Science Serving Florida’s Coast “Performance Counts” Annual Progress Report for 2004 April 2005 Technical Paper 145 This technical paper was supported by the National Sea Grant College Program of the U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, under Grant No. NA16RG-2195. For additional copies or information: Florida Sea Grant College Program University of Florida PO Box 110400 Gainesville, FL 32611-0400 352.392.5870 www.flseagrant.org TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. Introduction 2. Program Accomplishments and Benefits 3. Program Funding From All Sources 4. Institutions Involved 5. Projects Funded 6. Publications 7. Students 8. Program Awards 9. Outreach Activities 10. Self Evaluation 11. Advisory Process 1.0 INTRODUCTION The Florida Sea Grant College Program is committed to enhancing the practical use and conservation of coastal and marine resources for a sustainable economy and environment in a state whose coastline stretches for over 1,300 miles. 2004 represents the 34th year for Sea Grant in Florida. The program operates through a statewide, research, education and extension partnership of state and federal agencies, businesses and citizens. All eleven public universities, three private universities, and two private non-profit research laboratories constitute this virtual college without walls. The University of Florida serves as the host campus. Florida Sea Grant is one of 31 Sea Grant programs nationwide that together form the National Sea Grant College Program as authorized by federal legislation. It is the only university-based, statewide coastal research, education, extension/outreach and communications program in Florida. This annual progress report for 2004 is the seventh annual progress report submitted by Florida Sea Grant under the program evaluation procedures adopted during 1998 by the National Sea Grant College Program. This report covers the year 2004, but some historical data are included to provide baseline information for subsequent annual progress reports. Florida Sea Grant had nine different NOAA grants in effect during 2004. This annual report covers work completed and ongoing under all nine grants. Florida Sea Grant awards from NOAA activities during calendar year 2003. Number Keyword Identifier Start Date Current End Date NA16RG-2195 Omnibus Research, Extension, 02/01/02 05/31/06 Communications, Management NA16RG-2198 Oyster Decontamination 03/01/02 02/28/05 NOAA OAR-4170027 Coastal Storms Project #8 (E/T-10) 03/01/02 11/30/05 NA16RG-2558 NA16OC-2649 Coastal Data Server System 09/01/02 08/31/04 NA17RG-2992 South Florida Marine Ecosystem 09/01/02 01/31/07 Outreach E/T-9 Knauss Fellow E/ST-29 02/01/04 01/31/05 NA03OAR-4170035 Knauss Fellow E/ST-28 02/01/03 01/31/04 NO04nos4730008 E/T-14 Manatee 04/01/04 03/31/06 FC133C04SE0932 E/T-15 Case Studies 07/31/04 04/30/05 1.1 Every Florida Sea Grant activity and accomplishment reported on in this progress report satisfied three simple but tough criteria: 1) it was based on a strong rationale; 2) it demonstrated scientific or educational merit; and 3) it produced results that are clearly useful and applicable in industry, management or science. A number of core values allow Florida Sea Grant to deliver results based on these criteria: 1) Excellence; Research was funded on a competitive basis, with scientific merit as the most important criterion. Extension programs were based on reviewed faculty plans of work. Communications efforts use the latest technology to achieve maximum output, visibility and citizen receipt of our science-based information; 2) Participation; High value was placed on the involvement of a large number of participating institutions in research, education and extension programs. Graduate student involvement was high and a diverse male and female faculty was involved, from assistant to full professors; 3) Accountability; Both external and internal processes were used to measure a wide range of achievements. These included tracking the scientific publication output of faculty and students, understanding the contribution to society of scientific discovery, measuring the way citizens receiving educational programs changed their behavior, and determining the economic impact or level of new business activity resulting from a research project; 4) Connection with Users; A strong advisory process was used to define research priorities, to plan extension programs, and to measure the impact of programs. It was also used to build public and private support for Florida Sea Grant; 5) Partnerships; Faculty, students, and citizens all benefited from functioning in a partnership mode. Scientific results and education projects reached greater success levels and were implemented when partners, from agencies to businesses, provided financial support to an activity. The 2004 annual progress report in the context of Florida Sea Grant’s four-year cycle strategic plan, implementation plan and annual work plan. Year 2002 2003 2004 2005 Four-Year Strategic Plan Two-Year Implementation Plan Two-Year Implementation Plan Annual Work Annual Work Annual Work Annual Work Plan Plan Plan Plan Annual Progress Annual Progress Annual Progress Annual Progress Report of Report of Report of Report of Prior Year (2001) Prior Year (2002) Prior Year (2003) Prior Year (2004)1 1 Representation of this document on the timeline. 