Browsing by Department "Marine Biology"

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Autonomous Floating Acoustic Array and Tags for Cue Rate Estimation
Marine Biology; TAMUG; https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14641/484; DOD-Navy-Office of Naval Research
LONG-TERM GOALS: Navy has a strong interest in cetacean density estimation using acoustic methods. For that work to be successful, cue rate knowledge for targeted species in the region of interest is essential. Beyond areas where extensive tagging of cetaceans has been conducted, information on cue rate production is typically scarce. If the Navy is to achieve its long term goal of using passive acoustics for density estimation, a more efficient and rapid approach for obtaining cue rates is needed than relying solely on collection of tag data, which is time and effort intensive. The overarching goal of this project was to procure equipment that will facilitate alternative data collection methods that combine visual and acoustic tracking of groups of animals over time, to provide statistics on calling behavior of groups, leading to a cue rate estimate. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this award was to build an autonomous floating acoustic array for cue rate estimation, along with procurement of acoustic tags that can be used in conjunction with this array for enhanced estimates of baleen whale acoustic cue rates.
Collaborative Research: Geomagnetic Navigation by Weddell Seals Beneath Antarctic Ice
Marine Biology; TAMUG; https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14641/661; National Science Foundation
The remarkable ability of many animals to navigate accurately over long distances has defied scientific explanation despite decades of research on species such as homing pigeons. Evidence that marine mammals use the Earth's magnetic field for navigation is less clear but numerous reports infer this sensory capability in a variety of marine mammals. Mistakes in this mechanism may be involved in mass strandings of whales and dolphins and a better understanding of marine mammal navigation ultimately may be useful in preventing or forecasting these events. Weddell seals precisely locate breathing holes in Antarctic sea ice after traveling hundreds of meters in darkness and a navigation mistake can result in death. In this project, the investigators will test a novel idea about marine mammal sub-ice navigation and orientation using geomagnetic fields by employing a custom-designed video and data recorder capable of monitoring fine-scale animal behaviors and movements when diving. The project will also further the NSF goals of making scientific discoveries available to the general public and of training new generations of scientists. The general public will be involved via web sites, a lecture series targeting underrepresented groups, and development of nationally disseminated K-12 teaching materials. A number of graduate and undergraduate students will be trained in the techniques of scientific discovery over the course of the project. With limited oxygen stores during under-ice diving, Weddell seals are under strong selective pressure to navigate accurately and efficiently to locate breathing holes. The investigators hypothesize that geomagnetic navigation is both necessary and sufficient for Weddell seals to return to the vicinity of breathing holes. This project will be the first to rigorously field test geomagnetic navigation in a marine mammal as well as the first to measure the energetic cost of geomagnetic navigational behavior and evaluate how body oxygen stores and breath-hold duration influence spatial orientation and navigational strategies in a diving mammal. The investigators will measure changes in the behavioral and energetic responses of individual seals to different geomagnetic field properties and test those responses against precise predictions. By conducting tests during periods of high light intensity/long day length and low light intensity/reduced day length while simultaneously documenting sound sources and water currents, the experimental design provides a powerful technique for identifying a geomagnetic response as other sensory modalities are manipulated. These costs will be compared to those of other vertebrates to assess the evolutionary drivers for geomagnetic navigation. Demonstration of geomagnetic navigation in seals would also provide new insights into fine scale activities of other diving animals and the mechanisms that enable long distance migrations. Thus, the results have the potential to transform our understanding of navigation in all diving animals.
