WMILLIAM& ARY Volume 3, No. 2 Fall 2001 www.vims.edu VIIRGINIA NSTITUTE OF MS ARINE CIENCE SMSCHOOL OF ARINE CIENCE The

Current IssuesCrest in Coastal Ocean and Estuarine Science VIMS Named World Reference Laboratory for Shellfish Diseases The Virginia Institute of Marine by the Office International des the oyster diseases Science has been designated as the Epizooties (OIE), a Paris-based Dermo and MSX only world-wide reference laboratory international advisory organization on that continue to for two groups of pathogens infectious animal diseases. OIE is the cause tremendous (Perkinsus and Haplosporidium) that official arbiter of the World Trade mortality in oysters cause disease in shellfish all over the Organization for issues involving living in Chesapeake world. Dr. Eugene M. Burreson, VIMS animal products, including wild or Bay. Species of Director of Research and Advisory aquacultured marine animals. Haplosporidium Service, was named the Reference Species of Perkinsus and cause diseases in Expert. The designation was announced Haplosporidium are responsible for native and cultured abalone in Australia and New Zealand, VIMS Scientists Receive while species of Perkinsus cause 2001 Best Paper Award diseases in oysters VIMS scientists Dr. Eugene East Coast in the 1950s. The parasite and clams in Japan, Shellfish disease staff, left to right, Lisa Calvo Ragone, Nancy Burreson and Nancy Stokes and Dr. first appeared in the Chesapeake Bay Korea, France and Stokes, Rita Crockett, Dr. Gene Burreson, and Dr. Kimberly Reece. Carolyn Friedman, California Fish and in 1959. The work underscores the Spain and in Game, received the 2001 Best Paper potential dangers of improperly intro- cockles in New Zealand. While these and cause economic havoc in both Award from the American Fisheries ducing exotic marine organisms for diseases have no effect on humans, fisheries and aquaculture industries. they can decimate shellfish populations Society. The Society has a tradition of aquaculture or resource restoration. Continued on page 2 publishing important research on aquatic-resource issues. The Best Paper Award recognizes the high Virginia Institute of Marine Science Non Profit Organization quality of literature among aquatic School of Marine Science U.S. Postage Paid professionals. The paper, “Increased College of William and Mary Glou. Point, VA 23062 Virulence in an Introduced Pathogen: P.O. Box 1346 Permit Number 6 Haplosporidium nelsoni (MSX) in the Gloucester Point, Virginia 23062 Eastern Oyster Crassostrea virginica” was featured in the March issue of the ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED Journal of Aquatic Animal Health. The article detailed their work on the oyster pathogen responsible for the disease MSX that is prevalent in Chesapeake Bay oysters. The team developed DNA diagnostic tools that proved the parasite found in the Pacific oyster is the same parasite that has caused extensive and continuing mortality of Eastern oysters. The parasite does not cause significant mortality in Pacific oysters. Their work documented that the parasite was introduced to the Eastern oyster during importation of the Pacific oyster to the 2 The Crest Domestic Interest Grows in Cobia Culture The Crest By Mike Oesterling The second Vol. 3 No. 2 Fall 2001 After one full year of growth, the test conducted by first U.S.-spawned-and-raised cobia Kilduff was a (Rachycentron canadum) weighed head-to-head more than 8 pounds. This tremendous preference test growth rate has piqued domestic where panelists interest in its commercial culture. were asked to Numerous questions need to be choose the piece Dr. L. Donelson Wright answered before investors might be of cobia they liked Dean and Director willing to commit to cobia aquaculture. best. Each Virginia Institute of Marine Science Besides the obvious ones about pro- panelist was given School of Marine Science duction technology, an important two pieces of Editorial Board consideration is just how the cultured prepared cobia – Dr. Eugene Burreson product will compare to wild-harvested one cultured and Director of Research and cobia in the marketplace. To begin one wild. They VIMS faculty, staff, and students participated in the cobia taste Advisory Services answering this question, graduate were then asked testing. student Patrick Kilduff conducted two to indicate which Dr. William DuPaul evaluation tests using VIMS-cultured one they preferred, respond to other federal government. Scientists and Associate Director for cobia and wild-harvested Chesapeake product questions, and provide com- private entrepreneurs from Texas, Advisory Services Bay cobia. The first, a triangle test, ments. The panelists split almost Mississippi, South Carolina, and equally in their choices, indicating little Massachusetts have now teamed up Dr. William Reay had taste-testers attempt to identify the difference in the two products and a with VIMS scientists to develop the Manager, CBNERRVA odd sample out of three pieces of prepared cobia. Not designed to readily marketable cultured product. basic information necessary to fast- Page Hayhurst identify preference, the test identified The success of the cobia project track commercial cobia culture. Director for Development whether a noticeable taste difference served as a catalyst to bring together (NOTE: This article appears in the existed. Approximately two-thirds of other scientists interested in cobia Fall 2001 Marine Resource Bulletin Science Writer the panelists could identify the “differ- culture and resulted in a collaborative, under the title: Cultured Cobia Dr. David Malmquist ent” sample. 2-year research effort funded by the Satisfies Tastebuds.) Managing Editor Wanda W. Cohen VIMS Foundation Established Virginia Sea Grant The VIMS Foundation, a separate The Foundation’s mission is to petitive and able to produce cutting Harrison Bresee 501(c) 3 organization established in solicit private gifts and property for edge research, “ said Dean and Susan Haynes September, has received initial gifts of VIMS and administer and manage Director L. Donelson Wright. Sally Mills $530,000 from numerous donors. The these funds to support VIMS mission The Foundation Board members Tom Murray Foundation has also received pledges of research, education and advisory include: A. Marshall Acuff, Jr., Thomas Mike Oesterling for an additional $800,000 to be paid service. “The VIMS Foundation has a Blackburn, Arthur H. Bryant II, over the next three years. VIMS is unique opportunity to help VIMS Clifford A. Cutchins III, E, Morgan Dr. Carl Hershner planning an endowment campaign to achieve its goals —buying new re- Massey and Guilford Ware. “We are Center for Coastal Resources raise $10 million by 2007 to support search equipment, supporting outstand- confident that establishing the Founda- Management faculty, students and scientific equip- ing students and faculty —this support tion will increase support for VIMS Art Director ment and technology. ensures that VIMS will remain com- important work,” said Foundation Susan Stein President E. Morgan Massey.

VIMS Named World Reference Burreson, Dr. Kimberly Reece, and disease agents and to provide a Laboratory Ms. Nancy Stokes are being used diagnostic service for researchers continued from page 1 worldwide. around the world. OIE has been Waterfront News “This is a real honor, in recognition responsible for promoting and coordi- Vol. 8, No. 2 of the significant breakthroughs we nating research into the surveillance This work is the result of research supported OIE recruited VIMS for reference have made at VIMS in the diagnosis of and control of animal diseases through- in part by NOAA Office of Sea Grant, U.S. Department of Commerce, under grant laboratory status based on the these shellfish pathogens that occur out the world since 1924. No. NA56RG-0141 to the Virginia Graduate Institute’s long history of research on worldwide,” Burreson said. “It will also Serious diseases that should be Marine Science Consortium and the Perkinsus and Haplosporidium and mean some additional work, but we contained from accidental geographic Virginia Sea Grant College Program. because of current research and have a great team in shellfish pathology spread are designated “notifiable” by international collaboration on diagnosis and we are glad to be of service to the OIE. This designation can restrict the Chesapeake Bay of diseases caused by these organisms. international community.” export of animal products from a National Estuarine The shellfish pathology and histology Reference laboratories serve as an country that has the disease. Research Reserve skills of Burreson, Ms. Lisa Ragone advisory resource for the OIE and as Perkinsus and Haplosporidium are in Virginia Calvo and Ms. Rita Crockett are an identification resource for research- found worldwide and cause notifiable a fair Bay Spring widely recognized. Molecular diagnos- ers around the world. The labs are also diseases. “We are already receiving Vol. 11, No. 2 tic (DNA) tools for identifying these obligated to develop and standardize requests and samples from around the disease agents developed at VIMS by diagnostic protocols for relevant world,” Burreson said. The Crest 3 VIMS Environmental Scientists Spearheading New Research in USA In a recent issue of Nature Dr. recycled in this manner each year and addition, further attention to possible Rob Hale, Mark La Guardia, and other thus the practice may reintroduce organic contaminants present in land- colleagues at the Virginia Institute of BDEs to the environment. The lower applied ‘biosolids’ is merited.” Marine Science reported on their brominated BDEs bioaccumulate in A paper documenting high concen- recent work investigating BDEs wildlife and have begun to be detected trations of nonylphenols and related (brominated diphenyl ethers), a class in humans. Limited toxicity studies detergent-breakdown products in these of environmentally persistent organic have been conducted to date, mostly in same sludges, authored by La Guardia, pollutants. BDEs are used in producing Europe. Results suggest a possible Hale and coworkers, has also recently flame-retardant material. Currently, interaction with the endocrine system. been accepted in Environmental North America accounts for 98% of While BDEs have been a concern Science and Technology. These the world’s demand for BDEs. BDEs in Europe for several years and will be findings further indicate the need to are structurally related to PCBs and banned there in 2003, research in the fully examine the chemical constituents PBBs, which are no longer used in the U.S. is just beginning. According to of sludge and possible repercussions of U.S. Hale’s group has detected BDEs Hale, “Europeans have been particu- their land application. The papers have in fish, sediments, and sewage sludges. larly concerned over increasing been provided to the National Acad- They also detected these pollutants in concentrations of BDEs in human emy of Sciences review panel evaluat- high concentrations in “biosolids,” breast milk. We know about some of ing the current risk assessment under- Dr. Rob Hale collecting biosolid samples from sewage sludges used in agriculture, the effects of PCBs and PBBs. Since lying the regulations developed by the wastewater treatment plant. landscaping, and land reclamation. these compounds are related, we feel U.S. EPA pertaining to biosolids safety. This finding is particularly noteworthy more information on their sources, as millions of tons of sludge are effects, and fate are needed. In Dr. William Reay Named New VIMS Capital Campaign for Manager of the Chesapeake Bay Kauffman Aquaculture Center National Research Reserve VIMS recently announced the CBNERRVA. He has also served as Meets Its Goal appointment of Dr. William G. Reay, the Assistant Manager of CBNERRVA Research Assistant Professor, as and was appointed as Acting Manager In April, VIMS launched a capital Virginia Power. Twenty-seven individu- Manager of the Chesapeake Bay July 1, 2001 when Dr. Maurice Lynch campaign to match a $600,000 gift als, corporations, and foundations National Estuarine retired from the position. from Mr. and Mrs. Jack Kauffman to