Cruise Report C-252 - Sea Education Association · C252-037 12-May-14 1646 39°37.8' 72°18.5' Hudson Canyon Shelf X X X X 033 C252-038 13-May-14 0005 39°59.8' 72°26.9' Shelf, NY

1

Cruise Report C-252

SEA Semester: Marine Biodiversity & Conservation

Scientific Data Collected Aboard

SSV Corwith Cramer

San Juan, PR, USA – St. George’s, Bermuda – New York, NY, USA

14 April 2014 – 17 May 2014

Sea Education Association Woods Hole, Massachusetts

2

This document should be cited as: Siuda, ANS. 2014. Final report for S.E.A. cruise C252. Sea Education Association, Woods

Hole, MA 02540. www.sea.edu. To obtain unpublished data, contact the Chief Scientists or SEA data archivist: Data Archivist Sea Education Association PO Box 6 Woods Hole, MA 02543 Phone: 508-540-3954 Fax: 508-457-4673 E-mail: [email protected] Web: www.sea.edu

3

Table of Contents Program Participants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Table 1. Student Research Projects, C-252 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Data Description . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Figure 1. C-247 Cruise Track . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Table 2. Oceanographic Sampling Stations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Table 3. Surface Sampling Station Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Figure 2. Surface current direction and velocity. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Figure 3. Surface Temperature and Salinity. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Table 4. Neuston Net Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Table 5. Meter and 2-Meter Net Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Table 6. Sargassum Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Student Research Abstracts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

4

SEA Semester: Marine Biodiversity and Conservation Program Participants SSV Corwith Cramer, Cruise C-252 Faculty (Shore and Sea) Jason Quilter Captain Amy Siuda Chief Scientist & Program Director Faculty (Shore) John Jensen Ocean Policy Caleb McClennen (WCS) Ocean Policy Erik Zettler Oceanography Linda Amaral-Zettler (MBL) Oceanography Staff Jullie Jackson Chief Mate Chrissy Dykeman 1st Asst. Scientist & TA Jill Hughes Second Mate Laura Cooney 2nd Asst. Scientist Andrew Pape Third Mate Brittany Mauer 3rd Asst. Scientist Alex Myers Engineer Sam Lemonick Sailing Intern Lauren Heinen Steward Gabrielle Page Sailing Intern Becky Slattery Asst Steward Kelly Speare Sailing Intern Visitors William Mellvin Research Assistant (SEA) Robbie Smith Visiting Scientist (BAMZ) – Leg 1 Tony Hoffman UARV Pilot (Archimedes Aerospace) – Leg 1 Robert Barlow UARV Observer (Archimedes Aerospace) – Leg 1 Lars Abromeit Journalist (GEO Magazine) – Leg 1 Solvin Zankl Photographer (GEO Magazine) – Leg 1 Jennica Deely Marketing Coordinator (SEA) – Leg 2 Laura Mahoney Admissions Counselor (SEA) – Leg 2 Students Gracie Ballou University of Vermont Callie Bateson Rollins College Zack Bourgault University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth Torey Bowser University of Maine, Orono Mandy Camp Stetson University Connor Dixon Whitman College Luke Gervase SUNY ESF Manuel Nieves University of Puerto Rico, Humacao Brandon O’Brien Cornell University Chelan Pauly Whitman College Mika Tan Middlebury College Kiah Walker Williams College Allison Work Whitman College Victoria Young University of South Carolina

5

Introduction This cruise report provides a summary of scientific activities aboard the SSV Corwith Cramer during cruise C-252 (14 April – 17 May 2014). The over 1600 nm, five-week cruise served as the scientific data collection portion of the Sea Semester: Marine Biodiversity & Conservation program with Sea Education Association (SEA). Extensive oceanographic sampling was conducted for both student research projects (Table 1) and the ongoing SEA research program. Students measured biodiversity and examined physical, chemical, biological, and environmental oceanographic characteristics in accordance with their written proposals and presented their results in a final poster session and papers (available upon request from SEA). The brief summary of data contained in this report is not intended to represent final data interpretation and should not be excerpted or cited without written permission from SEA. Amy NS Siuda Chief Scientists, C-252

6

Table 1. Student research projects, C-252. Title Student Investigators Leptocephali biodiversity in the Sargasso Sea: spatial and diel patterns

Gracie Ballou, Callie Bateson and Luke Gervase

Caribbean Spiny Lobster (Panulirus argus) dispersion dynamics in the Sargasso Sea

Torey Bowser, Mandy Camp and Brandon O’Brien

The effects of substrate on microbial community composition and biofilm quantity in the Sargasso Sea

Connor Dixon, Chelan Pauly, Mika Tan

Free-floating Sargassum seaweed and its resident macrofauna

Manuel Nives and Victoria Young

Biodiversity of hydroid communities associated with pelagic Sargassum

Kiah Walker and Allison Work

7

Data Description This section provides a record of data collected aboard the SSV Corwith Cramer cruise C-252 (US State Department Cruise: F2013-119) from San Juan, PR to New York, NY, USA (Figure 1).

During the 5-week voyage, we sampled at 38 discrete oceanographic stations (Table 2), each with an associated surface sample for chlorophyll a and total inorganic phosphate (Table 3). Additionally, we continuously sampled water depth and sub-bottom profiles (CHIRP system), upper ocean currents (ADCP, Figure 2), and sea surface temperature, salinity, CDOM fluorescence, in-vivo chlorophyll fluorescence, and transmittance (seawater flow-through system, Figure 3 – temperature, salinity). Discrete CTD measurements of vertical temperature and salinity profiles were also collected from the top 500 m. Additional instrumentation on the CTDs allowed for profiling fluorescence. Detailed summaries of net tow data are included in Tables 4-6. Lengthy CTD, CHIRP, ADCP and flow-through data are not fully presented here. All unpublished data can be made available by arrangement with the SEA data archivist (contact information, p. 2).

Figure 1. Hourly positions along the C-252 cruise track.

8

Table 2. Oceanographic sampling stations. X indicates use of sampling equipment at a particular station. (NT = Neuston Tow, MN = Meter Net, 2MN = 2-M Net, DN = Dip Net, PN = Phytoplankton concentrate, CTD = CTD, TDR = depth and temperature recorder attached to subsurface net, Argo = Argo Float Deployment, SS = Surface Station #.

Station Date Time Latitude

(N) Longitude

(W) General Locale NT MN 2MN DN PN CTD TDR Argo SS C252-001 16-Apr-14 0014 18°54.3' 66°11.3' Tropical Atlantic X 001 C252-002 16-Apr-14 1022 19°19.5' 66°13.6' Tropical Atlantic X X X X X 002 C252-003 17-Apr-14 0031 19°57.7' 66°28.3' Tropical Atlantic X X X 003 C252-004 17-Apr-14 0000 20°31.6' 66°31.9' S Sargasso Sea X 2X 3X X X X 004 C252-005 17-Apr-14 0015 21°19.1' 66°26.0' S Sargasso Sea X 2X 005 C252-006 18-Apr-14 0953 21°57.6' 66°19.3' S Sargasso Sea X 2X 4X X X X 006 C252-007 19-Apr-14 0002 22°44.7' 66°15.1' S Sargasso Sea X X X X 007 C252-008 19-Apr-14 0955 23°27.4' 66°02.6' S Sargasso Sea X 2X 3X X X X 008 C252-009 20-Apr-14 0005 24°21.8' 66°06.2' S Sargasso Sea X X X X 009 C252-010 20-Apr-14 1005 25°00.8' 65°58.1' S Sargasso Sea X X X 3X X X X 010 C252-011 21-Apr-14 0004 25°45.8' 66°01.9' S Sargasso Sea X X X X 011 C252-012 21-Apr-14 1008 26°20.9' 65°48.6' S Sargasso Sea X X X 3X X X X 012 C252-013 22-Apr-14 1019 27°46.7' 65°40.1' N Sargasso Sea X 2X 5X X X X 013 C252-014 23-Apr-14 0018 28°26.8' 65°32.4' N Sargasso Sea X X X X X 014 C252-015 23-Apr-14 1209 29°08.5' 65°34.2' N Sargasso Sea X 3X X 015 C252-016 23-Apr-14 2209 29°51.0' 65°33.5' N Sargasso Sea X C252-017 24-Apr-14 0021 29°56.5' 65°32.1' N Sargasso Sea X X 016 C252-018 25-Apr-14 1235 30°27.4' 64°43.7' N Sargasso Sea 3X C252-019 25-Apr-14 1955 30°51.4' 64°39.6' N Sargasso Sea X C252-020 26-Apr-14 0025 31°10.2' 64°31.8' N Sargasso Sea X 2X X X 017 C252-021 5-May-14 0017 31°57.9' 65°00.2' N Sargasso Sea X X X X X 018 C252-022 5-May-14 1014 31°56.4' 65°48.0' N Sargasso Sea X X X 3X X X X 019 C252-023 6-May-14 0010 32°53.6' 65°36.5' N Sargasso Sea X X X X X 020 C252-024 6-May-14 0831 33°29.7' 65°38.7' N Sargasso Sea X X X X X X 021

9

Table 2 continued.

Station Date Time Latitude

(N) Longitude

(W) General Locale NT MN 2MN DN PN CTD TDR Argo SS C252-025 7-May-14 0023 34°09.7' 65°30.7' N Sargasso Sea X X X X X 022 C252-026 7-May-14 1207 34°28.1' 65°43.7' N Sargasso Sea X X 023 C252-027 8-May-14 0012 34°48.2' 66°07.9' N Sargasso Sea X X X X X 024 C252-028 8-May-14 0745 35°01.9' 67°17.8' N Sargasso Sea X C252-029 8-May-14 1139 35°07.8' 67°17.8' N Sargasso Sea X 3X X X 025 C252-030 9-May-14 1150 35°31.3' 68°24.6' N Sargasso Sea X 3X X X 026 C252-031 10-May-14 0013 35°34.6' 69°32.6' N Sargasso Sea X X 027 C252-032 10-May-14 1222 35°57.1' 70°46.9' N Sargasso Sea X X X 028 C252-033 11-May-14 0011 36°39.1' 71°37.4' N Sargasso Sea X 029 C252-034 11-May-14 1202 37°32.6' 71°46.7' N Sargasso Sea X 030 C252-035 12-May-14 0003 38°36.0' 72°13.3' Slope X 031 C252-036 12-May-14 1020 39°29.1' 72°20.0' Hudson Canyon X X X X X 032 C252-037 12-May-14 1646 39°37.8' 72°18.5' Hudson Canyon Shelf X X X X 033 C252-038 13-May-14 0005 39°59.8' 72°26.9' Shelf, NY Bight X X 034

10

Table 3. Surface station data (SS-XXX). Blank = no data.

Station Date Time Temp.

(C) Salinity (PSU)

Fluor. (chla)

PO4 (M)

SS-001 16-Apr-14 0023 26.8 36.18 864.8 0.051 SS-002 16-Apr-14 1150 26.8 36.11 742.3 0.065 SS-003 17-Apr-14 0105 26.8 36.01 808.0 0.042 SS-004 17-Apr-14 0000 26.9 36.02 789.0 0.038 SS-005 18-Apr-14 0015 26.3 36.36 845.0 0.047 SS-006 18-Apr-14 1054 26.4 36.37 784.7 0.096 SS-007 19-Apr-14 0023 25.1 36.17 859.2 0.060 SS-008 19-Apr-14 1118 25.7 36.57 776.2 0.145 SS-009 20-Apr-14 0021 25.3 36.59 771.4 0.122 SS-010 20-Apr-14 1112 24.5 36.67 629.1 0.136 SS-011 21-Apr-14 0021 25.0 36.60 755.9 0.105 SS-012 21-Apr-14 1118 25.0 36.63 649.8 0.087 SS-013 22-Apr-14 1123 24.4 36.53 671.4 0.167 SS-014 23-Apr-14 0034 23.7 36.68 750.9 0.091 SS-015 23-Apr-14 1213 23.4 36.70 700.4 0.087 SS-016 24-Apr-14 0042 22.8 36.70 757.6 0.087 SS-017 26-Apr-14 0042 22.3 36.68 828.5 0.122 SS-018 5-May-14 0033 22.2 36.68 652.1 SS-019 5-May-14 1113 22.1 36.66 592.9 SS-020 6-May-14 0032 20.9 36.58 710.8 SS-021 6-May-14 1203 21.1 36.58 633.3 SS-022 7-May-14 0046 20.6 36.52 877.6 SS-023 7-May-14 1212 20.9 36.54 834.4 SS-024 8-May-14 0027 21.2 36.52 1022.4SS-025 8-May-14 1219 20.9 36.54 823.4 SS-026 9-May-14 1243 24.2 36.49 866.6 SS-027 10-May-14 0016 23.6 36.50 1114.2SS-028 10-May-14 1222 20.8 36.54 865.5 SS-029 11-May-14 0022 22.2 36.51 947.3 SS-030 11-May-14 1227 19.4 35.92 1120.9SS-031 12-May-14 0008 20.1 36.19 1619.0SS-032 12-May-14 1045 10.1 33.00 1394.6SS-033 12-May-14 1701 10.8 32.98 2522.3SS-034 13-May-14 0013 11.5 32.16 2283.7

11

Figure 2. Surface current direction and velocity measured with the ADCP from 1000 to 1400 daily.

12

Figure 3. Surface temperature (left) and salinity (right) measurements from the continuous flow-through data logger.

13

Table 4. Neuston net tow data. 333 m mesh. Blank indicates no data collected.

Station

Tow Dist. (m)

Zoo. Density (mL/m2)

Phyllo- soma

(#)

Lepto- cephali

(#) Myctophid

(#) Halobates

(#)

Sargassumnatans

(g)

Sargassum fluitans

(g)

Plastic pellets

(#)

Plastic pieces

(#) C252-001-NT 2034.1 0.0039 1 9 0 1 0.0 0.0 0 0 C252-002-NT 1281.1 0.0023 0 0 0 0 0.0 8.0 0 9 C252-003-NT 2054.2 0.0117 5 32 0 1 0.0 0.0 0 0 C252-004-NT 1477.6 0.0010 0 0 0 0 0.0 0.0 0 0 C252-005-NT 1852.0 0.0011 0 0 1 3 7.0 85.0 0 1 C252-006-NT 2230.6 0.0004 0 0 0 2 0.0 0.0 0 0 C252-007-NT 2346.0 0.0029 0 6 0 2 0.0 0.0 0 0 C252-008-NT 1528.5 0.0065 0 0 0 0 8.0 413.0 0 15 C252-009-NT 1807.8 0.0028 0 0 0 3 0.0 0.0 0 1 C252-010-NT 1368.5 0.0015 0 0 0 2 110.6 11.5 0 14 C252-011-NT 1572.7 0.0025 0 1 0 10 1.8 5.4 0 0 C252-012-NT 1436.2 0.0014 0 0 0 0 3.0 20.0 0 0 C252-013-NT 1398.3 0.0043 0 0 0 0 45.0 32.0 0 17 C252-014-NT 1193.9 0.0151 1 36 0 4 17.0 47.0 1 15 C252-015-NT 1915.8 0.0023 0 0 0 0 0.5 30.5 0 118 C252-017-NT 1838.7 0.0042 0 14 2 9 12.9 58.0 0 17 C252-020-NT 2020.1 0.0050 0 38 1 2 36.5 0.0 0 17 C252-021-NT 1900.8 0.0110 6 25 3 0 486.0 0.0 1 222 C252-022-NT 1697.0 0.0009 0 0 0 0 80.1 4.4 0 28 C252-023-NT 1475.9 0.0014 0 2 0 0 0.0 0.0 0 2 C252-024-NT 1109.6 0.0043 0 0 0 0 0.0 0.0 0 10 C252-025-NT 1533.8 0.0333 0 1 6 0 0.0 0.0 0 1 C252-026-NT 1890.0 0.0074 0 0 0 0 1.9 0.0 1 16 C-252-027-NT 1932.2 0.0186 10 3 1 0 0.0 0.0 0 0 C252-029-NT 1744.5 0.0017 0 0 0 0 91.0 164.0 0 29 C252-030-NT 2130.0 0 0 0 0 1858.0 0.0 0 50 C252-031-NT 865.4 0.0393 1 0 6 0 0.0 0.0 0 6

14

Table 4 continued.

Station

Tow Dist. (m)

Zoo. Density (mL/m2)

Phyllo- soma

(#)

Lepto- cephali

(#) Myctophid

(#) Halobates

(#)

Sargassumnatans

(g)

Sargassum fluitans

(g)

Plastic pellets

(#)

Plastic pieces

(#) C252-032-NT 2660.4 0 0 0 0 2677.0 655.0 1 197 C252-033-NT 1941.8 0.0046 0 0 1 1 177.0 19.0 0 2 C252-034-NT 2968.7 0.0029 0 0 0 0 121.0 205.0 0 4 C252-035-NT 2103.7 0.0290 0 0 10 0 190.0 27.0 0 1 C252-036-NT 1349.0 0.0011 0 0 0 0 0.0 0.0 0 18 C252-037-NT 1955.9 0.0015 0 0 0 0 0.0 0.0 0 5 C252-038-NT 2789.1 0.0298 0 0 0 0 0.0 0.0 0 7

15

Table 5. Meter Net and 2-Meter Net data.

Station

Mesh Size (m)

Tow Depth

(m)

Tow Volume

(m3)

Phyllo- soma

(#)

Lepto- cephali

(#) Myctophid

(#)

C252-002-2MN 1000 138.0 5137.8 0 3 0

C252-002-MN 333 73.0 1095.3 2 0 0

C252-003-2MN 1000 70.0 8931.3 47 251 2

C252-003-MN 333 15.0 1986.0 0 20 0

C252-004-MNA 1000 124.0 2223.9 0 0 0

C252-004-MNB 333 62.0 1474.2 0 0 0

C252-005-MNA 1000 58.0 2706.7 7 4 0

C252-005-MNB 333 13.0 1800.3 0 0 0

C252-006-MNA 1000 165.0 2521.7 4 2 0

C252-006-MNB 333 83.0 1588.5 0 0 0

C252-007-2MN 1000 45.0 6121.6 18 29 1

C252-007-MN 333 11.0 1493.5 0 0 0

C252-008-MNA 1000 142.0 2277.0 0 0 0

C252-008-MNB 333 75.0 1716.2 0 1 0

C252-009-2MN 1000 48.0 5586.4 6 26 0

C252-009-MN 333 13.0 1529.8 0 0 0

C252-010-2MN 1000 100.0 7000.3 1 1 0

C252-010-MN 333 49.0 1417.5 0 0 0

C252-011-2MN 1000 53.0 4657.0 2 0 5

C252-011-MN 333 14.0 1230.8 5 1 0

C252-012-2MN 1000 107.0 6464.5 1 2 0

C252-012-MN 333 54.0 1490.0 0 0 0

C252-013-MNA 1000 175.0 2357.3 0 0 0

C252-013-MNB 333 92.0 1747.2 1 0 0

16

Table 5 continued.

Station

Mesh Size (m)

Tow Depth

(m)

Tow Volume

(m3)

Phyllo- soma

(#)

Lepto- cephali

(#) Myctophid

(#)

C252-014-2MN 1000 65.0 4222.3 1 18 0

C252-014-MN 333 13.0 939.8 2 1 0

C252-020-MNA 1000 71.0 2305.3 0 5 0

C252-020-MNB 333 13.0 1530.5 1 2 0

C252-021-2MN 1000 28.0 6796.4 1 11 14

C252-021-MN 333 9.0 1770.6 2 5 0

C252-022-2MN 1000 126.0 5951.5 4 0 0

C252-022-MN 333 64.0 1500.7 0 1 0

C252-023-2MN 1000 33.0 5017.6 0 7 9

C252-023-MN 333 7.0 1274.8 0 1 0

C252-024-2MN 1000 116.0 5740.0 0 0 0

C252-024-MN 333 55.0 1414.7 0 0 0

C252-025-MNA 1000 36.0 1889.2 0 2 4

C252-025-MNB 333 7.0 929.4 1 3 1

C252-027-2MN 1000 42.0 3624.8 0 20 0

C252-027-MN 333 14.0 1020.0 0 6 0

C252-036-MN 333 281.0 2250.4 0 0 4

C252-037-MN 333 56.2 1060.2 0 0 0

17

Table 6. Detailed Sargassum analysis. Blank indicates no data collected.

Station Aggregation

Type Sargassum Species

Mass (g)

Growth (%)

Succession (%)

Decline (%)

C252‐004‐DNA Fragments S. fluitans 5 70 15 15

C252‐004‐DNB Fragments S. fluitans 4.5 20 50 30

C252‐004‐DNC Clump S. fluitans 45 40 20 40

C252‐005‐NT Fragments S. fluitans 85

C252‐005‐NT Fragments S. natans 7

C252‐006‐DNA Fragments S. fluitans 4.5 30 50 20

C252‐006‐DNB Fragments S. fluitans 1.5 40 50 10

C252‐006‐DNC Fragments S. fluitans 0.5 20 10 70

C252‐008‐DNA Fragments S. fluitans 46

C252‐008‐DNA Clump S. natans 3 40 50 10

C252‐008‐DNA Clump S. fluitans 6 40 40 20




C252‐008‐DNB Fragments 260

C252‐008‐DNB Clump S. fluitans 70 70 20 10


















C252‐008‐DNC Fragments S. natans 4

C252‐008‐DNC Fragments S. fluitans 188


18

Table 6 continued.

Station Aggregation


Mass (g)

Growth (%)

Succession (%)

Decline (%)








C252‐008‐NT Clump S. fluitans 10 20 50 30









C252‐010‐DNA Clump S. fluitans 6.25 50 30 20


C252‐010‐DNA Clump S. natans 10.4 15 70 15




C252‐010‐DNB Clump S. natans 34 40 20 40

C252‐010‐DNB Clump S. natans 6.8 33 33 33








C252‐010‐DNB Fragments S. natans 9.6

C252‐010‐DNB Fragments S. fluitans 16.5

C252‐010‐DNC Fragments S. natans 15 10 70 20

C252‐010‐DNC Clump S. natans 30 40 30 30



19

Table 6 continued.

Station Aggregation


Mass (g)

Growth (%)

Succession (%)

Decline (%)

C252‐010‐NT Fragments S. fluitans 11.5

C252‐010‐NT Fragments S. natans 11.7

C252‐010‐NT Clump S. natans 45 60 20 20

C252‐010‐NT Clump S. natans 9.8 50 30 20










C252‐012‐DNB Fragments S. natans 12.7

C252‐012‐DNB Fragments S. fluitans 8















C252‐012‐DNC Clump S. natans 5.5 25 15 60






C252‐013‐DNB Fragments S. fluitans 7


20

Table 6 continued.

Station Aggregation


Mass (g)

Growth (%)

Succession (%)

Decline (%)










C252‐015‐DNA Clump S. fluitans 100.1 60 10 30

C252‐015‐DNB Clump S. fluitans 9.5 15 25 60



C252‐015‐DNB Fragments S. fluitans 9.5







C252‐017‐NT Clump S. fluitans 9.3 50 10 40

















21

Table 6 continued.

Station Aggregation


Mass (g)

Growth (%)

Succession (%)

Decline (%)
















C252‐022‐DNC Fragments S. natans 8.5 5 85 10













C252‐029‐NT Clump S. fluitans 11

C252‐029‐NT Clump S. fluitans 17






C252‐030‐NT Fragment S. natans 770


22

Table 6 continued.

Station Aggregation


Mass (g)

Growth (%)

Succession (%)

Decline (%)






































23

Table 6 continued.

Station Aggregation


Mass (g)

Growth (%)

Succession (%)

Decline (%)





































24

ABSTRACTS - Leptocephali biodiversity in the Sargasso Sea: spatial and diel patterns. Luke Gervase, Callie Bateson and Gracie Ballou A diverse range of threatened and endemic species depend on the Sargasso Sea for migration and spawning due to its biophysical characteristics and central location in the Atlantic Ocean. Many species of eels, which make up an integral part of global fisheries and reef ecology, migrate to the Sargasso Sea to spawn. Eel larvae, known as leptocephali, are distributed throughout the Atlantic Ocean by surrounding currents. This study documents the distribution of leptocephali species found in the Sargasso Sea and uses molecular methods to evaluate the existence of two morphologically distinct and geographically separate populations of Bandtooth conger eel (Ariosoma balearicum). Tows were completed twice daily at depth and at the surface along a cruise track between Puerto Rico and New York City. The greatest biodiversity was observed at depth during night tows suggesting vertical migration occurs to a greater depth than previously thought. Myomeres are muscle striations corresponding with vertebra that are commonly used for morphological identification in eel species. Myomere counts supported the presence of two populations of A. balearicum, however, genetic analysis of species divergence within the 16S rRNA gene was inconclusive. Additional gene and primers sets were tested for A. balearicum for application in future population genetics studies with this species. The likely existence of two spawning populations of A. balearicum warrants further investigation and must be considered in future conservation efforts to protect the biodiversity of the Sargasso Sea.

25

Caribbean Spiny Lobster (Panulirus argus) dispersion dynamics in the Sargasso Sea. Torey Bowser, Miranda Camp and Brandon O’Brien Larval dispersion via ocean currents connects benthic adult populations of Caribbean spiny lobster, Panulirus argus, throughout the Caribbean Sea. We propose the potential for connectivity between populations in the Caribbean and Bermuda via the Sargasso Sea. Sequences of the hypervariable domain of the control region of the mitochondrial DNA (HV-CRd1) for 6 Bermudian adult samples were compared to two existing data sets of adult samples (Diniz et al., 2005; Naro-Maciel et al., 2011). There was no indication of an isolated population, but rather a mixture of individuals from several different lineages and locations. Additionally, we carried out twice-daily net tows at both surface and subsurface depths to collect P. argus larvae along the Sea Education Association C-252 cruise track. We compared HV-CRd1 of 4 larval individuals to existing genetic sequences from adult populations to pinpoint an origin, and calculated the amount of time an individual would need to reach their collection location based on current speed and direction. In each case, the calculated travel time exceeded the entire length of estimated pelagic larval development time. Further research of ocean currents and dispersion dynamics is needed to fully understand this process.

26

The effects of substrate on microbial community composition and biofilm quantity in the Sargasso Sea. Connor Dixon, Chelan Pauly and Mei Jia Tan

Plastic Marine Debris (PMD) has become a prevalent substrate in the gyres of the open ocean. Although its effects on macrofauna are well documented, including strangulation and ingestion, the effects on microbial life in the pelagic zone remain unclear. Our research compared microbial composition on anthropogenic and natural substrates by examining the bacterial genus Vibrio and protist communities on PMD, the native algae Sargassum, and in seawater. The Vibrio genus contains pathogenic species like V. cholera and V. alginolyticus which cause human disease and harm important fishery resources. Protists include species of diatoms and dinoflagellates that can cause harmful algal blooms. Vibrio was compared by colony morphotype and identified genetically by sequencing the Hsp60 gene. PMD, Sargassum, and seawater all contained V. alginolyticus, V. campbellii and V. cyclitrophicus. PMD and Sargassum shared more similar strains when compared to seawater, indicating that attached and suspended environments largely influence Vibrio communities. Protist analysis revealed small morphotypes of attached diatoms on plastics, as compared to seawater, which contained larger diatoms and dinoflagellates. Rates of biofilm growth on polyethylene, polypropylene, and certified compostable (Mater-Bi) plastic were measured from samples submerged in a flow through aquarium. Certified compostable plastic contained the most biofilm, possibly because its polymers are derived from plants and may be metabolized by a wider variety of microorganisms. This study confirmed that substrate affects microbial composition and biofilm formation and that distinct communities of Vibrio and protists grow on PMD compared to the surrounding seawater and Sargassum.

27

Free-floating Sargassum seaweed and its resident macrofauna. Manuel Nieves-Ortiz and Victoria Young Although the floating Sargassum seaweed in the Sargasso Sea has been a subject of wonder and interest since Christopher Columbus’s explorations, the total organization and the factors influencing the Sargassum community remain relatively unknown. Due to the challenges of reaching the Sargasso Sea and the quick degradation of Sargassum characteristics after its collection-data on the resident macrofauna of Sargassum is sparse and variable. It is important to understand the present status of Sargassum macrofauna and the factors that influence their composition because they could be potential indicators of habitat degradation in the Sargasso Sea. Since the organisms in our study are required to live among Sargassum clumps, they are constantly exposed to the threats affecting this environment-such as shipping. Therefore, our results function as baseline to which other studies may compare their macrofauna diversity and distribution results. In this way, a degradation of the environment may be observed. A change in Sargassum species was found to occur with increasing latitude. Species diversity was largest among middle-aged Sargassum. Surprisingly, S. fluitans and less diversity than S. natans.

28

Biodiversity of hydroid communities associated with pelagic Sargassum. Kiah Walker and Allison Work Marine hydroids (Cnidaria, Hydrozoa) live in both coastal and open ocean regions throughout the world. In the Sargasso Sea, hydroids colonize the two types of pelagic Sargassum, Sargassum fluitans and S. natans. This study assessed species diversity and geographic distribution of hydroids living on these substrates. Hydroids were collected along a cruise track from Puerto Rico to Bermuda and Bermuda to New York during April and May 2014. Hydroids were identified morphologically, and forty samples were analyzed using sequences from the 16S ribosomal RNA gene. Hydroid species composition differed between the two species of Sargassum, as four hydroid species were found on both types of Sargassum, and two were exclusive to S. natans. Aglaophenia latecarinata was the dominant species on S. fluitans, while Clytia noliformis was the dominant species on S. natans. Hydroid species distribution also varied with latitude, as more species were found in the North Sargasso Sea. Additionally, genetic analysis of C. noliformis suggests two groupings of distinct haplotypes, which may be related to geographic origin of Sargassum substrates.

Documents

Cruise Report C-252 - Sea Education Association · C252-037 12-May-14 1646 39°37.8' 72°18.5' Hudson Canyon Shelf X X X X 033 C252-038 13-May-14 0005 39°59.8' 72°26.9' Shelf, NY