newsletter of the uf/ifas department of fisheries and...
TRANSCRIPT
We l c o m e colleagues, alumni and friends! We are excited
to launch this new and enhanced version of WaterWorks, a newsletter of the UF/IFAS Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences. WaterWorks will be produced approximately quarterly, and it will include feature articles about faculty and graduate student projects; news about faculty, students, alumni and friends; and a schedule of upcoming events. Our aim is to supply you with a regular source of enlightening, interesting and timely information that reflects our mission of providing innovative and excellent teaching, research and public service in support of improved management of the nation’s diverse aquatic resources. In this issue, Dr. Shirley Baker writes about her research with exotic species and sustainable development of open-water clam farming, and doctoral student Paul Anderson writes about the 2004 American Fisheries Society Southern Division Student Colloquium, which was hosted by the UF Students United in the Research of Fisheries (SURF). We also welcome some new students
to the program and congratulate our recent graduates. The Department is particularly excited about this year’s addition of two new faculty members. Dr. Bill Pine (Ph.D. Zoology, North Carolina State) came to us from Mote Marine Laboratory. Bill studies fish communities in riverine and estuarine ecosystems, and he will be working closely with scientists at the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to provide objective science supporting establishment of Minimum Flows and Levels (MFLs) in the state’s rivers and coastal waters. Dr. Cortney Ohs (Ph.D. Wildlife and Fisheries Science, Mississippi State University) came to us from Southern Illinois University. Cortney is an aquaculture specialist who focuses on new management practices that increase productivity and profitability of existing operations and the development of new aquaculture operations in the State. He will be working closely with scientists from State and Federal agencies to provide science and outreach materials related to aquaculture in Florida. If you have any questions or comments about WaterWorks, information that we might post as news items, or ideas about future feature articles, please contact us by email: [email protected]
WaterWorksNewsletter of the UF/IFAS Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
IFAS
Depar
tmen
t of Fisheries & Aquatic Sciences
Uni
versity of Florida
Welcomeby: Dr. Karl Havens, Dept. Chair
September - 2005
FAS faculty and graduate students at our annual student research colloquium
Faculty Focus Shirley Baker’s research program focuses on the physiology and ecology of cultured, invasive and native bivalve populations. One of her long-term research goals is to enhance the sustainable development of open-water clam farming. She is also interested in the consequences of biological invasions and anthropogenic disturbances on the ecology and physiology of invertebrates. Her methods bridge and integrate several levels of research from comparative physiology and biochemistry at the level of the organism, to remote sensing at the level of the ecosystem.
Bivalves are probably most familiar as pretty shells found on beaches or on plates in seafood restaurants. They also play important roles in the economy and ecology of Florida. The culture of hard clams (Mercenaria mercenaria), relatively new in Florida, represents the fastest growing segment of the state’s aquaculture industry. Approximately 400 active shellfish growers farm over 1800 acres of submerged lands off of nine coastal counties, producing a crop worth $18.2 million with an economic impact of about $55 million (2001 data). To maintain its impressive growth and to meet increasing national and global demand for aquaculture products, the Florida hard clam industry must increase survival, growth and yield while consistently producing a high quality crop.
The CLAMMRS project (Clam Lease Assessment, Management and Modeling using Remote Sensing), on which Dr. Baker is lead investigator, spans several disciplines and addresses needs of the hard clam aquaculture industry through a series of interrelated research and extension activities. In association with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Aquaculture, water quality and weather monitoring stations have been installed at ten aquaculture areas around the state.
In addition to creating a water quality data base to document events associated with crop loss, the CLAMMRS team is also determining the impact of food availability and quality on clam productivity, filling gaps in knowledge of Florida clam physiology and response to stressors, and developing a computer simulation model of Florida clam production. A better understanding of clams and their environment will increase production, farm efficiency and profitability, and thereby, enhance sustainable development of open-water clam farming in Florida.
Recently, the need for a hardier clam strain has become evident as clam culturists in south Florida report below average survivals or total losses during the hot summers. While strain development
through basic breeding is a long and costly process, a quicker method to capitalize on genetics is through triploid induction. Dr. Baker and colleagues from the Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute and UF/IFAS Food and Resource Economics Department are examining the hypothesis
that triploid clams will have higher survival when stressed by the heat, reduced dissolved oxygen and reduced food availability found in the subtropical waters of Florida during summers.
