SEMINAR: MBF 602 seminar series presents Andrew Kough Friday 11/19 4:00p SLAB seminar room

["Sidney Hartley" <shartley@rsmas.miami.edu>]

 

Larval sensory behavior and implications considering an emergent disease

A common strategy for marine life is to have two vastly different morphologies: a stage capable of undergoing reproduction and a larval stage with expansive dispersal potential.  Dispersal has long been assumed to be guided primarily by the oceanographic processes, with passive larvae arriving at appropriate settlement sites by chance.  It has been recently established that larval movement is consequential, and is likely directed to enhance settlement success.  The sensory abilities and associated behavior of settling larvae needs to be further investigated to determine what signals are guiding this movement.  Three cues potentially used by navigating larvae to find distinct settlement habitat are odor, light patterns, and sound.  My research will examine the larval sensory behavior of Caribbean spiny lobster (Panulirus argus) postlarvae.  Behavior will be evaluated using a combination of laboratory sensory experiments and in situ observation using a novel scientific device (Drifting In Situ Chamber).  Lobsters have a long pelagic larval duration with high mobility and are being threatened by the emergent disease PAv1.  A coupled biophysical model will be applied to test further hypotheses concerning the impact of larval behavior, and the spread of PAv1.  A Caribbean wide survey of disease prevalence and lobster abundance will be used to parameterize the model.  Spiny lobsters command the most valuable commercial fishery throughout the Caribbean, making this study widely applicable and relevant.

 

Sidney L.S. Hartley

University of Miami RSMAS

Division of Marine Biology and Fisheries

S. Grosvenor 315

Miami Fl 33149

305-421-4176

305-421-4600-fax