RSMAS help with the lionfish invasion

February 17, 2014 ceiblogger

This week, the RSMAS group had a class on invasive species. As part of the class, team RSMAS got to go out with the lionfish researchers and help with spearing, dissecting, and filleting of fish.
RSMAS team
Megan Gleason said, “The spears were easy to use, and the lionfish were abundant. We got 14 of them!” Team RSMAS had the opportunity to dive and spear in an uncharted spot which was great.
It was alarming to see the amount of lionfish on a reef that had not been monitored, but it was also a cool experience having so many potential targets to spear!

2014-02-11 17.20.14
They got back to campus and began to dissect the fish in order to see what they had been eating. There were some baby crabs and shrimp in their stomachs; it was incredible that we were able to see them in their whole form. Then it was time to fillet the fish. Afterwards, the group reflected, “We are all looking forward to eating them and experimenting with ways they can be prepared. The cookbook we had the chance to look through gave us some good ideas.”

Research Programs, Sea turtles

Research Technician Project Update

February 13, 2014 ceiblogger

Meaghan Gary, Research Technician for the Turtle Research team, discusses her project:

We are currently conducting a study on the in-water thermal variation across a juvenile green turtle foraging ground and the thermal preferences of the juvenile green turtles utilizing this foraging ground. We have placed habitat temperature data loggers in sixteen different locations throughout our study site, Starved Creek, which is located on the west coast of Eleuthera. These temperature data loggers are called iButtons (Maxim Integrated Thermochron ® Temperature Data Loggers) and are programmed to record every hour so that we are able to account for tidal differences.

We are also in the process of attaching iButtons to juvenile green turtles in order to investigate their thermal preferences. The iButtons attached to green turtles will record a temperature every ten minutes due to their movement throughout the tidal creek. We hope to continue to attach more iButtons to green turtles throughout the spring and recapture as many as possible.

Educational Programs

Gap Year Week Two Update

February 11, 2014 ceiblogger

After mangrove ecology class and snorkel

Week two was very full as we began to get into the swing of things on campus. As always each day was new and exciting and there was never a dull moment.

Human ecology classes began this week where we were given a deeper understanding of how humans impact the environment. We were all very shocked about the average consumption of an American in a year. For example the average American will use 43,371 soda cans in a life time. The gap students then began presentations on environmental issues. Stef discussed overpopulation and Kaitlin presented on the dredging in Gladstone, Australia.

Continue reading →

Educational Programs, Visiting Scientists

University of Illinois’ Inaugural Visit!

February 10, 2014 ceiblogger

CEI launched into 2014 with a busy EP season. Amidst the many veteran programs was the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, with 8 students visiting for their inaugural trip to Eleuthera!

students learning snorkeling and transect techniques in boathouse cut prior to starting solo research — Students learning snorkeling and transect techniques in boathouse cut prior to starting solo research

Led by Dr. Cory Suski, with years of CEI research under his belt, students spent their first 3 days at CEI learning proper research techniques in various environments. While surveying patch reefs, executing mangrove transects, or seining creeks for live specimens, the students were developing their own research proposals for field research to occur later in the program. Dr. Jocelyn Curtis-Quick and Zach Zuckerman were instrumental in passing along effective sampling techniques to the students. Once equipped with methodology, 4 projects were launched, and the students were scattered throughout the Cape collecting data.

Students seining Rock Sound for bonefish and other flats fish with Zach

Among the topics studied were the impacts of take vs. no-take zones on lionfish presence and biodiversity, abiotic factors in various creeks in relation to the biodiversity of these zones, and anthropogenic impacts among various mangrove communities. A symposium was hosted on the final day of program, during which students presented their findings to the CEI community. Keep your eyes on U of I as these students return home and ready themselves for graduation in the spring – their dedication to science and research will undoubtedly take them far!

Students test out the Manta Tow during a search for aggregate grouper spawning site with Sustainable Fisheries

Visiting Scientists

Putting Puffers in the Lounge Chair – Personality, Stress, and the Checkered Puffer

February 7, 2014 ceiblogger

Do animals have personality? If so, how do we define and measure it? How would personality types affect an animal’s fitness?