Dr. Shirley Baker earned her PhD from the Virginia Institute of Marine Science, in 1994. She has been an assistant professor at University of Florida since 1999. She has also served on the Editorial Board of Journal of Shellfish Research since 2002.
by Dr. Shirley BakerFaculty & Staff News
Bill Pine recently participated in a review panel evaluating
trends in populations of endangered fishes in the Grand Canyon reach of the Colorado River.
Roy Yanong was featured in the Summer 2005 issue of “The
Science Teacher”, and he was also appointed to both the Animal Agriculture Liaison Committee and the Aquatic Veterinary Medicine Committee of the AVMA.
Tom Frazer was invited to give a presentation at the 2005 International
Ocean Research Conference held in Paris, France.
Sky Notestein was invited to address the Kings Bay working group
and present recent findings from a project evaluating vegetation in the bay.
Karl Havens was appointed to the Florida Oceans Council, which will
advise the Legislature about future research needs for coastal and ocean systems.
Bob Swett received the 2005 Wachovia Distinguished Extension
Professional Enhancement Award in recognition of his outstanding extension program in coastal waterway planning.
Presenting at a professional meeting in front of
mentors, idols, and future advisors or employers
is an intimidating proposition for a graduate
student new to their field. Graduate students in
fisheries science from throughout the Southeastern
United States have long recognized this, and, in
response, envisioned the Annual Fisheries Student
Colloquium, an annual meeting put on by and for
graduate students. The purpose of the Colloquium
is to allow students to share their research, at
any stage of completion, with their peers. The
Colloquium provides a supportive environment
in which to practice presentation techniques and
an opportunity to build networks among fisheries
students regionwide.
The Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Science’s
graduate student organization, SURF (Students
United in the Research of Fisheries), was privileged
to host the 2004 meeting. SURF members stepped
up to the plate and worked diligently all year long
to fundraise, secure venues, advertise, organize
and cater the event! What came of all of this? A
beautiful weekend in St. Augustine where over
75 students from 11 schools convened to talk
fish! The conference was held at the Whitney
Laboratory for Marine Bioscience, overlooking
the intracoastal waterway of the Atlantic Ocean.
Students enjoyed a Friday night meet-and-greet,
Luau-style, at the Whitney Lab, followed by a
day of fascinating presentations and posters and
an evening reception in the beautiful gardens of
The Oldest House, quite literally the oldest house
in the State of Florida, located in downtown St.
Augustine. Sunday gave participants a chance to
wrap up and head home, with an optional trip to
the St. Augustine Alligator Farm along the way.
The fascinating diversity of
study that makes up fisheries
science was reflected in our
guests’ presentations: Exotic
species impacts, acoustical
monitoring of populations, life
history characterizations, stock
assessments, anthropogenic impacts, aquaculture,
management implications, ecological interactions
and fish physiology, were just a few of the topics
that were covered. Fishes spanning Florida’s
famous red drum, grouper and snapper, to popular
freshwater fishes such as bass and curious oddities
such as burrfish and bull sharks were discussed.
Other highlights of the colloquium included a
panel discussion featuring accomplished fisheries
scientists from academic, industrial, non-profit
and government organizations and our keynote
address given by veteran fisheries scientist, Dr.
Larry Olmsted. He gave us the inside track on
“How to get really smart, secure a job, and be
exceptionally successful” in fisheries science.
For more information about the Colloquium, the graduate students, and their research, visit:
http://surf.ifas.ufl.edu.
Future issues of WaterWorks will be posted on the Department’s website at :
http://fishweb.ifas.ufl.edu To receive notification when those issues are available, please send your email address to :
Student SpotlightStudent News
The Department welcomes the following new
graduate students:Jennifer BernatisMatthew CatalanoTina CrosbyJason DotsonEmalee HeidtLauren MarcinkiewiczKathryn O’DonnellVincent PolitanoCaleb Purtlebaugh
Graduate students Chanda Jones and Christian
Barrientos were selected as executive finalists for the Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship, administered by the National Sea Grant College Program, which gives students an opportunity to spend a year in Washington working with the federal government.
