the fresh, green, bitter flavor. For example, fruity flavors are frequently used to illustrate the taste of Pacific Oysters and Kumamoto. Eastern oysters tend to be briny, crisp, buttery, and light bodied, whereas west coast oysters are minerally, creamy, sweet, and medium bodied. Particular oysters may also exhibit subtle notes of nutty, citrus, black tea, copper, and springy flavors. <br />
Interested in developing and honing your skills as an oyster aficionado? Keep a record of your tasting in this handy dandy notebook! <a href="https://33books.com/collections/books/products/33-oysters-on-the-half-shell/">https://33books.com/collections/books/products/33-oysters-on-the-half-shell\</a> </div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo Credit: </span><a href="https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0245/5185/products/OYSTERS_COVER_1024x1024.jpg?v=1432835979"><span style="font-size: x-small;">https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0245/5185/products/OYSTERS_COVER_1024x1024.jpg?v=1432835979</span></a></div>
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Not so interested in eating raw oysters? Try Oyster Rockefeller! In this popular dish, the oyster is served in the half shell after being cooked and topped with various ingredients including spinach, parsley bread crumbs, cheese, bacon, and wherever your imagination takes you. Try this recipe and enjoy! <a href="http://allrecipes.com/recipe/12850/oysters-rockefeller/">http://allrecipes.com/recipe/12850/oysters-rockefeller/</a><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo Credit: </span><a href="http://images.media-allrecipes.com/userphotos/600x600/690271.jpg"><span style="font-size: x-small;">http://images.media-allrecipes.com/userphotos/600x600/690271.jpg</span></a></div>
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Are you a huge oyster enthusiast and want to learn more?! Check out these links:<br />
• Real Life Oyster Connoisseur Julie Qiu: <a href="http://www.inahalfshell.com/">http://www.inahalfshell.com/</a> <br />
• Oyster Variety Glossary: <a href="http://www.thenibble.com/reviews/main/fish/seafood/oyster-glossary3.asp">http://www.thenibble.com/reviews/main/fish/seafood/oyster-glossary3.asp</a><br />
• 7 Things You Need to Know About Oysters: <a href="https://www.buzzfeed.com/emofly/the-only-7-things-you-need-to-know-about-oysters?utm_term=.dhl7q0vgz#.xxlaYqn1l">https://www.buzzfeed.com/emofly/the-only-7-things-you-need-to-know-about-oysters?utm_term=.dhl7q0vgz#.xxlaYqn1l</a><br />
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<b>About the Author</b>: <br />
Natalie Simon is from the Jersey Shore and received her BS in Marine Biology from Stockton University. While working at Rutgers’s Haskin Shellfish Research Laboratory as a hatchery technician, she found her love for oysters. Not long after, Natalie moved to Gainesville to attend the University of Florida (UF) for her Master’s degree in Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences. Her research interests include cryogenics, germplasm preservation, and molluscan aquaculture. In her spare time, Natalie enjoys nature, coffee, Netflix and quality time with her bearded dragon, Hector.<br />
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<br />Emily Gipsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18207478433237824349noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2090203624913866023.post-40202061781703469002016-07-25T07:19:00.000-07:002016-10-05T05:48:07.137-07:00The FAD Fad<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Julie Brown, University of Miami</b></div>
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<b>History of FADs</b><br />
Fishermen have long known that floating objects in the ocean have a natural tendency to aggregate fish. They have been using natural Fish Aggregating Devices (FADs) for decades, usually logs. There are many theories to explain fish’s fascination with floating objects. One is that the FAD provides the only visual stimulus in the open ocean, where there is otherwise an endless void of blue. Another hypothesis is that floating objects tend to accumulate in convergence zones, where moving bodies of water come together. Convergence zones are relatively productive areas where particles can accumulate, which is good for fish trying to feed or spawn. FADs could be visual markers for these barely detectable changes in oceanic conditions. In modern times, fishermen take advantage of this phenomenon by placing artificial FADs in the ocean, and return when the object has accumulated a satisfactory amount of fish to harvest.<br />
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<b>Fad design and technology</b><br />
The earliest FADs were made of natural materials, such as logs, bamboo, and palm fronds. These materials, of course, degrade over time, and fishermen have upgraded to a variety of man-made materials such as netting. Modern FADs can either be anchored to the bottom, or drifting. The rest of this article will focus on drifting FADs. <br />
Today, many FADs for commercial fishing are equipped satellite-linked echosounder buoys, which let fishermen remotely estimate the fish biomass around the FAD. They can accurately time their fishing operations to maximize harvest, and minimize search time. These ecosounders can only provide information about biomass, however; they cannot tell the size or species of fish. Scientists have demonstrated that there is a higher incidence in bycatch (non-target species or undersized tuna) when fishermen set their gear around FADs, as opposed to free-swimming schools of Tuna<br />
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Photo credit: http://www.joostvanuffelen.com</div>
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<b>Increasing trend in fads</b><br />
In the past decade, the use of FADs has increased dramatically in the Tuna Purse Seine industry. In the Eastern Pacific alone, the number of FADs deployed by this industry jumped from 8,006 to 13820 in seven years. And this only includes reported FADs. The actual number is probably higher, because the regional fishery management organization, <a href="http://www.iattc.org/Homeeng.htm" target="_blank">IATTC (Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission),</a> does not require smaller vessels to report FAD use. The <a href="http://www.pewresearch.org/" target="_blank">Pew Research Center</a><br />
estimates that FAD use is also increasing in other oceans, although not quite as dramatically. The use of FADs now dominated the Tuna Purse Seine industry, which accounts for over 60% of the world’s tuna landings.<br />
Ecological trap?<br />
Around 1999, scientists began to question whether FADs could alter the biology and ecology of pelagic fish species (Marsac, Fonteneau et al. 2000). The ecological trap theory suggests that FADs, which are often seeded in offshore areas, attract and retain fish to areas that aren’t suited to their survival and reproduction. In fact, when tuna associated with a FAD were sampled, and 85% of them were shown to have empty stomachs, while only 25% of tuna from free-schools had empty stomachs (Ménard, Stéquert et al. 2000). Other studies, however, show conflicting evidence that the presence of a FAD has no effect on the body condition or lipid content of tuna (Robert, Dagorn et al. 2014). The verdict is still out for this hypothesis, and more studies are needed.<br />
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<b>Stock hyperstability</b><br />
Tuna fishing becomes significantly more efficient (more biomass harvested per “haul”) when FADs are used to congregate the schools. The schools are easier to locate, and less time is spent searching for fish. Free-swimming schools tend to be more sparsely distributed, travel faster, and are harder to spot. In other words, this technology increases the Catch and decreases the Effort. Because scientists use an index called Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) to estimate the status of fish stocks, an error in this calculation could occur if the technological advancements are unaccounted for. This phenomenon is called stock hyperstability, and it doesn’t just occur in the Tuna industry. Generally, we assume that CPUE and stock abundance follow a linear trend over time. Basically, if it becomes harder to catch as many fish, it’s because there are proportionately less fish available. FADs, however, congregate the few remaining fish, and they are easier to catch than they would otherwise be. This can mask the effects of overfishing.<br />
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Marsac, F., A. Fonteneau and F. Ménard (2000). Drifting FADs used in tuna fisheries: an ecological trap? Pêche thonière et dispositifs de concentration de poissons, Caribbean-Martinique, 15-19 Oct 1999.<br />
Ménard, F., B. Stéquert, A. Rubin, M. Herrera and É. Marchal (2000). Food consumption of tuna in the Equatorial Atlantic ocean: FAD-associated versus unassociated schools. Aquatic Living Resources 13(4): 233-240.<br />
Robert, M., L. Dagorn, N. Bodin, F. Pernet, E.-J. Arsenault-Pernet and J. L. Deneubourg (2014). Comparison of condition factors of skipjack tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis) associated or not with floating objects in an area known to be naturally enriched with logs. Canadian journal of fisheries and aquatic sciences 71(3): 472-478.<br />
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<br />Emily Gipsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18207478433237824349noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2090203624913866023.post-11395163475450786062016-06-23T09:23:00.000-07:002016-06-23T09:25:48.495-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Shark Biomechanics</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Sarah Hoffmann, Florida Atlantic University</span></div>
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Hi All,<o:p></o:p></div>
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I am a Ph.D. candidate at Florida Atlantic University (FAU)
working on shark biomechanics. My field is a bit off the beaten path in terms
of fisheries science, but I have been lucky enough to work with NMFS and FWC in
collecting samples and getting myself out of the lab every so often!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dissecting a great hammerhead to investigate anterior<br />
axial musculature</td></tr>
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For my dissertation work, I am examining the ecomorphology of
the anterior body in sharks. I want to better understand how head and pectoral
fin shape influence swimming style, specifically during maneuvering. For example,
benthic species like bamboo and epaulette sharks have flexible fins used to
walk or dig into the sand, whereas pelagic species such as threshers or oceanic
white-tips have broad, stiff pectoral fins that may have a smaller range of
motion. Even so, it has been shown that thresher sharks are using their
pectoral fins to brake when whipping their tail forward while stunning prey. We
hypothesize that moveable pectoral fins of sharks may be used like a keel
during turning, similar to how a speed skater touches the ice to create tight,
fast turns. There is also a large amount of morphological diversity in shark
heads ranging from the standard ‘pointy-nosed’ carcharhinid to the extreme lateral
expansion of the hammerhead. In fact, previous studies show that the head and
pectoral fins play complementary roles in balancing forces during swimming.
However, to get a clearer understanding of the interaction between form and
function, I am investigating the morphology, kinematics, and muscular control
of shark heads and pectoral fins in a comparative context. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I am also working on projects with ocean engineers to
examine how water flows around differently shaped shark heads. Hammerhead
sharks, with laterally expanded wing shaped heads, have proportionally smaller
pectoral fins and it is hypothesized that the head takes on some of the roles
of pectoral fins. In order to test this, we are examining flow patterns around
3D models made from CT scans of three species of sharks: bonnethead (<i>Sphyrna tiburo</i>), scalloped hammerhead (<i>Sphyrna lewini</i>), and blacknose (<i>Carcharhinus acronotus</i>). By looking at
how fluid moves over different shapes, we will better understand the forces
acting on the heads of different species. I can then tie this in to our
pectoral fin experiments to better understand the relationship between head and
pectoral fin morphology and how these vary across species.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">3D models made from CT scans of bonnethead, scalloped hammerhead, and blacknose sharks</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from the 2015 Apex Predators survey off the coast of Cape Canaveral, FL</td></tr>
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In collecting specimens for my comparative morphology work,
I have had the great fortune to work with the National Marine Fisheries Service
on shark tagging cruises as well as at tournaments in New England. Working with
Dr. Lisa Natanson last summer, I did one leg of the Apex Predators survey
longlining along the eastern United States. We will be going out again this
coming fall to the Grand Banks off the eastern shore of Newfoundland on a
commercial fishing vessel to sample shark bycatch. Coming into graduate school
I expected to mainly be in a lab, but having these opportunities to work
offshore has significantly influenced my career goals moving forward. I have
gained a whole new appreciation for these animals seeing them up close and in
person, and I hope to continue to do so moving forward. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiRHQTqafKkHszGol1VsMjSD3a6fpf2yhUrt1z7jn3ja3XszLNfPWGRviMkm-Irbxfwg_y5Mp5gZiCWd-5QiuOvoV4-UOmAPWifI8NA_5NMCiiMjw36E8m7beGd5X_cfWkHWPV0fDqaY4/s1600/Measuring+blacktip.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiRHQTqafKkHszGol1VsMjSD3a6fpf2yhUrt1z7jn3ja3XszLNfPWGRviMkm-Irbxfwg_y5Mp5gZiCWd-5QiuOvoV4-UOmAPWifI8NA_5NMCiiMjw36E8m7beGd5X_cfWkHWPV0fDqaY4/s400/Measuring+blacktip.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tagging blacktip sharks in Riviera Beach, FL</td></tr>
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At FAU, I am fortunate to be surrounded by a diverse set of
faculty and research interests where I have been able to volunteer on other
ongoing projects. I got my first experience longlining with the FAU
elasmobranch research lab tagging blacktip sharks, saw sea turtle nesting and
hatchling emergence for the first time, and filmed shark electroreception experiments
in the Florida Keys with National Geographic to name a few. As a graduate
student, I am trying to get the most out of my program and these somewhat
flexible years before settling on a career trajectory moving forward. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxdC6HO46QpyswPmVcuQQV0gOXRELlbZQh1RZj25D1UBk9HsL8GQLOMUJ01xEfJYzhAgmPazqERB2VsBLFqg7sI0bXKQWXnC0d9vTjjag3p8GjJqmZQvZSIn_eMyuWceBqpk0pgN0pfrw/s1600/Gill+netting+for+bonnetheads.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxdC6HO46QpyswPmVcuQQV0gOXRELlbZQh1RZj25D1UBk9HsL8GQLOMUJ01xEfJYzhAgmPazqERB2VsBLFqg7sI0bXKQWXnC0d9vTjjag3p8GjJqmZQvZSIn_eMyuWceBqpk0pgN0pfrw/s400/Gill+netting+for+bonnetheads.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gill-netting for bonnetheads with National Geographic in Long Key, FL</td></tr>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18294688166036113958noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2090203624913866023.post-24686006358058365582016-06-06T11:34:00.002-07:002016-06-06T11:40:56.191-07:00<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;">PIT Tags and Passive
Antenna Systems Part 2: Arctic Adaptability<o:p></o:p></span></span></b><br />
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<b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Greg Hill, Florida
International University</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Hi Folks,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Last post I discussed the use of PIT
tags and Passive antenna systems (PAS) in studying fish movement and fine scale
habitat selection of Everglades sunfishes at an experimental facility. In this post I’m going to talk about scaling
up the application of PAS- at both spatial and latitudinal gradients. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> While this technology can be very
effective at monitoring an organisms use of one habitat patch or another (Such
as in my first blog post), another major area of research which employs PAS is
anadromous fish migration. There is an extensive
body of literature from the Pacific Northwest detailing the use of PIT
technology in studying salmonid spawning, survival and migration. More recently this technology has also show
its versatility and hardiness in extreme environments- such as arctic tundra
river systems.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> Last summer (or fall in arctic time)
I was fortunate enough to be a part of a study examining arctic grayling adaptability
to climate change. “FISHSCAPE” is a
Woods Hole Institute project led by Principle Investigators Linda Deegan (MBL
at Woods Hole) and Mark Urban (Uconn) that conducts its research out of Toolik
field station on Alaska’s North Slope.