Disturbance and Recovery of the Microbial Communities in Galveston Bay Following Hurricane Harvey and Flooding of the Houston Area
Marine Biology; TAMUG; https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14641/410; National Science Foundation
On August 25, Hurricane Harvey made landfall on San Jose Island, TX as a category 4 storm. During the subsequent five days, precipitation reached over 130 cm of rain onto the Houston area, causing city-wide flooding. The floodwaters/runoff inundation introduced large amounts of terrestrial and freshwater microbes and anthropogenic pollutants into Galveston Bay and ultimately the Gulf of Mexico, causing disruptions to the resident communities. Microbes, composed of viruses, bacteria, and protists, are tightly inter-connected and are constantly adjusting to their environment to maintain a critical balance in global biogeochemical cycles. The main objective of this project is to characterize the effect of Hurricane Harvey on microbial communities in Galveston Bay, with a focus on determining the role of viruses in the ecosystem recovery. This project will determine the effect of Hurricane Harvey and subsequent flooding in the Houston area on microbial communities, measure the impact of viral lysis on the ecosystem to determine the role of viruses in the recovery of the ecosystem after heavy mixing and flooding caused by a major storm, and identify the role of viruses in the adaptation of their hosts in the acquisition of new metabolic capabilities. The approach is to integrate metagenomic characterization of viral and bacterial host diversity over time with water quality measurements. Virus-induced microbial mortality will also be calculated to measure the impact of viral lysis on the ecosystem, while prophage induction will be used to identify the role of viruses in the adaptation of their hosts. This research will provide significant insight on how viruses play an important role in the adaptation and resilience to environmental changes and stresses. Consequences of climate change include stronger and more frequent tropical storms and hurricanes, with worsening droughts but higher precipitation. Subtropical climates such as the one in Galveston Bay are already feeling the consequences of climate change and it is becoming clearer that there is a need to understand how microbial communities are impacted by environmental perturbations. Collectively microbes in these environmental zones have the greatest influence on biogeochemical cycles; and thus, are also those likely to be under greatest pressure to respond to changes. This project will provide direct quantification of the impact of viral lysis after an extreme weather event towards a better understanding of their role in the adaptation of microbial communities to changes. This study will help to develop an understanding of the evolution and adaptation of microbial communities over time to environmental stresses and how the confluence of weather events creates pressures on microbial community dynamics.
EAGER: Collaborative Research: Acoustic Ecology of Foraging Antarctic Blue Whales in the Vicinity of Antarctic Krill
Marine Biology; TAMUG; https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14641/484; National Science Foundation
Understanding the interaction between blue whales and their prey is essential for understanding Antarctic ecosystem dynamics. In the austral summer of 2019 an international interdisciplinary research voyage will head to the Antarctic with the overall goal of mapping Antarctic krill and blue whale distributions to determine if foraging preferences of blue whales are dictated in part by the density and shape of Antarctic krill swarms. This research voyage will combine advanced research technologies (including autonomous underwater vehicles, short term-tags, photogrammetry, and ship-based, real-time passive listening and active echosounders) to answer questions about how the density, swarm shape and behavior of Antarctic krill influence Antarctic blue whales. U.S. participation on this voyage on an Australian research vessel will allow collection of concurrent predator and prey data through the use of passive listening and echosounders from a fixed mooring. By coupling moored data collection with the ship-based survey focusing on Antarctic blue whale behavior and krill dynamics, the project will contribute to the understanding of basic questions relating to the dynamics between blue whales and their prey as well as adding to the development of instrumentation and technologies that will enhance current capabilities for in situ observing on the continent and the surrounding ice-covered waters. The project will provide an educational platform for high school students and the general public to virtually experience Antarctica via "virtual sailing" through a project website and blog. Students and the general public also will be allowed the opportunity to participate in post-cruise data analysis. The Australian Antarctic Division and the University of Tasmania will lead an international voyage to the Antarctic in the austral summer of 2019. The overall goal of the voyage will be to map Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) and blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) distributions to determine if the foraging preferences of blue whales are dictated in part by the density and shape of Antarctic krill swarms. US participation in voyage will entail the deployment of passive and active acoustic instrumentation on a fixed mooring in concert with real-time acoustic and visual tracking and localizing of blue whales that will then allow better directing of ship operations towards aggregations of animals such that fine-scale acoustic tracking and prey field mapping can be achieved. This approach will be the first time such an acoustic system is deployed in Antarctica and used in an integrative fashion to assess foraging behaviors and krill. Thus, the project will advance understanding of the relationships between the acoustic ecology of blue whales, krill abundance, and blue whale densities. The technology deployment and testing will also be used to assess its potential use in ice-covered waters for similar studies in the future. Broader impacts of this project will occur through outreach and education, as well as through the collaborations with the broader international scientific community. The project will provide educational platforms for high school students and general public to virtually experience Antarctica. Research findings will be communicated to both the scientific community and the wider public through peer-reviewed publications, presentations, student lectures, seminars and communication through appropriate media channels by institutional communications teams. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
