Showing papers by "National Ocean Service published in 2009"
TL;DR: It is demonstrated that the plant pathogen Pepper mild mottle virus (PMMoV) is widespread and abundant in wastewater from the United States, suggesting the utility of this virus as an indicator of human fecal pollution.
Abstract: Accurate indicators of fecal pollution are needed in order to minimize public health risks associated with wastewater contamination in recreational waters. However, the bacterial indicators currently used for monitoring water quality do not correlate with the presence of pathogens. Here we demonstrate that the plant pathogen Pepper mild mottle virus (PMMoV) is widespread and abundant in wastewater from the United States, suggesting the utility of this virus as an indicator of human fecal pollution. Quantitative PCR was used to determine the abundance of PMMoV in raw sewage, treated wastewater, seawater exposed to wastewater, and fecal samples and/or intestinal homogenates from a wide variety of animals. PMMoV was present in all wastewater samples at concentrations greater than 1 million copies per milliliter of raw sewage. Despite the ubiquity of PMMoV in human feces, this virus was not detected in the majority of animal fecal samples tested, with the exception of chicken and seagull samples. PMMoV was detected in four out of six seawater samples collected near point sources of secondary treated wastewater off southeastern Florida, where it co-occurred with several other pathogens and indicators of fecal pollution. Since PMMoV was not found in nonpolluted seawater samples and could be detected in surface seawater for approximately 1 week after its initial introduction, the presence of PMMoV in the marine environment reflects a recent contamination event. Together, these data demonstrate that PMMoV is a promising new indicator of fecal pollution in coastal environments.
253 citations
TL;DR: The study indicates the importance of systematic sampling, even when using qualitative descriptors, the use of validation resolution to evaluate forecast capabilities, and the need to match forecast and validation resolutions.
122 citations
TL;DR: The assessment results for the five study sites show that water quality is either maintained or improved in all farms under standard conditions of culture practice, and the role that extractive organic aquaculture plays in integrated coastal zone and nutrient emissions management is highlighted.
119 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, an ensemble image approach, wherein a combination of a chlorophyll anomaly, spectral shape at 490nm and a backscatter ratio product would provide an improvement in satellite detection of K brevis blooms, was proposed.
113 citations
TL;DR: The development of methods for extracting the algal toxin domoic acid from Pseudonitzschia cells (extraction efficiency >90%) and testing of samples using a competitive ELISA onboard the ESP are described and efforts are now underway to further refine the assay and conduct additional calibration exercises with the aim of obtaining more reliable, accurate estimates of bloom toxicity and thus their potential impacts.
77 citations
TL;DR: For closely related, recently diverged taxa, a multi-locus genome-wide survey is likely the most comprehensive approach currently available for phylogenetic inference.
Abstract: Many molecular phylogenetic analyses rely on DNA sequence data obtained from single or multiple loci, particularly mitochondrial DNA loci. However, phylogenies for taxa that have undergone recent, rapid radiation events often remain unresolved. Alternative methodologies for discerning evolutionary relationships under these conditions are desirable. The dolphin subfamily Delphininae is a group that has likely resulted from a recent and rapid radiation. Despite several efforts, the evolutionary relationships among the species in the subfamily remain unclear. Here, we compare a phylogeny estimated using mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) control region sequences to a multi-locus phylogeny inferred from 418 polymorphic genomic markers obtained from amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) analysis. The two sets of phylogenies are largely incongruent, primarily because the mtDNA tree provides very poor resolving power; very few species' nodes in the tree are supported by bootstrap resampling. The AFLP phylogeny is considerably better resolved and more congruent with relationships inferred from morphological data. Both phylogenies support paraphyly for the genera Stenella and Tursiops. The AFLP data indicate a close relationship between the two spotted dolphin species and recent ancestry between Stenella clymene and S. longirostris. The placement of the Lagenodelphis hosei lineage is ambiguous: phenetic analysis of the AFLP data is consistent with morphological expectations but the phylogenetic analysis is not. For closely related, recently diverged taxa, a multi-locus genome-wide survey is likely the most comprehensive approach currently available for phylogenetic inference.
69 citations
TL;DR: The excellent linear correlations with the both mouse bioassay and HPLC method and sufficient interassay repeatability suggest that the RBA can be effective as a high throughput screen for estimating PSP toxicity in shellfish.