1.2 2.0 ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND BENEFITS Economic Leadership Goal 1: Create Products and Processes from Florida’s Coastal Resources Using Marine Biotechnology 1.1 A number of natural compounds from marine sources are now being used as anti-inflammatory agents in medicines and other products. Elisabethadione is a biosynthetic intermediate that leads to natural agents. The goal of this project is to develop a biotechnical production method of elisabethadione, which in nature comes from the sea whip. (Kerr/Lopez: R/LR-MB-14) The most significant accomplishment is the purification and sequencing of the elisabethatriene synthase (ELS). This is the first such purification from any marine organism. This is critical in the cloning aspects of this project and has provided us with important sequence data that is key for the cloning of a number of cyclase genes from marine gorgonians. This is one key step towards the overall goal of developing biotechnological production methods of marine natural products. A start- up company to utilize some of the results was in formation. 1.2 R-PCR is a quantitative molecular methodology that offers higher throughput potential from current types of analysis, providing results within hours, not days. The goal of the project is to develop real-time PCR for rapid, quantitative, cost-effective technology for enumeration of Vibrio spp. pathogens in oyster. The methods will be developed for practical applications in shellfish monitoring and for evaluation of post-harvest treatments. (Wright/Rodrick/Schneider: R/LR-MB- 15) The R-PCR assay that was developed provides the first description in the literature for V. vulnificus R-PCR detection and also the first description of direct assessment by R-PCR for contamination in oyster without the use of enrichment assays. The close collaboration with FDA should facilitate more rapid acceptance of this methodology by regulatory agencies. 1.3 Protection of marine surfaces against fouling organisms is a big business, but a difficult process to make environmentally friendly. These natural products will be characterized and tested for barnacle larvae settling inhibition, lethality, and crustacean chemoreceptor activities. These anti-fouling compounds will be tested in both laboratory and field settings. (Kem/ Soti: R/LR-MB-16) Hoplonemertine worms belonging to the genus Amphiporus were found to be a rich source of pyridyl alkaloids possessing antifouling and crustacean paralyzing activies. 10 different alkaloids were isolated during this project. Structures of some of these compounds have been elucidated. Several bipyridyl analogs were found that inhibit settlement of barnacle larvae to glass surfaces but which are not significantly toxic to barnacle larvae or adult crayfish. Electrophysiological assays with lobster walking legs demonstrated the existence of pyridyl receptors which respond to hoplonemertine pyridyls, with 2,2’-bipyridyl being less potent than 2,3’- bipyridyl. In contrast to the walking leg preparation, the spiny lobster antennular chemoreceptor preparation was not affected by these bipyridyls. This was disappointing since we had planned to isolate and culture the abundant antennular chemoreceptor neurons to develop a better neurochemical assay for active compounds. Several pyridyls displayed potent antisettlement activity but significantly less toxicity than the initial lead compounds. These include 4’-methyl-2,3’-bipyridyl, 4-methyl-2,3’-bipyridyl, 1,9- phenanthroline and nemertelline. Antisettlement activity and crustacean toxicity of sponge halitoxin, a mixture of pyridinium polymers of differing molecular sizes, varied with molecular 2.1 size: antisettlement activity of smaller polymers was more significant relative to their crustacean toxicity. We have selected as primary candidates for field tests of antifouling activity the two bipyridyls 2,3’-BP and 2,2’-BP, based on their high potencies, economical syntheses, and desirable characteristics as models for future development of related analogs. Initial laboratory tests of their release rates from experimental paints are now in progress. A patent application, “Materials and Methods for Inhibiting Fouling of Surfaces