Florida pompano (Trachinotus carolinus) are highly prized food and sport fish indigenous to coastal areas of the southeastern United States. A commercially valuable fishery has historically existed in the Gulf of Mexico and on the South Atlantic seaboard. Efforts to economically culture Florida pompano in a captive environment were only partially successful. Four experiments were performed to explore the physical and environmental requirements of Florida pompano and other closely related species in the Family (Carangidae): Experiment #1- Semi-natural spawning was induced with newly developed hormonal implants. to initiate and sustain semi-natural spawning in captive Florida pompano. Fish collected from the wild were induced to spawn naturally using the hormone luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone. Sexually mature male and female fish received ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (EVAC) implants containing either 25 µg/Kg LHRH-a (experimental), or placebo implants containing no LHRH-a (control). Spawning and natural fertilization commenced 1 d post implantation and continued through 9 d. A total of 202,700 eggs were collected. Overall mean fertilization success in the experimental groups was 44%. No spawning occurred in the control groups. Hatching success of all fertilized eggs was > 90%. Results indicate that effective spawning and natural fertilization can be initiated and maintained with continuous release LHRH-a implants. Experiment #2 - Different growout environments, compared the growth of juvenile Florida pompano cultured in three captive growout environments over a 95 day growout period. One of the experimental growout environments was a tall (height/diameter) polyethylene tank that had an upwelling current. Five (N=5) fish 19.0±0.65g were grown in each of the upwelling tanks (5 replicates). A second group of pompano were grown in net cages. Five (N=5) fish 20.8±0.56 g were grown in each of the circular net cages (5 replicates). A third treatment, standard circular, tangential-flow tanks (1,776 L)( 4 replicates), were stocked with (N=12) juvenile pompano 19.3±0.41g. Weekly sampling was done to assess any change in weight, and to facilitate tank and cage cleaning. A pelletized feed specifically formulated for Florida pompano was supplied to all fish at a 10% body mass/day ration. Juvenile Florida pompano in the upwelling environment displayed significantly greater growth (P Experiment #3 - An experimental diet specifically formulated for Florida pompano was compared to a standard pelletized trout chow (Purina). An experimental diet treatment was supplied to twelve (N=12) fish that weighed 19.3±0.41g (4 replicates), and were stocked into 1,776 L circular, tangential-flow tanks. The control treatment receiving trout chow (N=12) weighed 19.6±0.68g (4 replicates), were stocked into identically configured tanks. All groups were fed at a 10% body mass/day ration of either trout chow or experimental diet. The experimental period was 59 days. The groups of juvenile Florida pompano that received the experimental diet exhibited significantly better growth (P Experiment #4 - Two modes of feed application were tested on juvenile Florida pompano. An experimental group (N=10) 158±6.4g (4 replicates), were allowed to feed themselves by use of a demand feeder. A control treatment (N=10) 159±2.9g (4 replicates) were supplied with an equally divided daily feed ration at two preset times during the day to simulate hand feeding. Food application in the control group was made by a vibratory feeder. All groups were fed at a 6% body mass/day ration with Purina® Trout Chow. The Florida pompano were grown out in identical 1,776 L circular, tangential-flow tanks. After 79 days in culture, the experimental groups exhibited no significant difference in weight over the control groups (P>0.05). Several reoccurring problems were instrumental in changing food delivery pattems in the tanks with the demand feeding regime. Typically, the ten fish in the demand feeding tanks would repeatedly strike the demand bar (day or night) until all of the daily ration had been dispensed. Other problems including environmental interference (wind and rain activating the demand feeders), and mechanical failure (freshwater feeders in a marine environment) effected the demand feeders operation. Demand feeding may be an alternate feeding method for Florida pompano if environmental control is available, modifications can be made to improve the feeders in a marine environment, and the pool of fish being fed is sufficiently large enough to absorb almost continual feed application at the maximum rate of delivery possible from this type of feeder.