Here the project’s focus was on 3 river systems of different size,
gradient, thermal regimes, and seasonal connectivity. By better understanding the growth, movement
patterns, and genetic linkages of arctic grayling in each system, FISHSCAPE
hopes to shed light on the impact of shifting seasonality in arctic aquatic
ecosystems. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> However,
working in an unforgiving environment such as the arctic presents its own set
of unique problems- particularly when it comes to year-round monitoring of fish
over many miles of remote river system.
Here, the major challenge of using PAS to monitor fish movement is just
keeping the equipment in operating condition and protected from the elements
and wildlife. This requires a bit of
electrical engineering and field ingenuity.
Below is a more detailed
breakdown of the FISHSCAPE’s focal region, species, and methodology</span></span><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Toolik Field Station:<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Established in 1976 as an extension
International Biological Program, TFS has become a premier research base for
arctic science. Now managed by the
Institute of Arctic Biology at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, TFS has cooperative
agreements with a number of agencies and Universities which support numerous
studies to help better understand the arctic environment and its impact at the
global scale. Just getting to TFS can be
quite an adventure. Its location just off the Dalton Highway on the North Slope
of the Brooks Mountain range puts 357 miles north of the nearest city
(Fairbanks) and 117 miles south of the Arctic Ocean. Researchers here enjoy round the clock
sunlight from May 26 to July 17- but never see the sun rise from November 27 to
January 14. However, the Aurora Borealis
does provide its own magical lighting once night returns to the arctic. </span></span><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Arctic Grayling (<i>Thymallus arcticus)<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Arctic
grayling are a circumpolar member of the salmonid family that is widespread
throughout the arctic and subarctic regions of the world. They are long lived (20+ years), can grow up
to lengths of 24 inches, and are easily distinguished from other salmonids by
their exceptionally large dorsal fin and small mouth. When looked at closely in the water they
exhibit a mixture of iridescent colors that seem to shimmer in sunlight. I would describe their appearance in the
water as almost “electric”. Primarily
insectivorous, they are beloved by fly fishermen for their enthusiasm to take
dry flies. Grayling are also a vital part
of biotic linkages in arctic aquatic ecosystems. As spring spawners, their seasonal movements
between productive riverine habitats and overwintering areas such as headwater
lakes or spring pools play a large role in nutrient transfer and diet
subsidization for other organisms- especially other fish such as lake trout and
arctic char. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Importance of Biotic
Linkages<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfnKT__GPuVGxVsmMhUkNXloXn77UjK3l8CztfsiJ4cND5gOBtNLQNYDQ82uXpslBrbpDwJbHeYLdNszhlW0z2z_5Dr2qnp0hT9LkEr54YOJTYn-BfdX7dr43_HyqcGhnj_zvgSh0ZZ2w/s1600/Slide3.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfnKT__GPuVGxVsmMhUkNXloXn77UjK3l8CztfsiJ4cND5gOBtNLQNYDQ82uXpslBrbpDwJbHeYLdNszhlW0z2z_5Dr2qnp0hT9LkEr54YOJTYn-BfdX7dr43_HyqcGhnj_zvgSh0ZZ2w/s640/Slide3.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">PIT tagging and PAS setup on the
North Slope:<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">An extreme environment such as the
arctic presents a number of unique factors that must be dealt with accordingly
in order to achieve continuous monitoring of fish movements across the
seasons. First off, the rivers flowing
out of the Brooks Range are very low in conductivity which makes electrofishing
difficult. Fortunately, the voracious
appetites of arctic grayling awakening from a long winter’s slumber make them
fairly easy to catch with angling techniques.
Small spinners and flies with barbless hooks are also less harmful and
easily removable. With a team of 2-4
anglers it is not uncommon to capture and tag over 100 grayling in a single
day! A weir built at the outlet of a
headwater lake in the fall is another effective method for fish capture as they
migrate back to overwinter. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> We
used both 12 & 23 mm half duplex PIT tags since each size provided its owe
advantages. 12 mm tags allowed us to tag
much smaller specimens but did not afford the same detection range as the 23 mm
tags. The mesh holding pens we used
while processing & tagging fish needed to be carefully placed and easily
movable as conditions in some rivers could change to flood stage rapidly depending
upon weather. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuLEmJF9id6hphH0YRfokXIRXIdXR-3_LfA94wPXIjSlAtv9wzIYkSVgG6ucCo2WJmpFL7_9x9rFgQhHKva3e-ANNAGY_h_b24Z75MbYduBoNWIIY-RaEmHHzYuSDcjOC5lKPwrEUop2o/s1600/Slide4.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuLEmJF9id6hphH0YRfokXIRXIdXR-3_LfA94wPXIjSlAtv9wzIYkSVgG6ucCo2WJmpFL7_9x9rFgQhHKva3e-ANNAGY_h_b24Z75MbYduBoNWIIY-RaEmHHzYuSDcjOC5lKPwrEUop2o/s640/Slide4.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> With
many PAS stations set up at points along river sections only accessible via
helicopter or snow machine, a solar power provides a reliable means of keeping
the equipment running year round. Three properly
angled 100-watt panels are able to harness and store enough energy from the
arctic summer sun to keep a series of car batteries charged and supplying power
to the reader & antenna system even through the dark winter months- Keeping
this setup protected from wildlife and the elements in another matter.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> Heavy duty army ammo boxes lined with Styrofoam help keep the readers and batteries protected and insulated from the elements. The local wildlife, however, has been found to be quite fond of messing with the solar panels and electrical wire connected to them and the antenna. Grizzly bears seem to enjoy tearing apart the solar panels while arctic ground squirrels or “sik sik’s” have a habit of gnawing on wire. Project coordinator Cam Mackenzie has found that erecting a small electric bear fence around the panels and adding thick metal shielding to the wires and cable deters these tundra residents fairly well- Not exactly your everyday troubleshooting!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq962GZ40f14WYdR6vbocusQDPuQ9d9Y_62q0khHIefO9wKMxTXRa-xES127aYzxD_Z4w1pHfyGW4iIslhhjEw-AEEpBLKX95Neo4AzGJ1kaH-z2MzMnR5LUDlyYN8n2suz-Xbu3zjbX8/s1600/Slide5.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq962GZ40f14WYdR6vbocusQDPuQ9d9Y_62q0khHIefO9wKMxTXRa-xES127aYzxD_Z4w1pHfyGW4iIslhhjEw-AEEpBLKX95Neo4AzGJ1kaH-z2MzMnR5LUDlyYN8n2suz-Xbu3zjbX8/s640/Slide5.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">The arctic may be a difficult place to work in at times, but its raw
beauty and importance in understanding climate change are well worth the
challenges. Hope you’ve enjoyed both
posts on adapting passive antenna systems to the top and bottom of America.</span></span><br />
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Greg Hill<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Masters Student</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Florida International University</span></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18294688166036113958noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2090203624913866023.post-6878231824311529052016-04-29T07:26:00.001-07:002016-04-29T09:47:25.930-07:00The Science PhD Experience: My Life is a Series of Home Improvement Stores<div class="mceTemp">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" class=" size-full wp-image-910 aligncenter" data-mce-src="https://themeanderingscientist.files.wordpress.com/2016/04/484px-rebar_and_shingles.jpg" height="599" src="https://themeanderingscientist.files.wordpress.com/2016/04/484px-rebar_and_shingles.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="484" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Source: Wikimedia Commons</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
Note: The following content has been cross-posted from my personal science blog, <a href="https://themeanderingscientist.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Wanderlust</a>.<br />
<br />
Never
when I signed up for this whole PhD "thing", did I think that further
down along the line I would wander down the aisles of countless formless
and faceless Home Depots and Lowes, familiarizing myself with PVC
epoxies, pipe cutters, types of quick-pour concrete, and erratically
color-coded lengths of rebar. While I am in the very last throes of the
natural science component of my dissertation, for stretches within the
last year, nary a week would pass without at least one, if not several,
trips searching for the miscellanea one needs to make a bare-bones
scientific project happen.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a>My method for estimating oyster
filtration rates required the use of sediment traps (see my post about
it <a href="http://floridafisheriesscience.blogspot.com/2015/03/research-on-reef-or-how-i-learned-to.html" target="_blank">here</a>) constructed out of buckets and netting. However, the studies
that used them prior and upon which I based my design, had employed them
in very different settings. My traps had to withstand dynamic ocean
conditions, tidal cycles, and the interest of the errant passerby. So
thus began the nail-biting process of iterative design. What type of
buckets to use to avoid re-suspending sediment? What kind of netting
across the mouth? How to affix them to reef? How to weight them so they
wouldn't float away during the first high tide?<br />
<br />
Practice run after
practice run unfolded as I tried various proto-types. Scuba weights
affixed to the mouth of buckets using hose clamps. Testing ways to keep
everything in one place using ground anchors, thin lengths of PVC,
rebar. Phone calls from nearby good Samaritans who had retrieved my
runaway equipment (a PSA if there ever was one for labeling your gear!).
A slick (if not utterly lo-fi) double-nested bucket design weighted
down with rounds of concrete emerged out the mixture of mishaps and
successes. I then did it all again and tapped into the same recurrent
type of process when creating a seawater flow-through system for oyster
filtration lab trials.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFwHWL0rNw9uosVnU93pHlRziKSQQHgYKT7WVAbG-PQQoTDuaR1FlfwVSsEL8S66y_uROntWeGS3TbvvCf-UymAD49FOs6EN9EYJfa0qwYYN-UiE64GDGsCcmIaldP7kJyKOj9XJ3COYo/s1600/Mosaic.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFwHWL0rNw9uosVnU93pHlRziKSQQHgYKT7WVAbG-PQQoTDuaR1FlfwVSsEL8S66y_uROntWeGS3TbvvCf-UymAD49FOs6EN9EYJfa0qwYYN-UiE64GDGsCcmIaldP7kJyKOj9XJ3COYo/s1600/Mosaic.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table><tbody>
<tr><td></td><td><br /></td><td></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
All the while, I was running to every hardware store in town, looking for materials of the right shape, weight, and construction for
whatever small application I had in mind. Many questions directed
towards employees started with "This is going to sound strange, but...".
Eyebrows were raised when I bought 30 of something generally purchased
in increments of one or two - "...Doing a lot of yard work this
weekend?" I recall poorly relaying the idea of my experimental sediment
traps meant to measure the amount of oyster biodeposits produced during
my experiment, and the amusing follow-up question: "Are you trying to
keep the oysters from getting away?<br />
<br />
Additionally
I had the help of a marine lab machine shop to drill, cut, and sand. I
learned how to estimate which equipment I needed for which job. I also
had the opportunity to watch those inclined towards clever design and
ask plenty of questions. Is there enough water pressure to do that? How
do I get the flow to be more laminar? How do I keep this from leaking?<br />
<br />
It's
a cultivated skill set, one which rewards those who tinkered with lego
and kinex as a kid. Rarely are we told as marine biologists, fisheries
scientists, or field ecologists, that we will draw so heavily upon what
amounts to being back-of-the-envelope engineers.It's also a continued
argument for the inclusion of the "T" (technology) and the "E"
(engineering) part of STEM training that is often desired on the job,
but may make scant appearance in a scientist's formal education.<br />
<br />
Most
of us instead gain experience through more informal avenues, as the
best teacher is often necessity. Also there is no better practice than
to constantly build, err, and deconstruct, all while slowly
incorporating new fixes and experiencing the fog of confusion out of
which comes little sparks of revelation. The act of literally building
our science from the ground up is one of ultimate creativity, funneling
in threads of right-brain function, and helping us shape solutions in
response to whatever demands our research may make of us.