contributed to the campaign. Research Reserve in Dr. Reay will oversee a construct the Kauffman Aquaculture With these facilities at the Virginia (CBNERRVA). coordinated research, Center on the Topping Campus. Kauffman Aquaculture Center, VIMS CBNERRVA is one of monitoring, stewardship, By September, the Institute had will be uniquely positioned to lead the the 25 National Estuarine outreach education and met its challenge. The facility will be nation in the field of marine shellfish Research Reserves advisory program fo- the first building on the Topping aquaculture. Techniques developed at established through state- cused on, but not limited Campus. “The level of support we the Center will have a wide array of federal partnerships to, the estuarine habitats have received reflects the importance applications worldwide in shellfish and under the Coastal Zone managed by of this kind of research to the Chesa- finfish aquaculture. “The Kauffman’s Management Act. CBNERRVA. In addition, peake Bay,” said Jim Rogers, Chair- support provides an outstanding A 1989 graduate of he will coordinate the man of the Campaign. “This is an opportunity to advance research that VIMS/SMS, Dr. Reay activities of the excellent example of the kind of public/ has enormous ecological and economic was awarded his Ph.D. in CBNERRVA with the private partnership that can truly make importance not only in the Chesapeake 1992 from the Virginia Virginia Estuarine and a difference.” Gifts include leadership Bay but also for shellfish worldwide,” Polytechnic Institute and Dr. William Reay Coastal Research commitments from the Elis Olsson said Dr. Eugene Burreson, Director of State University where Reserve System, a state Memorial Foundation, Smurfit-Stone Research and Advisory Service at he worked as a Research Scientist in designated system of estuarine and Container Corporation, Tim Black- VIMS. the Department of Civil Engineering coastal protected areas. He is a wood, Weston Conley, and Dominion before joining the Institute in 1997 as a member of the Department of Research Coordinator with Coastal and Ocean Policy. Fourth Annual VIMS Auction Plans are underway for the VIMS Auction to be held on April 20, 2002. Auction Chair Carrie Garland said the event would benefit the VIMS Library again this year. Volunteers, VIMS faculty, staff, and students, and area merchants have worked together to make the VIMS auction a huge success in the past. “This is always such a fun, well-received event - I hope everyone will mark their calendars,” said Garland. Rendering of the proposed Kauffman Aquaculture Center in Middlesex County. 4 The Crest Summer Course Connects Scientists with Science Teachers By Vicki Clark management, and supported select For six days and five nights this Virginia Standards of Learning. summer, the dormitory at the VIMS Participants each developed two Eastern Shore Laboratory in teaching activities appropriate for their Wachapreague served as headquarters students back home. for 15 science educators as well as Daily schedules included field VIMS faculty and staff from the investigations on a variety of Eastern Gloucester Point campus. The teachers Shore habitats, such as intertidal came from middle schools and high mudflats, barrier-island beaches, and schools across Virginia to participate in tidal creeks. The class spent one a special course, “Environmental evening in the well-equipped computer Issues in Marine Science: Case Studies lab at the Eastern Shore Community from Virginia’s Eastern Shore.” The College in Melfa, exploring ways to use two-credit graduate course was the internet and other computer designed to increase the teachers’ technologies to teach selected marine marine science knowledge, introduce science topics. On July 4, the class them to VIMS research activities, and explored Onancock, Assateague Island, provide insight into some of the envi- and Chincoteague, and celebrated in town with a festive crowd enjoying the VIMS physical oceanographer, Dr. John Brubaker (center), demonstrates earth/moon ronmental issues facing Virginia’s interactions in creating high tides toward and away from the moon. coast. holiday fireworks. The course emphasized concepts Course funding was provided by in physical and chemical oceanography the Chesapeake Bay Restoration Fund, sory Program— provided program Nestlerode and educator Lisa as well as marine ecology and biology. Virginia Recreational Fishing Develop- instruction and coordination. Lectures, Lawrence provided instruction and Topics ran the gamut from tides to ment Fund, Virginia Sea Grant, and field investigations, and laboratory logistical support. barrier-island habitats to biodiversity. VIMS. A handful of scientists and activities were also provided by VIMS For more information on upcoming Lectures and lab tours provided staff— led by Dr. John Graves of the School of Marine Science faculty Mark professional development programs for overviews of ongoing research in VIMS Fisheries Department and by Luckenbach, Peter Van Veld, Michael teachers, contact the Marine Advisory shellfish aquaculture, non-indigenous Susan Haynes and Vicki Clark from Unger, Elizabeth Canuel, and John Program office at VIMS at species, toxicology, and fisheries the Virginia Sea Grant Marine Advi- Brubaker. Graduate student Janet 804-684-7170. Beset Near 68°S, 69°W . . . A recent Antarctic research cruise time the necessary so that if the ice floe started turned into an experience of a lifetime entire to crack, the scientists could jump onto for a team of VIMS students and landscape the basket and be lifted by a crane faculty. The cruise left Chile on changed. back aboard. Our group was lucky September 6 and arrived in Antarctica What had enough to acquire a sufficient number just a few hours before the attacks on been a nice of ice samples for analysis. We also the World Trade Center and Pentagon. flat plain of managed to acquire several water and Rumors of the events began filtering to ice and air samples while we were stuck. them within a few minutes, however, it snow was However, the ship’s exhaust contami- was evening before they really knew now a nated the snow around us making it what had happened because they jumbled, impossible to collect snow samples. I received email only twice a day. On ridged, was never worried about the situation, Sept. 14, they began work on the sea cracked we had an experienced captain and ice. The schedule called for each terrain. crew. Later, the ice pilot said he research group to have extended and Amazing thought we would not break free until repeated opportunities to sample at event, right December, I’m glad that didn’t hap- locations along a north-south transect Team Photo: VIMS POP Research before our pen.” of several hundred kilometers. The Stuck in the ice aboard the R/V Nataniel B. Palmer. eyes. It all Ph.D. student Shelby Walker, carefully constructed plan, however, took about first Antarctic cruise: never came to fruition. The R/V began to raft up over another. The 10 minutes. Kind of like being in an “Early in the cruise we watched Nathaniel B. Palmer was beset bridge radioed to get everyone off the earthquake. Fortunately the divers South, a documentary incorporating (stuck) in the ice pack from September ice, fast! People even dropped gear to were not in the water.” footage shot during Ernest Shakelton’s 24 until October 20! run aboard. While a couple of people Dr. Rebecca Dickhut, Chair, catastrophic Antarctic cruise early in Dr. Hugh Ducklow, Department were actually on the gangplank, an ice Department of Physical Sciences, first the 20th century. When I realized we of Biological Sciences, via email: floe began to lift it up off the ice! Antarctic cruise: were stuck in Marguerite Bay, one of “Today we had a dramatic demon- Gigantic ice ridges were heaving up “Early in the cruise as many as 25 my first thoughts was ‘at least our ship stration of ice dynamics. We were and coming in over the rails, onto the scientists were on the ice at one time. isn’t wooden.’ It’s one thing to be told moored in an ice floe with the gang- main deck, 15 feet above the water One ice station rapidly collapsed and you’re stuck in the ice, it’s another to plank down and several groups of line. The entire vessel shook and we nearly lost some costly equipment. see exactly what you’re up against. people out on the ice, 25 - 100 meters shuddered as the ice buckled against After that, four scientists at a time Pressure ridges on the ice surface look out from the vessel. Suddenly cracks the side. Everyone was back safe on were lowered, in a basket, over the like piles of snow; however, underwa- began to form, and one floe quickly board in less than 2 minutes, but in that bow of the vessel onto a floe. This was Continued on page 16 The Crest 5 New VIMS Researcher Studies Tiny Organisms that Play a Big Role By David Malmquist muda Atlantic Time-series Study, or she also earned her Ph.D. For new faculty member Dr. BATS. BATS is part of a large interdis- in Biology. She has a B.A. Deborah Steinberg, taking a position at ciplinary and international program in Aquatic Sciences from VIMS was a homecoming of sorts. whose purpose is to understand the the University of Califor- “I first became interested in role of the oceans in large-scale nia, Santa Barbara. oceanography during family clamming processes of global change. Much of Steinberg’s and crabbing trips to the Eastern Prior to Bermuda, Steinberg was a previous research has Shore,” says Steinberg, who grew up in post-doctoral researcher at the Univer- focused on zooplankton in Maryland. That interest started a sity of California, Santa Cruz, where the deep waters of the career in marine science that has taken open ocean. “One of the Copepod- The most abundant type of zooplankton in her from California to Antarctica, reasons I came to VIMS,” the world’s oceans. Bermuda, and most recently, back to says Steinberg, “was because I was interested in expanding Chesapeake Bay. predators. After feeding, they return to my horizons to study zooplankton in Steinberg, a biological oceanogra- the deeper, dark waters. These migrat- shallow coastal ecosystems as well.” pher, began at VIMS in January 2001 ing zooplankton play an important role She completed her first research cruise as a new member of the Biological in transporting organic matter and on the Bay in late September aboard Sciences Department. Her research nutrients to the deep sea. the R/V Ferrel. The goal of the cruise interests focus on how zooplankton Another research interest is the was to examine how current patterns community structure affects the flux of role that “marine snow” plays as a in the lower Bay affect the distribution organic material and the cycling of habitat and food source for plankton. of plankton. nutrients in the sea. Marine snow is organic detritus that is In Bermuda, Steinberg focused on “Our lab is involved in a number of visible to the naked eye. Because it is the vertical migration of zooplankton in projects with this theme,” says heavy enough to sink, marine snow the Sargasso Sea. Many zooplankton Steinberg. serves to transport organic material and fish that live in deep waters of the Steinberg came to VIMS from the from surface waters to the hungry ocean during the day migrate up to the Bermuda Biological Station for Re- organisms of the deep sea. Marine food-rich surface waters at night to search, where she had spent the snow also serves as a “community feed under the cloak of darkness, previous six years as a Research center” where a diverse suite of Dr. Deborah Steinberg which helps conceal them from visual Scientist and coordinator of the Ber- organisms, from tiny bacteria to copepods (“insect-like” plankton the size of a rice grain), live and feed. VIMS Welcomes New Students Steinberg ties her plankton re- search into carbon and nutrient cycles Twenty-one new graduate students average GRE and GRA scores for the Her advisor Dr. Walker Smith says, in the ocean. In the last decade one of arrived at VIMS in August. The class class are the highest of any entering “When I met Amy, I was very im- the main concerns of environmental includes members from across the class in the history of the School