Transdisciplinary graduate education in marine resource science and management

In this article we consider the current educational needs for science and policy in marine resource management, and we propose a way to address them. The existing literature on cross-disciplinary education in response to pressing environmental problems is vast, particularly in conservation biology. However, actual changes in doctoral-level marine science programs lag behind this literature considerably. This is in part because of concerns about the time investment in cross-disciplinary education and about the job prospects offered by such programs. There is also a more fundamental divide between educational programs that focus on knowledge generation and those that focus on professional development, which can reinforce the gap in communication between scientists and marine resource managers. Ultimately, transdisciplinary graduate education programs need not only to bridge the divide between disciplines, but also between types of knowledge. Our proposed curriculum aligns well with these needs because it does not sacrifice depth for breadth, and it emphasizes collaboration and communication among diverse groups of students, in addition to development of their individual knowledge and skills.Keywords: experiential learning, transdisciplinary, professional skills, graduate educatio

First record of Ianiropsis cf. serricaudis in Maryland Coastal Bays, USA (Crustacea, Peracarida, Janiridae)

During monthly sampling of benthic invertebrates at 13 stations in the Maryland Coastal Bays (MCBs) from March to December 2012, a total of 29 individuals of Ianiropsis cf. serricaudis were collected. This species is being reported for the first time in MCBs. A detailed illustration and description of an adult male of I. cf. serricaudis from MCBs is presented. An illustrated key of males of Ianiropsis species belonging to the palpalis-group is also presented. The size of the largest male was 3.0 mm and that of the largest female was 2.5 mm. It is possible that I. cf. serricaudis was present in the MCBs, but overlooked during previous surveys of marine benthic invertebrates in the area because of its small body size and lack of taxonomic expertise

A new species of Apolochus (Crustacea, Amphipoda, Gammaridea, Amphilochidae) in Maryland coastal bays, USA with notes on its abundance and distribution

A new amphilochid amphipod, Apolochus cresti sp. n. is described from specimens collected in the shallow waters of Maryland coastal bays, Mid-Atlantic region, at depths from 1.7 to 2.1 m. The new species appears to be most closely related to the northeastern Atlantic species, A. neapolitanussensu Krapp-Schickel, 1982. Apolochus cresti sp. n. can be distinguished from A. neapolitanus by a combination of characters, including the shape of the lateral cephalic lobe, shape of the mandible molar process, relative length of mandible palp article 3, the carpal lobe length of gnathopod 2, and the lack of sub-marginal spines on antero-lateral surface of gnathopod 2. Spearman’s rank correlation analysis indicated a positive correlation between the abundance of A. cresti and the amount of macroalgae collected per station, bay, and month. Ovigerous females carrying eggs were present from March to May and in October, reaching their peak in May, although only ovigerous females carrying juveniles were found in May. Males were abundant in March and were collected also in May and October. A key for the separation of Apolochus species is presented

Carinacuma umesi, a new genus and species of bodotriid cumacean (Crustacea: Malacostraca: Peracarida) from shallow waters of the Maryland Coastal Bays, Mid-Atlantic region, USA

Carinacuma, a new bodotriid cumacean genus, is diagnosed to receive Spilocuma watlingi Omholt & Heard as its type species and C. umesi sp. nov., described from shallow waters (0.8 to 2.8 m) on the Mid-Atlantic coast of North America. Carinacuma gen. nov. has its closest affinities to the North American genera Spilocuma and Mancocuma, but can be distinguished from them and the other genera within the subfamily Vaunthompsoniinae by a combination of characters, including the presence of a dorsal carina or keel on pereonite 3 of the female, morphology of the antenna, absence of pleopods in the male, and the setation and segmentation of the uropods. Carinacuma umesi sp. nov., can be differentiated from its northern Gulf of Mexico cognate, C. watlingi comb. nov. by several characters, including: (1) maxilliped 3 carpus of female with inner margin bearing four to five simple setae, (2) uropod peduncle of female with inner margin bearing one sub-distal micro-serrate seta with single sub-terminal medial setule, (3) male antennule peduncle articles 1–2 sub-equal length, and (4) male antennule accessory flagellum slightly longer than basal article of main flagellum. A key to the five known males lacking pleopods within Vaunthompsoniinae is provided