Estimating natal origin and migration dynamics of Pacific bluefin tuna using natural tags
Marine Biology; TAMUG; https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14641/585; DOC-NOAA-Northeast Fisheries Science Center-Milford, Ct
Uncertainties about stock structure continue to complicate fisheries management, particularly for highly migratory species. A prime example is Pacific Bluefin Tuna (PBF, Thunnus orientalis), which is widely distributed throughout the North Pacific and western South Pacific, although the dynamics within this range are not well understood. The PBF stock assessment is structured under the assumption of a single stock in the Pacific Ocean with two discrete spawning grounds in the western Pacific Ocean (WPO). One located around the Philippines north to the Ryukyu Islands (hereafter: East China Sea) with spawning occuring from April to June and one in the Sea of Japan from July to August. Age-0 fish remain in waters around Japan, but at 1-2 years old, an unknown portion of fish migrate to the eastern Pacific Ocean (EPO) where they remain for several years before returning to the WPO. While the general pattern of these trans-Pacific migrations has been documented, the dynamics and timing are poorly understood and questions remain about how many fish migrate to the EPO and from which spawning ground as well as what environmental/biological factors influence migration. It is also not clear to which spawning ground these EPO fish return. In addition, adult PBF are collected in the western South Pacific (SWPO) around New Zealand; however, the dynamics of the connectivity between the SWPO and the North Pacific remains uncertain. The aim of this project was to use natural chemical tags in PBF otoliths to identify natal origin and quantify the dynamics of trans-Pacific migrations of this species. Ultimately determining the 1) relative contribution of each spawning ground to the EPO foraging grounds (U.S. waters) for multiple age classes, 2) to estimate the timing of arrival in the EPO for fish with known natal origin, and 3) link variability in migration dynamics to oceanographic conditions to better understand the forcing mechanisms of migration rates.
Life history and age validation of blacktip sharks (Carcharhinus limbatus) in the Gulf of Mexico with implications for stock assessment models
Marine Biology; TAMUG; https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14641/585; DOC-National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
The three main objectives of this proposal were as follows: 1. Obtain sex-specific age and growth estimates of blacktip sharks in the eastern and western Gulf, 2. Examine reproduction of blacktip sharks in the eastern and western Gulf, 3. Apply a novel technique (vertebral chemistry) as an age validation method for blacktip sharks. The information gained from this proposed project will provide usable and relevant information to aid fishery researchers, scientists, and managers to make informed management decisions that can be directly utilized for future assessments.
Life History and Population Structure of Snowy and Warsaw Grouper in US Waters
Marine Biology; TAMUG; https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14641/522; DOC-NOAA-National Marine Fisheries Services
Important life history and population parameters are currently unavailable for Snowy Grouper (Hyporthodus niveatus) and Warsaw Grouper (H. nigritus), which represent two valuable and vulnerable components of the deepwater grouper assemblage. Since fisheries yields, population dynamics, and rebuilding plans are dependent on life history traits, genetic characteristics, and other population parameters, there is a clear need to close existing data gaps for these two species. Recent assessments indicate these species are overfished (Snowy Grouper) or experiencing overfishing (Warsaw Grouper) in the South Atlantic, while the stock status of both is currently unknown in the Gulf of Mexico. Both species appear on the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of threatened species (2014.2), with Snowy designated “vulnerable” and Warsaw listed as “critically endangered,” indicating that fundamental data on the life history and population structure of each species is needed to reduce the “uncertainty” in stock assessments in the South Atlantic and allow for “initial” stock assessments of each species in the Gulf of Mexico. The goal of this project was to comprehensively investigate the life history and population structure of Snowy Grouper and Warsaw Grouper in U.S. waters by coupling three distinct but complementary research components: 1) age validation (bomb radiocarbon dating) coupled with the development of age-length keys for both species in the South Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico; 2) geochemical and genetic approaches to determine the population structure and connectivity of Snowy Grouper and Warsaw Grouper from four regions (South Atlantic, northwestern [NW], northcentral [NC], and northeastern [NE] Gulf of Mexico); and 3) histological examination to estimate several key reproductive parameters including sex ratios, maturity, the proportion of active spawning adults (i.e., spawning fraction) by age and size class, and spawning seasonality. Data from the project addresses specific research recommendations identified by our NOAA Fisheries colleagues, particularly the need for basic information on the age, growth, and reproductive biology of both Snowy Grouper and Warsaw Grouper.