of pressed by her enthusiasm and felt she scientists has been to understand United States, China, and India. Nine Marine Science. “This is an outstand- would fit in great with my group. She is carbon cycles in the ocean and atmo- of the incoming class are Masters ing group of students that brings willing to do what is necessary to get sphere, due to increasing levels of students and 12 are seeking Ph.D. diverse interests and backgrounds to the job done.” atmospheric carbon dioxide and degrees. Dean of Graduate Studies, VIMS,” said Newman. Prospective students are respon- concern over global warming. Vertical Dr. Mike Newman, notes that the Among the entering students, sible for contacting faculty advisors at transport processes like zooplankton Andrew Walker, from Boston VIMS to match their own research migration and sinking of marine snow University, learned about the interests with faculty expertise and are an important part of the carbon SMS program while doing a research. “In a graduate research cycle. semester at Woods Hole. “As I program, not only are students compet- Steinberg enjoys going to sea, and began looking at graduate ing for slots for admission, but also for has participated on oceanographic schools, I quickly decided that specific faculty mentors,” explains cruises to the Antarctic Peninsula, VIMS offered the program that Newman. VIMS accepted only 16% of Monterey Bay, the subtropical Pacific, most interested me. I was also applicants for fall admission. the Sargasso Sea, and Chesapeake impressed by the close faculty- First year students are required to Bay. The research programs on these student interaction at VIMS. take and pass five core classes. Core cruises varied widely, including studies I’m really looking forward to courses are designed to provide a of Antarctic krill, marine snow, and my time here,” he said. broad base of knowledge as an under- blooms of gelatinous zooplankton. She From land-locked Kansas, pinning for interdisciplinary research. also has experience using submersibles Masters student Amy Shields The Core courses are Fundamentals and blue-water (open ocean) SCUBA has traveled extensively as an of Marine Science, Coastal and diving in her research. assistant scientist on the SSV Estuarine Processes, Issues and Steinberg is also actively involved Westward owned by the Investigations, Fundamentals of in educational programs at VIMS, as Woods Hole SEA Program. Statistical Methods and Data Analy- an instructor for Plankton Ecology Faculty expertise was impor- sis, and Fundamentals of Experimen- courses, graduate student advisor, and tant to Shields as she began tal Design and Sampling. First year VIMS students Amy Shields and as a mentor for high school students looking for a graduate program. Andrew Walker. attending the Governor’s School. 6 The Crest VIMS to Deploy First Buoy to Initiate Coastal Observing Program By David Malmquist The data The CBOS-II project promises Imagine life with no weather provided by the significant economic benefits for stations—no thermometers, barom- CBOS buoys Tidewater Virginia. A 1999 Congres- eters, wind gauges, or rain gauges. will also be sional report suggests that the ports of Farmers, flight controllers, commuters, fused with Hampton Roads and Baltimore, now tourists, event organizers, all who computer behind only New York and Los Ange- depend on weather data and forecasts models to help les in tonnage, will see doubled trade would be left to guess at nature’s predict the over the next 20 years. CBOS will whims. future state of provide for better planning of future An analogous situation now faces Bay waters. port development, and also allow for maritime interests in Hampton This will allow better tracking of any environmental Roads—an almost complete lack of modelers to effects. instruments to provide the sustained more readily According to VIMS Director Don real-time data needed for characteriz- test the models Wright, “CBOS-II, like the more ing or predicting the condition and and improve expansive SCOOP, will provide a multi- behavior of coastal waters. the accuracy of functional infrastructure in support of VIMS scientists plan to help their predic- the scientific community, the general remedy this shortfall by implementing a tions. Bay public, and students at all levels. Key system of instrumented buoys in the models can be features of CBOS-II are that access to lower Chesapeake Bay that can used to predict the data will be open to everyone in the likely path of an oil spill, coastal real-time and the observations will be measure winds, waves, currents, expected to be deployed in the lower erosion hazards, the location of a sustained for decades.” salinity, nutrients, water density, water York River in early January 2002. menhaden school, or even the chances CBOS will also provide a testing quality, and fish stocks. These buoys The planned system is termed for encountering jellyfish at a local ground for development of new marine will be connected to the Internet via CBOS-II, for Chesapeake Bay Ob- beach. observing technologies and is likely to telemetry and eventually by submerged serving System-Phase II. It will be part CBOS-II will also provide an attract new electronics and instrumen- fiber optic cable. This will allow high- of a larger regional Southeastern enhanced ability to forecast the likely tation industries to Hampton Roads. speed transmission of real-time data to Coastal Ocean Observing Program paths of toxic substances or dangerous Given the proposed scope of the Global any and all who need them, including (SCOOP). Both systems support the objects. This is particularly important Ocean Observing System, the market researchers, military and shipping international call for an integrated and given current concerns regarding for this type of environmental-monitor- concerns, watermen, sailors, surfers, sustained Global Ocean Observing homeland security. ing equipment is likely to be large. and beach-goers. The first mooring is System (GOOS). CHEF’S Symposium VIMS Student One of Five The Chefs’ Seafood Symposium, Michael Jahnke, of the Virginia Agri- an education program for professional cultural Seafood Research Center in chefs certified by the American Hampton, Shirley Estes, Executive Nationally to Receive Dr. Nancy Culinary Federation, was held at VIMS Director of the Va. Marine Products on October 15. Over 100 Virginia Board; Chef Joaquim Buchner, CEC, Foster Scholarship Award chefs, culinary students, educators and CMC, from Chevy Chase Club, Chevy The U.S. National Oceanic & most desirable oyster strain for use as representatives from seafood busi- Chase Maryland, and Chef Harry Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) broodstock in oyster reef restoration, nesses attended the event. Brockwell, CEC, from Oceanside recently awarded the newly established and second, to characterize water Guest presenters included Bob Caterers, Westlake Village, Dr. Nancy Foster quality changes associ- Fisher, VIMS seafood specialist; California. Scholarship to five ated with a restored outstanding graduate- oyster reef and the level researchers in the potential for reefs to fields of oceanography, create a more habitable marine biology, and environment for maritime archaeology. seagrasses. VIMS student Laurie NOAA received Ann Sorabella was one more than 500 applica- of the five recipients tions for the five awards. nationally. Sorabella is The award carries a currently pursuing a stipend of $16,800 per Master’s degree in year and up to $12,000 marine biology at VIMS. annually for tuition. “We Her research centers on Laurie Ann Sorabella received a large number estuarine and coastal of applications from a habitat restoration and on citizen pool of extremely well-qualified involvement in restoration initiatives. students. It is great to see such interest Her thesis, entitled “Oyster and in the first year of the program,” said seagrass interactions in restoration,” NOAA acting administrator, Scott Chef Harry Brockwell offers tips for cooking seafood to participants in the annual has two objectives— first, to define the Gudes. Chef’s Seafood Symposium. The Crest 7 Virginia Fisheries Trends

By Tom Murray The growing success of the scallop Relative Growth in Value of Virginia’s Fishery Landings Understandably, recent attention fishery is good news to Virginia’s on the traditional commercial fishing industry and economy. It is significant industry in Virginia has focused on the that the fishery has recently prospered, status of the oyster and blue crab in part, by virtue of a harvest manage- fisheries. Both are subject to exten- ment regime jointly fostered by sive evaluation and management Virginia’s scallop industry and govern- efforts to rebuild and stabilize stocks. ment, led by scientists at VIMS. The Those concerned with the well-being use of special-area management zones of Virginia’s seafood and fishing to optimize fishing grounds, along with industry often wonder if there is any improvements in harvest-gear effi- “good news.” ciency, have combined to create this There are, indeed, positive indica- success story. tors of the status of commercial This stands in stark contrast to the fisheries in Virginia, important to the recent past. When Virginia first Commonwealth and nation, that entered the offshore sea scallop fishery perhaps somewhat mitigate the in a significant manner two decades Non-Scallop Landings prevailing view of continued declining ago, the prospect for failure was quite Sea Scallop Landings wild fisheries and a receding fishing clear. Based on overcapitalization— industry. which stemmed from over-harvesting First, how does Virginia compare during the 1970s— a once viable What the harvesting and unloading fleet had unloaded nearly half again as these days with other states in com- fishery was thought by many at the of this volume of seafood products many sea scallops in terms of value; mercial fisheries? time to be “about over.” means to Virginia (besides the obvious almost $40 million of scallop meats, As a measure of fishing activity Recent trends in the harvest of sea financial contribution of the catch to primarily in the Hampton Roads area. and ranking of major commercial scallops suggest a different prospect harvesters) is a welcome boost in During 1994, the economic contri- fishing ports, the Hampton Roads, for the future and an increasing economic activity for at least a part of butions of the scallop fishery ranked Virginia Area ranked 7th in the value of importance of this sector to the state. the state’s traditional seafood infra- third among all species landed in the catch landed among all U.S. ports, Preliminary data provided by the structure. Viewing the growth in Virginia (behind blue crabs and menha- according to recently summarized data Virginia Marine Resources Commis- scallop-related business since 1994 den). Given the significant increase in from NOAA Fisheries.1 Interestingly, sion indicate that last year Virginia provides a convenient timeline with poundage and continued strong scallop last year New Bedford, Massachusetts landed 81.8 million lbs. of fish and which to update some earlier economic prices, it is likely that sea scallops are landed the highest value of fishery shellfish valued at $89.1 million. impact estimates. currently the most important fishery in products among all U.S. ports. Bolster- Those totals included 9.4 million pounds Virginia’s Commercial Fishing Virginia, in terms of certain economic ing the commercial fishery values both of sea scallop meats valued at $39.8 Industry: “Its Economic Perfor- impact measures such as income.3 here and in Massachusetts were sea million, for an average dockside price mance and Contributions,” a 1994 Simply expanding the impact scallops – one of the “bright spots” in of $4.23 at the boat level. In total, study completed by VIMS economist figures from the 1994 study, it is an otherwise troubled commercial about 40% of the entire value of James Kirkley, used primary economic estimated that the direct economic fishing industry. Virginia’s wild-harvested seafood surveys and input/output modeling to impacts of the fishery in 2000 were 2 landings came from scallops. ascertain the business activity associ- $66 million in economic output and $43 ated with sea scallop harvesting, million in income generated. Estimat- processing, marketing, and distribution. ing the associated secondary (“indi- Growth in Virginia’s Sea Scallop Landings and Value 1994-2000 In fact, all of the state’s commercial rect”) economic impacts to firms fisheries were evaluated in that study, selling supplies and other inputs to the and it still offers considerable truth seafood businesses, and third-round about the current state of Virginia’s (“induced”) impacts from households wild fisheries. re-spending the income earned in the In the year studied (1994), industry direct and indirect sectors on other unloaded 6.1 million pounds of sea goods in Virginia, the total economic scallops in Virginia with an ex-vessel output arising from Virginia’s scallop value of $26.6 million. As indicated industry today exceeds $125 million. above, at the end of 2000, Virginia’s Finally, the expanded value and impact suggest that the earlier estimate of 1,900 employment equivalents stem- ming from the scallop industry is still a reasonable estimate. In view of this, 1 Fisheries of the U.S. 2000. U.S. Department of Commerce, NOAA, NMFS efforts to maximize the value of the 2 When including industrial fishery (menhaden) offshore fishery for the benefit of landings at Reedville, Virginia, the total harvest for 2000 was 448.6 million pounds worth $118.6 Virginia are to be considered good million ex vessel. NMFS. news. Scallop Meats Landed (Lbs.) 3 During 1994, blue crabs and industrial finfish (menhaden) were estimated to be the largest in Scallop Landed Value ($) terms of total economic output to the State. 