Composition and Dynamics of Phytoplankton in the Coastal Bays of Maryland, USA, Revealed by Microscopic Counts and Diagnostic Pigments Analyses

Maryland Coastal Bays (MCBs) have undergone changes in water quality in the past two decades due to nutrient enrichment but the composition and dynamics of the phytoplankton community have not been adequately described. Microscopic counts and photosynthetic pigments of samples collected monthly in 2012 at selected sites in MCBs that differed with regard to the degree of anthropogenic impacts were examined. Sixty-three (63) phytoplankton genera were recorded, of which 40 species are being reported for the first time in the Bays. Among the dominant species were Dactyliosolen fragilissimus (Bacillariophyta), Paulinella ovalis (Cercozoa) and Cryptomonas sp. (Cryptophyta). Bloom densities of Heterocapsa rotundata (Miozoa), which previously had not been reported in the Bays, were observed bay-wide in December, particularly at the mouth of St. Martin River. Diatoms dominated (>40%) the phytoplankton community in winter and decreased in spring (<40%), while Cercozoa and microphytoflagellates (MPF) co-dominated in summer (July). From August to October, diatoms dominated with maximum contributions from an unidentified small (<10 µM) centric species and co-dominated the assemblage with cryptophytes in late fall (November). Canonical correspondence analysis indicated that diatoms were favored by high salinity and total dissolved phosphorus (TDP), cercozoans and chlorophytes by total dissolved nitrogen (TDN) and cryptophytes by dissolved organic carbon. The spatial and seasonal differences in the composition of phytoplankton species, coupled with the occurrence of potentially toxic species and bloom densities of H. rotundata suggest that important changes have occurred in the phytoplankton assemblage that likely have affected the food web of these eutrophic bays

The Seasonality of Fecal Coliform Bacteria Pollution and its Influence on Closures of Shellfish Harvesting Areas in Mississippi Sound

Runoff from agricultural lands and farm animal feedlots is one of the major sources of fecal coliforms in surface waters, and fecal coliform (FC) bacteria concentrations tend to vary with season because of seasonal variations in climatic factors. However, El Niño -Southern Oscillation (ENSO) events may affect the extent and patterns of seasonality in FC levels in coastal waters. Water quality monitoring data for shellfish management collected during El Niño (1990, 1992, 1997), and La Niña (1999, 2000) years were analyzed to evaluate the extent to which these events influenced Pearl River stage, and bacterial levels, water temperature, and salinity in the western part of Mississippi Sound. Models to predict FC levels in relation to various environmental factors were also developed. In 1990, 1992 and 1997, FC geometric mean counts peaked in late winter (January/February) reaching 120 MPN (February 1990), 165 MPN (January 1992), and 86 MPN (January 1997), and then decreased considerably during spring and summer (1.2 – 19 MPN). Thereafter, FC abundance increased slightly in fall and early winter (1.9 – 24 MPN). Fecal coliform abundance during the 2000 La Niña year was much lower (1.0 – 10.3 MPN) than in 1992 (1.2 – 165 MPN), and showed no seasonal pattern from January to August, perhaps due to the relative scarcity of rainfall in 2000. In 1995 (ENSO neutral year), peak geometric mean FC count (46 MPN) was lower than during El Niño years and occurred in early spring (March). The seasonal and between year variations in FC levels determined the number of days during which the conditionally approved shellfish growing area was opened for harvesting shellfish. For example, from January to April 1997, the area was not opened for shellfish harvesting, whereas in 2000, the number of days during which the area was opened ranged from 6 - 27 (January to April) to 24 - 26 (October to December). ENSO events thus influenced the extent and timing of the peak levels of fecal coliforms in Mississippi Sound. Models consisting of one or more of the variables: Pearl River stage, water temperature, and salinity were developed to predict FC concentrations in the Sound. The model parameter(s) explained 56 to 91% of the variations in FC counts. Management of shellfish in Mississippi Sound can be improved by utilizing information on the forecasted three to seven years occurrence of ENSO events. In addition, since Pearl River stage was the most important variable predicting FC concentration in the Sound, a study of the levels and sources of FC bacteria in the river, especially the middle and lower sections, is needed for developing a management plan for reducing FC bacteria pollution in the Sound