NSF Rapid: Urgent Sampling Zooplankton for Assessing Ecosystem Restoration of Galveston Bay after Catastrophic Impacts of Hurricane Harvey
Marine Biology; TAMUG; https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14641/421; National Science Foundation
Rapid response to large-scale natural disasters and subsequent assessments and restoration of ecosystem functions require baselines of key ecological processes and the driving mechanisms. In August 2017, Hurricane Harvey brought catastrophic rainfall that led to extreme flooding in Southeast Texas, including the Galveston Bay watershed. As the second largest estuary in the northern Gulf (~1554 km2), Galveston Bay supports numerous marine species of fish, shrimp, crabs and oyster with annual fisheries revenue over one billion dollars. Meanwhile the region has been subjected to impacts of human and natural stressors for decades. The bay receives ~60% of the urban and industrial wastewater of Texas, and often encounters reduced freshwater inflow and increased severity of rainfall and flooding. Freshwater inflow induced changes in water chemistry and nutrient regimes are key driving the dynamics of pelagic community in the bay. This RAPID project seeks to collect post-storm data in this region and to improve understanding of flood related damages and restoration of ecosystem functions. This project has an active education and outreach program through undergraduate student participation and citizen science and communication to provide local community valuable information on estuarine ecosystems. This RAPID project is designed to glimpse the ephemeral signals of hurricane-related disturbance in pelagic community through urgent sampling zooplankton and water properties at stations along an increasing salinity gradient from upper bay to the Gulf opening every month from October 2017 to September 2018. A hypothesis of this project is that the hurricane-induced heavy rainfall and extreme flooding likely caused unprecedented changes on the ecosystem structure of the bay. The goal of this project seeks to document the near-term impacts of extreme flooding on pelagic community in the Galveston Bay watershed in an effort to better assess flood-driven zooplankton community dynamics in relation to hydrographic properties (salinity, water temperature, chl-a etc.) and its ecological implications for larval fish and ecosystem functions. Specially, this project will 1) generate post-storm data of abundance, composition and distribution of zooplankton; 2) examine zooplankton distribution in relation to hydrographic properties; 3) evaluate the impacts of hurricane induced extreme flooding on zooplankton community dynamics in terms of ecosystem restoration; 4) engage undergraduate students and local community through citizen science and communication providing valuable information on estuarine ecosystems.
Ocean basin connectivity of Pacific bluefin tuna (Thunnus orientalis), linking natal origin and trans-Pacific movements into population dynamics
Marine Biology; TAMUG; https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14641/585; DOC-NOAA-National Marine Fisheries Services
Uncertainties about stock structure continue to complicate fisheries management, particularly for highly migratory species. A prime example is Pacific Bluefin Tuna (PBF, Thunnus orientalis), which is widely distributed throughout the North Pacific and western South Pacific, although the dynamics within this range are not well understood. The PBF stock assessment is structured under the assumption of a single stock in the Pacific Ocean with two discrete spawning grounds in the western Pacific Ocean (WPO). One located around the Philippines north to the Ryukyu Islands (hereafter: East China Sea) with spawning occuring from April to June and one in the Sea of Japan from July to August. Age-0 fish remain in waters around Japan, but at 1-2 years old, an unknown portion of fish migrate to the eastern Pacific Ocean (EPO) where they remain for several years before returning to the WPO. While the general pattern of these trans-Pacific migrations has been documented, the dynamics and timing are poorly understood and questions remain about how many fish migrate to the EPO and from which spawning ground as well as what environmental/biological factors influence migration. It is also not clear to which spawning ground these EPO fish return. In addition, adult PBF are collected in the western South Pacific (SWPO) around New Zealand; however, the dynamics of the connectivity between the SWPO and the North Pacific remains uncertain. The aim of this project was to use natural chemical tags in PBF otoliths to identify natal origin and quantify the dynamics of trans-Pacific migrations of this species.