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13571840360063121651noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2090203624913866023.post-82187063740311694542016-04-11T05:40:00.002-07:002016-04-11T05:41:44.313-07:00What is a stock assessment? Part I<div class="MsoNormal">
<h2>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #4f81bd; mso-themecolor: accent1;">Introduction</span></b></h2>
</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjizaRboYLTUCd5ZXFvB3QOYDjT3DogWEF_oJPt7blbunfxGR5BzhSYy4midApaAdI4ssYSpvUv2E3NGD0GwOnc1Il_TEeCsA3BeYw3z-V3lUW6jMjbNRWMwcd5p_gAKTdZKkFgLUmr4do/s1600/18146_10100319531742641_2725843_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjizaRboYLTUCd5ZXFvB3QOYDjT3DogWEF_oJPt7blbunfxGR5BzhSYy4midApaAdI4ssYSpvUv2E3NGD0GwOnc1Il_TEeCsA3BeYw3z-V3lUW6jMjbNRWMwcd5p_gAKTdZKkFgLUmr4do/s200/18146_10100319531742641_2725843_n.jpg" width="176" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Assessing in style</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"> Stock assessments are an important
part of the way we manage fisheries in the U.S. A lot goes into a single stock
assessment, and they can be quite daunting to navigate. However, when you break
them down into their component parts they really aren’t so bad! In this post we
will begin to explore stock assessments by introducing the concept and talking a
bit about the process involved with stock assessments in Federal waters (*in
Florida, marine waters past 3 miles offshore in the Atlantic and past 9 miles
offshore in the Gulf of Mexico are governed by the Federal government through
<a href="http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/" target="_blank">NOAA’s Fisheries branch</a>, and waters inshore of that are governed by the State
through the <a href="http://myfwc.com/" target="_blank">Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission</a>; they also use
stock assessments, and we will tackle their management process in a future
post).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br />
<a name='more'></a><br /></div>
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<div style="text-align: right;">
</div>
<h3>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Background: what is a
stock assessment? </b></h3>
</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
At its heart, a stock assessment is
simply what it says: a project aimed at assessing a stock of <span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">fish. The term
“stock” simply refers to a unit of fish that is being managed. The unit might
be distinguished based on biology or fishing practices. For example, in the
state of Florida our fish species are often divided into Atlantic and Gulf of
Mexico stocks because few fish travel between the two bodies of water, so we
consider them separately. A stock assessment pulls together all of the
available information on that stock, including biology and information about fishing,
to try to figure out both what is going on with the stock at present (</span><i style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Is it overfished? Is it doing just fine?</i><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">) and to predict what will happen in the future (</span><i style="text-indent: 0.5in;">What about 10 years from now? Can we keep fishing the same way?</i><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">).</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBrUGYT3oU_4_u3zmXZspf9WSlcs0UQYp34L0vVKnFKQwBfF_kf0GZsms_6jKinDB-AMrfbXIZhQsCP8OnNRNu3ixsMPBc9O8m14UFrvmv2iIctHjLy1lst0ZLO6lOVhVTdS2FTPeVwEQ/s1600/1923267_581744542131_9042_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBrUGYT3oU_4_u3zmXZspf9WSlcs0UQYp34L0vVKnFKQwBfF_kf0GZsms_6jKinDB-AMrfbXIZhQsCP8OnNRNu3ixsMPBc9O8m14UFrvmv2iIctHjLy1lst0ZLO6lOVhVTdS2FTPeVwEQ/s200/1923267_581744542131_9042_n.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grouper are one example of species <br />
assessed using the SEDAR process</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h3>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></h3>
<h3>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Stock Assessments in
the South: the SEDAR process</b></h3>
</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<a href="http://sedarweb.org/" target="_blank">SEDAR</a> (short for the “Southeast
Data, Assessment, and Review”) refers to the way Federal stock assessments are
conducted in the Southeastern U.S. The process consists of three workshops: the
Data Workshop, the Assessment process, and the Review Workshop. During the Data
Workshop, fisheries scientists pull together all of the data, or information,
that will be needed for the stock assessment. Next, researchers use this
information to create the stock assessment models during the Assessment process
(*we will talk more about models soon). Finally, a group of different experts
review everything during the Review Workshop. The completed assessment
(including all three reports from the workshops) are then sent to the appropriate
<a href="http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/management/councils/" target="_blank">Fisheries Management Council</a>’s Scientific and Statistical Committee to be
accepted as appropriate for management. The Committee then uses the
information in the assessment to make management recommendations, which go to
the Fisheries Management Council (in Florida, this would be either the <a href="http://gulfcouncil.org/" target="_blank">Gulf ofMexico Fishery Management Council</a> or the <a href="http://www.safmc.net/" target="_blank">South Atlantic Fishery ManagementCouncil</a>). The SEDAR process is certainly complex and involved, but it helps
ensure that the stock assessments are of the highest quality and therefore that
the management recommendations we get out of them are the best possible. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<h3>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Stock Rebuilding
Targets: Biological Reference Points</b></h3>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>If a stock
has been assessed as overfished (meaning that too many fish were caught in the
past), the <a href="http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/laws_policies/msa/sfa.html" target="_blank">Sustainable Fisheries Act </a>(*a National Act passed by Congress)
mandates that managers create a “rebuilding plan” for the stock to get it back
to sustainable levels. To do this, managers have to aim for a target, or
“<a href="http://www.fao.org/docrep/006/x8498e/x8498e0c.htm" target="_blank">biological reference point</a>”, that lets them know that the stock has returned
to sustainable levels. There are many different types of reference points, and
we will explore them in detail in another post. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><b>Next time: what all goes into a stock assessment? </b></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span>
<span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span>*Want to learn more? Check out these handy resources:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/stories/2012/05/05_23_12stock_assessment_101_part1.html" style="text-indent: 0px;" target="_blank">NOAA Assessment 101</a><br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/3UbWMdpavUE/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/3UbWMdpavUE?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe><br />
<br />
<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
Chelseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12981117711044779651noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2090203624913866023.post-82856610884334132282016-03-01T08:34:00.001-08:002016-03-11T12:36:43.288-08:00Fishing for Bedding Bass - Benign Past Time or Cause for Concern?<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">It’s
March, and the signs of spring are popping up everywhere in Florida. Days
are longer, temperatures are warmer, and trees are beginning to bud. Birds,
flowers, and bees are becoming more active, and with the warming temperatures,
underwater activities are heating up too. More specifically, Florida Largemouth
Bass (<i>Micropterus floridanus</i>) are
beginning to move into the shallows as they seek to begin their spawning season.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">If
you’re an angler this time of year means the potential to target bass that are
both highly vulnerable and readily accessible, with a legitimate shot at
landing a big one. This is in large part due to the reproductive biology of Largemouth Bass; they excavate nests in shallow water commonly visible from afar, display
parental care (i.e. they protect the young in their nests), and will attack predators (or lures) that enter their
nests. The process of specifically fishing for bass as they defend their brood
(eggs and young) is known as bed fishing, and a simple internet search will
return hundreds of websites that detail specific baits, techniques, and
strategies to target bedding bass (Figure 1). Indeed, bed fishing is a
practiced by many and staunchly opposed by many others. At the center of the
debate is whether the removal of guarding parents is bad for the overall bass
population. Numerous studies have shown that bed fishing can cause individual
nests to fail, but does this scale up to the entire population?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3hw6C7j1L-zWeBwBAYUu9g5DX9PwFoqc-IMYRNwTHVemg1zF5cQVEAgJX4_HXEnGmJgPV8KQEsPxpi4tTThZkxaQw84LsrBAIw4gY-Q5Zi3Cc2U66kdqqfXA49cp-cx8KGxcDsYdsupo/s1600/Figure1.png" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3hw6C7j1L-zWeBwBAYUu9g5DX9PwFoqc-IMYRNwTHVemg1zF5cQVEAgJX4_HXEnGmJgPV8KQEsPxpi4tTThZkxaQw84LsrBAIw4gY-Q5Zi3Cc2U66kdqqfXA49cp-cx8KGxcDsYdsupo/s400/Figure1.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">Figure 1. One of many websites
that provide detailed information on how to catch bedding bass<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"></span></b><br />
<a name='more'></a><b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">Bass
fishing and Florida have a long and storied history together. With
approximately 7,700 lakes, highly productive water bodies, a long growing
season, and the genetically distinct Florida Largemouth Bass known for its
rapid growth, Florida represents a prime location to grow bass of trophy size. Managers
with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) have long
recognized the high caliber of bass fisheries in the state, and in 2009 they set
out to develop a formal plan to ensure that Florida is the undisputed the “Bass
Fishing Capital of the World”. The product of these efforts was a 20 year plan,
formalized in 2011, that incorporated direct input from avid anglers, tackle
shop owners, lure manufacturers, fishing guides, outdoor writers, tournament
anglers, university researchers, and tourism destination marketers. The plan
details specific goals for the agency to address including habitat, fish, and
people management related issues. Interestingly, the second largest concern
among Florida stakeholders was the potential effects of bed fishing on bass
populations. In other words, is regulation need to protect bedding bass so as
to avoid negative population level effects?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><b>Study
Design</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">In
response to the concerns of Florida anglers FWC initiated a multi-year study
specifically designed to address this issue. Utilizing a series of nine
experimental populations at the Florida Bass Conservation Center we created a
series of 1 acre ponds that were designed to mimic local area lakes. To each
pond we added equal numbers of adult male and female bass (<i>n </i>= 20 total) alongside Bluegill, Seminole Killifish, Eastern
Mosquitofish, and Grass Carp (to control aquatic vegetation). Fish such as
Mosquitofish were to serve as forage for bass whereas Bluegill were added to
serve as nest predators. Fish were stocked at densities similar to historical
block net data collected from the Ocklawaha Chain of Lakes. To each pond we
added a series of brush piles and cinder blocks to provide adequate spawning
habitat (Figure 2). All adult bass were fin clipped (for genetic analysis) and
PIT tagged to allow for individual identification. Adult bass were stocked in
January and all ponds were drained in the fall. To assess angling impacts on
reproduction, five ponds received a fishing treatment and the remaining four
were left undisturbed. This experiment was conducted twice, once in 2013 and
again in 2014.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisrcOcIOi5N4zDZgpgIgh8tLgzCQm2fUDO2Ymhcu7itjV3NvMa4tDm75n47OAqi2J-HRC31nQTpj-RdHeccrfwCD9h3wy7CAGgENcJWRW3GWor8oryXaLr0hRWry-aFitWL_GJ-IL3aMQ/s1600/Figure2.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisrcOcIOi5N4zDZgpgIgh8tLgzCQm2fUDO2Ymhcu7itjV3NvMa4tDm75n47OAqi2J-HRC31nQTpj-RdHeccrfwCD9h3wy7CAGgENcJWRW3GWor8oryXaLr0hRWry-aFitWL_GJ-IL3aMQ/s640/Figure2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">Figure 2. One of nine research
ponds used to study the impacts of bed fishing on Florida Bass recruitment.
Brush piles and cinder blocks were added to ensure adequate spawning habitat
was available for bass<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">Once the
spawning season was initiated snorkelers were in the water every other day to
monitor spawning activities (Figure 3 - left), and once a nest was identified
its fate was tracked (i.e. to determine what percentage of nests were made and
of those, how many were successful) (Figure 3 - right). In the fishing
treatment, we specifically targeted known nests to illicit a potential bed
fishing response. If a fish was captured, we first identified it (via PIT tag)
and then placed it into an enclosure within the same pond for one hour. The
thought process was the removal of a guarding parent for one hour would
maximize the impact of predators on the unguarded nests. With individual catch
histories and genetic fin clips we would later be able to relate individual
contributions (what adults produced which offspring) and how production rates
varied with number of captures.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1jFU_yZvY9xar4ZEJJK0uVPA3oPT_12ryj78KG3jx-04qXikRCrEyCrqDBB-KX597wC9nHDgKDcUNPjfU-H8iW0cnFKBLO9g9m9f4_Rbuygmrzi26eWxL4RN5G-5B9B0WF-p4Fm2ikfk/s1600/Figure3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1jFU_yZvY9xar4ZEJJK0uVPA3oPT_12ryj78KG3jx-04qXikRCrEyCrqDBB-KX597wC9nHDgKDcUNPjfU-H8iW0cnFKBLO9g9m9f4_Rbuygmrzi26eWxL4RN5G-5B9B0WF-p4Fm2ikfk/s320/Figure3.jpg" width="320" /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisEvwCpGxRwhMERpAFUf8DaC35X7Lyuv-Z1M5Ml4r6XsKCD626jl_bRrofVi0Dn4WYVwasfv_s2LezeCdNPDzQCgiC8EmdJXD7uR-AMAWbsR_NNk5kwMXzu8RzXsL8cLXfh_KJtpDD2io/s1600/Figure3b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisEvwCpGxRwhMERpAFUf8DaC35X7Lyuv-Z1M5Ml4r6XsKCD626jl_bRrofVi0Dn4WYVwasfv_s2LezeCdNPDzQCgiC8EmdJXD7uR-AMAWbsR_NNk5kwMXzu8RzXsL8cLXfh_KJtpDD2io/s320/Figure3b.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">Figure 3. (Top) Biologists caught
‘mid-snorkel’ attempting to locate and identify all Florida Bass spawning
attempts in our experimental populations. (Bottom) A foam float was placed over
each identified nests so the fate of individual reproductive efforts could be
tracked.</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">Nine
months following population establishment, all ponds were drained and the total
number of offspring produced per population was quantified. Additionally, 200
fin clips were randomly taken from juveniles (i.e. fall recruits) for genetic
analysis. Using genetic profiles from all adults and a subset of juveniles we
conducted parentage analysis in a maximum likelihood framework to figure out
which parents produced which offspring. So, for both 2013 and 2014 we had at
the end of each field experiment records of: how many nesting attempts
occurred, how many nests were successful, how many times each bass in the
fished populations were captured, and how many recruits were produced per
population. Once back in the lab, genetic profiles and genetic analysis was
performed on a total of 3,050 adults and offspring (across both years) to
determine how many adults contributed to reproduction, how many offspring were
produced per adult, and how these factors varied as a function of fishing
treatment.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><b>Results</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">In all
of 2013, we documented a total of 56 active nests, 31 of which were in unfished
ponds, the remaining 25 nests in fished populations. In 2014, the number of
active nests increased dramatically with a total of 148 being located. Again,
more nests (82) were located in unfished ponds relative to fished (66). In
terms of the number of nests that were successful (i.e. we observed fry
swimming over the nest), success rates were higher in fished populations
relative to unfished in 2013, although this difference was not statistically
significant. We observed the reverse trend in 2014 (i.e. unfished had
significantly higher nest success rates). Combining data from both years
together we noted that unfished ponds on average had both a greater number of
nests and a higher number of successful nests, although this difference was not
statistically different <b>(Figure 4)</b>. So,
in light of the differences in nest number and success rate, did we observe a
greater number of fall recruits in unfished populations?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaD4bzBBAIbW-7s1QE3mEZjpbTn-yz-8SqytVaWSrnaU7dgcAXMxz4c_gxF_8E0AN2zlHv_Uie2IXD1xrvTlhZVPagSga2ey267FNWdY7jHYuk76a5v5p78qvhIbLJp-6LOWBosjwfacg/s1600/Figure4.png" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaD4bzBBAIbW-7s1QE3mEZjpbTn-yz-8SqytVaWSrnaU7dgcAXMxz4c_gxF_8E0AN2zlHv_Uie2IXD1xrvTlhZVPagSga2ey267FNWdY7jHYuk76a5v5p78qvhIbLJp-6LOWBosjwfacg/s400/Figure4.png" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">Figure 4. The percentage of nests
that were identified as successful for the 2013, 2014, and combined data sets.</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">Before
we look further into how fishing impacted recruitment and parental
contributions, it’s important to look out how effective our fishermen were at
capturing spawning Florida Bass. In populations in which all spawning
activities were identified our most skilled anglers were only able to capture a
moderate fraction of the bass that were targeted. Specifically, in year one
only 36% of bass were captured, and although our catch rates were higher in
2014, we still only managed to capture 53% of nest tending adults. A number of
studies have shown that Florida bass are less likely to strike at the first
cast presented to them, and any number of casts for that matter relative to
Northern Largemouth Bass. So in this case, it’s unlikely that our anglers
abilities were driving the low catch rates, but likely this was an artifact of
the difficulties associated with catching Florida Bass.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">When we
examined recruitment patterns across fished and unfished populations we saw a
complete lack of trend. In other words, in 2013 we noted a higher number of
recruits were produced in unfished populations; however, in 2014 the exact
opposite was true. Important to note was the high degree of variability both
within and between years (<b>Figure 5</b>).