Abstract: A single-laboratory validation (SLV) study was conducted for the microplate receptor binding assay (RBA) for paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) toxins in shellfish. The basis of the assay is the competition between [3H]saxitoxin (STX) and STX in a standard or sample for binding to the voltage dependent sodium channel. A calibration curve is generated by the addition of 0.01-1000 nM STX, which results in the concentration dependent decrease in [3H]STX-receptor complexes formed and serves to quantify STX in unknown samples. This study established the LOQ, linearity, recovery, accuracy, and precision of the assay for determining PSP toxicity in shellfish extracts, as performed by a single analyst on multiple days. The standard curve obtained on 5 independent days resulted in a half-maximal inhibition (IC50) of 2.3 nM STX +/- 0.3 (RSD = 10.8%) with a slope of 0.96 +/- 0.06 (RSD = 6.3%) and a dynamic range of 1.2-10.0 nM. The LOQ was 5.3 microg STX equivalents/100 g shellfish. Linearity, established by quantification of three levels of purified STX (1.5, 3, and 6 nM), yielded an r2 of 0.97. Recovery from mussels spiked with three levels (40, 80, and 120 microg STX/100 g) averaged 121%. Repeatability (RSD(r)), determined on six naturally contaminated shellfish samples on 5 independent days, was 17.7%. A method comparison with the AOAC mouse bioassay yielded r2 = 0.98 (slope = 1.29) in the SLV study. The effects of the extraction method on RBA-based toxicity values were assessed on shellfish extracted for PSP toxins using the AOAC mouse bioassay method (0.1 M HCI) compared to that for the precolumn oxidation HPLC method (0.1% acetic acid). The two extraction methods showed linear correlation (r2 = 0.99), with the HCl extraction method yielding slightly higher toxicity values (slope = 1.23). A similar relationship was observed between HPLC quantification of the HCI- and acetic acid-extracted samples (r2 = 0.98, slope 1.19). The RBA also had excellent linear correlation with HPLC analyses (r2 = 0.98 for HCl, r2 = 0.99 for acetic acid), but gave somewhat higher values than HPLC using either extraction method (slope = 1.39 for HCl extracts, slope = 1.32 for acetic acid). Overall, the excellent linear correlations with the both mouse bioassay and HPLC method and sufficient interassay repeatability suggest that the RBA can be effective as a high throughput screen for estimating PSP toxicity in shellfish.
46 citations
TL;DR: Post-hurricane benthic communities had significant reductions in numbers of taxa, H′ diversity, and abundance as well as shifts in composition and ranking of dominant taxa.
Abstract: The effects of Hurricane Katrina on benthic fauna and habitat quality in coastal waters of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama, USA, were assessed in October, 2005, 2 months after the hurricane made landfall between New Orleans, LA and Biloxi, MS Benthic macrofaunal samples, sediment chemical concentrations, and water quality measurements from 60 sites in Lake Pontchartrain and Mississippi Sound were compared with pre-hurricane conditions from 2000-2004 Post-hurricane benthic communities had significant reductions in numbers of taxa, H(') diversity, and abundance as well as shifts in composition and ranking of dominant taxa These effects were not associated with changes in chemical contamination, organic enrichment of sediments, or hypoxia and were likely due to hurricane-related scouring and changes in salinity
41 citations
TL;DR: The dolphin URT microbiota revealed by sequencing of bacterial 16S rDNA exhibits almost no overlap with the taxa indicated in culture-based studies, and demonstrates the dominance of three of the four bacterial phyla that dominate other mammalian microbiomes, including those of humans, and show tremendous diversity at the species/strain level.
Abstract: Summary
Respiratory illness is thought to be most the common cause of death in both wild and captive populations of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus). The suspected pathogens that have been isolated from diseased animals have also been isolated from healthy individuals, suggesting they may be part of the normal flora. Our current understanding of the bacteria associated with the upper respiratory tract (URT) of bottlenose dolphins is based exclusively upon culture-based isolation and identification. Because < 1% of naturally occurring bacteria are culturable, a substantial fraction of the bacterial community associated with the dolphin URT remains to be described. The dolphin URT microbiota revealed by sequencing of bacterial 16S rDNA exhibits almost no overlap with the taxa indicated in culture-based studies. The most abundant sequences in our libraries were similar among all of our study animals and shared the greatest homology to sequences of bacteria belonging to the genera Cardiobacterium, Suttonella, Psychrobacter, Tenacibaculum, Fluviicola and Flavobacterium; however, they were sufficiently different from database sequences from both cultured and uncultured organisms to suggest they represent novel genera and species. Our findings also demonstrate the dominance of three of the four bacterial phyla that dominate other mammalian microbiomes, including those of humans, and show tremendous diversity at the species/strain level, suggesting tight coevolution of the dolphin host and its URT bacterial community.