The objective of these studies was to produce monoclonal antibodies against P388Dl cells, a lymphocytic leukemia of murine origin, to evaluate the efficacy of immunotherapy in tumor bearing DBA/2 mice. Hybridomas producing anti-P388Dl MAbs were obtained by fusion between Sp2/0 myeloma and irrununized BALB/c spleen cells. Monoclonal antibodies were screened by enzyme linked immunoabsorbent and radioimmunoassays, and positive hybridomas were cloned and further subcloned by limiting dilution in fluid phase. Four subclones designated G10, C9, C7, and D11 showed significant binding to both solubilized and live P388Dl cells but not to U937, Ehrlich, Ependymoblastoma, or L1210 tumor cells, or normal DBA/2 kidney, liver, heart, spleen, and thymus cells. In complement dependent cytotoxicity assays, lysis of the P388Dl tumor cells was not observed. However, significant killing of P388Dl target cells was observed in antibody dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity assays using DBA/2 spleen effector cells. Two parameters, survival time and tumor volume were used to determine the efficacy of anti-P388Dl MAbs in irrununotherapy of tumor bearing DBA/2 mice. A significant prolongation of survival time and reduction of tumor size compared to untreated controls were observed in animals treated with MAbs G10 or C7. In mice treated with MAb C9 or a mixture of the antiP388Dl MAbs, a significant increase in survival time but no decrease in tumor size was observed. Mice injected with P388D1 tumor cells pretreated in vitro with the MAb mixture or MAb C7 survived longer than the untreated animals with no decrease in tumor size. This study indicates the possibility of using MAbs G10, C7, and P388Dl leukemia cells as a model system for studying the effi6acy of MAb immunotherapy and the mechanism(s) involved in tumor cell destruction in vivo.

A mathematical analysis of gastropod shell geometry is employed as a tool for examining the taxonomy and phylogenetic structure of a group of cryptic, sibling littorinid species, herein termed the Nodilittorina ziczac species-complex. The constituent members of the complex are Nodilittorina ziczac, N. lineata and N. lineolata. The species-complex was previously described by Borkowski and Borkowski (1969), but these authors overlooked ontogenetic changes in shell geometry, and the possibility of geometric variation in the complex's geographic range, which is Florida to Brazil. Populations were sampled at one site in Florida and two sites in St. Croix, U.S.V.I. Shells were examined using an application of Raup's (1966) description of shell geometry, which makes it possible to examine shell geometry in a combined ontogenetic and allometric approach. Of the three species, N. lineolata and N. lineata were found to differ in shell geometry between Florida and St. Croix, thus dispelling any hope of deriving a geometric signature for each species. The cause of this variation is believed to be morphological plasticity, rather than genetic variation or local selection for a particular genotype. There is, however, the possibility that N. lineolata is actually two separate sibling species, N. riisei and N. glaucocincta. This idea would then be supported by the geometric differences presented in this study. The study concludes that shell geometry is a limited descriptor of taxonomic identity, and bears dubious phylogenetic information at the specific level, particularly when the subjects belong to widely dispersing, panmictic populations. Moreover, it is absolutely necessary to utilize several analytical methods in order to gain any understanding of phylogenetic relationships. Shell geometry is, however, an important indicator of the interaction of genotype and environment at the population level, and can thus be used locally as a taxonomic discriminator.

No description available.

A wastewater treatment plant was converted for use as an aquaculture research facility. To compare the growth of hybrid tilapia in shallow and deep tanks, thirty sex-reversed hybrids of Oreochromis niloticus x Oreochromis aureus were stocked in three shallow tanks (1.47 m in diameter x 0.65 m in depth) and their growth was compared to 7,000 hybrids stocked in deep (8.5 m x 8.5 m x 4.0 m) tanks. Stocking density (1 fish/38L) was the same for all tanks. Winter growth in the small tanks ranged from 1.05 - 1.11 g/day compared to 0.802 - 0.844 g/day in the deep tanks. ANOVA's and Student-Newman-Keuls tests showed that the growth of the hybrids within the shallow tank replicates and deep tank replicates was not significantly different but there were significant differences between shallow arid deep tanks. When the temperature rapidly decreased to a low of 13°C and remained between15°C and 25°C during a winter cold snap, the rate of growth in all of the tanks decreased to 0.0 g/day. After three months, the fish were sorted into100 g groups and placed in separate shallow and deep tanks. The different sizes still grew at significantly different rates in the shallow and deep tanks. The low temperatures continued to be a major factor affecting growth, particular1y with the < 100g fish in the deep tanks, which did not grow for 2 months. Over feeding of the hybrids became difficult to avoid because of rapid changes in feeding behavior in the deep tanks due to temperature fluctuations. Consequently, the concentration of dissolved oxygen decreased and ammonia levels increased. The results of this study showed that fish growth in large, deep tanks lagged slightly behind that of more easily managed, small, shallow tanks, and that periods of cold weather result in cessation of growth. However, the study also showed that fish culture is possible in large tanks common to wastewater treatment facilities. Although the winter culture of tilapia was successful in these tanks, heating during colder periods would be required to maintain adequate growth rates.