8 The Crest Can Spray Dredging Help Save Local Marshes? Scientists at VIMS are investigat- disposing uncontaminated dredged scientists to ing the potential of spray dredging to material. Second, some of the study the provide new solutions to environmental Commonwealth’s tidal wetland re- changes and to management problems. Spray dredging sources are showing signs of stress investigate is a technique for disposing of materials due to rising sea levels. potential dredged from channel bottoms by Marshes must accrete or accumu- management spraying a thin layer of material over late material on their surface at a rate methods adjacent areas. The method was equal to the rise in sea level in order to designed to developed for use in the Louisiana sustain themselves. If material accu- preserve coastal wetlands. Removing material mulates too slowly, marshes are existing plant dredged from the canals to remote inundated by tides at increasing communities. disposal sites was always a problem frequency, until finally the vegetation Spray dredging until someone thought of mixing the can no longer survive. VIMS scientists is one of the material with a stream of water and reasoned that applying thin layers of leading meth- spraying it in a thin layer over wide dredged material might aid marshes in ods under areas next to the dredging project. keeping pace with sea-level rise, if it investigation. Spray dredging is a version of hydraulic dredging. Underwater sedi- The spray method of dredged could be done in a manner that did not The ments are cut loose by a rotating head on the dredge. The sediment is material disposal has always been destroy existing vegetation. experiments mixed with surrounding water and sucked into the dredge by a powerful prohibited in Virginia, where vegetated The Pamunkey River, just above are led by Dr. pump. The slurry is then forced, under great pressure, through a hose wetlands are protected under the West Point in the York River system, Carl Hershner, and nozzle, which can spray the mix up to 100 feet over adjacent areas. state’s tidal wetlands law. VIMS has some of the nation’s largest pristine Director of the scientists have been cautious about the tidal freshwater and low salinity Center for Coastal Resources Man- impacts of the disposal method on the potential impacts on existing wetlands, wetlands. These marshes are among agement at VIMS, and Mr. Troy Deal, vegetation and fauna of the marshes. but recently they have been motivated those in the mid-Atlantic showing the president of Aztec Development Scientists hope to determine to examine the technique more closely greatest potential impact from rising Company of Orlando, Florida. Aztec whether the spray-dredging technique for two reasons. First, there is always sea level. Private owners of these has refined the techniques necessary to can be used in Virginia as an environ- a need to find economical and environ- wetlands, led by Mr. Sture Olsson, produce a thin, even layer of material mentally acceptable method of mentally acceptable methods of have provided funding to enable VIMS over a broad band next to the dredge dredged-material disposal. They also site. hope to discover if the technique has Under the direction of VIMS promise as a beneficial use of dredged VIMS Researchers Are scientists, the dredge operators re- material to help marshes sustain them- moved sediments from the bottom of selves in the face of rising sea level. Domesticating the Wild Clam the Pamunkey River and a small Scientists expect to see the first channel in one of the marshes just evidence of effects next spring when Researchers at VIMS just began a experimentation which clams thrive upstream of West Point. The material the marsh vegetation begins to re- new experiment that may change the best in various environments and to was sprayed onto test plots, which grow. The experiments on the future of clam farming in Virginia. Dr. begin selective breeding to improve have been studied by researchers for Pamunkey marshes will extend over Mark Camara, Breeding Research them. the past year. The experiment will four years. Manager for the VIMS Aquaculture Dr. Camara began this experiment allow VIMS scientists to document the Genetics and Breeding Technology at the center’s clam hatchery at the Center at VIMS, led a team that Eastern Shore Laboratory in planted hundreds of thousands of clams Wachapreague with five of the most same time without requiring the “Clam farming is very new com- for monitoring from Mobjack Bay to common clam stocks purchased by replanting of those that haven’t pared to land-based agriculture,” the Eastern Shore in cooperation with Virginia growers and mated these five reached market size. Commercial Camara commented, “ and the clams commercial clam growers who are strains in all possible pair combinations, growers see greater returns when they being farmed have only been in the providing growing space and logistical resulting in 15 distinct genetic lines. can save the effort of replanting slow- hatchery for a few generations. This support. Camara explained that the The 15 lines of clams are being planted growing clams. can add difficulties in farming because purpose is to determine through genetic in areas of different salinity and will be The clams will also be monitored they really aren’t yet adapted for monitored for about for resistance to the recently discov- domestication.” two years to see ered clam disease QPX. QPX was Camara says to get stocks that which clams perform first observed in New Brunswick, perform well in different areas, “You best in each environ- Canada in the 1950s and has recently need to do more that just breed big ment. been detected farther south. The clams with big clams. There’s no such Camara will be parasite is common in parts of Massa- thing as a ‘super clam’ strain that will looking for clams chusetts, where some productive clam survive and grow under any condi- with high survival and growing areas had to be abandoned. It tions,” he says “You’ve got to tailor the fast, uniform growth. was first detected in Virginia waters in animals’ genetics to environmental The time spent 1996 by VIMS researchers. Last conditions, and that is a big part of our harvesting clams is summer the disease caused sufficient mission at the center. Right now, most greatly reduced when mortality to have an economic impact clam aquaculture takes place on the all the clams in a on Virginia clam growers for the first Eastern Shore. We’re planning to planted bed grow at a time. One Eastern Shore grower lost develop a number of strains that thrive uniform rate, allowing an entire crop to the disease. Finding in other areas and make aquaculture all clams to be clam strains resistant to QPX can help profitable in a wider range of environ- VIMS team planting clams at one of several research sites. harvested at the avoid such losses in the future. ments.” The Crest 9 Dean/Director Made Honorary Environmental Education for Fellow at University of Wales Special People By April Bahen portion of the in-class component. In Bangor On a sizzling July day, 31 stu- February, two teacher workshops were VIMS Dean and Director L. dents— 19 hearing impaired, 7 visually held to introduce the project. Each Donelson Wright was made an Honor- impaired, and 5 without disabilities— teacher received a Tidewater Virginia ary Fellow of the University of Wales from the summer camp at the Virginia Natural Resource Box. The box was Bangor. During the presentation, School for the Deaf, Blind, and created to be used in the classroom Professor John Simpson, of the Univer- Multidisabled in Hampton (VSDBMH) prior to and after visiting the field site sity of Wales, chronicled Wright’s came to York River State Park at York River State Park. It included career contributions to understanding (YRSP) for a totally new experience. four sets of natural manipulatives, a sediment-transport processes first in Students, teachers, group leaders, and video produced at YRSP on basic the Mississippi delta and later on the American Sign Language interpreters environmental information and con- Australian coast. Wright has also were embarking on the first environ- cepts in the Tidewater Virginia area, worked extensively throughout the mental education program designed and a resource guide with printed Mid-Atlantic Bight and Chesapeake specifically for visually and hearing- environmental information, raised line Bay as well as on the California coast Professor John Simpson and impaired students. drawings for the visually impaired, and and in the Yellow River delta in China. Dr. L. Donelson Wright. The program was developed by activities and themed questions to Simpson said Wright’s work “produced Chesapeake Bay National Estuarine focus the students’ learning on basic an enduring account of how sediment scientific publications which have Research Reserve in Virginia environmental facts and concepts. transport processes operate, an strongly influenced the science agenda (CBNERRVA) Assistant Education After discussions, VSDBMH account which is nowadays widely in his field.” Coordinator April Bahen and Manager decided their summer camp partici- quoted in oceanographic and geologic Wright was instrumental in estab- Dr. William Reay, and funded by the pants would attend the field excursion textbooks. Above all though, he is an lishing a collaborative relationship American Honda Foundation. The in July. All students seemed to enjoy outstanding scientist of international between the University of Wales, program was two-pronged, consisting the program, and the educators who repute who is rather unusual in having Bangor and the College of William and of an in-class and field-based portion. were surveyed at the end of the day successfully combined the traditional Mary. Supported by the Drapers The first order of business was to find said the program was worthwhile, safe, approaches of geology and physics in Company of London, there has been an teachers with whom CBNERRVA and the staff had wonderful attitudes studying the workings and effects of active exchange of faculty and stu- could consult on the development of towards the students. Lead teacher sediment transport. In these endeavors, dents between the two institutes for the the program. Two teachers from Rhea Dunlop even wrote to VIMS he has produced an impressive list of past several years. VSDBMH, Linda Ross, a teacher of after the program that students were the visually impaired, and Rhea Dunlop, bragging