41 citations
TL;DR: Data reveal a threat, represented by DSP-toxic species, at Black Sea coasts, and provide grounds for the introduction of phycotoxin control measures in the region.
37 citations
TL;DR: The symptoms displayed by the rapa whelks in the 24–48 h prior to death were indicative of paralysis and followed a similar time course documented for other molluscs exposed to toxic A. monilatum.
Abstract: Veined rapa whelks (Rapana venosa), carnivorous marine gastropods experienced significant mortality during an Alexandrium monilatum bloom in the lower York River, VA in September 2007. Rapa whelks stopped feeding as dissolved oxygen and chlorophyll concentrations increased with the development of the bloom. Whelk mortality was preceded by external signs of stress including reduced ventilation, inability to attach to hard substrates, periodic pumping of the opercular plate, and increased mucus production over a period of 24–48 h prior to death. High concentrations (2–7 µg g-1 tissue) of goniodimum A, a toxin produced by A. monilatum, were observed in bivalves attached to the shells of rapa whelks. Concentrations of goniodimum A in whelk foot tissue ranged from 0.02–8.39 µg g-1. Mortality of rapa whelks was 100%. Mortality of oysters (Crassostrea virginica) and northern quahogs (Mercenaria mercenaria) in the same flow through system was 0%. The symptoms displayed by the rapa whelks in the 24–48 h p...
TL;DR: This study presents a Bayesian framework fitting parameters of a triple-logistic growth function to describe multiple phases of growth for bottlenose dolphins, simultaneously fitting and comparing all growth parameters between South Carolina, Mississippi Sound, and Indian River Lagoon cohorts.
Abstract: The Gompertz function is the most commonly used growth function for cetacean studies. However, this function cannot represent multiple phases of growth. In this study, we present a Bayesian framework fitting parameters of a triple-logistic growth function to describe multiple phases of growth for bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus), simultaneously fitting and comparing all growth parameters between South Carolina (SC), Mississippi Sound (MSS), and Indian River Lagoon (IRL) cohorts. The fitted functions indicated a preliminary early, rapid growth phase, followed by a second phase of slower growth, and then a moderate growth
TL;DR: This study is the first to demonstrate the interaction of diet and mycobacteriosis in fish, and inoculated fish fed an adequate ration diet developed classic granulomatous inflammation of reduced severity and total body energy similar to that found in uninoculated controls.
Abstract: Challenge studies with Mycobacterium marinum clearly demonstrate that a poor diet affects the progression and severity of mycobacteriosis in striped bass Morone saxatilis. Fish (n = 512 total, wt = 65 +/- 15 g) were inoculated intraperitoneally with 10(4) colony-forming units (CFU) g(-1) body weigth (BW) or a physiological saline solution (controls) and evaluated for 8 mo. Inoculated fish fed a low-ration diet (0.15% BW d(-1)) developed a severe, systemic infection characterized by a high bacterial load (>10(8) CFU g(-1) spleen) and poor granuloma formation, which commonly progressed to mortality by 6 wk. In contrast, inoculated fish fed an adequate ration diet (1% BW d(-1)) developed classic granulomatous inflammation of reduced severity and total body energy similar to that found in uninoculated controls (p > 0.05). After 4 wk, fish fed adequate rations maintained an equilibrium state throughout the study period, even though 10(6) CFU g(-1) spleen mycobacteria were consistently cultured. In a second study, reactivation of an acute inflammatory state was demonstrated by placing previously infected fish on reducing diets (0.073% BW d(-1)). In both studies, the energetic demand of this disease was only appreciable when associated with active, severe, inflammatory states. To our knowledge, this study is the first to demonstrate the interaction of diet and mycobacteriosis in fish.
17 Apr 2009-Journal of Environmental Science and Health Part B-pesticides Food Contaminants and Agricultural Wastes
TL;DR: This study investigated the effects of simvastatin, a lipid-regulating drug; irgarol, an antifouling biocide; and PBDE-47, a brominated flame retardant on the estuarine fish, Fundulus heteroclitus.
Abstract: This study investigated the effects of simvastatin, a lipid-regulating drug; irgarol, an antifouling biocide; and PBDE-47, a brominated flame retardant, on the estuarine fish, Fundulus heteroclitus. Sublethal effects (changes in glutathione (GSH), lipid peroxidation (LPx), acetylcholinesterase (AChE), and cholesterol (CHL) levels) and lethal effects (survival) were determined after individual exposure to the three compounds. There were no significant differences in GSH or CHL levels in fish exposed to any of the test compounds. LPx levels significantly decreased with increasing irgarol concentrations. AChE levels were significantly lower in fish exposed to simvastatin at the 1.25 mg/L concentration and significantly higher at the PBDE-47 concentration of 0.0125 mg/L. The LC50 values were 2.68, 3.22, and > 0.1 mg/L for simvastatin, irgarol and PBDE-47, respectively.