Researchers define “animal personality” as structured differences in the behavior of individual animals across time and context. They have observed a variety of personalities in animals such as shyness and boldness, exploration and avoidance, and activity . These individual differences may affect how animals interact with each other and their environment.

Naomi Pleizier, an MSc. student from the Cooke Lab at Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada, returned to CEI this January to study the effects of short-term stress on the personality of checkered puffer fish (Sphoeroides testudineus). Living in the ever-changing mangrove ecosystem, checkered puffers thrive despite challenges such as large shifts in salinity and temperature. True to their name, puffers have also developed an unusual defense against potential predators – filling their bodies with air or water to puff up to a surprising size. Despite the resilience of these fish, additional stressors, such as climate change and the destruction of mangrove habitat, may affect their behavior (including personality) and health.

Naomi and her team from Carleton and CEI collected puffers from Page Creek and tested their behavior before, during, and after treating them with a stress hormone, cortisol. Behaviors tested included puffing, activity, and fright response. The puffers were returned to Page Creek and will be caught again in the few days to be sampled in order to measure the activity of their immune systems. With these results, the team will be able to determine how personality differs between puffers and how this personality, as well as immune function, is influenced by an increase in cortisol levels.

Educational Programs, Research Programs, Sea turtles, Sharks, Student Research

Exeter field course visits CEI

February 5, 2014 ceiblogger

Visiting CEI for the first time, 26 students and 4 professors from the University of Exeter, UK, completed a 12 day program during 6th- 17th January. As part of a field trip module, where students can choose to explore South Africa, Borneo, the Canary Island or The Bahamas, these final-year college students started off the New Year with an immersion into tropical marine ecosystems and conservation. Over the course of 12 days, students got hands-on lessons about the major ecosystems and habitats right on their doorstep here at Cape Eleuthera. What better way to learn about mangrove flats than snorkeling through the creek channels and peaking into the roots of red mangroves and seeing all sorts of juvenile fish species that would normally live in this type of habitat? The team also had a class on bonefishing in the Bahamas, reef fish identification and patch reef surveys.

Edd securing the head of a bluntnose sixgill Hexanchus griseus caught in 700 meters of water

The students spent time with the shark research team at CEI. Highlights included catching a smoothskin dogfish and a rare sighting of a recaptured bluntnose sixgill shark with the deepwater shark team; they also tagged several sea turtles! The group also visited Jacks Bay to survey seagrass and encountered numerous turtles and spotted eagle stingrays there.

The group also had the opportunity to explore Eleuthera and went down island to check out the most narrow place on the island, Glass Window Bridge. They also swam like royalty in the Queens Bath and paid a visit to the Rock Sound Ocean Hole. Over a BBQ on their last night, students and professors reflected on how anxious they were a year ago while planning for this trip and how fast it went by now it is over. Some students commenting that this trip had exceeded their expectations. Everyone in this group experienced something that they had never seen or done before, whether it be snorkeling, touching a shark or holding a turtle.

A Cuban dogfish Squalus cubensis immediately prior to release

The University of Exeter left CEI and The Island School satisfied.Their first field course to the Bahamas was a fun-filled, educational, and life-changing one. The professors of this group are now planning for another visit next year and more years to come, with more students! Thank you everyone that took part in working with this group. Your hard work is really appreciated!

Educational Programs, Lionfish, Research Programs, Sharks, Student Research, Sustainable Fisheries

MSSM presents on the effects of longline capture stress

January 31, 2014 ceiblogger

Shark research associate, Owen O'shea, with juvenile tiger shark caught on longline. — Shark research associate, Owen O’shea, with juvenile tiger shark caught on longline.

The Maine School of Science & Mathematics blessed us with their presence for the 4th year in a row here at the Cape Eleuthera Institute! Dr. Debbie Eustis-Grandy and Dr. Gregory Hamlin, both teachers from MSSM in Limestone, Maine, lead five brilliant boarding students through a two week research program with Cape Eleuthera Institute’s shark researchers- Edd Brooks, Owen O’shea, Ian Bouyoucos, Ollie Shipley, and Mackey Violich.

Students learning about the anatomy of the invasive lionfish with Alicia Hendrix, CEI's research technician for the sustainable fisheries program. — Students learning about the anatomy of the invasive lionfish with Alicia Hendrix, CEI’s research technician for the sustainable fisheries program.

Students were specifically looking at the effects of longline capture stress on the blood chemistry of Caribbean reef sharks & nurse sharks, focusing on glucose and lactate levels within the first 30 minutes of capture. Students worked alongside the shark crew in the field longlining for shark. Their first day in the field they caught a juvenile tiger shark with a total length of just 134 cms! This data will contribute to CEI’s shark longlining database and be used to research the potential effects commercial longline on shark species. Students analyzed blood chemistry data on Caribbean reef sharks and nurse sharks provided by the CEI’s long term database. This data was used to draw conclusions on the different stress response of species with various life history characteristics. Continue reading →

Educational Programs, Flats, Research Programs, SCUBA, Student Research

Spring Gap students are here!

January 29, 2014 ceiblogger

The Spring Gappers are on campus! Our first week was busy getting oriented to all the exciting opportunities that are waiting for us in the next two months.

While we’ve only started our Environmental Issues class we’ve already had so many opportunities to learn, attending Dr. Conrad Speed’s presentation on his work with sharks in western Australia as well as the presentations held by three soon-to-be departing researchers on their work with checkered puffers, bonefish, and personality in sharks and rays.

Team Gap learning to SCUBA dive with Ron

Aside from learning, we’re all training to compete in athletic events organized for the end of our semester. Two of us are training for a more traditional triathlon, with our first run-swim at 6:30 Wednesday morning. Not to be deterred, our very own Stef Tai is in training for the newly created “biathlon” (swimming and now, kayaking). Continue reading →

Educational Programs, Outreach, Plastics, Student Research

Plastics outreach with Preston H Albury school

January 28, 2014 ceiblogger

A PHA student searching for plastic debris

This past fall, CEI’s resident plastic researcher, Kristal Ambrose teamed up with local high school teacher Joanna Parker’s geography class to conduct two consecutive beach plastic surveys for their BGCSE course work, a national exam required for graduation. Their plastic lesson began when Kristal visited the high school to talk about plastic pollution and her research being done on the island. They were very receptive and interested in learning more about the issue.

The students surveyed two beaches in South Eleuthera and compared how debris levels varied between beaches. Thirty two students from grades 10, 11 and 12 at the Preston H Albury High School in Rock Sound ended their lesson on the beach to test the hypothesis for their project. The educational programs team assisted in this venture and helped to make it a success. Students were impacted by the amount of debris discovered on the beaches and are excited to conduct more surveys!

Lionfish, Research Programs, SCUBA, Visiting Scientists

Lionfish study focused on South Eleuthera’s patch reefs is accepted for publication!

January 27, 2014 ceiblogger

A photo of catching lionfish by REEF's Lad Akins — A photo of catching lionfish by REEF’s Lad Akins

Good news for the continuing battle against invasive lionfish – a study conducted at CEI in collaboration with Simon Fraser University and Reef Environmental Education Foundation (REEF), and headed by marine ecologist, Stephanie Green (now a postdoc at Oregon State University) was recently accepted by the Ecological Society of America. This 18 month study shows that by reducing lionfish populations below threshold levels, we can help protect native fish communities from predator-induced population declines at a local scale. Even though complete eradication of lionfish is virtually impossible, this finding gives researchers hope that removal efforts are making a difference. So, get out there…save the reef, eat a lionfish!

Check out the recent press about this study, http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2014-01/osu-wol012214.php

and read the full manuscript here, http://ir.library.oregonstate.edu/xmlui/handle/1957/45163