Trends of increasing coastal eutrophication and atmospheric pCO2 require investigation to predict the combined effects on coral and reef condition and growth. Increases in nutrient concentrations have been observed over the past several decades in a number of reef systems, and it has been predicted that this will adversely affect coral growth rates. The species targeted by this research, Acropora cervicornis, is among the most important reef-builders in the Caribbean and has suffered widespread mortality in southern Florida. Approximately 192 branch tips were harvested from two local populations of A. cervicornis and maintained in the laboratory, where the growth rate was measured before, during, and after exposure to elevated levels of nitrate (N) (5 µM and 10 µM), phosphate (P) (2 µM and 4 µM), and/or pCO2 (CO2) (~700-800 µatm). During the control period, there was no significant difference in growth rate between the treatments, with a mean growth rate of 4.84 mg d-1. During Period 2, the first enrichment period, the largest decrease in growth rate was caused by the combined NPCO2 treatment (mean growth rate of 0.51 mg d-1). The least effect on growth rate was caused by the N treatment (mean growth rate of 4.39 mg d-1). During Period 3, the second enrichment period, the lowest growth rate was again found in the NPCO2 treatment tanks (mean growth rate of 0.03 mg d-1). The highest growth rate among the treatments was in the N treatment tanks (mean growth rate of 1.90 mg d-1), however there was no significant difference between the growth rates of the N, P, NP, CO2, NCO2, and PCO2 treated corals during this period. The mean growth rates in the Control tanks were 7.59 and 7.32 mg d-1 during Periods 2 and 3, respectively. During Period 4, the recovery period, the lowest growth rates were found in the combined NCO2 and PCO2 treatment tanks (mean growth rates of 1.00 and 1.02 mg d-1, respectively). The highest growth rate among the treatments was again observed in the N treatment tanks (mean growth rate of 2.75 mg d-1). The mean growth rate in the Control tanks was 7.40 mg d-1 during this period. The results of this study demonstrate that increased levels of nitrate, phosphate, and pCO2 cause statistically significant decreases in the growth rate of A. cervicornis. The effects of nitrate and phosphate appear to be concentration dependent, and the effect of pCO2 is greater than that of nutrification. Therefore, continued eutrophication and projected pCO2 increases can be expected to have negative impacts on the survival and reef building potential of this species.

High latitude reef communities consisting of typical Caribbean fauna of variable composition and density exist on four parallel ridges at varying depths along the Broward County (FL, USA) coast. At least two of these ridges, at 7-13m and 15-30m depth, are drowned early Holocene coral reefs of 5 ky and 7 ky uncorrected radiocarbon age, respectively. Previous work has shown that the present reef communities growing on these ridges can be detected and mapped using acoustic remote sensing and has suggested that different benthic assemblages may exist between each of these reefs. In this study, in situ community data was taken in four corridors on each reef using fifty-meter line-intercept transects. Multidimensional scaling analyses of the in situ community data show distinct differences in benthic community structure across several spatial gradients within the county. This clustering agrees well with an acoustic data set, taken in the same four corridors along the Broward County coast. Analysis of diversity statistics revealed that whereas species diversity (H’) was consistent throughout the county, species richness (d) and eveness (J’) increased along a north-south gradient. Total scleractinian cover was generally low in all areas (<6% mean cover), and also increased along a north-south gradient in the reef communities closest to shore (ridge complex communities). Percent scleractinian coral cover on all other reef communities (inner, middle, and outer reefs) was consistent throughout the county with Montastrea cavernosa being dominant over the M. annularis complex, which is the more typically dominant reef builder in Caribbean systems. Notably absent from the scleractinian fauna of this area was the major Caribbean reef-builder Acropora palmata. A rich alcyonacean fauna (12 genera) was present on all reefs in the county, and typically was the faunal group with highest cover (~20% mean cover countywide) and most important in terms of determining community structure. Although 2-year average water temperature never fell below 21 degrees C, which is within generally accepted limits for reef building, scleractinia were small in size and though not directly investigated, no observable evidence for late Holocene reef building exists. Habitat maps produced from this study show evidence for the unevenly distributed existence of at least six different community types within Broward County: Type 1: shallow, sponge-dominated community; Type 2: shallow, stony- and soft coral-dominated community; Type 3: shallow, zoanthid and soft coral-dominated community; Type 4: soft coral-dominated community; Type 5: zoanthid and macroalgae-dominated community; Type 6: Macroalgae, massive sponge, and soft coral-dominated community.