to their parents about what a teacher of the hearing impaired, were they had seen and done. Marine Trades Expo & contracted to help create a large Continued on page 10 Conference Coming Up By Tom Murray Sea Grant programs from all four Recreational marine businesses are states are participating this year. facing an increasing number of hurdles Created in 1966 as a partnership of in their efforts to succeed. Trials and university, government, and industry tribulations range from expanding laws leaders to focus on marine research and regulations, to taxation, finding and advisory services, the Sea Grant skilled workers, and waterfront devel- program is uniquely qualified to help conference organizers bring such opment pushing out traditional maritime Educator April Bahen with students and sign language interpreter. businesses. The marine trades asso- leaders to the meeting. This year’s seminar series will ciations of both North and South discussions covering marina and tance of Tom Murray, Marine Business focus on issues of importance to the Carolina have been trying to help their boatyard liability issues. There also Specialist at the College of William & development of the recreational marine members deal with these issues will be a session on current boating Mary. They expect the splendor of industry – including topics that link through an annual meeting. access, with emphasis on new pro- Charleston during the Christmas marine businesses with the broader This year, big changes are in store grams to educate the boating public, as season will provide an additional issues of coastal community develop- for what would have been the third well as dredging issues in marinas and attraction for attendees in what they ment and public access. The Coastal annual SC/NC Marine Trades Expo. navigable waterways. hope will prove to be an unparalleled Community & Waterfront Redevelop- To begin with, the Expo concept has “We will be discussing innovative event for the boating industry. ment session, besides including a panel been expanded to include marine new programs for the recreational The Westin Francis Marion Hotel, discussion, will feature a tour of businesses in Virginia and Georgia as marine industry,” explained South next to the Lightsey Conference Charleston’s municipal waterfront well as North and South Carolina. Carolina Marine Association (SCMA) Center, is the host hotel. For further developments and its Maritime Center. Reflecting broader regional focus, the director Jamie O’Brien. “The sessions information for exhibitors and partici- A reception that evening will be held at name is now the Southeastern Marine will benefit all in the industry and, pants, contact Jamie O’Brien, SCMA, the South Carolina Aquarium. Trades Expo and Conference, and the ultimately, the boating public.” O’Brien P.O. Box 12187, Charleston, SC 29422; Other planned sessions include event will draw industry and govern- and Nancy Schilling, past president of call 843-795-7857; or e-mail presentations from already successful ment participants from all four states to SCMA, are very proud of the program [email protected]. industry-training programs and legal Charleston, SC, December 11-13. they have put together with the assis- 10 The Crest It’s a Breve New World for Nitrogen Research at VIMS By David Malmquist help the plants extract or “fix” nitrogen it occurs in a dissolved organic form, thinking. They did so by adding a dose In recent years, blooms of harmful directly from the atmosphere. These within compounds such as urea and of heavy nitrogen isotopes to a sample algae have killed thousands of fish and plants play a key role in terrestrial amino acids. To date, researchers have of nitrogen gas, and then adding this raised public concern about the in- ecosystems by allowing vegetative mostly looked for forms of dissolved “labeled” nitrogen gas to seawater creasing number of such episodes growth in areas with nitrogen-poor inorganic nitrogen, such as ammonia containing colonies of Trichodesmium. along coastlines worldwide. soils. Farmers take advantage of this and nitrate, when trying to balance If specialized Trichodesmium cells do VIMS scientist Dr. Debbie Bronk ability when they alternate plantings of nitrogen budgets in the ocean. indeed fix nitrogen and share it with and colleagues are now working to corn, a heavy nitrogen feeder, with To test their hypothesis, Bronk and other cells, labeled nitrogen should better understand harmful algal blooms soybeans, a nitrogen-fixer that returns her colleagues have received a grant appear throughout the colony. by focusing on one of their key ingredi- nitrogen to the soil. from the National Science Foundation After sampling an unusually rich ents—the dissolved nitrogen that algae bloom of G. breve during their Septem- require for rampant growth. ber cruise, Bronk and Sanderson began Algal blooms are formed by investigating the relationship between aggregations of tiny marine plants that G. breve and Trichodesmium. They require nitrogen and other nutrients. added labeled nitrogen to a vial of Many scientists attribute the recent seawater containing a population of escalation in harmful algal blooms at Trichodesmium separated from a least in part to nutrient enrichment of surrounding population of G. breve by a coastal waters due to human activities semi-permeable membrane. The such as the application of nitrogen openings in this membrane are large fertilizers to fields and lawns. Rivers enough to allow passage of dissolved and the wind can transport nitrogen organic nitrogen, but too small for from these sources into shallow waters either organism. Thus any labeled offshore. nitrogen they detect in the tissues of G. But such thinking fails to fully breve will provide evidence that this explain the algal blooms that typically organism does indeed take up organic occur during fall in the eastern Gulf of nitrogen released by Trichodesmium. Mexico. The waters there are nitro- Early results from these tests confirm gen-poor, yet they frequently nurture their hypothesis. vast blooms of the toxic algae Bronk is also working with Craig Gymnodinium breve, or G. breve as Dr. Deborah Bronk (far right) collecting water samples aboard the R/V Walton Smith Tobias, a current post-doctoral student researchers call it. during a research cruise studying the fate of recently fixed nitrogen by Trichodesmium in at the Woods Hole Oceanographic These “red tides” threaten fishing the eastern Gulf of Mexico. Institution and VIMS graduate. Their and tourism along Florida’s west coast. goal is to further test the idea that The algae release a neurotoxin that can Trichodesmium is thought to play a to conduct a pair of research cruises dissolved organic nitrogen produced by kill fish, which then often float ashore similar role in nitrogen-poor tropical off Tampa Bay, Florida during each of the summertime Trichodesmium bloom and foul nearby beaches. Build-up of seas. Scientists suspect that specialized the next three years. The project is persists and is used by G. breve in the the toxin in shellfish such as oysters cells within a Trichodesmium colony part of the national ECOHAB (Ecol- fall. precludes their consumption by hu- extract atmospheric nitrogen dissolved ogy and Oceanography of Harmful The laboratory technique they use mans. There is also anecdotal evidence in seawater for their own growth and Algal Blooms) program, which was to test this link was developed by that the toxin can affect humans development. Then, scientists think, established by NSF and NOAA in Bronk. Applying this technique to directly. Swimmers exposed to the these cells release nitrogen-bearing response to the upward trend in measure the natural abundance of toxin have complained of itchy eyes compounds such as amino acids into harmful algal blooms along America’s organic nitrogen dissolved in seawater and scratchy throats, as have boaters, the surrounding water, to nurture other coasts. A July cruise is timed to collect has never been done before. It relies who could be exposed to the toxin if it cells in the colony. It is this dissolved samples of Trichodesmium during its on measuring the tell-tale ratio between enters the air when waves break. organic nitrogen, Bronk and her summer bloom. A September cruise is two naturally occurring nitrogen The luxuriant growth of nitrogen- colleagues believe, that leaks into the designed to sample G. breve. isotopes that results when loving algae in nitrogen-poor waters surrounding water and later stimulates This year the team took their first Trichodesmium fixes nitrogen. Detect- poses a fundamental question. Asks the growth of G. breve. pair of cruises. During the July cruise, ing nitrogen compounds within G. Bronk, “What’s fueling these guys?” The team’s hypothesis is based Bronk and her laboratory manager breve containing a similar ratio would The situation also provides a natural partly on the process of elimination, as Marta Sanderson began experiments to provide strong evidence of a link laboratory for studying the role that measurements show that inputs of test whether Trichodesmium colonies between the two organisms. nitrogen plays in marine food webs nitrogen from rivers and the air into fix nitrogen according to accepted elsewhere, including Chesapeake Bay. local waters fail to supply the quantities needed to support blooms of the extent Along with colleagues from the Environmental Education for observed. The team also points to the University of South Florida and Old Special People surrounding the YRSP Visitor’s Center timing of G. breve blooms along the Dominion University, Bronk is testing continued from page 9 is being produced and will be released the idea that the nitrogen required to west Florida coast. These occur in in September. An introductory guide to fuel G. breve in the Gulf of Mexico is early fall, shortly after Trichodesmium The project has been an overall developing environmental education supplied naturally by a colonial, nitro- undergoes its own annual summertime success. CBNERRVA plans to con- programs for the visually and hearing gen-fixing marine bacterium called bloom. tinue the field trips to YRSP this fall impaired is being completed to be Trichodesmium. Bronk suggests that previous and throughout the next year. For those distributed to the other National On land, bacteria within root research has overlooked the nitrogen who are visually impaired, an informa- Estuarine Research Reserves nodules on plants like peas and beans derived from Trichodesmium because tion audio tape of the trail immediately (NERRS) around the country. The Crest 11 “One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish” This famous line from Dr. Seuss fish population dynamics. The re- Sias Patterson, Inc., is about to take on a whole new search, which utilizes recent advances can dive to depths of meaning for a team of VIMS in sonar, underwater vehicles, and 1,000 ft and stay scientists and their colleagues who computer software, is being developed submerged up to 4 are combining high-resolution side- and tested by Drs. Patterson and Mann hours. scan sonar, sophisticated image and other scientists at VIMS, along With the support analysis, and robotics to identify and with colleagues at the College of and cooperation of count fish. William and Mary and partners in the the Virginia Marine New technology, which is being marine technology industry. Science Museum in developed and tested by Dr. Mark The team has mounted a sonar Virginia Beach, the Patterson, Dept. of Biological device on a miniature submarine called team is beginning Sciences, Dr. Roger Mann, Dept. of an AUV (Autonomous Underwater their work in the Tarpon (Megalops atlantica) at close range on 600 kHz Fisheries Science along with Dr. Vehicle). The sonar unit, which was Norfolk Canyon and side scan. Zia-ur Rahman, Dept. Computer developed by a team led by Marty Chesapeake Bay Science, William and Mary and Wilcox of Marine Sonic Technology aquariums located at VIMS graduate student Daniel Ltd. in Gloucester, resembles the “fish the museum by gathering images of To effectively manage commercial Doolittle promises to provide a more finders” used by anglers, but provides selected