For example in the first year’s experiment we had one population produce a staggering
3,479 offspring while another produced only 34.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB9_YA5C03ck__jCl5Y7uWwc7IAUKPF0Q6f3oh9C2xvhioB_IACLPQujQJ8iPUYFg5gP4ZRtDEz6Lo2S-mS5iOOy6S0T9IC4BQD34t8k3Z-byZ4w-XX94KYAglTDnkPhgKVU1_auisKmE/s1600/figure5.png" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB9_YA5C03ck__jCl5Y7uWwc7IAUKPF0Q6f3oh9C2xvhioB_IACLPQujQJ8iPUYFg5gP4ZRtDEz6Lo2S-mS5iOOy6S0T9IC4BQD34t8k3Z-byZ4w-XX94KYAglTDnkPhgKVU1_auisKmE/s400/figure5.png" width="400" /></a> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">Figure 5. The number of fall
recruits produced in experimental Florida Bass populations subjected to bed
fishing relative to control populations.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">Next, in
our efforts to examine how bed fishing impacts reproductive efforts in Florida
Bass we looked at the number of adults that contributed to reproduction and the
average number of offspring they produced. In 2013, both fished and unfished
ponds had only a moderate fraction of all adults contribute to reproduction
(fished: 27% of adults; unfished: 37.5%), whereas these values were
significantly higher in 2014 (fished: 68%; unfished 60%). Thinking that perhaps
nest guarding males might be more heavily influenced by angling (as they are
more likely to be targeted) we examined the average number of males and females
contributing to fished and unfished populations and observed no significant
differences. In terms of the number of offspring produced, during the first
year of the experiment we observed large numbers of recruits combined with low
numbers of contributing adults resulting in a high average number of offspring
per adult. The opposite trend was observed in 2014. As with previous results we
saw a dramatic shift in average contributions between years but not treatments
(Figure 6). In other words, the greatest changes in average number of offspring
were observed between years but not treatments. In fact, in year two we
observed a greater number of offspring per parent in fished populations
relative to unfished. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPd1C-AI_kOD4EruifX4IY6jBhb202YCi2NrqPI5mUXgkfFsV_Ni0fh20yi-Gv4ocZ8H7OuMaJHt8ZhEVfg2_YAOMOVAf-bzecyff5OT6bhyphenhyphenwhXz5jjl7ee1JqPYQvPhLS1YtBDh6sIlc/s1600/Figure6.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="357" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPd1C-AI_kOD4EruifX4IY6jBhb202YCi2NrqPI5mUXgkfFsV_Ni0fh20yi-Gv4ocZ8H7OuMaJHt8ZhEVfg2_YAOMOVAf-bzecyff5OT6bhyphenhyphenwhXz5jjl7ee1JqPYQvPhLS1YtBDh6sIlc/s400/Figure6.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">Figure 6. A boxplot displaying
the average number of offspring produced per Florida Bass as a function of sex,
treatment (bed fished vs. unfished), and year. Triangles represent mean values,
black bars denote median values, boxes identify values falling within the 25<sup>th</sup>
and 75<sup>th</sup> quartiles, and open circles represent outliers.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">The last
piece of the bed fishing puzzle involved examining how catch histories impacted
reproductive output. Do bass that have been removed from their nest still
produce offspring? The answer is yes! In fact in some cases we observed fish
that were angled from multiple nests produced higher average numbers of
offspring than fish never captured (Figure 7) (Note: fish removed from
individual nests via fishing were done so only once such that repeated captures
implied multiple distinct spawning events). Does this mean that capturing a
bass off the nest is beneficial? Hardly. But it does put to rest the fear that
bass that are bed fished are essentially non-contributors to fall recruitment,
at least in our study system.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinZwGa2K_w1lO96nmku2z5qRe5M21HUlSJfa2gjHe_mhiCah-4gPr6UMsfDw-8taWyAsB73GmXNBp3HUCzjqhMJkMNpReRTKCXaiYTJoXrhHfOP3Czv8vn5F-mc4GLz5ec2flRFB9VDu0/s1600/figure7.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="321" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinZwGa2K_w1lO96nmku2z5qRe5M21HUlSJfa2gjHe_mhiCah-4gPr6UMsfDw-8taWyAsB73GmXNBp3HUCzjqhMJkMNpReRTKCXaiYTJoXrhHfOP3Czv8vn5F-mc4GLz5ec2flRFB9VDu0/s400/figure7.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">Figure 7. The mean number of
offspring produced per adult male Florida Bass as a function of the number of
times it was captured from a spawning bed. Dark circles represent mean values
and thick black bars represent median values. Sample sizes are listed above capture
category.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><br /></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><b>Conclusions</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">We
created a series of experimental populations that were replicated across years
to assess the impacts of bed fishing on Florida Bass and failed to illicit
statistically significant differences in the mating success, reproductive
success, or overall patterns of recruitment in Florida Bass. The potential for
bed fishing to illicit population level responses in recruitment of black
basses has been the focus of extensive debate and research for decades
and numerous studies have highlighted the negative consequences at the
individual level associated with catch-and-release angling. However, it appears
many of the individual level impacts fail to scale up at the population level.
A long list of potential explanations may serve to observe our observations,
including the reproductive biology of Florida Bass, their reduced vulnerability
to angling, and the possibility for density-dependence processes and recruitment
compensation to drive patterns in fall recruitment.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">In the
warm Florida climate Florida Bass spawn over a protracted period (January to
May) and have been known to spawn multiple times within an individual season. Thus
a failure due to nest predation may be compensated for by a success later in
the season. We documented a number of cases in both fished and unfished
populations in which individuals spawned multiple times. The notion of limited
catchability alluded to before may also help to explain our observed trends.
That we knew where every spawning attempt was occurring, made directed efforts
towards catching all spawning fish, and failed to capture all or most of the
fish implies a significant portion of nests will go undisturbed in the wild. In
the complex (i.e. high levels of aquatic vegetation) water bodies of Florida it
seems unlikely that anglers would be present in sufficient number and
consistency to hit all spawning events. Especially if that water body is
someplace the size of the St. Johns River (310 miles long) or Lake Okeechobee
(710 square miles in surface area). Another potential explanation for the observed trends
includes the role of density-dependent recruitment compensation in Florida Bass
populations. In other words, lowered population density (i.e. fewer successful
nests) associated with bed fishing may be compensated for by increased survival
of the remaining offspring. Thus, individual losses may be offset by
compensation at the population level.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><br /></span></u></b></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">The Take Home Message<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">The results from this study suggest that bed fishing
may not significantly impact the number of adults contributing to reproduction,
the average number of recruits </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">produced
per adult, or the total number of offspring produced in Florida Bass populations.
Additionally, results indicate that fish captured during the spawning season
contributed to fall recruitment despite being removed from their nests. These
conclusions do not imply the absence of any negative impacts, as bed fishing
that involves a harvest component may illicit responses drastically different
than results derived from this experiment. Furthermore, the present study was
not designed to measure deleterious impacts associated with selective fishing
practices (i.e. targeting trophy bass only). Nonetheless, these results provide
important management insights for Florida Bass populations occupying biological
and physical environments similar to those studied in this experiment. Moving
forward the research results obtained here will be used to ensure the
health and success of Florida’s most prized freshwater sport fish populations!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><b>Credits</b></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">This research was by conducted by FWC with funding from the Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Act (Wallop-Breaux Act). Nick Trippel (FWC) was responsible for project design, management, and execution. John Hargrove (UF) assisted with field work and completed </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">all </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">genetic analysis (extraction, amplification, parentage assignments). A peer-reviewed publication of research findings will be forthcoming later in 2016!</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18294688166036113958noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2090203624913866023.post-75030301814829925222016-01-28T17:05:00.002-08:002016-01-30T19:39:30.174-08:00Parasite Selfie: The “Duckface”<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2090203624913866023" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><b></b></div>
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The first installment of 2016’s parasite selfies is about the Class Monogenea, which includes thousands of species of mostly microscopic
critters (typically under 2 mm) that are found on the external surface of a
fish, and are usually very host specific. They have unique attachment organs, called
haptors, which come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes and are one of the
best aids for identification. Together, the arrangement, shape and size of hooks,
anchors, suckers and/or clamps are unique to each species. The haptor is
located at the posterior end of the body while the adhesive head organs,
including the pharynx and mouth, are located at the anterior end. One of the
reasons I chose Class Monogenea for this blog post is because the shape of the muscular
pharynx (Figure 1) resembles the all too common “duckface” selfie that seems to
have infiltrated the social media accounts of celebrities and young college
girls alike. Regular perpetrators of this stereotypical expression include
celebrities like Kim Kardashian, Nicki Minaj, and the man who may be regarded
as the father of the duckface phenomena, the one and only Derek Zoolander
(#BlueSteele). I myself succumbed to the duckface craze during my undergrad
days, and while embarrassing, the similarity between myself and a tiny, hungry
parasite is too striking not to share. Do you see it?!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX2U1L6ZvuJxIqTnd9yuYyAs6pM84ydIYINQ_TUUbF2m8AiSTD3-jsz27BnalTA9IY-9EfgT4n7xsgBZZhurdWkdclTWzO-qSUKB6CDsRx6TSaGXlwknauPITv6e7_1pQdioRVTkJsGkw/s1600/LPduckface.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX2U1L6ZvuJxIqTnd9yuYyAs6pM84ydIYINQ_TUUbF2m8AiSTD3-jsz27BnalTA9IY-9EfgT4n7xsgBZZhurdWkdclTWzO-qSUKB6CDsRx6TSaGXlwknauPITv6e7_1pQdioRVTkJsGkw/s400/LPduckface.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-f17b8464-8acd-1ca0-59c0-9203c3b9b074"></span>Figure 1. Duckface
selfie. The monogenean shown is a species of <i>Rhabdosynochus</i>, which infects common snook, <i>Centropomus undecimalis</i>, in Florida waters. The arrow points to the
muscular pharynx, which has been edited in color for your viewing pleasure, and
to match the shade of my lipstick. Photo credit: FWC, Fish and Wildlife Health
group for the image of <i>Rhabdosynochus</i>.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<a name='more'></a>Ah, the little things in life that make working with tiny
organisms fun! How ironic that the “unique” face my 19-year old self posed in a
taxi ride to South Beach, Miami turns out to be a common trait shared by these
microscopic parasites of fish. Alas, not
the type of “cool” I was trying to portray. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br />
While an unflattering, contorted and unnatural pose for
humans, the “duckface”, aka the muscular pharynx, is vital for the parasite to
survive and facilitates the ingestion of food. The parasite illustrated in
Figure 1 is a species of <i>Rhabdosynochus</i>,
which is in the subclass, Monopisthocotylea and the family Diplectanidae. This
particular genus includes parasites which infect the gills of snook, species of
<i>Centropomus</i>, in Florida waters. Commonly
found in moderate to heavy densities in wild healthy snook, it may or may not
cause problems in aquaculture environments. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br />
Species within the Monopisthocotylea (Figure 2) are primarily
ectoparasitic grazers, thriving on tissue and mucous to make up their diet
rather than blood. Monogeneans do not have an anus, so food is ingested and
excreted through the pharynx. Species within the Monopisthocotylea may have eye
spots, as seen in Figure 1, and they have a distinctive haptor composed of
large anchors and smaller hooks, which may be marginal. The reproductive method
may either be viviparous (giving live birth, as in the family Gyrodactylidae)
or oviparous (egg-laying, as in the family Diplectanidae) and species within
this suborder may inhabit freshwater, marine or brackish water fishes. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2090203624913866023" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2090203624913866023" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><br />
The other large suborder of the Class Monogenea is the
Polyopsithocotylea (Figure 3), which is known for the distinctive haptor, composed of
subdivided and paired muscular sucker-like attachment organs, known as clamps.
Species within this suborder are primarily blood feeders, have an oral sucker
or pair of buccal suckers, have two, primitive pairs of eyespots, are
oviparious, and infect fresh, marine and brackish water fishes.<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNC-LOYvppjKt9XvXTIrfD0kP-KphFQw1LeGpybfceaWgQtk_l7EGJQ2x8Jye8L07H_OA9SZO0ehHsUxGJ-3sQ39-8DgQ2NG8jjxwTzdUXgScgtcuIyQ5rhBl58PHWDLh2yaJbqfQ_ynQ/s1600/monogenes2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNC-LOYvppjKt9XvXTIrfD0kP-KphFQw1LeGpybfceaWgQtk_l7EGJQ2x8Jye8L07H_OA9SZO0ehHsUxGJ-3sQ39-8DgQ2NG8jjxwTzdUXgScgtcuIyQ5rhBl58PHWDLh2yaJbqfQ_ynQ/s640/monogenes2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Figure 2.