Spatial and Temporal Patterns of δ13C and δ15N of Suspended Particulate Organic Matter in Maryland Coastal Bays, USA

The suspended particulate organic matter (SPOM) in transitional waters such as the Maryland Coastal Bays (MCBs) is derived from allochthonous and autochthonous sources. Little is known, however, about the contribution of terrestrially derived organic matter to SPOM in the MCBs. The sources of SPOM in the MCBs were evaluated using stable isotope ratios of nitrogen (δ15N) and carbon (δ13C), and C/N molar ratios. The values of SPOM δ15N, δ13C and C/N ratios from samples collected seasonally (July 2014 to October 2017) at 13 sites ranged from −0.58 to 10.51‰, −26.85 to −20.33‰, and 1.67 to 11.36, respectively, indicating a mixture of terrestrial SPOM transported by tributaries, marine organic matter from phytoplankton, and sewage. SPOM δ13C levels less than −24‰, suggesting the dominance of terrestrially derived carbon, occurred mainly at sites close to the mouths of tributaries, and were less depleted at sites near the ocean. The mean value of SPOM δ13C was higher in October 2014 (−22.76‰) than in October 2015 (−24.65‰) and 2016 (−24.57‰) likely due to differences in river discharge. Much lower values (<4‰) of δ15N observed in February 2016 coincided with a high freshwater inflow that accompanied a major storm, indicating a strong influence of untreated sewage. Results from a two end-member mixing model suggest that on average, the SPOM in the MCBs is composed of 44% terrestrial materials with the highest percent contributions in October 2015 and 2016 (61%), and lowest (28%) in July 2015. The contribution of terrestrial materials to the SPOM was highest (58%) near the mouth of St. Martin River and lowest (25%) near the Ocean City inlet. SPOM composition and distribution in MCBs are, therefore, a function of land use, freshwater inflow, and water circulation that influence in situ phytoplankton production, and the transport and distribution of terrestrially derived materials

Analysis of Estrogenic Activity in Maryland Coastal Bays Using the MCF-7 Cell Proliferation Assay

Contaminants of Emerging Concern (CECs) with estrogenic or estrogenic-like activity have been increasingly detected in aquatic environments and have been an issue of global concern due to their potential negative effects on wildlife and human health. This study used the MCF-7 cell proliferation assay (E-Screen) to assess the estrogenic activity profiles in Maryland Coastal Bays (MCBs), a eutrophic system of estuaries impacted by human activities. Estrogenic activity was observed in all study sites tested. Water samples from MCBs increased MCF-7 cell proliferation above the negative control from 2.1-fold at site 8, located in Sinepuxent Bay close to the Ocean City Inlet, to 6.3-fold at site 6, located in Newport Bay. The proliferative effects of the sediment samples over the negative control ranged from 1.9-fold at the Assateague Island National Seashore site to 7.7-fold at the Public Landing site. Moreover, elevated cell proliferation (p < 0.05) was observed when cells were co-exposed with 17ß-Estradiol (E2), while reduction in cell proliferation was observed when cells were co-exposed with the antagonist ICI 182, 780 suggesting that cell proliferative effects were primarily mediated by the estrogen receptor (ER). These results suggest the occurrence of some estrogenic or hormonal-like compounds in the MCBs and are consistent with our previous findings based on vitellogenin analyses