Origin of yellowfin tuna in the western Atlantic Ocean: importance of outside production to US fisheries
Marine Biology; TAMUG; https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14641/522; DOC-NOAA-National Marine Fisheries Services
Several novel tools are currently being used to investigate the natal origin and stock structure of Atlantic tunas, including natural chemical markers in hard parts (Rooker et al. 2008, 2014, 2019). Natural markers in otoliths (ear stones) show significant potential for determining origin and quantifying population connectivity. This is due to the fact that otoliths precipitate material (primarily calcium carbonate) as a fish grows, and the chemical composition of each newly accreted layer is often associated with physicochemical conditions of the water mass they inhabit. As a result, material deposited in the otolith during the first year of life serves as a natural marker of the individual’s nursery or place of origin. Previous studies have demonstrated that trace elements and stable isotopes in otoliths can be used to determine the origin of both temperate and tropical tunas (Wells et al. 2012, Kitchens et al. 2018, Rooker et al. 2019). The goal of the SK-funded study was to determine the origin and migratory histories of yellowfin tuna from U.S. fisheries in the Atlantic: 1) Gulf of Mexico [GoM], 2) Mid Atlantic Bight [MAB], and 3) US territories in the Caribbean [CAR]. Our efforts centered on two questions: Q1) Are yellowfin tuna in U.S. fisheries derived from local production or from more distant production zones in the eastern Atlantic Ocean (EAO), and Q2) Are trans-Atlantic movements (E to W) common for yellowfin tuna caught in U.S. waters? Such questions are important to fishery managers because this species is currently managed as a single, panmictic stock, despite the fact that trans-Atlantic movement is well documented. Similar to previous studies, we used natural tracers in otoliths that are linked to ambient physicochemical conditions of the ocean to develop ‘birth certificates’ for individuals from different regions or nurseries in the Atlantic Ocean. Thus, the first step was to develop reliable baseline chemical signatures for young-of-the-year (YOY) tuna from all sources or production areas in the Atlantic Ocean. As demonstrated in Kitchens et al. (2018), classification success to regional nurseries is relatively high, supporting the use of these reference signatures to source yellowfin tuna to their place of origin.
Population Demographics, Movement Patterns and Habitat Use of Sea Turtles on the Upper Texas Coast
Marine Biology; TAMUG; https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14641/433; DOI-Fish and Wildlife Service
In summary, the main goal of this proposal was to deploy nine additional receivers in the Christmas and West Bay region of the GBES and this was successfully accomplished (Fig. 1; Table 1). Locations for new receivers were based on satellite data that was collected after the funding of this proposal, but also using the TPWD seagrass viewer maps, and known sea turtle capture sites. As new data became available this past year, it became clear to us that sea turtle movement studies would require its own acoustic receiver system. To this end, the 9 receivers were deployed in Christmas Bay and West Bay near the San Luis Pass and the GCSTR has purchased an additional 15 acoustic receivers to create the Sea Turtle Acoustic Receiver System (STARS; Fig. 2). While the goal of this USFWS grant has been accomplished, additional acoustic receiver deployment will continue and should be completed by the end of September 2022. The deployment of receivers was delayed due to long manufacturing delays from InnovaSea (formerly Vemco) which, in turn delayed the delivery of the receivers to the GCSTR. Additionally, TAMUG Waterfront Operations, which maintain our fleet of research vessels, also suffered major delays in repair and maintenance of our boats that we use the deploy the receivers. This delay was due to COVID-19 positive cases with this service provider. As a result our bay research vessels were not available for 3 months from late spring to early summer. Our receivers were deployed late summer, rather than earlier, as proposed. Nevertheless, the first part of STARS is in place (9 receivers) and the remaining will be deployed in the near future.