Species within the suborder Monopisthocotylea. Note the haptoral anchors, which
have been focused on. The arrows point to the marginal hooks, which can only
slightly be seen. Photo credit: FWC, Fish and Wildlife Health group. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBW7QJt2_IHPQLDckAwEGLn2no7y_eYuPZp_mJMoGx-9aiuP3CadiM_NNGA38NtWvGLOYwQc_HIaa0mfRmPcrVEnttyqvPzZ_zr_XcbkAjh9eD2xkc0nz8ZIy1iwClWiGBYcI6MkD4HS0/s1600/monogenes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBW7QJt2_IHPQLDckAwEGLn2no7y_eYuPZp_mJMoGx-9aiuP3CadiM_NNGA38NtWvGLOYwQc_HIaa0mfRmPcrVEnttyqvPzZ_zr_XcbkAjh9eD2xkc0nz8ZIy1iwClWiGBYcI6MkD4HS0/s640/monogenes.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Figure 3.
Species within the suborder Polyopsithocotylea. The arrows point to haptoral
clamps, which help anchor the organism to the host. Photo credit: FWC, Fish and
Wildlife Health group.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>Haptoral
Clamps<o:p></o:p></b></p>
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</v:shape><span style='mso-element:field-end'></span><![endif]--><b><u>Impacts on Fish
Health<o:p></o:p></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
In the wild, monogeneans generally exist at modest intensities,
although non-native monogeneans have been known to cause epizootics when
introduced to native fishes. <i>Gyrodactylus
salaris</i>, is a non-native viviparous monogenean belonging to the
Monopisthocotylea suborder, which has had widespread detrimental impacts on
native stocks of Norwegian salmon, <i>Salmo
salar</i>, after it was accidentally introduced with its native Baltic salmon
host, a subspecies of <i>Salmo salar</i>. It
feeds on the epithelial cells in the skin and gills of salmon parr, thereby
causing harm by hindering their osmoregulatory function and delaying their
maturation to smolt or even causing mortality.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
In fish culture, monogeneans can become serious pests and
sometimes cause widespread epizootics in overcrowded conditions and when the
water quality is poor. They have a direct life cycle requiring no intermediate
host, and quickly reproduce and grow. Although most monogenean species are fairly
host-specific, together they infect a wide variety of hosts, including eels,
elasmobranchs, poeciliids, salmoniids, ictalurids, lutjaniids, centropomiids,
sciaeniids, and many more. In culture, they can easily spread from fish to
fish, eggs can attach to substrate in the tank or pond, or they may be
transmitted through a shared water source to infect new hosts. The grazing
activity of the monopisthocotyleans removes epithelial tissue, thereby causing
the fish to flash, secrete excess mucous, or cause localized areas of erosion
or ulceration in severe infestations. This results in impaired osmoregulatory
function and may lead to secondary bacterial infections. The blood sucking activity of the polyopsithocotyleans
may lead to anemia in the host, but these monogeneans generally elicit a less
severe host response.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Luckily, outbreaks of these parasites can be dealt with in
aquaculture environments by improving the water quality, decreasing crowding
conditions, and using pharmaceutical drugs, such as Praziquantel, or salt or
freshwater dips to kill the parasites that are present. Most monogeneans have a
very specific salinity tolerance, so an aquarist can perform saltwater dips on
freshwater fish for a few minutes to make freshwater parasites fall off, or the
vice versa for saltwater parasites. The good news is, humans are in no danger
of acquiring these parasites, but if you have a home aquarium and add a wild
fish to the habitat, you may be endangering its new tank mates, especially if
they are of the same species. Sometimes, the monogeneans will appear as little
white flakes on the surface of the scales, or you may see the fish flashing or
rubbing against the glass, which are all signs that you may have an infested
tank. So, keep an eye on your fishy pets and next time you take a duckface
selfie, remember who you are imitating! Happy fishing :)<o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14763170167453815174noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2090203624913866023.post-64202288350243985282015-12-08T08:29:00.001-08:002015-12-14T05:43:11.756-08:00Ode to Batfish: Biology in Verse<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzYCJTwy0ERe0pmicVlt4uok18YCmpplSI4r9MyZ03atczTqMH2pO_vvh-yuuhSFGR0hXaBtZdbPYMx0p1XLJ3xIva82VjOqALViVkcAbMN2p4YazvFigU6kWwSHacL6Qj8IY6FDoYM-I/s1600/Slide1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzYCJTwy0ERe0pmicVlt4uok18YCmpplSI4r9MyZ03atczTqMH2pO_vvh-yuuhSFGR0hXaBtZdbPYMx0p1XLJ3xIva82VjOqALViVkcAbMN2p4YazvFigU6kWwSHacL6Qj8IY6FDoYM-I/s1600/Slide1.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
Oh batfish, oh batfish of the briny deep<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
On modified pectoral fins you creep<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Walking” along the benthic sea floor<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Of all the fishes, it’s you I adore<br />
<a name='more'></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Your rostrum projects like a unicorn snout<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
While your dorsal fin spine above you pokes out</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You wave it about to attract your prey<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Like an undersea angler, or so they say<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Dorsoventral compression makes your body shape flat<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Thick fins project sideways, like the wings of a bat<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Often your skin is bumpy and brown<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Though some colorful species remind us of clowns<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Large head, in a circle or triangle shape<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
With a tiny tail, you assess the landscape<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Your beauteous lips in an eternal pout<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Eating worms, fish, crustaceans is what you are about<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Some species reside in shallower seas<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
While others crawl in the deep with ease<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Tropical and subtropical oceans you span<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And I will always be your biggest fan<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Some say that you’re ugly, some say that you’re strange<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But there’s nothing about you I would willingly change<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Oh batfish, oh batfish who dwells in the sea<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My favorite fish you will always be<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
------------------------------------------------------------<br />
For more on the batfish (aka the coolest fish ever):<br />
<br />
http://www.fishbase.org/summary/FamilySummary.php?ID=194<br />
https://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/Gallery/Descript/BatFish/Batfish.htm<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
And check out these batfish videos!</div>
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Chelseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12981117711044779651noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2090203624913866023.post-65121031853668481272015-11-07T09:18:00.002-08:002015-11-10T12:06:02.895-08:00PIT tags and Passive Antenna Systems- PART 1: A Sunpass for Sunfish.<iframe height="480" src="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3Y1ZjFH24lkaWJzSUFzRnBRNDg/preview" width="640"></iframe>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Hi folks!</span><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Whether you’re a fisherman or a
scientist one of the most simple and common questions while out on the water
is: Where are the fish?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well, in order
to answer that we need to understand fish movement patterns along with the how,
when and why fish will be in a given area.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In this 2-part post I will discuss tracking fish movement with PIT tags &
passive antenna systems and my experience applying this technology across
environmental extremes to both the Everglades marsh and arctic tundra river
systems.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Recent technological advances have
seen a boom in different movement tracking devices available to fisheries
scientists.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Acoustics, radio telemetry,
and satellite tags have provided a wealth of previously unattainable information
but have species specific size restrictions and are often too expensive for the
budget of many researchers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In these
cases, PIT tags and their associated passive antenna systems provide a cost effective
way for the researcher to study the movements and habitat use of fish both
large and small. </span></span><br />
<a name='more'></a></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> For those of you unfamiliar with PIT
technology, a PIT (Passive Integrated Transponder) tag is a small, (8-32 mm
long, .2-1 gram) electronic microchip in a biocompatible glass casing that
serves as a unique identifier when inserted in an animal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is termed <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">passive</i> because the tag remains dormant until in the presence of an
electromagnetic field which causes the tag transmit its unique number
code.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Passive antenna systems (PAS) provide
a way of emitting an electromagnetic field to read & record PIT tags and
can be set up to be either stationary or mobile (depending upon research
needs).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Without getting too technical,
PAS consist of 4 main parts: 1- An antenna (closed loop of electrical wire) to
emit a detection field, 2- A reader to allocate power to the antenna, 3- A
datalogger to store detections, 4- A power source (i.e. battery of some sort).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There
are multiple prefabricated reader & datalogger models that can be purchased
but the major advantage of PAS is the ability to adapt the antenna & power
source to a variety of environments and experimental design needs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Essentially, PIT tags and PAS function much
like highway toll systems, with the PIT tag acting like your car’s window
transponder and the PAS being the tollways- It’s a researcher’s way of
designing a Sunpass for fish!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjft2Jo0iCdId00NdywIxew-m_I3cfUeeuTER9DUZfCQXt77i4N2UCOU80OtFZ2n-pnyZRRutD8u9-beYpn34G3w3gs3DH2t7OwOBVmfg-eun74JNKLrF_TrKwj7-R3AJLJg5ryhJbcF8A/s1600/P1141229.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjft2Jo0iCdId00NdywIxew-m_I3cfUeeuTER9DUZfCQXt77i4N2UCOU80OtFZ2n-pnyZRRutD8u9-beYpn34G3w3gs3DH2t7OwOBVmfg-eun74JNKLrF_TrKwj7-R3AJLJg5ryhJbcF8A/s640/P1141229.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Down here in south Florida we use
PIT tags and PAS in conjunction with field enclosures to study the fine scale
habitat use of Everglades fishes as they respond to seasonal water levels.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our research at FIU is focused on the
freshwater marsh portion of the Everglades and conducted at the Loxahatchee
Impoundment for Landscape Assessment (LILA).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>LILA is an 80-acre working model of the freshwater Everglades ecosystem and
includes a controlled water delivery system.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This “living laboratory” allows us to manipulate water levels for
experimental purposes in a realistic environment without disturbing the natural
Everglades.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Each of the four 200 m x 400
m macrocosms/impoundments at LILA contain all of the representative habitat
types in the Everglades marsh- from tree islands to short and long hydroperiod
vegetated zones.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> See the fish video at the top of the post for a look at LILA's underwater lilly forest. </span></span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The six large (12 m x 4 m),
replicate, field enclosures we use are set up on depth gradient containing
three of these marsh habitats/vegetated zones.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We use centrarchids (sunfishes) as our focal species due to their
importance as prey to both wading birds and predatory fish.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Stocking PIT tagged sunfish & installing
a PAS into each enclosure with 1 antenna per habitat allows us to monitor fish
habitat use across seasons by recording the proportion of detections in each
habitat relative to varying water levels.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In this way we gain a better understanding of when and which habitat
zones fish will be in under given conditions and how this in turn can impact
Everglades food web dynamics.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzTqi0ybkLFQ6tByrK8goR1OgkvA0TIukSadqneM5E6g1NPMMYFq236qzel1RdHmP2GCPzj2ICinvpsfJdlXsv7F3QhVjQfL-v67eB7Mxhw5acD0q-Qt6GBR1EGB7ldtqmYjM-AvSA4Ak/s1600/P3261988.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzTqi0ybkLFQ6tByrK8goR1OgkvA0TIukSadqneM5E6g1NPMMYFq236qzel1RdHmP2GCPzj2ICinvpsfJdlXsv7F3QhVjQfL-v67eB7Mxhw5acD0q-Qt6GBR1EGB7ldtqmYjM-AvSA4Ak/s640/P3261988.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>In this particular setting we have
found the “flatbed” or “pass-over” antenna orientation to work effectively while
reducing the technical problems associated with a lot electronics operating in
a small area.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By laying the antenna flat
on the substrate the detection field is directed upward and any PIT tagged fish
swimming over the antenna will be detected.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Still, as I stated before there
are many other ways to cater PAS to the researchers needs as long as the right
environmental and structural design factors are considered.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In my next post I will elaborate on some of
these considerations and talk about the challenges and amazing experience of
studying fish movement with PIT tags and PAS in the arctic rivers of the
Alaskan tundra.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Hope you
enjoyed this post and stay tuned for the next one!</span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">-Greg Hill</span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07566921508795411774noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2090203624913866023.post-47801854807990620192015-09-08T10:45:00.001-07:002015-09-08T18:25:25.936-07:00So, is this “Fishing App” Worth it or not? (Author: Ryan Jiorle)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
Fisheries science is a
field whose very foundation (“counting the fish in the ocean”) creates doubt in
many anglers' minds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Using smartphones
to have recreational anglers upload their fishing information creates doubts in
just about everyone’s minds—fisheries scientists included.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, that has not stopped a few groups
from steaming forward under the belief that something created by and for
anglers will cause them to report honestly and faithfully.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The most extensive program to date is the
Snook and Gamefish Foundation’s (SGF) iAngler app, the flagship app under its
Angler Action Program<sup>1</sup>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Originally started as a way to provide state scientists with more data
on snook fishing in Florida, it has expanded to include fresh- and saltwater
fish across the country, inevitably turning some heads around the fisheries
community.<br />
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</div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
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<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Stock
assessment scientists at the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation
Commission’s Fish and Wildlife Research Institute (FWRI) were interested in
getting as much data to help with snook assessments, but were also concerned
about the reliability of this information.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Likewise, on the federal level, fisheries scientists with the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) were skeptical about the validity
of data that is self-reported in a non-random manner<sup>2</sup>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To provide the best chance of getting
information that is representative of the whole angling population, there
should be a fully randomized sample of anglers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This is not what an app like iAngler does; rather, it is utilized by
whoever is interested in downloading it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>What if only the most talented anglers use it (the anglers most
fisheries and social scientists would expect to use such an app)?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then, the experts are left thinking all the
fishers out there have such success when they drop their lines in the
water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For reasons like this, an analysis
of these volunteer fishing apps is necessary to begin solidifying or revising
our assumptions.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>NOAA’s
Marine Recreational Information Program (MRIP) survey is a randomized,
rigorously designed sampling initiative that has interviewers intercepting
anglers at boat ramps and beaches for catch-per-unit-effort (CPUE) information
and calling them on the phone for effort data.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Because, as Professor John Shepherd once said, “Managing fisheries is
hard: it’s like managing a forest, in which the trees are invisible and keep
moving around,” we have no way of knowing the real values of the variety of
fisheries metrics. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, something
like the MRIP provides data about as close to the “truth” any any other program.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So when we sought to gauge the validity of
data from the iAngler app, we decided the best path would be to compare its
information to that of the MRIP.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>For
specific comparisons, we chose the “Three Wise Men” of fisheries metrics (or
“Three Stooges,” depending on your perception of fisheries): effort, catch, and
catch-per-unit-effort (or catch rate).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The results that followed were in some ways expected, but surprising in
other ways.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>First, the only place that
had a reasonable number of trips reported under iAngler was south Florida, the
Atlantic side especially (where the app was created).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because of this, a lot of the fishing that
goes on in other parts of Florida is not being captured by the app, so using
this on a statewide scale would be risky.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Also, the scale between the two programs was not comparable; the number
of MRIP boat-ramp interviews dwarfed the number of iAngler reported trips.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This app only began in 2012 and has been
spread only by word-of-mouth, so that likely explains its relative size
compared to NOAA’s 35-year-old nationwide sampling program.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also, the focus of the anglers using iAngler
was directed toward Florida’s popular inshore species: common snook, spotted
seatrout, and red drum.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even though
Floridians as a whole also like to fish offshore for snappers, groupers,
billfish, etc., the app is adequately capturing only these three species.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>While
this seems to be two strikes against the citizen-driven app, there was one big
question left: how do the catch rates compare?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The spatial bias of southeast Florida might not persist if anglers in
other areas start using the app.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And
even though it only has sufficient information for a handful of species,
scientists assess stocks individually anyway.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We moved forward by looking at catch rates for the three inshore fish,
but narrowed our focus to iAngler’s “hotspots,” in other words, south Florida
specifically.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This allowed the
comparison to the MRIP’s catch rates to be more representative than a statewide
comparison.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we added this
specification, the iAngler catch rates were very similar to those of the
MRIP—for each of the three fish we considered.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This is surprising from a statistical standpoint, given the fact that
these anglers were not randomly chosen to participate—it was voluntary, and
thus, non-random.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>To
sum it up, SGF’s iAngler app provides recreational fisheries information that
is spatially biased toward south Florida and contains mostly information on
snook, seatrout, and red drum.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However,
when appropriate comparisons are made, the catch rates given by anglers are
very similar to those estimated by the MRIP survey.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If the participation were to increase and
become more balanced throughout the state, a program like iAngler could provide
valuable data to fisheries scientists, especially for relatively rare and
perhaps poorly sampled fisheries like snook.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It even has some advantages over traditional survey methods like the one
utilized by the MRIP.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because boat-ramp
interviews take place after a trip is completed, they miss a lot of detailed
information about the fish that were thrown back—which is a lot of fish in
Florida’s fisheries.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Users of an app
like iAngler can submit size, weight, and other information about every fish
they caught, and not just the ones they brought back to land.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Self-reporting programs will always carry an
undeniable statistical risk, but being aware of and accounting for potential
biases could give programs like iAngler a place in future recreational
fisheries management.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1 <span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"></span></span></span>1. Information
about the Angler Action Program: </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<a href="http://sgf.gamefishcloud.com/content/angler-action-program">http://sgf.gamefishcloud.com/content/angler-action-program</a></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2 2. <span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"></span></span></span>The
link below provides a good summary of the risks of using non-random, self-reported
data for fisheries science: </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<a href="http://static1.squarespace.com/static/511cdc7fe4b00307a2628ac6/t/51797f36e4b0ed48a831c3b0/1366916918468/Volunteer-Data-Workshop-Summary-Final.pdf">http://static1.squarespace.com/static/511cdc7fe4b00307a2628ac6/t/51797f36e4b0ed48a831c3b0/1366916918468/Volunteer-Data-Workshop-Summary-Final.pdf</a></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13571840360063121651noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2090203624913866023.post-84762243680506693292015-06-16T14:57:00.000-07:002015-09-08T10:54:40.887-07:00University of Florida MS student Ryan Jiorle is a Fish Detective!Ryan recently took a trip to Ireland to do ecological research at the Lough Hyne Marine Nature Reserve. Watch the video he made describing his project! We've also included some text from him further describing his work.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/HU5sExmB4qc/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/HU5sExmB4qc?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
Last summer I had the opportunity to study marine ecology in
southwestern Ireland under the International Research Experience for
Students (IRES) program—a 5-week internship funded by the National
Science Foundation. Working jointly with the Oregon Institute of Marine
Biology (University of Oregon) and University College Cork (Ireland), I
researched benthic fish composition and density in the shallow
sublittoral zone of the Lough Hyne Marine Nature Reserve, the first and
oldest marine reserve in Europe. While this fully saltwater lough
(lake) has been extensively studied for nearly one hundred years, its
protective status was not designated until 1981. Despite such
protection, Lough Hyne has suffered a precipitous decline of one of its
keystone species, the purple sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus. The main
purpose of the multi-year NSF grant was to investigate this population
crash and determine whether the low numbers are part of a larger natural
cycle or a result of human-induced changes in the surrounding area.
One hypothesis for the urchin decline was that the establishment of the
marine reserve released the fish populations from small-scale commercial
fishing activities (except for one family) and that they directly or
indirectly caused reductions in urchin abundance. Thus, my work was
meant to quantify the number and types of fish present to determine if
there was any evidence of fish that might have consumed urchins when
they were in higher numbers. <br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13571840360063121651noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2090203624913866023.post-38560673048079411342015-04-16T10:39:00.001-07:002015-04-16T10:45:19.750-07:00Fieldwork Finds<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
While it is thrilling contributing to the great pillar that
is science, some of my favorite moments are generated from
unearthing something new and interesting almost every time I’m out in the
field.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Today while I was digging up some oysters in order to
install a sediment trap, I was surprised when a fish skipped out of the muddy
hole and landed nearby. And then while trying to re-home him nearby, he happily
chomped down on the end of my garden cultivator. Can’t say I entirely blame
him. I both caved in the walls of his condo and then unceremoniously moved him
an inconvenient distance from it. </div>
<br />
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<table><tbody>
<tr><td><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzqV_AGV-9KhwZUjtq0EBuB7k16IdgK9NXKAUnM90bZLgjGAWMXffxMYk3HQLuk36z4-5bpNVMwr9Zz7a7_YdwrSBrN0an5txXt-RhqHsD5WTauf7GS3dsfENHsJEfKs3Gx6XleGRgRYs/s1600/IMG_0747.JPG" width="350" /></td>
<td><img src="http://www.serc.si.edu/labs/fish_invert_ecology/images/fish/oyster_toadfish.jpg" width="350" /></td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
I have since found out my little fishy friend is an oyster
toadfish, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Opsanus tau</i>. This fish is
an omnivore associated with reefs, and is known for its less that illustrious
appearance. It also has sharp spines on its dorsal fin. During mating seasons,
males call for their mates in a manner that has been likened to a foghorn.
Males also are standup dads, guarding the eggs and early hatchlings from
predators. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The week prior, I took this macabre photo of a giant fish
slowly returning to bone at the shore edge. A defining moment of a scientist is
to look closer when everyone else is looking away. Or to put it more eloquently,
to say “cool” when everyone else is saying “gross.”<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYZNU1Hxb9LdQQ4Yf1GTWCWZ_B2OFzOl_2Yf9-vIiE2YPnW13krFeZl5uVUt-DmH-mrIvcdlRWDG66qG46-kk8QNt8bsDm7TzeguSxm_yNQEOmEc3kXytBxd7mnUTt6mHgIqZh3j-u0J4/s1600/10828178_10205656635793266_2737630612079106858_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYZNU1Hxb9LdQQ4Yf1GTWCWZ_B2OFzOl_2Yf9-vIiE2YPnW13krFeZl5uVUt-DmH-mrIvcdlRWDG66qG46-kk8QNt8bsDm7TzeguSxm_yNQEOmEc3kXytBxd7mnUTt6mHgIqZh3j-u0J4/s1600/10828178_10205656635793266_2737630612079106858_o.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
That same day, on my paddle to a nearby reef, I spotted
these strange flat white lobes growing on a cluster of oyster shell. It turns
out these are the egg cases for crown conch, an added insult to injury as they
are major oyster predators.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8q-GAzwv-JxYIvDTXMw1mwUTDcg6ypln_A-oMLXoMjgfGqdLnJ_HryTPSlhpinx9kQLZrHLogkoOKaBeD_4vP4IMV_XS9J5Ji0SBCyzDmvuIUbAoE0dx7a0v9FfgDB0riBcoV6bcWIlQ/s1600/IMG_0699.JPG" width="350" /></td>
<td><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://www.islandparks.org/naturecenter/animals/marine/CrownConchEggCase03-25SSB.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="350" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Credit: www.islandparks.org</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
I appreciate these little biological treasures and their
ability to constantly rekindle my curiosity. And I look forward to the
continued opportunity to discover, discover, discover. </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13571840360063121651noreply@blogger.com2Marineland, FL, USA29.6688614 -81.21339799999998429.6412664 -81.253738499999983 29.696456400000002 -81.173057499999985tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2090203624913866023.post-53577349157717677822015-03-26T09:39:00.001-07:002015-03-30T18:23:51.930-07:00Research on the Reef (Or How I Learned to Love the Oyster)<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<![endif]-->I am in Marineland, a town south of St. Augustine, covered
in muck, standing on an oyster reef offshore. My dingy garage-sale kayak, which
I have recently dubbed the “Oystercatcher” (potentially a tongue-in-cheek name
amusing only to me) sits unceremoniously nearby, full to the brim with random
pieces of equipment – muddy work gloves, needle nose pliers, zip ties, lengths
of rebar and PVC pipe. I free the buckets I’ve lashed to the back of the boat with
fluorescent green lengths of nylon rope. This is one of several trips I have
taken to test the design of sediment traps, constructed from said buckets and
netting, which I will use for my research. Over two weeks, I will relate what
the oysters produce as faeces and pseudofaeces (rejected food particles),
collectively called biodeposits, to inorganic matter in the surrounding waters.
I will use this to reveal how much and how fast these bivalves filter feed.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEierWONtgEezcw2NkiRzDhoupRT4BW0TRTxWEsz5V8Nxs_Z3jPOR2YFsB47RCAnYsAuOP5KhuDaaO4vhh-eqqIz3dWkDtIXtt0omPFHRfgN_vsGmzeQZhqHs-1MtcRHuZAOm86wh43oTng/s1600/photo(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguRtKhJja8EqBRABCaK0bn8wyCXuP8Grp3D-DdPoRVYR6vOp1jk_8XUToe5epL6BkunYYNMI0oeZQuQ0s0BojvcfFBviTcPg69Mfd6mMWsy7dn7GL8PB5rZKg-yXq7GzvUaW2eFpEaazQ/s1600/photo(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguRtKhJja8EqBRABCaK0bn8wyCXuP8Grp3D-DdPoRVYR6vOp1jk_8XUToe5epL6BkunYYNMI0oeZQuQ0s0BojvcfFBviTcPg69Mfd6mMWsy7dn7GL8PB5rZKg-yXq7GzvUaW2eFpEaazQ/s1600/photo(2).JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My boots after just two trips to the reef!</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyzT4_fznt7L7EAuKu39QV8CHC14i5MgTlM8L-eavDCI-JYY_FyykRWTVdeK8JbX0Y9Nu_4P0LJtZHzMGRCArBtGjG6h-A6yN3ieuMZb7v4YrbbfpkBMqPeJ9hmN9mJYJn68Gqdo1qB88/s1600/photo(3).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"> </a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyzT4_fznt7L7EAuKu39QV8CHC14i5MgTlM8L-eavDCI-JYY_FyykRWTVdeK8JbX0Y9Nu_4P0LJtZHzMGRCArBtGjG6h-A6yN3ieuMZb7v4YrbbfpkBMqPeJ9hmN9mJYJn68Gqdo1qB88/s1600/photo(3).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"> </a> These oysters on first glance are not beautiful to look at.
The collective snarls of shell are what I lovingly refer to as 'nature’s little
razor blades', and represent a challenge for
unwitting boaters. However, these shellfish truly are one of the multi-taskers
of the coastal world. The masses of oyster reefs along coastlines serve to
protect against the battering of the many storms that pass through Florida, or
the gradual erosion that cuts away at local shorelines. They sequester carbon
by locking it away in their bodies and more permanently into the structure of
their shells. Oysters are considered a keystone species, and are lauded as
being “ecosystem engineers” for their ability to shape and provide new habitat
for a veritable plethora of organisms including shrimp, crabs, mussels,
barnacles, and polychaete worms. Often this diverse community stimulates other
creatures who feed on or benefit from the reef, including many species of fish
coveted by the local fishermen, as evidenced by the smattering of fishing boats
nearby. At reefs off of a nearby sight known as Devil’s Elbow, I’ve watched
adult and juvenile dolphins stir the water into a froth as they engage in what
is known as strand feeding on the adjacent mud flats.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyzT4_fznt7L7EAuKu39QV8CHC14i5MgTlM8L-eavDCI-JYY_FyykRWTVdeK8JbX0Y9Nu_4P0LJtZHzMGRCArBtGjG6h-A6yN3ieuMZb7v4YrbbfpkBMqPeJ9hmN9mJYJn68Gqdo1qB88/s1600/photo(3).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyzT4_fznt7L7EAuKu39QV8CHC14i5MgTlM8L-eavDCI-JYY_FyykRWTVdeK8JbX0Y9Nu_4P0LJtZHzMGRCArBtGjG6h-A6yN3ieuMZb7v4YrbbfpkBMqPeJ9hmN9mJYJn68Gqdo1qB88/s1600/photo(3).JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of my sediment trap prototypes.</td></tr>
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But some of the more salient functions of oysters relate to
their role as filter feeders. Their ability to positively affect water quality
has been the impetus for many restoration projects.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Through the use of my sediment traps, I am
hoping to shed light on the local linkage between oyster filtration and the
control of phytoplankton - masses of microscopic plants whose populations wax
and wane with a variety of environmental factors, but whose growth can boom
substantially when excess nutrients are present in a system. When phytoplankton
abound in a region, less light is available for sea grasses and other submerged
vegetation, and dissolved oxygen may become a scarcer commodity as well. In
some regions, oysters may be a significant part of the components controlling
this unchecked growth. </div>
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So while I pull off my work gloves and start to collect my
things in expectation of the incoming tide, I pause. Delicate little shore
birds nimbly navigate over the reefs, feeding between the crevices, while hints
of silvery scales break the water’s surface nearby. I begin to remember why I
love what I do and what a bastion of life these oysters are. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzztSWvH6AdPabLMFS2ciGYuaLIZMOOcyhiT0u0Q_valqvpH_ZV0T29KfopQrPB9Uep4n7zIIYAZNaAcBA1sC4_PLVS1FM0XMjGVBxk4-9wr2h4_LN_z0H8B9dQBSxrNua5e-eCXxWqnk/s1600/9294_10203772040439560_1171917502126647153_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzztSWvH6AdPabLMFS2ciGYuaLIZMOOcyhiT0u0Q_valqvpH_ZV0T29KfopQrPB9Uep4n7zIIYAZNaAcBA1sC4_PLVS1FM0XMjGVBxk4-9wr2h4_LN_z0H8B9dQBSxrNua5e-eCXxWqnk/s1600/9294_10203772040439560_1171917502126647153_n.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Example of a fringing reef hugging the shoreline of a tidal creek.</td></tr>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13571840360063121651noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2090203624913866023.post-15470679597952201492015-02-09T12:21:00.001-08:002015-02-25T07:39:58.222-08:00Broadening our View on Conferences: Science with a Twist of Culture<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Summer conference season has come and gone; poster tubes have been put back on the shelf and handy back up
thumb drives of .pptx files are tossed in a drawer. After months, or perhaps
years of full immersion in lab work, reading papers, and TAing classes, scientific
conferences provide momentary contact with real scientists doing real research-
much like meeting the actors you watch on TV. For a graduate student, attending a conference
is tantamount to a vacation. The light-heartedness of that statement in no way
detracts from the importance of meetings. Attendance is an investment in your
future as a scientist; it provides networking opportunities for future
employment or graduate school, a platform to share and discuss your research, motivation
and inspiration to complete your research, and a source for learning about
current research.</div>
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What conference to attend is
influenced by your advisor, financial ability, and application to your
research. Most of my colleagues attend the same three or four conferences a
year. However, due to recent experience (and the subject of this blog) I
encourage you to think outside the box when it comes to conferences.</div>
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I recently attended the Annual
Science Conference for the International Council of the Sea (ICES) in La
Coruna, Spain. The diversity of people (570 attendees from 35 countries) and
research (from ocean acidification to telemetry) made the meeting
unforgettable. A total of 17 theme sessions with 287 oral presentations and 105
posters provided fertile ground to explore areas of marine science I never
pursued in academia or industry.<br />
<a name='more'></a> <br />
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Because I had no ‘roots’ in the
meeting- no committees to attend, no mandatory lab mates or advisor talks to go
to- I was free to explore a variety of sessions. I learned how ocean
acidification affects jellyfish, and the latest and greatest trends in
ecosystem-based analysis. In addition, I was free to explore the city and
stretch the cultural side of my brain that had been shrinking behind piles of
journal papers. I emerged from the meeting completely and totally refreshed,
imbibed with a sense of a global community of scientists, and motivated to
finish my graduate studies with a smile on my face.</div>
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The wonderful experience of
attending the ICES meeting happened (almost) by chance. Through a
twice-forwarded email, I read about a theme session to be held during the ICES
meeting that was inline with my research. Despite my interest in learning how
other countries were conducting acoustic telemetry projects, I was deterred by the
location. Fat chance work and/or school would cover those costs! However, on
the conference website I found travel funds available for young scientists that
would cover the entire cost of the trip. I was very thankful and lucky to
receive one of the travel grants.</div>
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The moral of the story is to remember
to grow yourself as a scientist and as a person while growing your brain in
graduate school. I highly encourage
anyone and everyone to attend the ICES meeting! Their student travel support
was phenomenal and the high caliber of science presented was eye opening. But
even if it’s not ICES, keep an open mind when considering what meetings to
attend. Resources abound to promote student participation in scientific societies;
it just takes a little investigation.</div>
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The 2015 annual sciences meeting of
ICES will be held in Copenhagen, Denmark. <a href="http://www.ices.dk/news-and-events/asc/ASC2015/Pages/ASC2015.aspx">http://www.ices.dk/news-and-events/asc/ASC2015/Pages/ASC2015.aspx</a><br />
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Joy Younghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13186101264643610309noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2090203624913866023.post-21597667499516203192015-01-17T09:28:00.000-08:002015-01-17T09:28:19.196-08:00Seagrass SavannaCheck out this video detailing the work of graduate student Savanna Barry, who studies seagrass along Florida's Gulf coast:<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" mozallowfullscreen="" src="//player.vimeo.com/video/116519146" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="640"></iframe> <br />
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<br />
<a name='more'></a>Seagrasses are an important part of our coastal systems and perform many important and valuable ecosystem functions, such as providing food and habitat for a number of marine fish and invertebrate species; it's estimated that somewhere near 70% of Florida's fishery species spend at least part of their life cycle in seagrass communities. Seagrasses also help maintain water clarity, and their roots and rhizomes stabilize coastal seafloors. Clearly seagrasses are important coastal habitats, and it is therefore unsurprising that the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) estimates that each acre of Florida seagrass has an economic value of approximately $20,500/year!<br />
<br />
<i>For more on Florida's seagrasses visit:</i><br />
http://www.sms.si.edu/IRLspec/Seagrass_Habitat.htm<br />http://www.dep.state.fl.us/coastal/habitats/seagrass/<br />http://myfwc.com/research/habitat/seagrasses/information/importance/Chelseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12981117711044779651noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2090203624913866023.post-32349268380883406222014-11-18T07:38:00.000-08:002014-11-21T08:30:57.626-08:00What the heck is that? On sea robins and their awesomenitudeFlorida is home to an incredible diversity of fish species,
so it is unsurprising that every once in a while something weird comes up on an
angler’s hook. Most of us can easily identify the common species, like snook,
redfish and trout; but what would you say if you got this guy on the end of
your line?<br />
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Answer: “Awesome! A sea robin!”. Sea robins (also called gurnards) live all over the world in tropical and temperate waters. Sea robins like to hang out on the bottom, though they do swim through the water column from time to time. There are many different species of sea robins, at least 7 of which are found in Florida waters.<br />
<br />
Sea robins have hard bony heads, but what really makes them cool are their pectoral fins: the lower three fin rays are modified to form what look like fingers, which they use for support and to search for food. Check out this youtube video to see them in action as they "crawl" across the seafloor:<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/qU7hmwzuQ1k?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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Sea robins are also known to vocalize, or make drumming or croaking sounds. Fish use many different methods to produce sounds, depending on the species. Some make noise by grinding their pharyngeal teeth together (pharyngeal teeth=teeth located in the pharyngeal, or gill, arches of fishes). Others, including the sea robin, have a special muscle which they vibrate against their swim bladder to make noise; this is the same method that drums use to vocalize. Check out this video to hear some sea robin vocalizations:<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/E9JfjNb8S4E?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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In the state of Florida, there is very little targeted fishing for sea robins, though leopard sea robins are sometimes caught commercially for bait or for the marine ornamental trade (for use in aquariums). For the most part, Florida anglers don't target sea robins, but that doesn't mean they don't occasionally catch or snag them, so they still come up on lines from time to time. They can also be seen while diving or snorkeling, as many species inhabit shallower waters. So keep an eye out for sea robins next time you are on or in the water! <br />
<br />
For more on sea robins see:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.fishbase.org/summary/FamilySummary.php?ID=266" target="_blank">Fishbase:Triglidae</a><br />
<br />
<a href="ftp://ftp.fao.org/docrep/fao/009/y4161e/y4161e46.pdf" target="_blank">FAO guide</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://myfwc.com/research/saltwater/codes/food-bait-finfish/leopard-searobin/" target="_blank">FWC leopard sea robin regulations</a><br />
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Chelseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12981117711044779651noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2090203624913866023.post-52067561666496059132014-08-13T07:31:00.001-07:002014-08-13T07:32:12.995-07:00Climate Change and Florida's FishesWe've all heard about many of the potential impacts of climate change, such as the polar bears losing their habitat or the melting of the polar ice. But what will climate change mean closer to home? How will it impact our marine habitats and the fish that live there? Check out this video for an overview:<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="375" mozallowfullscreen="" src="//player.vimeo.com/video/103328171" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="500"></iframe> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://vimeo.com/103328171">Climate Change and Florida's Fishes</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.</div>
<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a>This is just a brief glimpse at climate change and it's potential impacts on fish and fishing in our state. For more details on climate change and ocean acidification, check out the <a href="http://www.ipcc.ch/" target="_blank">IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) Reports</a>, <a href="http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fe787" target="_blank">UF/IFAS's EDIS report on the Economic Impacts of Climate Change in Florida</a>, or check out the references below.<br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Some References: </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">1. Alongi, D.M. 2008. Mangrove forests: resilience,
protection from tsunamis, and responses to global climate change. Esuarine,
Coastal and Shelf Science 76:1-13.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">2. Cheung, W.L,, J.L. Sarmiento, J. Dunne, T.L.
Frolicher, V.W.Y. Lam, M.L.D.Palomares, R.Watson, and D. Pauly. 2012. Shrinking of fishes exacerbates impacts of global ocean
changes on marine ecosystems. Nature Climate Change 3:254-258.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">3. Diaz, R.J. and R. Rosenberg. 2008. Spreading dead zones
and consequences for marine ecosystems. Science 321:926-929.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">4. IPCC Working Group I. 2013. Climate change 2013: the physical
science basis. Summary Report for Policy Makers IPCC WGI SPM AR5: 33 pp.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">5. Mumby, P.J., A.J. Edwards, J.E. Arias-Gonzalez, K.C.
Lindeman, P.G. Blackwell, A. Gall, M.I. Gorczynksa, A.R. Harborne, C.L. Pescod, H. Renken, C.C.C. Wabnitz, and G.
Llewellyn. 2004. Mangroves enhance the biomass of coral reef fish communities
in the Caribbean. Nature 427:533-536.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">6. National Research Council. 2012. Climate change:
evidence, impacts, and choices. National Academy of Sciences. 40 pp. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">7. O’Brien, C.M., C.J. Fox, B. Planque, and J. Casey. 2000.
Climate variability and North Sea cod. Nature 404:142-143. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">8. Pinsky, M.L., B. Worm, M.J. Fogarty, J.L. Sarmiento, and
S.A. Levin. 2013. Marine taxa track local climate velocities. Science
341:1239-1242.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">9. Roessig, J.M., C.M. Woodley, J.J. Cech Jr., and L.J.
Hansen. 2004. Effects of global climate change on marine and estuarine fishes
and fisheries. Reviews in Fish Biology and Fisheries 14:251-275. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">10. Rose, .A. 2005. On distributional responses of North
Atlantic fish to climate change. ICES Journal of Marine Science 62:1360-1374.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Chelseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12981117711044779651noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2090203624913866023.post-56208018728016620992014-06-05T09:31:00.001-07:002014-06-05T09:31:12.186-07:00A Conservation Conversation- Behind the scenes at B.A.S.S. tournaments<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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As graduate students, we are afforded opportunities to work and collaborate with a range of people in fisheries and conservation sciences. In one of those instances, we had the pleasure of having dinner with Bass Anglers Sportsman Society’s (<a href="http://www.bassmaster.com/">B.A.S.S.</a>) own <a href="http://www.bassmaster.com/blog/noreen-clough-goodbye">Noreen Clough</a> (the recently retired B.A.S.S. conservation director and a former US Fish and Wildlife Service regional director). Over dinner we discussed the pros and cons of tournament fishing. Coming from B.A.S.S., Noreen told us why black bass conservation mattered so much to bass fishing organizations.<div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.lakepowellviewestates.com/Portals/125564/images/bass-hooked.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.lakepowellviewestates.com/Portals/125564/images/bass-hooked.jpeg" height="225" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Figure 1 - Sportfishing for largemouth bass</span></td></tr>
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<br /> B.A.S.S. annually sponsors dozens of bass<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fishing_tournament"> fishing tournaments</a> nationwide. These include large opens like the 2013 Southern Open, a three-day event hosted at <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=02SnnX23jII">Lake Tohopekaliga, Florida</a>. These Opens draw hundreds of amateur and professional anglers. For the first two days, each professional angler strives to catch their five-fish bag limit (the final day of fishing pits only the top-12 per class against each other). In the first two days of fishing up to 1,500 largemouth bass can be caught per day! To non-tournament anglers, these intensive collection events can be alarming. “Aren’t you killing or harming all those fish?” is a question that might be asked. To help answer this question and cast more scientific eyes towards these tournaments, Noreen invited us down to watch fish-handling practices at the 2013 Southern Open.<br /><a name='more'></a><br /> Tournaments can serve as a large revenue sources for lakes, towns, and fishing camps across the world. Their interactions with the public also help promote outdoor activities for younger people that seem increasingly trapped indoors. Public interactions involve people from a variety of industries and interests including the media, fishing-related companies, conservation scientists, and bass anglers. Noreen explained to us how B.A.S.S. supports several plans of black bass conservation and helps craft policy that supports sustainable fishing. However, these plans aren’t nearly as well-publicized as the bass fishing tournaments shown on TV. Equally unpublicized are the lengths that B.A.S.S. goes to return fish back to their lake unharmed.<br /><br /> To help ensure that tournament-induced stress on each bass is minimal, B.A.S.S. adheres to rigorous practices on tournament day. First and foremost, all bass are checked by a certified “Bumper” before weigh-in. Any dead or unhealthy fish are removed from the angler’s total and a penalty is levied against their total weight. Uniquely designed weigh-in bags (consisting of an outer lining which holds lake water and an inner lining of permeable mesh) help keep the fish’s <a href="http://www.wetwebmedia.com/fwsubwebindex/f'bodyslimes.htm">mucus layer</a> intact which maintains a healthier immune system. In order to minimize the time spent in these bags, designated weigh-in times are staggered and limited numbers of bags are handed out.<div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i.imgur.com/WQis38p.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i.imgur.com/WQis38p.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Figure 2- Tournament anglers
wait for the "red bags" at this table. The bags hold water and have a removable
mesh-lining to carry largemouth bass from the boats to the series of holding
tanks and, ultimately, the weigh-in station.