The pelagic longline fishery in the western Atlantic Ocean targeting swordfish (Xiphias gladius) and tunas (Thunnus spp.) historically has a high frequency of interactions with marine mammals, particularly pilot whales (Globicephala spp.) in the Mid-Atlantic Bight (MAB) region. Typical pelagic longline hooks used in the MAB are size 16/0 "strong" hooks that straighten at 250 lb of pull (113 kg), while alternative "weak" hooks straighten at 150 lb of pull (68 kg). Taking advantage of the size difference between large bycatch and relatively smaller target species, these "weak" hooks could be implemented as a bycatch reduction agent. To test this within the tuna fishery of the MAB, 21 sets were made using size 16/0 hooks, targeting yellow fin tuna (Thunnus albacares) and bigeye tuna (T. obesus) alternating strong and weak hooks. To test these hooks in a swordfish targeted area, nine sets were made using larger size 18/0 hooks within the Florida East Coast statistical area (FEC) and the Charleston Bump of the Southern Atlantic Bight statistical area (SAB) alternating strong and weak hooks. Size 18/0 strong hooks straighten at 350 lb (159 kg) of pull, while the weak straightens at 225 lb (102 kg). Results for the tuna targeted sets showed no significant reduction in total catch (a < 0.05) of any target species, with weak hooks having higher trends for catch per unit effort (CPUE) for both tuna and swordfish. The only species to show a significant difference in total catch between strong and weak 16/0 hooks was the pelagic stingray (Pterplatytrygon violacea), with more individuals caught by the strong hook. The 18/0 hook sets had similar catches for all species except the target species swordfish. Swordfish CPUE trended higher for the strong hook, while also having significantly higher total catches. Seven weak hooks were retrieved straightened at haul back; one of these hooks was observed being straightened by a pilot whale at 10m distance from the vessel.

A re-examination of the genera Leucothoe and Paraleucothoe through a literature review was performed. Specimens of a suspected invasive amphipod initially identified as Paraleucothoe flindersi collected from a host sponge Mycale sp. Gray, 1867, in Hawaiian coastal waters by D.G. Muir (Bishop Museum, Honolulu, Hawai’i) (Muir, 1997) were also examined for the purpose of their proper identification and to determine whether they are native or invasive to Hawai’i. Published research suggests that, L. novaehollandiae Haswell, 1880, L. brevidigitata Miers, 1884, and P. flindersi (Stebbing, 1888) appear to be the same species, although their exact taxonomic placement remains uncertain. Careful reexamination revealed each to be distinct, all differing from the Hawaiian species examined here. Detailed examination using both light and scanning electron microscopy and comparison with P. flindersi P. spinicarpus (Abildgaard, 1789), P. commensalis (Haswell, 1879 a), L. novaehollandiae, L. brevidigitata, and L. lihue Barnard, 1970, determined that the Hawaiian specimens represent a new undescribed species of Leucothoe.

Microbial attachment to contact lenses is utilized in this study as a model to examine microbial/substrate interactions. These interactions commonly occur on a biofilm, containing microbes and exopolymeric secretions (EPS). EPS commonly contains sugars for attachment. Silica hydrogel contact lenses were studied with relation to microbial attachment. Scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM, TEM) and Fourier Transform Infared Spectrometry (FTIR) were utilized to examine this mechanism. A novel method was developed to prepare lenses and attached microbial communities for SEM imaging. A common marine fixative was utilized with extended fixation times which resulted in fixation osmolarities that preserved the delicate lens polymers as well as the attached microbial communities. In addition, a 24 hemisphere shaped well assaylike tray was developed that aided in lens shape retention during dehydration. SEM analysis of P. aeruginosa EPS yielded information on its 3-dimentional morphology on the attached lens. TEM analysis using gold nanoparticles confirmed that active sites on EPS secreted for attachment were comprised mainly of highly supported structures on the periphery of the EPS, with strut like supports crossing the surface. FTIR analysis of the EPS revealed chemical signatures related to the nature of its bonds as spectral peaks. When heated to 34 °C and then cooled to 20 °C the EPS did not return to its original chemistry. Compared to some polymers, which retain “memory” and return to original chemistry and shape, the bacteria EPS appeared to denature to the point that major components of its molecular structure went into solution. These results have possible implication to the in vivo behavior of bacteria. Assessment of several Acanthamoeba species attachment success found that cysts were in generally more successful in attachment compared to trophozoite stages. Results indicate that in all species and experimental conditions, cyst forms of Acanthamoeba sps. were more successful at attachment then the trophozoite forms. Furthermore, there was a suggested differential pattern in attachment if pathogen and non-pathogen species are compared. The results suggest that in pathogen forms (between 1/2 and 12 hours after inoculation) attachment was greatest at 8 hours compared with non-pathogen species, which had lower success attachment at 8 hr, and higher relative success attachment at ½ and 12 hours. It was also found that one species in which pathogeniety is not known (FL 32) was intermediate in attachment success. These findings warrant further study of pathogen Acanthamoeba sps. in terms of attachment success.