Congratulations to the following students who
graduated during the year:Christian Barrientos (MS)Carla Beals (MS)Elizabeth Berens (MS)Jacklyn Debicella (MS)Linda Dunsmore (Ph.D)Kevin Johnson (MS)Chanda Jones (MS)Richard Kline (MS)Ayana McCoy (MS)Ricardo Russo (Ph.D)Will Strong (MS)
by Paul Anderson, President of S.U.R.F.
Introducing Our FacultyThe following UF/IFAS faculty and staff are available to answer questions or provide technical support for aquaculture, fisheries and aquatic sciences and pond management. Feel free to contact them.
Dr. Mike Allen - Associate ProfessorSportfish management in freshwater lakes and reservoirs [email protected]
Dr. Roger Bachmann - Research ProfessorLimnology, lake eutrophication, Florida [email protected]
Dr. Patrick Baker - Research Assistant ProfessorInvertebrate zoology and [email protected]
Dr. Shirley Baker - Assistant ProfessorMacro-invertebrate [email protected]
Dr. Daniel E. Canfield, Jr. - ProfessorLimnology, eutrophication of lakes and [email protected]
Dr. Frank A. Chapman - Associate ProfessorFish reproduction, [email protected]
Dr. Charles E. Cichra - ProfessorFisheries and pond management, fish ecology, extension education [email protected]
Dr. Ruth Francis-Floyd - Joint Professor (Vet Med)Fish health management, aquaculture, ornamental [email protected]
Dr. Thomas K. Frazer - Associate ProfessorEcology of oceanic and coastal marine [email protected]
Dr. Karl E. Havens - Professor and ChairLimnology, plankton ecology, lake [email protected]
Dr. Charles Jacoby - Assistant ProfessorCoastal ecosystems, marine and estuarine [email protected]
Dr. William J. Lindberg - Associate ProfessorMarine and behavioral ecology, crustacean biology, artificial reefs [email protected]
Carlos Martinez - Assistant in Extension, Ornamental Aquacultur
Ornamental fish [email protected]
Dr. Debra J. Murie - Assistant ProfessorCoastal marine fish [email protected]
Dr. Cortney L. Ohs - Assistant [email protected]
Dr. Daryl C. Parkyn - Courtesy Assistant ProfessorEco-physiology and behavior of [email protected]
Dr. Denise Petty - Joint Assistant Professor (Vet. Med)Aquatic animal [email protected]
Dr. William Pine - Assistant ProfessorRiver and estuarine [email protected]
Dr. Edward J. Phlips - ProfessorPhycology, algal physiology, biochemistry, [email protected]
Dr. William Seaman, Jr. - ProfessorAssociate Director / FL Sea Grant, marine fisheries, artificial [email protected]
Leslie N. Sturmer - Multi-county Extension Faculty IFAS/Co-opShellfish [email protected]
Dr. Robert A. Swett - Joint Assistant Professor (Sea Grant)Waterway management, coastal [email protected]
Craig A. Watson - Director, Tropical Aquaculture Lab, RuskinOrnamental fish [email protected]
Dr. Roy Yanong - Associate Professor (Tropical Aquaculture Lab, Ruskin)
Fish health management, aquaculture, ornamental [email protected]
September 23Lew Coggins, USGS : Abundance trends and status of the Little Colorado River population of humpback chubs
September 30Felicia Coleman, FSU : Effects of recreational fishing in the Gulf of Mexico
October 14Ron Taylor, FWRI : Biology and management of an estuarine dependent apex predator, common snook
October 21Chris Horton, B.A.S.S. : Bass fisheries and habitat restoration
October 28William Hernkind, FSU : New lobster on the block: how artificial shelter experiments revealed key processes of Caribbean spiny lobster recruitment
November 4Jim Gelsleichter, Mote Marine Lab : Ecoestrogen exposure and effects in sharks and their relatives: implications for fishery science
November 18Carl Waters, University of British Columbia : The cyclic dominance debate and historical management of Pacific salmon
Seminars are @ 3pm held in the conference room of the main Fisheries building, 7922 N.W. 71st Street, Gainesville (off Millhopper Road) (352) 392-9617
Fall Seminar Series