There are a limited number of red bags handed out at any one time
ensuring a limited amount of bass are waiting to be weighed.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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As anglers get fish closer to the initial “bump” table, they remove the outer-lining and submerge the fish (held in the mesh lined bags) in oxygen-rich, aerated tanks. <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i.imgur.com/nTbP0o2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i.imgur.com/nTbP0o2.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoCaption">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Figure </span><!--[if supportFields]><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:windowtext;
font-weight:normal;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold'><span style='mso-element:field-begin'></span><span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>SEQ Figure \* ARABIC <span style='mso-element:
field-separator'></span></span><![endif]--><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">3</span><!--[if supportFields]><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:windowtext;
font-weight:normal;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold'><span style='mso-element:field-end'></span></span><![endif]--><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">- Anglers wait in the holding
tanks before weigh-in. There is no more
than four bags (with up to five fish) in each tank. The tanks are aerated (orange hoses on rim of
tanks) and filled with water directly from the lake.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Anglers then walk the ‘mesh-bagged’ fish towards the weigh-in table along this series of tanks helping ensure that fish stay highly oxygenated throughout the weigh-in process. <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Figure </span><!--[if supportFields]><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:windowtext;
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style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:windowtext;
font-weight:normal;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold'><span style='mso-element:field-end'></span></span><![endif]--><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">- Bass are "bumped" at
this table. Bass are checked for minimum
length requirements and for a relative health condition. Anglers can be penalized for fish not kept in
good condition.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Once weighed, the fish are carried to a holding well on a custom made live-release boat.<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
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<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Figure </span><!--[if supportFields]><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:windowtext;
font-weight:normal;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold'><span style='mso-element:field-begin'></span><span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>SEQ Figure \* ARABIC <span style='mso-element:
field-separator'></span></span><![endif]--><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">5</span><!--[if supportFields]><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:windowtext;
font-weight:normal;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold'><span style='mso-element:field-end'></span></span><![endif]--><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">- Fish are brought from the
weigh-in table to be dipped in an aerated tank one last time before the walk to
the live-release boat.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i.imgur.com/4gNv0Q3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i.imgur.com/4gNv0Q3.png" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Figure 6-
Volunteers (in yellow hats) take fish from last holding tank and carry the bass
in mesh bags to the live-release boat ~40 feet away.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i.imgur.com/p2LCOkk.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i.imgur.com/p2LCOkk.png" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Figure 7-
Volunteers deliver the bass (in mesh bags) to be placed into one of three 900
gallon holding tanks on these customized live-release pontoon boats.</span></div>
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B.A.S.S. live-release boats are designed to reduce fish stress and mortality on tournament days. These boats contain 2,700 gallons of treated water in three separate tanks, each aerated with oxygen. This helps fish recuperate from tournament-handling. The live-release boats reduce over-crowding by transporting a maximum of 600 in any one trip and only 200 in any one tank. The fish are given 20-60 minutes in the holding wells to recuperate and are then driven to deeper waters (this depends on the lake, but we released fish in ~8 feet of water) and released. To reduce damage to the fish, trap doors along the bottom of the holding tanks are opened that release fish directly back into the lake with no human handling. <div style="line-height: 200%;">
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Video 1- Live-release of tournament caught largemouth bass from a custom-built pontoon boat with aerated holding tanks for quick release back into Lake Tohopekaliga.</div>
<br /> After emptying, the boat drivers observe the release area for any struggling fish while the tanks are refilled with lake water so the boat can quickly release another batch of tournament fish.<br /><br /> The B.A.S.S. live release program seems to be working. They estimate pre-release tournament mortality to average <1% and any fish lost are donated to local food banks. We considered this especially impressive considering the high numbers of fish caught in large tournaments. <a href="http://sfrc.ufl.edu/allenlab/Popular%20Articles/19_DrMikeAllen_Nov_12.jpg">Recent research from University of Florida </a>has <a href="http://sfrc.ufl.edu/allenlab/Popular%20Articles/16_DrMikeAllen_Dec_12.jpg">shown</a> that bass released after non-tournament angling often return to the locations from which they were caught suggesting a relatively small time (1-3 days) until a bass returns to normal behavior. Though short-term mortality appears low, the long-term post-release mortality of tournament fish remains uncertain. Almost certainly it will be higher than this 1% average. But we note that organizations like B.A.S.S. give great efforts to reduce stress and mortality and our initial observations suggest they do a good job doing so. We extend our gratitude to all the B.A.S.S. staff that patiently answered all our questions and put up with us nosing around for a day of hard work!<br /><br /><i> The following entry was coauthored by Kyle Wilson (the University of Calgary) and Nicholas Cole (University of Nebraska)</i></div>
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Kyle Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14516067519126119072noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2090203624913866023.post-88911585552400613952014-05-02T12:48:00.001-07:002014-05-15T09:37:45.112-07:00Parasite Selfie: Cestode Pasta<div class="MsoNormal">
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Hi All! This is the first installment for my monthly column,
“Parasite Selfies”, and I hope you find it both entertaining and informative. I
am fascinated by the obsession with “selfies” on social media, so in keeping
with this explosive trend and in an effort to combat all of those annoying car
driving, bathroom taking, gym going, food eating, and “just because I’m
awesome” selfies inundating the Internet, I thought a parasite selfie might
just be the breath of fresh air that the rest of us non-selfie taking
individuals need. Not to say that there is anything wrong with taking a selfie.
If it makes you feel good, then hey man, by all means, do what makes you happy.
However, for me, I feel like I need a selfie with a little more substance. </div>
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Since I am a biologist, I figured a selfie based on
the work I do might just be the type of “selfie- with-substance” that I needed
to jump on board with this trend. Hopefully you guys all find this as
entertaining as I do, and enjoy reading my column. My plan is to take a selfie
with a parasite of interest once a month, then enthrall you with some
fascinating information on the life history of the organism and its effect on
fishes, particularly in Florida. Enjoy and embrace the weirdness that is to
follow!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2GpusznXuzzYc4GwjYvonokhtQAAiMlEwLjArFm_oj4Z4EUdJlMGDhz_GVtd4MfLCzQ90SwNpBnLvbPyhf3OPcYXHgDcXQrzDcmY6Fv7IemODzIKRSNHNZMIeAYXoug0MMv_6nEIj70M/s1600/Selfie_Modified+jpg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2GpusznXuzzYc4GwjYvonokhtQAAiMlEwLjArFm_oj4Z4EUdJlMGDhz_GVtd4MfLCzQ90SwNpBnLvbPyhf3OPcYXHgDcXQrzDcmY6Fv7IemODzIKRSNHNZMIeAYXoug0MMv_6nEIj70M/s1600/Selfie_Modified+jpg.jpg" height="320" width="296" /></a></div>
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With that said, my first selfie is entitled “Cestode Pasta”
and in the image above, you can enjoy a selfie of me eating a delicious bowl of
cestode spaghetti! Before you freak out, this image is completely disproportionate, and I (well not me, I had help from a friend who is the equivalent of a Photoshop wizard) drastically enlarged the size of this cestode solely for entertainment value. Anyway, I thought this would be a good first topic to get the ball
rolling, since all animals can acquire these critters, including humans. </div>
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Cestodes are commonly referred to as tapeworms and there is
a plethora of old wive’s tales and superstitions surrounding these infamous
parasites in humans. Some of these include sayings such as:</div>
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“If children pick their
noses and eat what they pick, they will have worms”</div>
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“Take onion for worms as they do not like the smell of
onions and will leave”</div>
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“If you have a tapeworm, do not eat for a long time; this
will starve it. Then chew a piece of fried beefsteak and hold it in your mouth.
The hungry tapeworm will smell the steak and put its head up in your mouth
where you can grab its head and pull it out”</div>
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My personal favorite is the last one since tapeworms can
grow very large in humans, and I can imagine pulling one out
through your mouth would be especially invigorating; like a massage for your
organs and esophagus…mmm. Jokes and fears aside, these parasites do not
generally become pathogenic in fish, but some can certainly become pathogenic
in humans, especially in developing countries. In fish, they are fairly
abundant, both as adults and juveniles, and I come across them often while
performing necropsies on a wide variety of species. The abundance of cestodes will
vary depending on the species, and some species, such as the ocean sunfish (<i>Mola mola</i>) can acquire a high abundance
of these individuals and still be considered “healthy”. In fact, although we
normally associate parasites with a negative image, it is sometimes quite
normal and healthy for a fish to have parasites, and this is frequently
indicative of a healthy environment.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlo9yFzsmQJlvi0snnwVpMTsh4p8RIpGQGgyTk8Wp4o6H5f2wP12fcgpY_8_cfuzgv2kiME0srem_yDndn9xIm2W4X67Bi4a_zyLsXPgzRAL5WaDHVUggmarhKMEqftqjpVFZVdLYA9IQ/s1600/cestode_muscle.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlo9yFzsmQJlvi0snnwVpMTsh4p8RIpGQGgyTk8Wp4o6H5f2wP12fcgpY_8_cfuzgv2kiME0srem_yDndn9xIm2W4X67Bi4a_zyLsXPgzRAL5WaDHVUggmarhKMEqftqjpVFZVdLYA9IQ/s1600/cestode_muscle.png" height="492" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b>Life History: Cestoda<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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The class Cestoda falls under the phylum Platyhelminthes,
and is further sub-divided into two sub-classes, Cestodaria and Eucestoda.
Cestodes within Eucestoda are primarily differentiated by the morphological
characteristics of their scoleces. The scolex is the attachment organ they use
to anchor themselves in the host. Unlike the trailing chain of proglottids (the
simple, segment-like reproductive units that make up most of the “body”), which
are relatively uniform among species; the scolex is reliably different in
different worms. Scoleces come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Structures
that may be present or absent and differ in shape and size include grooves,
suckers, hooks and/or spines, as reflected in the image below. </div>
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These parasites are endo-parasitic, meaning they infect the
internal organs and are transmitted primarily via ingestion of infected prey.
They have neither mouth nor intestine, and uptake nutrients via their tegument.
They are generally hermaphroditic and therefore capable of fertilizing their
own eggs. Cestodes have an indirect life cycle, which includes a free-living
egg or larval stage (coracidia), one or two intermediate hosts and a final
host. The first intermediate host is usually a copepod and the second
intermediate host may either be a fish or another copepod-eating organism. The
final host may be a higher trophic level organism, such as a piscivorous bird, shark, or mammal. </div>
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<b>Disease and Treatment<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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Generally, parasites from marine fish do not cause disease
in humans, but the presence of cestodes in fish filets may decrease the price at
market and some species may also cause spoilage of the meat. Also, if a fish
filet is eaten raw, there are some species which can infect humans, but this is
a rare occurrence. </div>
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Although most adult cestodes are non-pathogenic, the Asian
tapeworm, <i>Bothriocephalus acheilognathi</i>,
is a rare exception. This species affects a wide range of freshwater hosts
including minnows, golden shiners, carp species, channel catfish and some
ornamental aquarium species such as Discus. In the US, this is a non-native
parasite which was introduced with grass carp and has since caused serious
mortality in production facilities for bait minnows, grass carp and juvenile
common carp. This species is characterized by a large body size and a scolex
with two long bothria, or longitudinal grooves (see image below). It will
accumulate along the anterior intestine of the host, and may eventually lead to
obstruction or rupture of the intestine, which usually ends in mortality. These
parasites proliferate in an aquaculture setting and there are treatment options
in place if they do become a problem. An aquaculturist can use Praziquantel,
which is a drug commonly used to treat cestodes, monogeneans, and possibly
larval digenean parasites. It can be administered as a bath, in which the fish
absorbs the drug directly across the gills from the water, or it can be
administered as an oral supplement or injection, but these last two methods are
much more time consuming and expensive.</div>
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Overall, even though cestodes may look scary, they are
generally harmless and very common in many species of fish. It is rare that
humans will contract them from eating fish, especially if you are consuming
cooked fish. They can be seen macroscopically sometimes, so next time you are
filleting your dinner, have a look through the muscle for any white cysts,
which look similar to white bumps. If you are buying your fillets, the
fishmonger will normally take these out before they go to sale, but if you are
catching your own fish, you are likely to encounter a couple of these. Take
them out and reply back to this post with your very own parasite selfie! Hope
you enjoyed the post, happy fishing =)</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14763170167453815174noreply@blogger.com1