Post-release mortality and behavior of sharks in shore-based recreational fisheries using citizen scientists and low-cost tags
Marine Biology; TAMUG; https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14641/585; DOC-National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Recreational shark fishing has become increasingly popular in recent decades, especially shore-based fishing that has provided access to a broad demographic of anglers. Catch and release shark fishing has become best practice to limit deleterious effects on overall stocks, but species-specific stress levels and post-release mortality in shore-based fisheries is unclear. Advances in electronic tagging technology, including acceleration data loggers (ADLs) and pop-up satellite archival transmitting (PSAT) tags, now provide unprecedented insight into fine scale (e.g. seconds to minutes with ADLs) and long term (e.g. daily to monthly with PSAT) behavior of sharks post-release. Using electronic tags, research has demonstrated that the physical injury and physiological stress inflicted upon sharks caught and released contributes directly to post-release mortality (PRM), which can occur immediately or as a result of cumulative sub-lethal effects causing fitness losses over time. Currently, PRM estimates from boat-based shark fisheries are primarily used to inform management strategies and research into the contribution of shore-based shark fishing to overall PRM rates is lacking. This project cooperatively engaged recreational shore-based shark anglers to deploy ADLs and PSATs on blacktip, bull, tiger and hammerhead sharks (Sphyrna spp.) to estimate post-release behavior and mortality rates. These species vary in physiological sensitivity to capture from highly sensitive (hammerhead species) to less sensitive (tiger) and the tagging approach ensured increased tag deployment rates in unpredictable but diverse catches to explore species specific mortality rates. The objectives of the study were: 1) Characterize both fine and broad-scale post-release behavior and mortality of beach-caught sharks in Texas using ADLs and PSATs deployed by experienced recreational fishermen; 2) Compare behavioral capture responses among diverse shark species with variable capture-sensitivities (blacktip, bull, tiger, hammerhead species) and seasonal environmental variables; 3) Host both pre- and post-tagging shark angler workshops to train anglers in shark identification, disseminate tagging results and discuss how results can be applied to shark conservation efforts. Sharks were captured by recreational shore-based anglers from August 2018 to October 2021. For each captured shark, fight time, handling time, and biological metrics including length and sex were recorded, and release condition was scored as good, fair, poor, or dead. Of the 21 PSATs deployed, 8 PSAT tags were recovered and provided high-resolution archived data for temperature, light level, and depth measurements every few seconds to confidently determine shark outcomes. Six sharks survived and 2 sharks experienced mortality 10 minutes to 1.25 hours after release. Seven tags transmitted limited data, but the data was sufficient to determine shark status based on high-resolution depth data for the final 5 days of deployment and daily summaries for minimum and maximum depths, temperature, and light levels: 7 sharks survived, and 1 shark experienced mortality immediately after release. 1 tag on a shark that experienced mortality less than 10 min after release returned light level, depth, and temperature data that was sufficient to determine the shark was ingested by a predator. Six tags did not transmit any data after deployment and thus we cannot determine the post-release fate of those sharks. The PRM rate across all the PSAT tags was therefore found to be 20% (3/15) (Table 1; Appendix 1). Of the 22 ADLs deployed, 4 were not recovered or programming/battery/user error provided no data. 18 ADLs were recovered for analysis: 13 sharks survived, and 5 sharks experienced mortality within seconds up to 5 hours post release. The PRM rate across all the ADL tags was therefore found to be 27.8% (5/18) (Table 2; Appendix 2). Across both tag types a total of 20 bull sharks were caught and tagged: 1 shark experienced mortality, 13 sharks survived, and 6 tags had unknown fates due to tag malfunction. The post-release mortality rate for bull sharks was therefore estimated to be 7.1% (1/14). A total of 14 blacktip sharks were caught and tagged: 5 sharks experienced mortality, 5 sharks survived, and 4 tags did not transmit any data. The post-release mortality rate for blacktip sharks was therefore estimated to be 50% (5/10). A total of 5 tiger sharks were caught and tagged and all survived, suggesting 0% mortality. However, one tiger shark exhibited mortality 41 days after tagging that was categorized as a natural mortality and not due to capture stress. That said, the cumulative sub-lethal effects of tagging such as gear left in the body or infection at the tagging site could have significantly reduced fitness, resulting in a delayed post-release mortality. Although scalloped hammerheads were originally targeted, 2 great hammerheads were caught and tagged: 1 experienced immediate mortality and was ingested, and 1 survived up to 16 days following release. The mortality rate for great hammerheads was therefore estimated at 50%. Understanding how fishing mortality rates may differ between shore-based and boat-based recreational fleets and across different species is essential for accurately assigning gear type and mortality estimates in stock assessment models. Angler outreach and education was achieved by PIs attending the Sharkathon shore-based fishing tournament in October 2021, reaching hundreds of participating anglers, even though 2020 survey ambitions were delayed due to COVID19. Follow-up angler surveys will occur in 2022 after finalizing/publishing results to generate reference data on angler attitude and response to research results. In summary, this collaborative project combined cooperative angler citizen scientists and advanced electronic tags to provide an empirically derived post-release mortality rate estimate across different species in a recreational shore-based fishery for use in management protocols.
RAPID Collaborative Research: Do Mangroves Provide Better Coastal Protection Than Salt Marshes? A Hurricane Harvey Case Study From Port Aransas, Texas, USA
Marine Biology; TAMUG; https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14641/247; National Science Foundation
Coastal marshes provide critical ecosystem services, including erosion prevention and shoreline protection from storm surges that often result when hurricanes make landfall. For several years, vegetation in coastal wetlands has been shifting from grasses and forbs to taller, woody mangroves, raising concerns about the impact these changes may have on these important ecosystem services. Over the past several years, scientists have been conducting a large mangrove removal experiment to study the ecological consequences of mangrove expansion near Port Aransas, Texas. Hurricane Harvey made landfall near this experiment, providing an unprecedented opportunity to study the immediate impacts of mangrove expansion on shoreline protection and other vital ecosystem services. This RAPID award will allow scientists to gain knowledge on the role of coastal wetlands that will be extremely valuable to coastal managers responsible for restoration and management projects along shorelines vulnerable to future hurricanes. This research will provide a critical understanding of the impact of mangrove expansion on the role of coastal wetlands in the provision of critical ecosystem services in response to intense storms. Hurricane Harvey provides a unique opportunity to answer a critical question - do mangroves provide fundamentally different shoreline protection than the low stature grasses and forbs they replace? The researchers conducting this study are using a pre-existing mangrove removal experiment that was in the path of the hurricane to test the hypothesis that large woody plants like mangroves are better able to resist these large storms, and therefore provide improved shoreline protection. This work will also provide a better conceptual understanding to the role of biotic factors in regulating the impact of large storms. This information is of critical importance to land managers responsible for restoring the ecosystem services coastal wetlands can provide.
RAPID: Evaluating the role of pollution monitoring on improving coastal community social well-being following a petrochemical fire and spills into Galveston Bay
Marine Biology; TAMUG; https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14641/344; National Science Foundation
This Rapid Response Research (RAPID) project examines the role of pollution monitoring in water and seafood on public perceptions of information and risk following petrochemical spills. This project provide new insights into coastal community risk perceptions following the recent petrochemical spills from the Deer Park fire (Houston, Texas) and barge collision in Galveston Bay, Texas. At present, the ecological and societal impacts of both disturbances are not fully known. However, concern remains for the exposure of aquatic biota to oil-derived hydrocarbons and flame retardant chemicals, and likely human health effects upon their consumption. This project addresses these concerns in the following ways: First, the levels of pollutants are monitored in water, shellfish and fish from Galveston Bay. Pollutant levels are measured once per month, over a 1 year duration. Second, coastal community risk perceptions or concerns for adverse health effects are assessed using health questionnaires. Third, information on pollutant levels in water and biota are compared to acceptable regulatory limits, and used to inform local community leaders of sea food consumption and recreational threats. Ultimately, the findings of this research will provide insights into coastal community risk perceptions immediately following man-made disturbances, and help to develop a risk communication framework that provides both immediate and follow-up analysis of environmental quality. This grant supports the NSF HDBE program's mission to understand human-environment interactions and their responses to man-made disasters. This project uses mass spectrometry to measure the levels of oil-derived hydrocarbons and flame retardants in the waters and biota of Galveston Bay, Texas. Water samples will be taken monthly along a transect of Galveston Bay, and biota samples will be obtained from Texas Parks and Wildlife Department as part of their monthly surveys of Galveston Bay. The biota samples collected will include oysters and fish commonly consumed as seafood by coastal communities. Social well-being will be assessed using an online survey disseminated to residents of communities in the Galveston Bay area, including those affected by the Deer Park fire and barge oil spill. Survey responses will measure social well-being as individual physical and mental health, risk perceptions, and protective action. The results of research will be communicated to coastal community stakeholders by partnering with the Galveston Bay Foundation. Results will comprise temporal trends of pollutant levels measured in water, shellfish and fish from Galveston Bay, and a risk assessment of whether pollutant levels are above or below established regulatory levels. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
Restoring coastal wetlands for shorebirds: leveraging lessons learned to identify research priorities and strategies to maximize future success
Marine Biology; TAMUG; https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14641/247; DOC-National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Project description. Coastal wetland restoration is a vital coastal management tool, but is often reactive rather than proactive, with new projects initiated as an opportunistic response to the availability of land or funding, or as a compensatory mitigation response. A substantial body of literature has examined various aspects of coastal wetland restoration success, but too often, the resulting recommendations for long-term ecological success are disconnected from restoration practice. This disconnect can be attributable to logistical constraints, differences in project time scales and priorities, and uneven communication between researchers and practitioners. This proposal seeks to continue closing the gap between restoration ecology and practice. Specifically, we will focus on maximizing the success of restoration projects using beneficial uses material to create shorebird habitat. The Salt Bayou ecosystem, part of the Chenier Plains ecoregion, is an ideal focal ecosystem for this project, as it encompasses numerous past, current, and potential future wetland restoration projects. A strategic plan developed in 2013 identified hydrology and elevation as key elements of restoration success, but also acknowledged gaps in our understanding about links between the restoration of wetland geomorphology and ecological success criteria, especially shorebirds. For example, what is the ideal range of elevations for shorebirds, and what elevation will provide the most productive food supply for these birds? Does this elevation range overlap with the waterfowl habitat in the area? What types of elevation profiles (e.g. homogeneous vs. heterogeneous; absolute elevation range) will maximize shorebird use of these habitats, without detracting from the broader goals of creating emergent marsh and waterfowl habitat? New beneficial uses (BU) projects planned over the next five years will employ elevation profiles based on these findings. The project team will (1) leverage past research by synthesizing lessons learned from past projects, and (2) develop a blueprint to guide future research directions and boost the success of future investments. Timeline. Restoration in the Salt Bayou ecosystem is ongoing, with major projects initiated every ~3-5 years. These results will be directly applied to projects initiated between 2023-2025. However, decisions based on recommendations from this and subsequent proposals can be scaled to apply to projects with both near-term and long-term start dates, and will make the outcomes of this synthesis effort relevant for many years, if not decades to come. Approach. In the proposal preparation stage, input on the project plan was solicited from a currently active group of stakeholders (Salt Bayou Workgroup). During the project period, activities will be parsed into two components: (1) Synthesis. Under the supervision of the lead PI, a postdoctoral research associate will conduct (a) a metaanalysis of shorebird use of coastal restoration projects in the region and (b) a literature review (white paper) assessing links between restoration approach, elevation profiles, shorebird use across the Gulf of Mexico. (2) Develop research plan and application plan. In a series of workshops among project investigators and stakeholders, the synthesis findings will shape discussions about future research needs. Following an iterative process, the outcome will be a set of specific research needs and goals that will shape the where, how, and why of future restoration projects. Dissemination activities will include two publications and two conference presentations that will serve to recruit additional stakeholders and share key findings.
Restoring coastal wetlands for shorebirds: leveraging lessons learned to identify research priorities and strategies to maximize future success
Marine Biology; TAMUG; https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14641/247; DOC-National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) awarded $122,346 under the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Science, Observation, Monitoring, and Technology cooperative agreement program to Texas A&M University at Galveston to support research titled "Restoring Coastal Wetlands for Shorebirds: Leveraging Lessons Learned to Identify Research Priorities and Strategies to Maximize Future Success." The two-year project beginning September 1, 2021 aims to identify priority research questions and strategies for coastal wetland restoration to benefit shorebird populations. As the implementing organization, Texas A&M University at Galveston will leverage expertise from previous wetlands projects to inform future restoration efforts. The work supports NOAA's broader mission of ensuring long-term Gulf Coast ecosystem sustainability through science-based restoration.