fish species. Next, they will and recreational fisheries, regulatory comprehensive and accurate view of images of such high resolution that the “train” a computer so that it can, when agencies need to know the populations shapes of fed a digital sonar image, quickly count of different fish species and how they individual fish and measure individual fish of selected vary through time. But accurately can be clearly species based on their shape. To ease counting fish isn’t easy. Traditional discerned. The the computer’s task, the team plans to methods, in which scientists count fish unit produces enhance the sonar images prior to caught in a net or on a line, only images by analysis with a state-of-the-art image- provide a “snapshot” of a population at emitting sound processing system developed by Dr. a specific time and place. Such data waves and Rahman. This includes adjusting the are less than ideal, particularly in recording the image so that the shape analysis is not estuaries like the Chesapeake Bay, echoes pro- confounded by the orientation of the where fish populations vary tremen- duced when the fish relative to the sonar unit. dously from day to day, year to year, waves reflect Marty Wilcox of Marine Sonic and place to place. off underwater Technology, Ltd, said, “We have If the team is successful, assess- objects. The observed single fish and schools of fish ment of fish stocks in the Chesapeake remotely while developing and using our high- Bay and other estuaries will never be controlled AUV, resolution sonar, but this is taking the the same, as a fleet of instrumented Autonomous Underwater Vehicle built by Sias-Patterson, Inc. developed by technology in a whole new direction. AUVs augment the use of trawl nets We are very excited to be a part of this and long lines, and help to meet the very innovative and ultimately very growing need for improved fisheries beneficial application of our technol- data. Kelley Watson Fellowship ogy.” The first Kelley Watson Fellowship fellowship because she exhibited all the was awarded to Wes Dowd, M.S. attributes I aspire to in my scientific student, Dept. of Fisheries Science. career,” says Dowd. Dowd is currently The fellowship, which developing plans to provides tuition and a conduct the bulk of his VIMS Annual Fund Board stipend, is awarded on thesis research during the basis of outstand- the summer and fall of Hosts Donor Day ing academic merit in 2002. He will be Donor Day at the Virginia Institute Annual Fund Board President John the first year core addressing the role of of Marine Science was a day of Dayton awarded the first VIMS courses. The fellow- the seasonal summer celebration and recognition. On Associates Scholarship to Lawrence ship was established in population of juvenile Saturday, September 22, VIMS Carpenter, a Ph.D. student. Carpenter the spring of 2001 in sandbar sharks in the Associates gathered in McHugh spent 20 years as a professional fire memory of Masters Chesapeake Bay Auditorium. Dean and Director L. fighter in London, before retiring after student Kelley ecosystem from a Donelson Wright welcomed the group an injury. After a year of intensive Watson. Fellow bioenergetic modeling and thanked them for their “continuing college science courses, he began his students and faculty approach. His thesis support and involvement.” He an- study of Marine Biology at the Univer- recognized in Kelley will focus on assessing nounced receipt of approximately $1.2 sity of Newcastle upon Tyne. In an unusual degree of the metabolic require- million in gifts from corporations, September of 1999, he came to VIMS enthusiasm and ments (via oxygen foundations, and individuals in FY 2001. as a Ph.D. student. Carpenter is commitment to marine Wes Dowd on longline cruise. consumption measure- “These gifts are critical to our mission especially interested in the study of science. “It is a great ments) and daily ration to support research, education, and deep-sea equipment. In February, he honor to have received a fellowship necessary to support observed growth advisory services in marine science,” will be in the Antarctic working with bearing Kelley’s name, yet simulta- rates and activity of this predator in the Wright said. underwater high-tech video production neously I am saddened to know that Bay region. and he hopes to investigate internal Kelley likely would have earned the waves in the Gulf of Maine in 2002. 12 The Crest VIMS Launches New Web Site The VIMS web site has quickly The new VIMS media center become the primary portal between (www.vims.edu/newsmedia/) provides VIMS and the outside world, with several features designed to help about 80,000 visits in an average publicize VIMS’ expertise for science month. Visitors include prospective writers and journalists. These include graduate students, VIMS scientists an on-line library of video clips and still checking e-mail from the field, citizens images that can be downloaded for use and students searching for information in newspapers, magazines, TV, or the about marine science, and journalists Internet. The News & Media pages seeking expert commentary on a also feature a constantly updated breaking news story. events calendar, an interactive list of To better meet the diverse needs content-area experts that helps journal- of this rapidly growing audience, VIMS ists quickly identify the right person to has developed and launched a new contact for an interview on a particular web site: www.vims.edu. The site is topic, and downloadable versions of designed to provide quick and easy recent and archived press releases, access to the wealth of on-line infor- newsletters, and program brochures. mation and resources VIMS has to The broader goals of the web offer. The team was led by VIMS web design process were to make the new editor David Malmquist and web VIMS web site faster to download, administrators. Particularly important to the site to a new server that will master Nancy Wilson, along with the easier to navigate, and more consistent the project’s success were the volun- increase the site’s reliability, ease research and marketing firm DIA Inc., from page to page. “User feedback teer efforts of the “websters” who maintenance, and allow for broadcast- and graphic artist Phillip Billups. shows that our goals have been met,” create and maintain web pages for quality streaming video. A primary goal of VIMS’ new web says web editor Malmquist. “The new specific administrative units. The Staff at DIA are helping to publi- site is to provide a “virtual media VIMS home page downloads about VIMS websters are Chris Bonzek cize the new web site through an center” that helps journalists keep three times faster than the old home (Fisheries Science), Greg Mears outreach program that includes mail- abreast of VIMS research and events. page, navigation is much cleaner, and (Environmental Sciences), Jesi Morgan ings of VIMS promotional materials to This project was funded through all the pages now share a similar ‘look (Biological Sciences), Katherine Small- science and policy journalists around private contributions. and feel’.” Davis (Sponsored Programs), Dave the U.S. These mailings are intended to DIA staff began the process by Because the VIMS web site Weiss (Center for Coastal Resources help journalists better appreciate VIMS interviewing each VIMS faculty increasingly serves as the primary Management), and Dave Wilcox. as a source for exciting research member. These in-depth interviews information gateway for each of the Advisory Services staff members Lee stories and content expertise, and to helped to clarify the current relation- Institutes’ departments and programs, Larkin, Lisa Lawrence, and Susan help distinguish VIMS from other local ship between VIMS scientists and the the creation of the new site required a Haynes were also instrumental in the institutions with similar acronyms or media, and to identify ways in which collaborative effort that incorporated effort. Kevin Kiley, of Information and names, such as VMRC, VMI, and the this relationship could be expanded and input from faculty, staff, students, and Technology Services, helped transfer Virginia Marine Science Museum. strengthened. Two Boats Added To Fleet Two especially useful vessels tributaries. This vessel center console, equipped with 150 have been added to the VIMS fleet can accommodate a horsepower outboard motor and dual recently, thanks to the generosity of team of five research- axle trailer. Named Frigate Bird due several very thoughtful donors. One ers for up to 5 days. to the bright red color of its hull, this boat is a sturdy 36-foot cabin cruiser This independence vessel is fully equipped with an array named Eagle’s Nest. The donors, Kay from shore will allow of state of the art electronics including and Jerry Ainsworth of Williamsburg them to continue their GPS navigation and the latest depth previously operated the Eagle’s Nest work on site, signifi- and fish finding instruments. Frigate as a passenger carrying vessel on the cantly decreasing Bird has an aluminum control tower James River. They currently operate travel time and ex- which affords the operator a vantage narrated, historical cruises as well as penses. point which puts eye level about 12 lunch and dinner cruises aboard the 65- The second vessel feet above the water. This enables foot Yorktown Lady from the donation is from the control of the boat by a researcher Waterman’s Museum pier on the York LaCour family of while looking down at fish swimming River. The Eagle’s Nest maintains a Charlottesville. This near by. This boat also contains an certificate of inspection from the U. S. gift honors the aerated live well, which will be benefi- Coast Guard for passenger carrying memory of V. Alfred cial for collecting and keeping species operations. VIMS scientists such as “Jack” Etheridge and alive during research. Dr. Carl Hershner plan to use the Marcia Berman, Harry Berquist, and Dr. Carl Hershner Bennett Joseph “BJ” These vessel donations are impor- Eagle’s Nest for intensive marsh aboard the Eagle’s Nest. LaCour, the deceased tant and valuable to VIMS research; studies and shoreline inventory work. fathers respectively of the generosity shown by their donors They will monitor the movement of marshes along the Potomac, James, Denise and W. Gregory LaCour. This will long be remembered and appreci- fish, sediment and nutrients through Rappahannock and Eastern Shore vessel is a 21-foot, fiberglass hulled ated. The Crest 13 Baby Billfish – Figuring Out Who’s Who An important part of any fishery Fortunately, VIMS fish geneticists ters that differed between management plan is the definition of have a whole new arsenal of molecular species, but had little variation “essential fish habitat.” For many tools to help with identifications. within a species. McDowell, coastal fishes there are specific Researchers in the VIMS Fisheries took on the project. After environments critical for spawning, Genetics Laboratory, under the direc- considerable work she found nurseries, feeding, etc., and these areas tion of Dr. John Graves, have been two gene regions that when need to be protected if the species are developing molecular markers to digested with specific restric- to remain at healthy levels. Do open identify the different billfishes. Ph.D. tion enzymes generated ocean fishes such as tunas and billfish student, Jan McDowell determined that different fragment patterns have specific essential habitats? the molecular techniques for identifying for each species of billfish. In the case of billfishes, we don’t billfishes would most likely work with The identification process know enough about their life histories, larval billfish. To pursue this research, doesn’t take that long. In two facts like where and when they spawn McDowell established collaboration to three days McDowell can or where their larvae and juveniles live, with graduate student, Stacy Luthy, at isolate the DNA, amplify the to define essential habitats. A major the Rosensteil School of Marine and gene region using the poly- impediment to studying the early life Atmospheric Sciences (RSMAS) of merase chain reaction (PCR), histories of billfish is that, although