SEMINAR: REMINDER--MBF STUDENT SEMINAR **TODAY@1PM** ~PAUL JONES & MARK FITCHETT

[Pam Harris <pharris@rsmas.miami.edu>]

Pamela Harris
Administrative Assistant
Marine Biology and Fisheries
Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science
University of Miami
4600 Rickenbacker Causeway/SLAB-118
Miami, FL 33149
(305) 421-4176
fax - (305) 421-4600
pharris@rsmas.miami.edu
http://www.rsmas.miami.edu/academics/divisions/marine-biology-fisheries/

On 4/26/2012 3:57 PM, Pam Harris wrote:

 

MBF Student Seminar Series

 

Paul R. Jones

Advisor: Dr. Andrew Baker

 “Do different Symbiodinium exhibit zonation within coral polyps?”

The genus Symbiodinium is a diverse assemblage of symbiotic dinoflagellates with similar gross morphologies but different physiological characteristics, such as photosynthetic efficiency, growth rates, and thermal tolerance.  Scleractinian corals can simultaneously host multiple Symbiodinium types, each potentially conferring different benefits.  These various types can be heterogeneously distributed within coral colonies as a result of differences in environmental parameters (such as light) and disturbance history.  I hypothesize that these factors may also create micro-habitats over smaller spatial scales, resulting in zonation of different symbionts within individual coral polyps.  To test this hypothesis, I am using a variety of molecular techniques to identify, quantify, and localize the Symbiodinium community within coral polyps.  Fluorescence In-Situ Hybridization (FISH) is being used to visualize the distribution of symbionts at the level of clade, while quantitative PCR (qPCR) of tissue sections is being used to corroborate the FISH results and provide higher detection resolution.  Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis (DGGE) increases the taxonomic resolution and differentiates symbiont types within clades.  As well as assessing whether zonation of symbionts occurs within polyps, these techniques are also being employed in a laboratory study of symbiont acquisition and proliferation in bleached corals.

 

Mark D. Fitchett

Advisor: Dr. Nelson Ehrhardt

“Use of satellite logbook, length-frequency, and tagging data for estimation of age distribution, mortality, and migration of Sailfish within the Eastern Pacific Ocean”

The Indo-Pacific sailfish, Istiophorus platypterus, is an extremely valuable resource for catch-and-release sportfisheries within eastern tropical Pacific Ocean. In order to sustain regional catch-and-release sportfisheries, catch rates must exceed a threshold that attracts tourism and participation. The availability of sailfish (and other billfishes) to catch-and-release sportfisheries in Central American communities depends on competition with semi-industrial and artisanal fisheries that inflict mortalities on the resource, environmental conditions, and migration. In order to predict catch rates under varying scenarios of mortality, migration, and environmental conditions- a block transfer model is utilized to predict the diffusion of sailfish within ranges of sportfisheries.  A satellite logbook system provides insight on sailfish “hot spots” and catchability dynamics within the spatial range of regional sportfisheries with respect to local environment and fisher behavior. Length-frequency data (courtesy of the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission; stratified by latitude, longitude, month, and year) is used to develop a size-at-age model throughout the eastern tropical Pacific and mortality estimations. Lastly, ongoing pop-off satellite tagging activities provides information on the transfer of individuals among regions in the eastern tropical Pacific with respect to ecosystem dynamics and time.

 

Friday, April 27, 2012

1:00pm

RSMAS campus, S/A 103

--
Pamela Harris
Administrative Assistant
Marine Biology and Fisheries
Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science
University of Miami
4600 Rickenbacker Causeway/SLAB-118
Miami, FL 33149
(305) 421-4176
fax - (305) 421-4600
pharris@rsmas.miami.edu
http://www.rsmas.miami.edu/academics/divisions/marine-biology-fisheries/