TL;DR: In this paper, the evolving state of practice for capturing coral reef ecosystem services within the natural resources damage assessment context, explore applications and limitations of current metrics, and suggest future directions that may increase the likelihood that NRDA metrics more fully address ecosystem services affected by an injury.
TL;DR: Characteristics of S. minima can generally overtop S. polyrhiza which, in turn, can form multiple layers within its mat may act to lessen competition between these species, thereby permitting their habitat sharing.
TL;DR: Light microscope observations of a haplosporidian in Diporeia spp.
Abstract: Light microscope observations of a haplosporidian in Diporeia spp. amphipods from Lakes Michigan and Huron, USA, found that the parasite spore is operculate and measures 8.1 microm in length and 6.1 microm in width. Round to amorphous sporocysts averaging 23.6 microm were present throughout hemal sinuses of infected amphipods. The number of developing spores within a sporocyst was highly variable and spores were observed in various stages of development. Electron microscopy revealed a lid over the operculum of developing spores and documented spores with fairly large and extensive ornamentation. This is the first haplosporidian reported in Diporeia spp. amphipods and only the second haplosporidian from freshwater species.
16 Dec 2009-Journal of Environmental Science and Health Part B-pesticides Food Contaminants and Agricultural Wastes
TL;DR: The results indicate that given the persistence and toxicity of endosulfan sulfate, future risk assessments should consider the toxicity potential of the parent compound as well as this degradation product, which would prove detrimental to grass shrimp or other similarly sensitive aquatic organisms.
Abstract: In this study, the toxicity of endosulfan sulfate, the primary degradation product of the insecticide endosulfan, was determined in three life stages of the grass shrimp (Palaemonetes pugio). After 96 h exposure to endosulfan sulfate, the grass shrimp adult LC50 was 0.86 microg/L (95% CI 0.56-1.31), the grass shrimp larvae LC50 was 1.64 microg/L (95% CI 1.09-2.47) and the grass shrimp embryo LC50 was 45.85 microg/L (95% CI 23.72-88.61 microg/L). This was compared to the previously published grass shrimp 96-h LC50s for endosulfan. The toxicity of the two compounds was similar for the grass shrimp life stages with adults more sensitive than larvae and embryos. The presence of sediment in 24h endosulfan sulfate-exposures raised LC50s for both adult and larval grass shrimp but not significantly. The USEPA expected environmental concentrations (EEC) for total endosulfan and endosulfan sulfate and the calculations of risk quotients (RQ) based on the more sensitive adult grass shrimp 96-h LC50 clearly show that environmental concentrations equal to acute EECs would prove detrimental to grass shrimp or other similarly sensitive aquatic organisms. These results indicate that given the persistence and toxicity of endosulfan sulfate, future risk assessments should consider the toxicity potential of the parent compound as well as this degradation product.
11 Oct 2009
TL;DR: It is concluded that employing designers with a human in the loop hill climbing interface can be a good overall solution for complex visual display designs in cases where a relatively simple parameterization is possible.
Abstract: Optimizing complex displays is difficult because there are many alternative ways of mapping the data to its graphical representation. In this paper we report on a study employing a method we call “interactive design space hill climbing”. This involves first parameterizing the mapping from data to display. Next, using an interactive interface, designers and domain experts attempt to construct good designs by interactively changing parameters settings based on a random starting point. In our study we applied this method to the problem of 2D flow visualization: users adjusted 22 different sliders under each of 11 mappings to try to create an optimal display of a flow field from an ocean flow model. The results suggest that some variables should have settings in a narrow range. We conclude that employing designers with a human in the loop hill climbing interface can be a good overall solution for complex visual display designs in cases where a relatively simple parameterization is possible.
TL;DR: In this article, a historical comparison of land use change and fecal coliform bacterial densities on Murrells Inlet (MI) (urbanized site) (n = 2026 samples) and North Inlet(NI), both bar-built estuaries located on the northern coast of South Carolina south of Myrtle Beach.
Abstract: Urbanization poses a particular threat to the coastal areas of the southeastern United States where uplands surrounding wetlands are still relatively undeveloped compared with other regions. Predictive models, which would correlate information on land use change and development, would be useful so that downgrades in water quality can be predicted before they occur to allow effective land management decisions to be made. The approach used for this study involved a historical comparison of land use change and fecal coliform bacterial densities on Murrells Inlet (MI) (urbanized site) (n = 2026 samples) and North Inlet (NI) (pristine site) (n =1656 samples), both bar-built estuaries located on the northern coast of South Carolina south of Myrtle Beach. The microbiological and water quality data used in this research covered the period of 1967–1995 and the following parameters were used: date of sampling, most probable number (MPN) of fecal coliform bacteria, salinity, rainfall and water temperature. ...
