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Grice Marine Grice Marine Grice Marine Grice Marine Grice Marine Laboratory Laboratory Laboratory Laboratory Laboratory College of College of College of College of College of Charleston Charleston Charleston Charleston Charleston 205 Fort Johnson 205 Fort Johnson 205 Fort Johnson 205 Fort Johnson 205 Fort Johnson Charleston, SC Charleston, SC Charleston, SC Charleston, SC Charleston, SC 29412 29412 29412 29412 29412 Tel: 843 953-9200 Tel: 843 953-9200 Tel: 843 953-9200 Tel: 843 953-9200 Tel: 843 953-9200 F F F ax: 843 953-9199 ax: 843 953-9199 ax: 843 953-9199 ax: 843 953-9199 ax: 843 953-9199 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Grice Logbook Grice Logbook Grice Logbook Grice Logbook Grice Logbook A Newsletter of the Grice Marine Laboratory and the Graduate Program in Marine Biology, College of Charleston Volume 3, No. 1 April, 2004 Undergraduate Research Thrives at Grice Undergraduate research continues to thrive at the Grice Marine Laboratory and its partner institutions at Fort Johnson. The Fort Johnson Undergraduate Research Program completed its eleventh year with the largest class of 11 students. Students worked side-by-side with faculty mentors at the College of Charleston, the Medical University of South Carolina, the SC Department of Natural Resources, the Center for Environmental Health and Biomedical Research (NOAA), and the Charleston Laboratory of the National Institute of Standards Continued on page 4 this newsletter is this newsletter is this newsletter is this newsletter is this newsletter is available on-line available on-line available on-line available on-line available on-line at www.cofc.edu/ at www.cofc.edu/ at www.cofc.edu/ at www.cofc.edu/ at www.cofc.edu/ ~grice. ~grice. ~grice. ~grice. ~grice. Our 30 th Anniversary! The year 2003 marked the 30 th anniversary of the beginning of our Graduate Program in Marine Biology. During these three decades, over 160 graduates have received their MS in Marine Biology and have dispersed throughout the country and the world (South Africa, Indonesia, and South America). The GPMB held a reunion in early November to celebrate this milestone. Of the 161 alums at that time, 81 came to Fort Johnson, many with their families, to celebrate with old friends. On Friday night, current grad students sponsored a social, with a major oyster feast on Saturday evening (see www .cofc.edu/ ~marine for photos). During the weekend, alums, ex-faculty, current students and faculty, socialized, toured Charleston, renewed old friendships, and made new ones. As Chip Biernbaum said, “It’s wonderful to see so many of our progeny returning to their professional rookery – I feel like their dad.” (photos, p. 4) The Unseen Community of Colonizers The unseen ecological community of microorganisms in the marine environment includes bacteria and is the focus of significant effort at the Grice Marine Laboratory. Dr. Craig Plante and his students are studying the mechanisms and rates of bacterial colonization of marine sediments following disturbances, including disturbances associated with animal feeding. This project is supported by the National Science Foundation. Dr. Plante has shown that bacteria re-colonize disturbed sediments by migrating from surrounding sediments. Subsequent changes in the bacterial community, called microbial succession, is being analyzed using molecular techniques such as PCR and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis. Dr. Plante and his students hope to determine whether the ingestion of sediments by various animals affects succession and community structure in similar ways. A second major research goal is to elucidate the role of quorum sensing in regulating abundances and biofilm formation of marine benthic bacteria. Controls on bacterial abundance in marine sediments remain poorly understood despite the importance to biogeochemical processes, benthic food webs, and bioremediation. Quorum sensing refers to a mode of intercellular communications and density-dependent gene expression in bacteria – that is, genes for certain traits are not “turned on” until some threshold population density is reached. In sediments, most bacteria grow in Continued on page 3

Grice Newsletter, Spring 2004 for WebGrice Marine Laboratory College of Charleston 205 Fort Johnson Charleston, SC 29412 Tel: 843 953-9200 Fax: 843 953-9199 [email protected] Grice Logbook

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  • Grice MarineGrice MarineGrice MarineGrice MarineGrice Marine

    LaboratoryLaboratoryLaboratoryLaboratoryLaboratory

    College ofCollege ofCollege ofCollege ofCollege of

    CharlestonCharlestonCharlestonCharlestonCharleston

    205 Fort Johnson205 Fort Johnson205 Fort Johnson205 Fort Johnson205 Fort Johnson

    Charleston, SCCharleston, SCCharleston, SCCharleston, SCCharleston, SC

    2941229412294122941229412

    Tel: 843 953-9200Tel: 843 953-9200Tel: 843 953-9200Tel: 843 953-9200Tel: 843 953-9200

    FFFFFax: 843 953-9199ax: 843 953-9199ax: 843 953-9199ax: 843 953-9199ax: 843 953-9199

    [email protected]@[email protected]@[email protected]

    Grice LogbookGrice LogbookGrice LogbookGrice LogbookGrice LogbookA Newsletter of the Grice Marine Laboratory and the GraduateProgram in Marine Biology, College of Charleston

    Volume 3, No. 1April, 2004

    Undergraduate ResearchThrives at Grice

    Undergraduate research continues to thriveat the Grice Marine Laboratory and its partnerinstitutions at Fort Johnson. The Fort JohnsonUndergraduate Research Program completed itseleventh year with the largest class of 11

    students. Students worked side-by-side withfaculty mentors at the College of Charleston, theMedical University of South Carolina, the SCDepartment of Natural Resources, the Centerfor Environmental Health and BiomedicalResearch (NOAA), and the CharlestonLaboratory of the National Institute of Standards

    Continued on page 4

    this newsletter isthis newsletter isthis newsletter isthis newsletter isthis newsletter is

    available on-lineavailable on-lineavailable on-lineavailable on-lineavailable on-line

    at www.cofc.edu/at www.cofc.edu/at www.cofc.edu/at www.cofc.edu/at www.cofc.edu/

    ~grice.~grice.~grice.~grice.~grice.

