2022 Spring Student Research Symposium Oral Presentation Materials
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Item Abundance of bottlenose dolphins (tursiops truncatus) in Texas coastal bend(2022-04) Wilkins, Allison; Orbach, Dara N.Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) are the only species of marine mammal residing in the Texas Coastal Bend and have been specifically identified as imperiled by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. It has been almost 40 years since research has been published on the local population of bottlenose dolphins. In recent decades, the Texas Coastal Bend has substantially expanded in industrial growth and the Port of Corpus Christi is the third largest port in crude oil exportation in the U.S.A. The Corpus Christi Shipping Channel is also undergoing continual dredging to widen and deepen the channel to attract more commercial and industrial developments. With increasing and rapid changes and associated threats, it is important to monitor the local population of bottlenose dolphins and quantify how they are impacted by anthropogenic disturbance to inform policymakers for conservation mitigation. The population abundance of dolphins inhabiting the Texas Coastal Bend was determined by counting the number of animals based on unique markings. Photographs were captured of the individually distinctive dorsal fins of dolphins from a research vessel during 45 survey days since 2018. Photographs were subjected to quality control checks, cropped, matched by a minimum of two researchers, and scored based on quality. Preliminary results show that the current population of bottlenose dolphins consists of over 1,300 individuals, indicating a substantial population growth from the 593 dolphins reported in 1983. Findings from this study and additional photo- identification surveys will provide insights on the stability of the population that can be used as baseline data for conservation, including if dolphins are year-round residents and frequently inhabit areas of high vessel traffic.Item Can a multi-metric bioassessment tool be used to assess faunal communities in tidal streams along the lower Texas coast?(2022-04) Neffinger, Lexie; Beseres Pollack, Jennifer; Palmer, Terry; Breaux, NatashaTidal streams are dynamic, transitional systems that provide key habitat to many ecologically and economically important species. Currently, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) monitors tidal streams in Texas using only physicochemical parameters and lacks a standardized biomonitoring protocol. To address this gap in management tools, a multi-metric index of biotic integrity (IBI) was created to assess the condition of tidal stream nekton and benthic macroinfauna assemblages along the lower Texas coast. By identifying biotic metrics that are differently sensitive to anthropogenic impairment, the IBI synthesizes complex biological data into a practical management tool. To create the IBI, 15 sites were classified as having high (reference) or low (test) anthropogenic impairment based on surrounding land-use land cover, watershed population density, and historical conventional parameter concentrations for each tidal stream. During 2020 and 2021, sites were sampled for nekton, via seine hauls, and benthic macroinfauna, via benthic cores. Water quality, conventional parameter, and habitat measurements were also assessed during these sampling periods. Results show distinction between reference and test communities based on multivariate analyses. IBI metrics were derived from historical IBI studies and community analyses based on their ability to discriminate between test and reference conditions. Selected metrics included abundance of certain nekton taxa, abundance and biomass of benthic macroinfauna taxa, measures of diversity, and faunal functional groups. Refinements to the IBI should consider further regionalization based on coastal climate zone, assessing multiple sites per stream along the upstream-downstream salinity gradient, and incorporating long- term monitoring data. Once validated, the tidal IBI will enhance the TCEQ’s monitoring and management program by providing a standardized protocol to evaluate the biological communities in tidal streams and identify areas most in need of management attention.Item Can a would-be predator itself become a prey?(2022-04) Kohne-Sanchez, Amerika; Shankara Narayana Rao, Bheemaiah VeenaThe cyclical relationship of the Lotka-Volterra predator-prey model is a critical base component for expansion in the research field of mathematical modeling. Our study focusses on a species relationship, the blue striped fang blenny, and the lizardfish, that has not yet been analyzed in this capacity. Fang blenny are interesting as they have a distinct character of changing colors and are able to mimic different species of fish by changing color. Fang blenny as a predator mimics harmless cleaner wrasse, consumes a bite from its larger prey and retreats the safety of its den. Unfortunately for the Fang blenny, the lizardfish is not fooled, and a would-be predator can itself become the prey. This species relationship is being observed through modeling.Item Carbonate chemistry trends in the northwestern gulf of Mexico(2022-04) Kumbula, Nicole; Hu, XinpingHumans over the years have contributed to the changes in sea water chemistry. These changes stem from human caused carbon dioxide (CO2) releasing activities related to burning of fossil fuels, cement production, and land use changes associated with agricultural activities among others. From the beginning of the industrial revolution atmospheric CO2 has increased from 280 ppm to the current 419 ppm. In the same period, global oceans have taken in 30% of the global emissions as dissolved CO2 therefore playing a role in climate change mitigation. Increase in dissolved CO2 causes ocean acidification (OA). In the northwestern Gulf of Mexico (nwGOM), a decadal acidification has been observed in the shelf-slope region. For coastal areas the short term and long-term changes in the carbonate chemistry vary by location and can be influenced by river input, water stratification, ocean currents, and biogeochemical processes (photosynthesis, respiration, carbonate formation and dissolution). Despite its ecological and economic significance, the Gulf of Mexico and its current OA conditions are still misunderstood. This preliminary master’s thesis research will focus on spatial and temporal changes of carbonate chemistry trends of the nwGOM with a goal to understand the regions carbon dioxide sequestration over the past 5-10 years. Open access data from the Gulf of Mexico and East Coast Carbon (GOMECC) cruises-2007, 2012, 2017 and 2021 have been employed to explore this question. These expeditions have supplied comprehensive measurements of all primary inorganic carbon system parameters in these coastal waters. In addition, automated devices such as gliders equipped with sensors also collected additional measurements.Item Characterizing a live shear-resistant (SR-) biofilm and its interaction with substrates of varying energy landscapes by digital holographic microscope in eChip microcosm(2022-04) Yi, Wenjun; Jalali- Mousavi, Maryam; Sheng, JianRecent studies reveal that biofilm can develop under severe flow shear (e.g. >10,000 s-1) and eventually becomes resistant to shear erosion. Additional anecdotal evidence suggests clear correlation between biofilm structure and its underlying substrate energy landscapes. In this study, we are to investigate systematically the effects of these two environmental factors on formation of SR-biofilm. Here, we present experimental techniques that combine a long-term ecology-on-a-chip (eChip) milli-/micro-fluidic platform to grow a live SR-biofilm and a digital holographic microscope (DHM). The newly improved eChip platform not only provides long-term well controlled environments to a live SR-biofilm but also allow DHM to track thousands of individual bacteria as they interact with the substrate. New milli-fluidics also enables the interchange of substrates (bottom wall) containing different energy landscapes (e.g. alternating hydrophilic-hydrophobic patterns). Model bacteria include E.coli.(AW405), P. aeruginosa (PAO1) and its 12 mutants. Apart from homogeneous hydrophobic and hydrophilic substates, six patterned substrates (i.e. hydrophilic micro-patches, microscale squares and stars, of 20um, 50um, 100um over hydrophobic background) are used. Interactions of bacteria with these substrates are conducted under two shear flow rates (0 &10ul/min). During each experiment, bacteria will be cultured in eChip platform and flow over the patterned substrates for observation. Thousands of individual bacteria are tracked simultaneously in 3D over 20min at 14.5 frames per seconds at 20X and subsequently 3D trajectories, from which changes of cell motility (swimming speed, reorientation motility, and their translational/angular dispersions) as well as their attachment rates, will be obtained. In this talk, we will first present the novel microfluidic approach and robust digital holography technique (recording & analysis) in measuring microbial motilities/particle mobilities, then followed by a kernel study of P. aeruginosa in quiescent fluid interacting with substrates.Item Characterizing landing locations in the shore-based recreational shark fishery in Texas(2022-04) Zapata, Hannah; Banks, Kesley; Smith, Jensen; Streich, Matthew; Coffey, Daniel; Stunz, GregorySharks are vital predators that keep the ocean ecosystems balanced; yet the potential impacts of improper handling during recreational shark fishing can increase their vulnerability. Successful conservation includes the education and implementation of proper handling practices, which are known to greatly influence the survival of sharks after release. However, factors associated with handling practices in the shore-based recreational fishery, such as landing locations along the surf-beach gradient, have not been well studied. Texas has one of the largest shore-based shark fisheries in the United States and catch-and-photo release tournaments like Texas Shark Rodeo (TSR), provide a unique opportunity to collect long-term data on sharks landed in this fishery. The purpose of this study was to characterize landing locations of sharks in the recreational fishery to help inform mortality after release. From photos submitted by TSR by participating anglers, landing locations, which may serve as a surrogate metric for air exposure time, were classified into three different categories based on the sharks’ gill position in relation to the waterline: (1) shark landed on dry sand (no water near the gills); (2) shark landed in the surf zone (gills might be somewhat aerated with wave action); and (3) shark landed mostly in the water (gills mostly underwater and aerated). A total of 8,697 landed shark photos were submitted to TSR from 2014-2021, of which 36.2% were landed on dry sand, 60.5% were in the surf zone, and 3.3% were landed with gills remaining mostly underwater. The relatively high percentage of sharks landed on dry sand may increase shark mortality after release. These findings have important implications for conservation-oriented organizations like TSR, that encourage the best catch-and-release practices to maximize shark survival and highlight the need for accurate mortality estimates based on landing location.Item Climate change adaptation and mitigation in cities of the Gulf of Mexico(2022-04) Urrea Mariño, Ulsía; Yoskowitz, DavidUrbanization is a complex socio-economic process that transforms formerly natural areas into urban settlements. As of 2018, 55% of the world’s population reside in urban areas. Urban expansion contributes to climate change by increasing the rate of greenhouse gas emissions and at the same time reducing carbon sinks. However, cities can be part of the solution to this global crisis, through adaptation and mitigation actions. The effects of climate change can be differentiated between coastal zones and inland. The impacts of it on coastal plains, such as exists in the Gulf of Mexico (GMx), might be especially harsh. Although coastal plains represent only 2% of the total land area in the world, approximately 13% of the world’s urban population lives in these areas. Finally, there are various taxonomies of climate hazards for cities; among them hydrological. This work is focused on identifying what adaptation and mitigation strategies urban planners are using in the Gulf of Mexico cities in the face of climate change, specifically hydrological threats. A literature review on the relationship between climate change and coastal cities in the GMx is presented as part of the current doctoral project.Item Comparing diversity of estuarine-dependent nekton between Aransas Pass and Packery Channel inlets(2022-04) Kuntz, Joseph; Coffey, Daniel; Kaiser, Jeffrey; Williams, Jason; Stunz, GregoryTidal inlets play an essential role in estuarine-dependent nekton recruitment by providing access to nursery habitats (e.g., seagrass meadows) from spawning grounds in the Gulf of Mexico. The Corpus Christi Bay region includes Aransas Pass, a historically large inlet, and Packery Channel, a smaller natural tidal inlet permanently reopened in 2005. The purpose of this study was to (1) determine whether there is a seasonal difference in species diversity between the Aransas Pass (large) and Packery Channel (small) inlets and (2) determine if the distance from the inlet has an effect on species diversity. Shannon diversity indices were calculated from juvenile nekton (fish, shrimp, and crab) species collected using epibenthic sled tows from eight seagrass meadow sites near Aransas Pass and four sites near Packery Channel across three primary recruitment seasons (fall, winter, and spring). There was no significant difference in species diversity between the Aransas Pass and Packery Channel inlet, though there was a significant difference among seasons. Diversity was significantly higher during the winter and spring recruitment seasons at both inlets compared to the fall. In addition, distance (2-10 km) from the inlet had no significant effect on species diversity regardless of the season. These findings demonstrate that despite differences in size and age, Aransas Pass and Packery Channel support equally diverse nursery habitats across a range of distances for estuarine-dependent nekton species.Item Comparison of growth rates of larval Atlantic croaker collected near Corpus Christi and Galveston(2022-04) Weigand, Angelina; Geist, Simon; McAskill, Shannan; Bromschwig, MichelleDuring their early life stages, larval fish are vulnerable to a variety of physical, biological, and environmental processes. The ability of larval fish to successfully capture prey items affects their body condition, growth rates, and ultimately survivorship. Previous studies on the larval diets of M. undulatus collected from October to November 2017 at two distinct locations Galveston, TX and Corpus Christi, TX showed significantly different diets at the two locations at the family level taxonomic resolution of prey items. The goal of this study was to determine if the M. undulatus between the two locations also have a difference in condition and growth rates that may be related to differences in diets and localized prey availability. Larvae for this study were collected approximately two to two and a half months following Hurricane Harvey, which may have changed the water quality which affects the growth of larval fish. Therefore, this study will also assess differences in environmental parameters between the two locations to determine the potential effects of the Hurricane. For that otoliths were extracted from larval M. undulatus and use otolith increment growth analyses to investigate the differences in their growth rates. The samples were divided into different categories including catch date, size class, and catch site. The two size classes that the study focuses on are 5.0-6.99 mm and 7.0-8.99 mm. By extracting, mounting, polishing, and measuring the otoliths from the collected samples, we are able to determine the growth rate and the age of the fish and expect to see differences between locations that may be caused by diet differences and water quality.Item Corals in crisis: How temperature and nutrient fluctuations affect physiological responses of corals and their microbiome in Kāne’ohe Bay, Hawai’i(2022-04) Ruben, Zoe; Pinnell, Lee; Abdulla, Hussain; Turner, Jeffrey; Bahr, KeishaCoral reefs are the foundation to the social, cultural, and economic life in Hawai i; however, these reefs have not escaped the conditions that have ravaged coral reefs worldwide. Along the east coast of O ahu lies Kāne ohe Bay, which serves as a living laboratory with distinct difference in environmental gradients due to variation in circulation and residency times. Landward, there is a distinct gradient of cesspool presence and therefore a gradient of potential effluent intrusion and nutrient loading to these reefs. Together, these provide a unique opportunity to explore the impact of water quality and ongoing ocean warming on coral health, susceptibility and tolerance. This research investigates how temperature and nutrients influence the coral holobiont across a spatial and temporal environmental gradient. Pairs of known bleached/non-bleached corals were collected at two sites within Kāne ohe Bay which encompass this spatial gradient in temperature and nutrient influence. Corals were then subjected to experimental treatments (Control, Nutrient, Heated, Heated + Nutrient) for one month. Measurements of bleaching were collected at the beginning, middle, and end of the experiment and coral subsamples were collected at the beginning and end of the experiment for subsequent metagenomics analysis. I hypothesize that (A) coral subjected to a combined increase in temperature and nutrients will experience higher levels of bleaching and lower levels of survivorship, (B) historically non-bleached phenotypes will show higher levels of survivorship than their historically bleached counterparts, and (C) there will be an observed shift in microbial community composition across corals due to these stressors. If validated, these findings will support that coral bleaching susceptibility is manifested throughout the coral holobiont and the physiological response to stressors such as temperature and nutrient loading can be better understood and potentially mitigated, therefore supporting reef resiliency and restoration in the face of climate change.Item Corals thriving in dynamic environments may hold key insights into future coral reefs(2022-04) Epps, Ashleigh; Bruce, Morgan N.; Gates, Maryssa; Fifer, James; Davies, Sarah W; Bahr, KeishaThe coastal waters of Texas have dynamic environmental conditions and are heavily influenced by anthro- pogenic stressors, which are not conducive for corals. However, cryptic coral species (Astrangia poculata and Oculina diffusa) have been documented in this ecosystem, particularly within manmade channels on jetty rocks connecting the Gulf of Mexico and Corpus Christi Bay. This research explored the strategies that these corals utilize to survive with varying fluctuations in environmental conditions. Extensive in-water-field surveys were conducted in Packery Channel over one year to 1) identify observed corals 2) biologically char- acterize observed corals, 3) document environmental variability, 4) quantify zooplankton abundance, and 5) conduct coral tissue stable isotope analyses. Physical environmental data (e.g., turbidity, temperature, salinity, etc.) was measured weekly during each season (e.g., winter, spring, summer, and fall). Additionally, plankton abundance and diversity measurements were assessed within each season at the highest tide and the lowest tide of the full moon cycle. Corals were collected seasonally (total n=64). Results of this work revealed the species present are Astrangia poculata and Oculina diffusa and that these corals utilize both heterotrophy and autotrophy year-round to withstand extreme environmental conditions including large temperature (9.4-31.5°C) and turbidity (0-95.3 NTU) ranges. Stable isotope analyses suggest heterotrophy to be the dominant feeding mechanism year-round and autotrophy secondarily. Specifically, autotrophic contribution is more prominent during the summer and fall seasons than in the spring and winter seasons which correlates with the environmental data fluctuating the least in the summer and fall. Understanding the nutritional sources of corals in extreme environmental conditions could provide insights into potential phenotypic plasticity and adaptability to anthropogenic influence. Therefore, corals thriving in dynamic environments could provide researchers with the insight they need to understand coral adaptation amid rapidly changing environmental conditions.Item A coral’s true colors: Understanding color hues to assess coral health and welfare(2022-04) Herrera, Gabriella; Good, Alexandra M.; Hirota, Alexander; Razal, Catherine; Gaertner, Nicole; Sefcik, Justin; Gilbert, Jesse; Bahr, Keisha D.Coral reefs are one of the most biodiverse and productive ecosystems on Earth and various methods are utilized to monitor and assess coral health. But there is not a standardized method for quantifying coral health for corals held in captivity in zoos and aquariums. Therefore, a health assessment card using coral color to non-invasively monitor coral health was developed with the Texas State Aquarium (TSA). To quantify coral health, individual corals of each species were photographed in a controlled environment to develop color profiles. Simultaneously, nondestructive measurements of “health” were assessed using Pulse- Amplitude Modulation Fluorometry. These photosynthetic efficiency measurements determine how efficiently the symbiotic algae provides energy to the coral host. This project successfully corresponded photosynthetic efficiency to coral color to develop a Coral Health Assessment Card for all species at TSA. By implementing a standardized assessment of coral health, TSA can effectively and rapidly assess the health of their corals improving overall coral wellness. Consequently, the results of this work support TSA’s mission to support wildlife conservation by promoting education and conservation of coastal and marine ecosystems through their interactive exhibits.Item Determining the effect of variability on habitat quality on dispersal in a marine fish(2022-04) Selwyn, Jason D.; Usseglio, Paolo; Hogan, J. Derek; Bird, Christopher E.; Magnuson, Sharon FurinessThe dispersal of individuals between populations is a foundational process to understand at the interface of ecology and evolution. Natal habitat is theorized to strongly influence the degree of dispersal expected. However, understanding the interaction between habitat and dispersal is difficult to study empirically, partic- ularly in a single location where other environmental factors are held constant. Understanding how habitats influence dispersal is important not only for the foundational understanding of ecological and evolutionary processes but also as they relate to the design of marine protected area networks. Here we seek to understand how heterogeneity in habitat quality influences the dispersal dynamics of the common Caribbean reef goby Coryphopterus hyalinus as a model for other species with similar life histories. To understand the influence of habitat heterogeneity on dispersal first it is important to establish what features of the reef equate to greater habitat quality from the perspective of the previously presumed habitat generalist C. hyalinus. Adult C. hyalinus live in large shoals distributed across shallow coral reef ecosystems in greater densities in more complex, deeper reef areas at the margin of large sand patches. In Turneffe Atoll, C. hyalinus have an aver- age dispersal distance of 3.1 ± 0.3 km with 95% of individuals dispersing less than 7.7 ± 0.65 km. However, spatially heterogeneous habitats are characterized by shorter mean dispersal distances, smaller dispersal spreads, and higher propensity for rare dispersal events. This observation has conservation implications for the design and futureproofing of network-based conservation designs which depend upon dispersal between individual nodes of the network for proper functioning. As anthropogenic climate change alters habitats and in the short-term leads to increasingly fragmented and heterogeneous landscapes these networks may no longer be sustainable given the shrinking of the dispersal spread of the species these networks are designed to protect.Item Fingerprinting circulating tumor cell with characteristic membrane viscoelasticity by atomic force microscopy(2022-04) Lopez, Kimberly; Tamuno, Sophia; Brzezinski, Molly; Martin, Leisha; Xu, Wei; Sheng, JianAtomic Force Microscopy (AFM) is a powerful tool that can resolve nanoscale cell surface features (e.g. re- ceptors, channels) as well as perform the mechanical characterization of living cells and tissues. Anecdotal observations suggest that metastasized tumor cells bear their phenotypical “telltale” signatures in their mem- brane characteristics, i.e prostate cancer cells are often stiffer and more elastic than breast cancer. In this talk, we present a new methodology allowing us to quantify mechanical properties of cells through force- deformation relations (F-D curves) by nano-indentation, as well as develop a novel mathematical framework to quantify cell membranes’ viscoelasticity by performing Ting’s integral over F-D measurements to differen- tiate cancer phenotypes. We have developed a custom-made flow cell that enables simultaneous microscopic observation and AFM experimentation. Three cell lines, prostate cancer (PC3), breast carcinoma (T47D), and lung a-carcinoma (A549), are used for this kernel study. Cells are split once reaching a confluence of 70% and a 10% dilution of cells are plated on 12 mm diameter wafer. After 24-hour growth, the plated slides are transferred to in-house flow cell containing the corresponding culture medium. With an integrated LED illuminator sealed within a polydimethylsiloxane matrix underneath the wafer, simultaneous observation of live cells can be achieved by an integrated upright microscope. Indentation measurements are conducted with a “wet” AFM. Gold coated probes (k=0.03N/m) are used to allow measurement on soft cell membrane. Differing from past studies, we probe the membrane with large indentation. Standard Linear Solid model are fitted over measurements to obtain viscoelasticity parameters. Preliminary results show distinctive hys- teresis between loading and unloading of the membrane. It is also found that multi-power law model is more suitable for cancer characterization. Model parameters of three phenotypes show clear distinction and great potential to develop membrane viscoelasticity as a biomarker for cancer cell diagnostics and characterization.Item Holistic investigation of a recurrent aureoumbra lagunensis brown tide bloom: Water quality parameters and microbial consortia(2022-04) Bachand, Paxton; Powers, Nicole; Haye, Kenneth C.; Pinnell, Lee; Tominack, Sarah; Turner, Jeffrey; Wetz, Michael S.Aureoumbra lagunensis forms persistent brown tide algal blooms that disrupt ecosystem processes through light attenuation, decreased oxygen availability, and reduced sediment stabilization. These disruptions have negative, cascading effects on the ecology and economy of coastal regions. Nearly four decades of research has explored the environmental and anthropogenic drivers of A. lagunensis blooms, yet previous research has not explored a bloom’s microbiome. Here, we present a holistic study wherein we characterized the water quality parameters and microbial consortia associated with a recurrent brown tide bloom, utilizing nearby non-bloom waters as comparison. Bloom waters were characterized by higher oxygen, pH, salinity, water temperature, chlorophyll a, and organic nitrogen and carbon concentrations. Variation in algal cell con- centrations were explained largely through dissolved organic nitrogen, organic carbon, and oxygen. Several bacterial taxa were significantly more abundant in bloom samples: Alphaproteobacteria (Rhodobacterales; 8.41%), Gammaproteobacteria (Chromatiaceae; 2.11% & Alcanivoracaceaewere; 1.73%), and Cyanobacte- ria (Nostocales; 4.50%). Alphaproteobacteria and Gammaproteobacteria have the potential to mediate B-vitamin acquisition and supply of sulfur compounds, respectively, in addition to the supply of reduced carbon and nitrogen compounds through cyanobacterial bloom co-dominance. Additionally, conditionally rare taxa that comprised nearly 15% of the bloom community (𝑃 ℎ𝑦𝑐𝑖𝑠𝑝ℎ𝑎𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑒(2.02) may mediate organic compound degradation, vitamin acquisition, and algal pathogenesis. Collectively, these results confirm and expand understanding of bloom drivers and demonstrate that A. lagunensis blooms are colonized by a unique microbial consortium that likely plays a significant role in bloom dynamics. Although a small percentage of the bloom’s community, these low abundance organisms can contribute disproportionate effects to the ecosystem and therefore play an important role in regulating bloom dynamics.Item An innovative approach to improving artificial insemination success(2022-04) Rich, Jacquline; Cowart, Jonathan; Orbach, DaraArtificial insemination is an important tool for conservation of endangered species and is highly reliant on access to high-quality sperm. Unfortunately, artificial insemination has had mixed success in different species, which may be due to collection and insemination of poor-quality sperm. Therefore, development of a novel technique to promote ejaculation of high-quality sperm is necessary to improve the success of future conservation efforts through artificial insemination. The purpose of this study is to develop an innovative tool that will function to improve the quality of sperm at the time of collection from animals in managed care. This biomimetic artificial vagina (BAV) is the first artificial vagina designed to mimic the natural shape and elasticity of biological tissue. Our BAV is designed to collect ejaculates from common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus), which exhibit complex genital morphologies that have coevolved between the sexes. We hypothesize that the morphology of the vagina may play a role in stimulating the penis during ejaculation and will result in the production of higher quality ejaculates compared to traditional manual collection techniques. BAVs are created by coating vaginal molds made from post-mortem female dolphins with a soft, skin-like silicone. Ten adult male common bottlenose dolphins housed at aquaria around Florida and Texas are currently being trained to ejaculate into the BAV. We will assess sperm quality through examining the morphology and movement patterns of the sperm using computer-assisted sperm analysis software. The integrity of the sperm will be assessed using basic histochemical and microscopy techniques. We will compare the properties of the sperm collected using the BAV with sperm collected using traditional collection techniques to determine the impact of collection method on sperm quality. Our research has wide applications to conservation of terrestrial and marine endangered species through improving artificial insemination success.Item Intramolecular N isotope analysis of glutamine in phytoplankton(2022-04) Schiereck, Samantha; Lee, Charlotte; Mnich, Alanna; Baca, Jesus; Shaw, Catherine; McMullan, Esme; Mcallister, Marysa; Tran, Dat; Altabet, Mark; Zhang, LinGlutamine (Gln) and glutamic acid (Glu) provide the first step of incorporating inorganic nitrogen (N) into cellular organic N in photoautotrophic primary producers. Both are present at higher concentrations than other amino acids (AAs). The N atom in cellular ammonia forms the amide group of Gln, which is subse- quently used in producing Glu. Although Glu supplies the N for most other amino acids via transamination reaction, Gln and Glu interconvert with each other via -ketoglutarate. We hypothesize that the 15N of Gln’s amino-N ( 15NGln-amino), amide N ( 15NGln-amide), and intracellular ammonium have the same values under equilibrium conditions due to fast turnover. In addition, the amide-N of Gln provides N for the nucleobases and one of the sidechain N atoms in histidine. Thus, position-specific N isotope analysis of Gln will provide key information on AA and nucleotide biosynthesis in organisms. To analyze the amino and amide N’s, intracellular Gln was extracted from lysed phytoplankton cells, separated, and collected by Ion-exchange Chromatography, then divided into two fractions. One sub-fraction was oxidized by hypochlo-rite, converting the amino-N to nitrite. All the nitrogen in the second fraction were oxidized to nitrate using persulfate with UV radiation. The nitrite or nitrate produced in the two sub-fractions will then be converted to nitrous oxide and analyzed using Purge-and-Trap Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry, yielding both 15NGln-amino and 15NGln-total. Using the mass balance, we then can calculate the 15NGln-amide by subtracting the 15NGln-amino from 15NGln-total. We will compare the 15NGln-amino and 15NGln-total with the 15N of intracellular ammonium in cultured phytoplankton to verify our hypothesis. This study will shed light on the 15N patterns of Gln and other amino acids in different phytoplankton phylogenetic groups under various metabolic conditions, which will further advance the use of 15N-AA patterns in trophic ecology and paleo-N cycle reconstructions.Item Investigation of anti-bacterial properties of some plant extracts on vibrio vulnificus strains(2022-04) Patel, Hinal; Buck, Gregory; Le, HuyVibrio vulnificus is a Gram-negative mesophilic bacterium that is halophilic and asporogenous. It belongs to the gamma Proteobacteria phylum and family Vibrionaceae. It lives in coastal and estuary environments, and between April and October, it reaches peak levels in the Gulf of Mexico. Various environmental conditions, such as temperature, salinity, and pH, influence the activation of virulence genes in Vibrio vulnificus bacteria. Some literature reports state that antibiotic resistance is increasing in Vibrio vulnificus. Curanderismo, a popular alternative medicine derived from Mexican culture, has been overlooked by scientific investigation and may be used in lieu of pharmacologic antimicrobial agents. This study looked at the antibacterial capabilities of 10 typical herbal treatments used to treat wounds and infections in south Texas. This study investigated the effects of active plant extracts on strains of Vibrio vulnificus by Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion susceptibility testing; and whether active plant extracts affected on quorum-sensing-regulated virulence traits which manifests as biofilm formation against strains of Vibrio vulnificus. Each plant’s ethanolic tinctures were made and applied on blank diffusion disks, which were then dehydrated and tested for susceptibility to four strains of Vibrio vulnificus bacteria using Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion susceptibility tests: VV27562 ATCC (type strain) and three strains isolated from the Coastal Bend region, VVARA0040407-40, BS0607- 5 and NB0507-7, were then analyzed in triplicate. In addition, cultures of the four strains were grown for 96 hours in minimal medium in vitro, then cultures were grown in the absence or presence of plant tinctures. Cultures were then stained with 0.4% crystal violet to determine biofilm formation. Among selected plants, six plant tinctures exerted significant antimicrobial effect against the four Vibrio vulnificus strains. Preliminary evidence suggested that there may be some effect of certain plant tinctures on biofilm formation. This project suggests a new alternative in Vibrio vulnificus treatment for potentially increasing antibiotic resistance against Vibrio vulnificus bacterial strains.Item Large and fine-scale genetic structure of king snake eels (ophichthus rex) throughout the gulf of Mexico(2022-04) Chavez, Aline Trejo; O’Leary, Shannon; Cotton, Charles; Murwawski, Steve; Portnoy, David S.The king snake eel (Ophichthus rex), is a large, long-lived demersal predator and their distribution is limited to the Gulf of Mexico (GoM). King snake eels, like other ophichthids are data deficient, little is known about the O. rex biology. Eels were sampled throughout GoM (2011-17); eel tissues were prepared for sequencing using new molecular techniques resulting in robust ddRADseq SNP libraries. Genetic differentiation was estimated and new multidisciplinary approaches were used to explore large and fine-scale patterns of observed genetic connectivity. Previous studies of genetic connectivity in the Gulf of Mexico, have been limited to a few commercially important species and have been spatially limited to northern GoM (US). This study is unique, as it encompasses the entire species distribution and utilizes Gulf-wide fisheries-independent survey data (GoMRI 2011-2017). In this study we present evidence of large-scale population structure as reported in previous GoM connectivity studies and discuss potential drivers of fine-scale differentiation patterns within and among populations. Finally, this study explores potential implications for other fisheries- affected species and increases overall understanding of the underlying biology that drives observed patterns of genetic connectivity.Item Mapping relative sea-level rise with satellite geodesy along subsiding coast near Galveston, Texas(2022-04) Qiao, Xiaojun; Chu, Tianxing; Tissot, Philippe; Louis, JasonThe combined effect of absolute sea-level rise (ASLR) and coastal subsidence has been long monitored via tide gauges (TGs), which measure sea-level rise relative to land-fixed benchmarks, referred to as relative sea- level rise (RSLR). The importance of TG observations lies in dynamically reflecting land-water interaction which also is shaping the coastal living environment. However, TGs are usually sparsely distributed along coastline, providing limited information about the spatial patterns and variability of RSLR. Thanks to emerging satellite geodesy technologies such as satellite radar altimetry (SRA) and interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR), changes of sea surface height can be measured in the ocean and largescale high- accuracy land deformation can be estimated. This study combines ASLR data derivied from SRA with coastal land deformation derived from InSAR to estimate and map RLSR along coastline near Galveston, Texas, one of leading subsidence hotspots in the United States. Specifically, the radar altimetry product “MEaSUREs” from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) was used to extract the time series of sea surface height anomalies for estimating ASLR rate. Meanwhile, the persistent scatter (PS) InSAR technique was utilized to generate land subsidence from Sentinel-1 data between 2017 and 2021. The RSLR map is generated by combining ASLR and InSAR data via designed grid pattern defined by geographic information system (GIS) analysis near the coastline. The performance of the RSLR grid map is validated through comparing against results obtained by TG measurements. This study hopes to provide improved capability for monitoring RSLR along coastline in response to increased demands for coastal resilience and sustainable development.