01 Oct 2009
TL;DR: As the NOAA IOOS Program continues to support the development and enhancement of a national HF radar data management and distribution system, new capabilities are developed and implemented by Scripps prior to national deployment, allowing for the system to evolve in a build-test-build environment, yet retain pre-operational status.
Abstract: One of the primary efforts for the NOAA Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS®) Program office is the development of a national high frequency radar (HFR) network for measuring ocean surface currents throughout the coastal United States. After experiencing rapid growth for several years, the number of HF radars deployed in the United States is now approximately 100 with modest annual growth. NOAA IOOS has funded the development and deployment of a trio of redundant data servers located at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, Rutgers University and the NOAA National Data Buoy Center that deliver data files in standard format (netCDF) and are Climate and Forecast (CF) metadata conventions-compliant. In keeping with the IOOS intent to deliver data in standardized ways that allow for interoperability and ease of access, NDBC delivers the HF radar data via Web Coverage Services (WCS). As the NOAA IOOS Program continues to support the development and enhancement of a national HF radar data management and distribution system, new capabilities are developed and implemented by Scripps prior to national deployment, allowing for the system to evolve in a build-test-build environment, yet retain pre-operational status. Numerous success stories over the past several years in the application of HF radar-derived surface currents to real-world problems have spurred the creation of a plan, published September 2009, to build a comprehensive national ocean surface current mapping system based on HF radar. The success stories and the scope of the national plan will be discussed.
TL;DR: Mycorrhizal Fungi (Mississippi) Melissa Pratt-Zossoungbo and Patrick D. Biber (University of Southern Mississippi, Gulf Coast Research Laboratory, 703 E Beach Dr, Ocean Springs, MS 39564, 228/740-8402, patrick.biber@usm.edu)
Abstract: Mycorrhizal Fungi (Mississippi) Melissa Pratt-Zossoungbo (NOAA National Ocean Service, Policy, Planning and Analysis Division, MBO, RM 13349, 1305 East-West Hwy, Silver Spring, MD 20910, 301/713-3070 x138, melissa.pratt-zossoungbo@noaa.gov) and Patrick D. Biber (University of Southern Mississippi, Gulf Coast Research Laboratory, 703 E Beach Dr, Ocean Springs, MS 39564, 228/740-8402, patrick.biber@usm.edu)
01 Jan 2009
TL;DR: In this article, the authors describe an approach utilizing acoustic and Iridium satellite links to report in real-time wave and current data using an ocean bottom instrumentation platform and a U.S. Coast Guard aid-to-navigation buoy.
Abstract: The U.S. National Ocean Service (NOS) of NOAA maintains and operates a Physical Oceanography Real Time System (PORTS®) in the Nation’s major ports, harbors and bays. The traditional method of obtaining real-time data from bottom mounted instruments is via underwater cable link. However, this is vulnerable to damage and costly to install and maintain. This paper describes an approach utilizing acoustic and Iridium satellite links to report in real-time wave and current data. The system consists of an ocean bottom instrumentation platform and a U.S. Coast Guard Aid-to-Navigation buoy for data relay. The bottom platform contains a Nortek 1 MHz Acoustic Wave and Current profiler (AWAC) with an integrated Nortek Internal Processor (NIP), a LinkQuest omni-directional UWM2000H underwater acoustic transmitting modem, an ORE acoustic release-based recovery component, and a Teledyne-Benthos UAT-376/EL acoustic transponder. The surface buoy supports an omni-directional UWM2000H receiving modem, an Iridium antenna, and an electronic box containing an Iridium modem, a controller, battery packs, and temperature and voltage sensors. The AWAC measures current profiles along the vertical water column at 30-minute intervals and surface waves at hourly intervals. The NIP processes a set of user selected wave and current parameters and sends these data to the controller on the surface buoy through acoustic modems. The data are then transmitted via Iridium satellite to remote offices in real-time. Sample measurement results and reference data from a near-by Datawell’s Waverider directional wave buoy are presented. The Waverider is operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and Scripps Institution of Oceanography (SIO). Several unique system design features and interesting wave phenomenon observed at the measurement site are discussed. The goal of this project is to demonstrate the performance of AWAC, NIP, shallow water acoustic modems, and Iridium satellite in real-time data telemetry.