    Our 30th Anniversary!The year 2003 marked the 30th anniversary

    of the beginning of our Graduate Program inMarine Biology. During these three decades, over160 graduates have received their MS in MarineBiology and have dispersed throughout thecountry and the world (South Africa, Indonesia,and South America). The GPMB held a reunionin early November to celebrate this milestone.Of the 161 alums at that time, 81 came to FortJohnson, many with their families, to celebratewith old friends. On Friday night, current gradstudents sponsored a social, with a major oysterfeast on Saturday evening (see www.cofc.edu/~marine for photos). During the weekend, alums,ex-faculty, current students and faculty,socialized, toured Charleston, renewed oldfriendships, and made new ones. As ChipBiernbaum said, “It’s wonderful to see so manyof our progeny returning to their professionalrookery – I feel like their dad.” (photos, p. 4)

    The Unseen Community ofColonizers

    The unseen ecological community ofmicroorganisms in the marine environmentincludes bacteria and is the focus of significanteffort at the Grice Marine Laboratory. Dr. CraigPlante and his students are studying themechanisms and rates of bacterial colonizationof marine sediments following disturbances,including disturbances associated with animalfeeding. This project is supported by the NationalScience Foundation.

    Dr. Plante has shown that bacteria re-colonizedisturbed sediments by migrating fromsurrounding sediments. Subsequent changesin the bacterial community, called microbialsuccession, is being analyzed using moleculartechniques such as PCR and denaturing gradient

    gel electrophoresis. Dr. Plante and his studentshope to determine whether the ingestion ofsediments by various animals affects successionand community structure in similar ways.

    A second major research goal is to elucidatethe role of quorum sensing in regulatingabundances and biofilm formation of marinebenthic bacteria. Controls on bacterialabundance in marine sediments remain poorlyunderstood despite the importance tobiogeochemical processes, benthic food webs,and bioremediation. Quorum sensing refers toa mode of intercellular communications anddensity-dependent gene expression in bacteria– that is, genes for certain traits are not “turnedon” until some threshold population density isreached. In sediments, most bacteria grow in

    Continued on page 3

    mailto:[email protected]://www.cofc.edu/~gricehttp://www.cofc.edu/~gricehttp://www.cofc.edu/~marinehttp://www.cofc.edu/~marine

  • Grice Logbook - 2Grice Logbook - 2Grice Logbook - 2Grice Logbook - 2Grice Logbook - 2

    Alumni NotesBeth Hester (1976): Beth was the first graduateof the Marine Biology Graduate Program. Shewent on to complete a PhD in Oceanography atOld Dominion University and now works as anOceanographer for the Naval OceanographicOffice, Stennis Space Center, Miss. She hasworked in underwater acoustics since 1985 andis currently involved with autonomous underseavehicles, collecting oceanographic dataworldwide.Betsy Berg (1979): Betsy has taught in collegesand high schools from one coast to the otherand is presently teaching Marine Science andHorticulture at Corvallis High School in Oregon.She spent two weeks studying at the NavalAcademy, ten days exploring deep watermethane seeps in the Monterey trench, eightdays as a Jason Teacher Argonaut with BobBallard in the Keys (when she “drove” the NR-12nuclear research sub), and will serve aboard aship in Antarctica in 2005. She and her husband,John, have a daughter who is a senior at theUniversity of Oregon.Janet Kelly (1982): Since leaving Grice, Janethas served with the Peace Corps in Papua NewGuinea; marketed jewelry, picked cantaloupe,and fished for tuna and trout in Indonesia andAustralia; organized a boxing fund-raiser inTasmania; spent some time in Charlestonlearning Indian cuisine and cell biology withMUSC’s Karl Karnaky; pursued a degree inPublic Health; and worked at the Centers forDisease Control’s HIV/AIDS division. For thepast several years, she’s been working for variousorganizations in Alaska on Alaska Native healthprojects. She has two daughters.Earl Sanders (1984): Earl is currently a full-timePhD student in maritime anthropology at theUniversity of Georgia, where his research focuseson the ethnic identity, subsistence strategies,and ecological niche of pre-industrial fishingsocieties. He spent the summer of 2003 on theSW coast of Madagascar studying the Vezo.He works part-time as a BMW motorcyclemechanic, restoring and repairing classicBeemers.Carole Baldwin (1986): Carole has been at theSmithsonian’s National Museum of NaturalHistory since receiving her PhD from VIMS, andis currently Research Zoologist (Curator ofFishes). Her responsibilities include scienceeducation and research, which focuses on thesystematics & evolution of fishes, with a particularinterest in utilizing fish larvae. She is the star ofthe IMAX film “Galapagos” and has just publisheda cookbook focusing on renewable seafoodspecies entitled One Fish, