Larval Behavior Film Reaches the Final Round of NSF’s “Creating the Future” Video Contest

Posted on October 25, 2012 by RSMAS

When the National Science Foundation announced their “Creating the Future” contest, I was excited to have the opportunity to present my PhD research in the form of a short video. It turned out to be quite challenging to explain my work on underwater soundscapes and larval navigation in just 90 seconds. The film combines unique footage of pelagic fish larvae, recorded by my advisor Claire Paris, as well as audio recordings made on reefs right here in Florida. The final product, called “Sonic Reef,” made it to the final judging round. This means that the film is eligible to win the people’s choice award if it gets enough votes. The $1000 prize money that I could win would be used for field research next summer.

Please vote for “Sonic Reef” by visiting this National Science Foundation website: Click here to vote!

You have to enter your email address – and only once you receive the confirmation email can you cast your official vote.

Thanks for your support!

Erica Staaterman
PhD Student, Applied Marine Physics & Marine Biology and Fisheries
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Time For These Corals To Leave The Nursery

Posted on October 16, 2012 by RSMAS

After growing in the University of Miami’s coral nursery for almost two years, staghorn corals (Acropora cervicornis) were finally outplanted to six sites in Miami-Dade County recently by members of Dr. Diego Lirman’s Benthic Ecology Lab at the Rosenstiel School. Starting in 2010 with only 6 meters of coral collected from wild donor colonies, the coral nursery grew into over 260 meters of healthy Acropora tissue available for transplantation. This year, almost 1,000 Acropora fragments (5-10 cm) were secured to local reef habitat using masonry nails and cable ties. Corals from distinct genotypes were outplanted to each site to promote genetic diversity, which will play an important role in 3 to 5 years when these corals begin to sexually reproduce. Corals were tagged with aluminum tags for quarterly monitoring including growth and overall health. In addition, fish surveys are conducted regularly to document potential fish recruitment and utilization due to increased coral cover, complexity and structure after growth of Acropora colonies.

Over 90% of outplanted corals survived their first 3 months after transplantation at all sites indicating successful outplanting methodologies were used and suitable conditions exist at the selected outplanting sites. Most corals “skirted” or grew healthy tissue onto the substrate and covered the nails and cable ties within 3 weeks of outplanting. High growth rates have also been observed with up to a 35% increase in healthy biomass! Luckily, few outplanted corals suffered damage from debris or storm surge during Tropical Storm Isaac in September. The Benthic Ecology Lab looks forward to checking up on the corals over the next few months to monitor their growth and survivorship.

-Stephanie A. Schopmeyer
Senior Research Associate
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International Coral Reef Symposium Invaluable for RSMAS Students

Posted on August 6, 2012 by RSMAS

RSMAS students at the 12th International Coral Reef Symposium in Cairns, Australia

Any coral biologist would jump at the chance to attend a coral reef symposium or dive in the South Pacific, and this summer I got to do both on one trip. I have just returned from Cairns, Australia, host city to the 12th International Coral Reef Symposium, (ICRS,) a conference that occurs every four years. As an early-career Ph.D. student, I had been to smaller national-scale meetings, but ICRS was my first large-scale international meeting solely devoted to coral science. I can honestly say that I will remember ICRS as one of my most stimulating and exciting learning experiences to date. Before the conference began I emailed several professors from other universities whose work pertains to mine to ask them to come to my poster session. By the end of the conference, I had discussed my research with the likes of Drs. Grottoli, Sebens, Dove, Houlbreque, Holcomb, and Ferrier-Pages, to name a few, all of whom are scientists whose work has inspired mine in some way. It was an invaluable experience to talk to my science “idols” and get their advice and constructive criticism on my work. These are scientists whose papers I have been reading for years and have never been able to put a face to a name, so to talk to them in person was a dream come true. One of the other great joys for me at ICRS was watching the talks of fellow RSMAS students such as Remy Okazaki, Rachel Silverstein, Ross Cunning, Xaymara Serrano, Rivah Winter, Quinn Devlin, Dan Holstein, Marc Nadon, and Carolyn Margolin, to name a few. It made me extremely proud to see all of the amazing work being done by my peers, and to see such a strong RSMAS presence at ICRS. Coral reefs are facing a multitude of threats right now, namely bleaching, acidification, habitat degradation, overfishing, and eutrophication among many others, which can make the future of coral reefs seem pretty grim at times. However, being at a meeting with 2,500 other coral scientists who are working every day to learn more about coral reefs instills hope in me for the future of my favorite ecosystem.

After the conference, a group of four other RSMAS grad students and I were lucky enough to travel to Fiji on our way back to the States. For a group of coral biologists, diving in Fiji was absolutely surreal. Just a few steps off the beach of our accommodations on Waya Island was the best snorkeling any of us had ever done in our lives. Coral cover was easily over 100% because of the layers of plating species on top of one another. After doing several dives and countless snorkels, it was clear that the reefs of Waya Island were pristine – with little to no signs of bleaching or degradation. There was definitely lots of talk amongst our group that we should write a grant proposal to come back to study the reefs of Fiji! Since all of us do our research primarily in South Florida where Acroporid species are extremely endangered, it was overwhelming to see huge stands of Acropora on Fijian reefs. Also, the sheer biodiversity of the reef was amazing compared to our Atlantic/Caribbean reefs – we saw more fish, nudibranchs, lobsters, turtles, sharks, eels, and sea stars on one single dive in Fiji than we normally see on multiple dives in Florida. We were also lucky because the season to see Giant Manta rays in Fiji is May-October, so a couple of us got to swim with these beautiful animals, which had been a personal dream of mine for a long time. Overall, the entire trip broadened my horizons as a coral scientist because ICRS gave me the opportunity to hear about the newest research being done in the field and diving in the South Pacific opened my eyes to how a thriving coral reef ecosystem can and should look. Now my task is to use the feedback and inspiration I got at ICRS to improve my research, and to start saving up for the 13th ICRS in Hawaii in 2016!

Erica Towle
Graduate Student – Marine Biology & Fisheries
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Understanding Navigational Cues in the Marine Environment

Posted on August 1, 2012 by RSMAS

I spent a hot afternoon in late July with the two Principal Investigators (PIs) on a new National Science Foundation (NSF) Ocean Technology and Interdisciplinary Coordination grant entitled “T-LEOST: realTime Larval Environmental and Ocean Signal Tracking: an integrated system for the study of navigational cues in the marine environment.” Instead of meeting in an office, we met by the pool at University of Miami’s main campus.

The goal was to test several new instruments that are part of this project. A drifting behavioral chamber developed by Dr. Claire Paris, one of the PIs, observes the behavior of fish larvae at sea using a camera and a compass system. The orientation the larvae take while tested inside the chamber reveals whether or not they are guided by certain navigational cues, such as a sun compass, odor, or sound.

With the new grant, we are making modifications to the existing chamber, allowing us to observe the behavior of fish in deeper waters, and in response to acoustic cues measured from reefs here in Florida.

To put the chamber into deeper waters and to de-couple it from the water surface, a motorized buoyancy device called the Medusa is being developed by Dr. David Mann of Loggerhead Instruments, the other PI on the grant. An essential step in the development process is to determine the natural rising and sinking

We also tested the capabilities of a pair of underwater speakers that will be mounted to the chamber to play back sounds of coral reefs to the fish. Recordings made in Florida with a hydrophone (developed by Loggerhead Instruments) will be played to fish in order to see whether they demonstrate orientation behavior towards these sounds. Reef soundscapes have been proposed as a cue that fish larvae may use during their journey from the pelagic environment to the reefs.

This is truly an interdisciplinary project, involving physics, biology, and engineering. Spending an afternoon with the experts was a great learning experience for me and we learned about the performance of our instruments in a controlled environment. Next step: the ocean!

The Alaska Whale Foundation’s Rapunzel Project: How Whales Communicate

Posted on July 13, 2012 by RSMAS

We have now had ample time to observe the Humpback whales and their many behaviors. Surprisingly, the whale’s behavior in Southeast Alaska has an entirely different purpose than when they sing in their mating grounds in Hawaii. This is due to their motives for remaining in Alaska and remaining in Hawaii for periods of time. A breach in Hawaii has a different purpose from a breach in Alaska. As the warm waters of Hawaii are used for mating, the cold productive waters of Alaska are used to forage.

The whales exhibit several different behaviors when they surface around the lighthouse. There are of course, whales breaching, during which they throw themselves into the air and splash into the water. This behavior is rumored to have several different functions ranging from intimidation to communication while the whales are in Alaska. In contrast, when the whales are in Hawaii breaching is used as a flashy behavior to attract mates.

The whales also perform peduncle throws: a whale at the surface throws its entire tail into the air and slams back into the water, and Pectoral slaps in which the whales swim on their sides on the surface and smack the water. Both of these behaviors are believed to be used in communication and feeding. The Peduncle throw sends such a forceful sound wave through the water and has the ability to scare nearby schooling fish. This works well in the Humpbacks favor as small schooling fish, such as Herring, form a more tightly knit group and become easier prey for the Humpbacks.

Bubble net feeding is also a common practice found in Alaskan waters. Bubble net feeding involves large groups of Humpbacks working together during a feeding frenzy. It begins when one whale gives a bubble net feeding call. It is an elongated note, as if the whale briefly sings and ushers the other whales into the area to begin feeding. One whale sinks deep into the water beneath the schooling fish and sends up bubbles that corrals the fish into ever-tighter circles. The other whales then simultaneously engulf the schooling fish in their mouths and beach the surface. From the surface, it has the appearance that the whales are bobbing on the surface in a giant circle of bubbling water.

This week also held our camping trip. We took a 45-minute boat ride to a nearby island and camped for a night. I was able to take a kayak out to a Sea Lion hollow and paddle to within about 20 feet of the Sea Lions. Sea Lion’s may appear to be sweet doglike mammals of the ocean, but in reality the Sea Lion’s are aggressive and have a bite stronger than a bears. When compared to each other, the skull of a Sea Lion and the skull of a bear are almost identical. The Sea Lions are also extremely inquisitive animals and have no problem swimming up to your kayak to check you out. An 1800-pound Sea Lion with the strength to crush your bones in a single bite can be somewhat daunting as you rock around in a small kayak.

In addition to paddling to the Sea Lion hollow, I also had the opportunity to hike through some of the Alaskan wilderness. The forest was unlike any I had ever seen. This Island, known as The Brothers, has no predators and is completely covered in moss. The moss floor proved to be quite comfortable as we set up camp. For the first night of the season we slept in darkness, as the trees sheltered us from the ever-persistent daylight.

-Ryan Meeder
RSMAS Undergraduate Student
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The Alaska Whale Foundation’s Rapunzel Project: Killer Whales and Killer Sunsets

Posted on July 6, 2012 by RSMAS

A few days ago the other three interns and I were lucky enough to find a pod of Killer Whales. They swam past the lighthouse, prompting us to abandon our duties and follow the pod in our skiff. It is a common sight to see the Killer Whales tossing a Sea Lion in the air as they hunt and play with their food. The Sea Lions do not stand a chance against the Killer Whales, but that does not stop them from trying to board a passing vessel.

As we tracked the Killer Whales through Frederick Sound we sighted several breaching Humpback Whales and were able to get as close to a few diving whales as our research permit allows us (which is as close as we need to in order to get a fluke I.D.). The fluke of a Humpback whale is the underside of its tail and acts as a fingerprint. No two whales have the same fluke pattern, and each whale’s fluke pattern remains consistent throughout their entire lives.

This was a very eventful week. In addition to seeing the Killer Whales and breaching Humpbacks, we were able to board a small cruise ship: “The Wilderness Explorer” and intermingle with the passengers. Michelle (Project Leader) gave a lecture to the passengers on the cruise ship and I was able to spend time with the passengers whale watching. I was able to educate the passengers and answer their questions about Humpbacks. This was one of the most rewarding experiences of the trip. It put the science into perspective, as it is one thing to be able to do research and publish results, but another thing entirely to educate the public and increase awareness. Increasing awareness about the oceans is just as if not more important than the actual research and data. We plan on going back on board “The Wilderness Explorer” next time it passes the lighthouse and educating another set of guests. The best way to learn is to teach.

Michelle once said, “The Alaska sun doesn’t burn, it blushes.” There is no better way to put it. We have had a few sunsets so far, and they have been getting better and better. I have seen my share of spectacular sunsets, but none are comparable to the beauty of the Alaskan mountains and shimmering seas. I would also like to further explain some of the equipment we have been using.

The Theodolite: The theodolite sits on top of the lighthouse all summer and can never come downstairs (once it has gone up the first time) as the temperature difference will cause condensation and sabotage the electronics. We use the theodolite to pinpoint the location of the whales both in the immediate vicinity of the lighthouse and along the horizon. The theodolite gives us a horizontal and vertical degree reading, which can then be converted into a latitude and longitude. It is almost like a telescope, but much more expensive and precise.

The Hydrophone: The hydrophone is a small microphone like cylinder that we lower 25m into the sea. With two hydrophones, one on each side of our skiff, we are able to record Humpback whales from miles away. The hydrophones range fluctuates depending on the frequency that the whales are vocalizing on, the temperature of the water, and the bathymetry under the water.

A Humpback Whale’s Trumpet: A Trumpet is a loud noise that we can hear from above the surface. A trumpet is a low frequency aerial vocalization that is typically associated with an exhalation. You can hear the trumpets from the top of the tower, inside the lighthouse, the top of the helicopter pad and everywhere in between. We are studying their role in Humpback whale communication and if there is a correlation between dispersion and Trumpeting.

The Intertidal Zone: The intertidal zone is the area of the island that at high tide is completely covered, but at low tide is completely exposed. The intertidal zone has a 27-foot range on the island, which offers numerous opportunities to go tide pooling. One can observe the starfish, brightly colored anemones and Sculpin that inhabit the pools. Sculpin are small fish that fight each other over territory in the intertidal zone.

We will be going camping for a few days in the near future, during which we will kayak into a Sea Lion hollow that houses over one thousand Sea Lions. It will be nice to get off the island for a few days, but I am sure we will all be longing to get back to the tower before too long. It’s something about living in a lighthouse that will always give a unique and comforting feeling. Vista the resident lighthouse dog and whale chaser always seems to help too.

RSMAS Blog

Category Archives: Marine Biology & Fisheries