the University of Miami. Together, they digest the gene region with adult and juvenile billfish are very have adapted these molecular markers the appropriate enzymes, and distinctive, it is extremely difficult to for the identification of billfish larvae. separate the resulting frag- identify larvae to the species level (or: This definitive identification will give ments on a gel. Larval billfish.These larvae, all less than 1/2” long, were it is extremely difficult to tell them scientists information about when and McDowell realized that identified using species-specific molecular markers. apart). where the different species of billfish the molecular techniques for Top: Sailfish (Istiophorus platypterus) These bizarre forms (see figure) spawn. identifying billfishes would Middle: White Marlin (Tetrapturus albidus) don’t look at all like adults but they look Several years ago the VIMS probably work with larvae, Bottom: Blue Marlin (Makaira nigricans) a lot like each other, and most larval Fisheries Genetics lab received a grant but billfish larvae are few and fish biologists agree that the physical to develop molecular markers to far between in our waters off Virginia. gram within their Center for Sustain- characters (morphology) currently used identify the different billfishes. The Fortunately, colleagues at the RSMAS able Fisheries, and were collecting to distinguish among the species are objective was to find genetic charac- have been ramping up a billfish pro- Continued on page 15 suspect. Oyster Reefs Restoration: How Should Sanctuary Reefs Look? In January 1999 a group of aca- resources are limited, it is crabs on different size constructed demic and governments scientists from important to optimize its use reefs.” The group is also conducting around the Chesapeake Bay met at in restoration activities.” experiments on the reefs using hatch- VIMS’ Eastern Shore Laboratory to Wesson and his crew ery-produced oysters to test hypoth- outline a scientifically sound course for used approximately 2000 eses about growth and survival in restoring oyster populations in the Bay. cubic yards of oyster and relation to reef size. One of the major components of the clam shell in the construction Numbers of oysters in the lower restoration plan was the establishment of a replicated block design Bay are at an all time low and diseases of oyster reef sanctuaries. The plan that established four reef remain widespread. Nevertheless, in also identified the need for constructing bases of varying sizes. most of the lower part of the Bay, complex, 3-dimensional reef bases, Luckenbach and his oyster populations are slowly, but instead of low-relief shell plantings team, with support from the progressively becoming established on often used in harvest areas. Since Virginia Sea Grant Program, the sanctuary reefs. “Recovery of that time Dr. James Wesson, who Depositing oyster and clam shells to construct a are following the develop- viable oyster populations is not going to heads up the Virginia Marine Re- research reef. ment of the community of occur in a few years” notes sources Commission Oyster Repletion organisms, including oysters, Luckenbach, “it may take several Program, has been implementing the of reefs or their arrangement in the on the reefs. The researchers are decades of sustained effort to make plan, completing over 30-reef sanctu- landscape affect their development.” monitoring water quality, including this work.” The work being done by ary sites to date. During the summer of 2000, salinity, temperature and dissolved Luckenbach and others at the Eastern But just how much do we know Luckenbach in collaboration with oxygen and mapping the flow fields at Shore laboratory will provide much about how to restore oyster reef Wesson, designed and constructed a each site. The team used side-scan needed information for continuing habitat? According to Dr. Mark series of experimental reefs at four sonar to develop detailed, 3-dimen- restoration efforts. Of the community Luckenbach, Director of the VIMS sites in the lower Rappahannock River. sional maps of the reef field. “Through of organisms living on a reef sanctuary, Eastern Shore Laboratory, while there The sites were chosen because they the use of the detailed maps and Luckenbach says, “if we build it, they is much that we do know, there is historically contained oyster reefs. characterization of the flow fields will come, but how we build it and much that we still have to learn. “For “We designed the reefs so we around the reefs, we hope to learn manage it may determine if they stay.” instance, we’ve learned over the past could study the role reef architecture more about how to construct reef (Dr. Mark Luckenbach, Director few years that certain aspects of the and size may play in restoration bases and understand the factors that Eastern Shore Laboratory, recently architecture of the reefs, namely success,” said Luckenbach. “As we affect the development of reef commu- testified before the House Subcommit- vertical relief and interstitial space, are embark on large scale restoration nities,” said Luckenbach. “We are tee on Fisheries Conservation, Wildlife critical to the development of viable efforts, it is important for us to know especially interested in the numbers and Oceans on the status of oyster oyster populations,” said Luckenbach, what really works. Especially in light of and growth rates of oysters and the restoration efforts in Virginia.) “but we know little about how the size the fact that shell and other substrate abundance of transient finfish and blue 14 The Crest Many Perspectives, Many Questions on Non-Native Oysters Scientists, policy makers, industry oysters with three sets of chromo- species. Other attendees reresentatives and watermen from somes, making them effectively unable expressed opinions that Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey, to reproduce. These oysters, called having more filter Delaware and North Carolina gathered triploids, were provided to industry to feeders in the bay could in Williamsburg recently to share test their performance in aquaculture in only be good for improv- information and views on the potential Chesapeake Bay. This species was ing water quality and use of the non-native oyster Crass- chosen because early field tests had other environmental ostrea ariakensis for aquaculture. shown that they adapt well to the Bay conditions. Most scien- In 1996, VIMS was directed by the environment and are resistant to the tists agreed that addi- Virginia General Assembly to investi- diseases that have ravaged native tional information on the One year old C. ariakensis grown in VIMS hatchery. gate the potential for using a foreign populations. In the field, the oysters biology of the oyster is oyster both in aquaculture and for the exhibited rapid growth, reaching needed, but especially possible introduction of a self-sustain- market size of 3" in one year to before considering diploid introductions. could revert to diploids and begin ing fishery. Initial work was conducted eighteen months. Additional research at Questions were raised about the reproducing. There was general on Crassostrea gigas, an oyster that is VIMS has focused on developing potential for introducing unknown agreement that any introduction – even used extensively in aquaculture in other techniques to mass-produce triploid diseases. By using hatchery-reared triploid — carried the potential that a parts of the world. However, it did not (sterile) oysters that could be safely oysters, scientists can eliminate the self-sustaining population in the Bay perform well in Chesapeake Bay. grown in the wild without threatening threat of parasites and bacteria, but could occur at some time in the future. Subsequent work has shown that C. restoration efforts of the native C. because of a lack of bivalve mollusk “A lot of the research questions we ariakensis appears to thrive in the Bay virginica that are underway. “The goal cell lines, viruses are difficult to detect. need to address now relate to diploids, environment. Both species are found of our research has not been just Over time, a small percentage of the says VIMS Director of Research, Dr. throughout Asia. academic,” says Allen, “we have been triploid oysters begin to revert to their Eugene M. Burreson. “I think the For the past two years, the Virginia working to find ways to develop and natural diploid (two sets of chromo- research focus is going to shift.” Marine Resources Commission has sustain an oyster aquaculture industry somes) state. In time some individuals “The range of options available is allowed industry trials of sterile C. in Virginia.” may become capable of reproducing still all over the board, from abandoning ariakensis to be conducted in con- At the symposium, industry and although, in laboratory tests, this has the research on a promising new trolled aquaculture projects. VIMS watermen from both Virginia and not been observed. Even in a controlled species to its full fledged introduction to Aquaculture Breeding and Technology Maryland felt that dwindling harvests aquaculture situation, some animals the Bay. Triploid aquaculture still Center, directed by Dr. Stan Allen, should be a major consideration in could be scattered during storm events represents a moderate practical developed a technique for producing future plans for the use of a nonnative raising the likelihood that in time they course,” says Allen. An Evening For Honors Approximately 125 guests attended Dr. Linda Schaffner received the VIMS Environmental Scientists the Annual Maury Dinner on June 8, Thomas Jefferson Teaching Award 2001. Highlights of the evening in- from the College of William and Mary Author New Risk Assessment cluded acknowledging recent student and Dr. Elizabeth Canuel received the and faculty awards. Alumni Society Outstanding Faculty Book Coastal and Estuarine Dr. Jack Musick was named Award for 2000. During the evening, Outstanding Professor of the Year by Capt. Maury Werth presented the the State Council of Higher Education Mathew Fontaine Maury Award to Risk Assessment and also received an American Fisher- Krissa Murray, a Ph.D. student in the Risk assessment is the cornerstone and assessing these risks is essential to ies Society Award for his lifetime Department of Physical Sciences for of contemporary environmental sound environmental policy and contributions to fisheries management. her outstanding interdisciplinary work. protection. Despite recent progress, management,” says Newman who has implementation of the ecological authored other books on risk assess- risk assessment paradigm to coastal ment. The team drew examples from and estuarine ecosystems still lags their varied career experiences as well behind that for freshwater and terres- as from diverse North American and trial systems. VIMS faculty have now European ecosystems. This is the first developed a book to address this book to apply the NRC risk assessment imbalance. Written by Dr. Morris paradigm to coastal marine environ- Roberts, Chair, Department of Environ- ments. mental Sciences, Dr. Michael Newman is also the author of the Newman, Dean of Graduate Studies, well known and widely acclaimed and Associate Professor Robert Hale, “Fundamentals of Ecotoxicology,” the book discusses the development of which is considered to be the most fundamental concepts related to comprehensive textbook or working chemical risks from the molecular to reference in the new science of the landscape level. It also covers early toxicants in the environment. recognition and evaluation of exposure Both books are available through to new-use chemicals before they Lewis Publishers. Guests at the annual Maury Dinner. reach critical levels. “Understanding The Crest 15 A Variety of Suspension Feeders May Be Assisting Oysters in Filtering Bay Water A variety of suspension feeders in they can find. These organisms include habitat structure,” says the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries barnacles, sea anemones, sponges, Schaffner. may be filling an ecological niche that polychaetes (marine invertebrate To determine the was once occupied by oysters. A team worms), and small crustaceans that effectiveness of filtra- of scientists at the Virginia Institute of grow on shells, stones, boat hulls, or tion, Schaffner and her Marine Science is studying this possi- pier pilings. They feed on small, sus- students observed bility, and their results will increase pended particles in the water, including growth and feeding rates knowledge of water quality, food webs, plankton and decay from larger plants of major species, and habitat diversity, and the fate of some and animals. Oysters, which used to be will use this information pollutants in the Bay. Dr. Linda a dominant species in the Chesapeake, to calculate productivity Dr. Linda Schaffner (right) with students collecting Schaffner, Associate Professor, Dept. are now almost gone due to disease, and rates at which the suspension-feeding organisms for study. of Biological Sciences, and her stu- pollution, and fishing pressure. organisms filter water. dents are examining how the decrease Surveys completed by the VIMS The research group has been using tions will shed light on the role these in oysters is affecting the abundance team this past summer show that the Geographic Information Systems (GIS) species play in the evolving ecosystem. and productivity of other suspension Bay now supports dense communities to produce maps showing the popula- According to Schaffner “We may find feeders in the Bay. These animals of fast growing suspension feeders. tion distribution of suspension-feeder that these animals can be used to help include other bivalves and a diverse “These creatures span a range of communities, which can be compared us clean up the Bay ecosystem and, assemblage of “fouling” organisms that salinity similar to oysters and also to the present and historic oyster ultimately, assist in the restoration of grow attached to almost any substrate provide water filtration capacities and distribution patterns. These investiga- oyster and seagrass habitats.” Science and Economics? Clean Marina Program By Amanda Gammisch benefit from these improvements. The “How would improving the habitat first benefits come from direct use of Takes Off of the Chesapeake Bay benefit soci- the reefs (use values) with improved By Harrison Bresee committed to stewarding Virginia’s ety?” That is the question environmen- water quality, better sport fishing, The Virginia Clean Marina Pro- waterways. tal economist Dr. Rob Hicks, Dept. of improved commercial fishing, increased gram now has 19 pledging marinas. In recognition of their commitment, Coastal and Ocean Policy, is investigat- land values, and more enjoyable Five of those marinas have made a Virginia Clean Marina Designation ing in a new study. boating. Indirect benefits for those changes in their operations in order to Ceremony is planned this fall to While earlier research has focused who do not directly use the Bay (non- meet the criteria required to become publicly congratulate these exemplary on oyster disease and habitat, Hicks use values) are derived from knowing Virginia Clean Marinas: Hampton businesses. wants to expand this focus to help that oyster reefs exist and provide Public Piers in Downtown Hampton; This winter, look for the Virginia understand the link between an im- positive environmental services to the Ginney Point Marina in Cobbs Creek; Clean Marina display at the Richmond proved aquatic environment due to ecosystem (existence values). Finally, Salt Ponds Marina in Hampton; Severn Boat Show from February 14-17, the oyster reef restoration knowing that improved River Marina in Hayes; and Two Capital Boat Show in Chantilly from and the people who use environmental conditions Rivers Yacht Club in Williamsburg. March 7-10, and the Mid-Atlantic Boat or value the Bay. “In will make future use of Look for the Clean Marina Flag at Show in Virginia Beach in early theory, improved oyster the Bay more enjoyable these outstanding examples of marinas February. reefs will enhance the (should one choose to fishing experience, fish use it) offers option Baby Billfish habitat, nutrient filtering, values. continued from page 13 and water quality, ” says The project is larvae in the Florida Straits. Coinci- Hicks. “I want to get a estimated to take one several months the team identified dently, Luthy, was trying to find clearer understanding of year to complete and hundreds of larvae. Luthy is now trying morphological characters to identify these difficult-to-quantify will cover areas in to find diagnostic morphological larval billfish, a tough task if one values.” Virginia and Maryland. characters (which would be faster and doesn’t know who’s who at the start. Hicks feels that it is Working with Hicks are cheaper than the molecular analyses) So McDowell and Luthy began their much easier to demon- Dr. Rob Hicks at reef site in colleagues Tim Haab to identify the larvae, using her molecu- joint work. Luthy came to VIMS to strate the cost of envi- York River. from Ohio State Univer- larly identified “knowns” as reference. work in the lab with McDowell to ronmental regulations sity, and Doug Lipton She plans to use her identifications to identify billfish larvae using VIMS’ designed to insure the Bay’s health and Bill Goldsborough from University study the seasonal occurrence of molecular markers. Through trial and than to calculate the benefits from the of Maryland. Hicks explains that billfish larvae in a few areas. error, they developed a method that Bay’s environmental services. His “when assessing the merits of environ- In the long run, this information will allowed them to positively identify a ¼- project is designed to develop a mental programs- particularly oyster allow scientists to find out when and inch larva by using only the tissue from comprehensive inventory of value restoration- the focus has almost where the different species of billfish one of the larva’s eyeball— and the arising from the Bay’s oyster reefs, always been on the costs of the spawn – data that will help identify eye of a ¼-inch larva is pretty small! making it possible to compare costs programs because these are easy to essential fish habitat. That will be one This left the rest of the larva intact for and benefits. The research will also measure. Hopefully this study will piece of the puzzle, but there is still a analyses of morphological characters. help target specific areas where oyster provide information about the benefits lot that is not known about the early life As with the adult tissue samples, reefs can be placed. from a healthy oyster population in the history stages of billfish; for instance, independent genetic markers could be According to Hicks, there are Bay, allowing society to compare costs where they live, what they eat and how used to verify results. Over a period of several ways in which people will to something tangible.” fast they grow. 16 The Crest Calendar of Events —November— 11-13 VIMS Sea Grant Co-Sponsoring 2001 Marine Trades Expo and 16 York River Watershed Conference Conference, Charleston S.C. 16 Seminar Series - Dr. C. Wylie Poag “Meteorite Mayhem in Ole 13-14 Winter Botany Class Virginny” 13-14 Atlantic Intracoastal Waterways: Virginia Sea Grant Regional 30 Annual Holiday Sale - VIMS Gift Shop Economic Workshop Charleston, S.C. —December— —January 2002— 5-7 Coastal Program Workshop 11 Biotechnology Conference 8 Holiday Concert - Stephen Bennett 15 Mini-School of Marine Science, Washington, DC For more information call 804/684-7101 or 804/684-7011. Visit our website at: www.vims.edu Holiday Concert To Benefit Washington Office for W&M When the College of William & being placed on connecting students to Hargis Library Endowment Mary cut the ribbon and officially both national and international policy Guitarist, Stephen Bennett, will Bennett’s recordings include original opened the doors to its first-ever makers. Additionally, the office will kick off a series of concerts to support music along with interpretations of Washington DC Office, more than 200 support the academic endeavors of the the Hargis Library Endowment at some traditional tunes and other pieces. alumni, faculty, administrators, students, faculty, support the alumni who live, 8:00pm on Saturday, December 8th, When he’s not on the road, and dignitaries were on hand. The work, or travel in the Washington area, 2001, in the John L. McHugh Audito- Bennett is home in Virginia on the ribbon cutting was accompanied by serve as a platform for increased rium, VIMS. Chesapeake Bay where he lives with remarks from President Timothy J. student recruitment, and as a platform Bennett is respected both nation- VIMS’ own Linda Schaffner and their Sullivan ’66 who told the audience, for development initiatives. Wayland, ally and internationally for his son, Will. “The Washington Office will enable us who has worked for the U.S. Environ- fingerpicking and flatpicking guitar Concert Tickets are $22.00 (VIMS to bring the world to William and Mary mental Protection Agency for over styles and is known as “the quintessen- students - $17.00, Children 12 and and William and Mary to the world.” thirty years and most recently as their tial harp guitarist” (Walnut Valley under - $12.00). Dinner Tickets are The mission of the Washington Acting Assistant Administrator for the Occasional). $25.00 per person Office, as articulated by Director, Office of Prevention, Pesticides, and Last year his tour and limited to the Susan Wayland ’68, is first and fore- Toxic Substances, has a special interest schedule included first 100 reserva- most to support and enhance the in projects with an environmental 20 states, France, tions (dinner academic opportunities of the students component. and Italy. He tickets separate). at the university. A strong emphasis is also appeared For reservations recently on and information, in the pack ice—reminis- Garrison Keillor’s please call Lisa cent of Shakleton’s “A Prairie Home Phipps at (804) Endurance except the Companion.” 684-7099. food is better and there Stephen Bennett are videos to watch. The ship is about 60 miles Beset Near 68°S, 69°W..... being able to go up on the bridge and from the ice edge and continued from page 4 look at the beautiful scenery and watch wedged between Adelaide wildlife. A seal was born right near the and Alexander Islands ter photos taken by the krill research ship and we were able to watch it for with rafts of sea ice 65- divers showed the ice was from 30-60 five days! I also had a chance to spend feet deep around it.” feet thick in places. After seeing the time talking to other researchers from Ph.D. student Matt photos, I think everyone realized that all over the country! It was amazing Church, fourth trip to we weren’t going anywhere for a though, when the wind shifted direction Antarctica: Team Photo: VIMS POP Research while. For me, the worst part was and the ice loosened up. A storm “Perhaps the real Basket ready to retrieve scientists working on the ice. telling my parents that we were stuck moved in and at first the ice ridged up drawback was the in the ice at the bottom of the world. around the back of the ship from all the concern for safety. We were so unusually heavy snow cover and a There’s really not a good way to say pressure from the 40+ knot winds. But, isolated that no one (ship or plane) sustained period of northerly winds. that. “ by morning cracks had formed and would be able to reach us in less than a North winds tend to blow the ice floes Masters student Amy Chiuchiolo, leads had opened, and we were able to month.” in against the Peninsula, gradually first Antarctic cruise: cruise out in about a day. Incredible!” In over 10 years, the R/V NB packing them tighter and tighter, “I loved it! I was sad to leave From a commentator at McMurdo Palmer had never been unable to causing them to raft up over each when we finally broke free. While we Base Antarctica: “Out on the other side maneuver. The exact reasons are not other. This causes the formation of ice were stuck, we were still taking of the continent, the Nathaniel B. clear, but seem to have been a combi- ridges, which can extend up to 30-50 samples and doing lab work. I loved Palmer, U.S. research vessel is stuck nation of unusually thick ice, an feet below the surface.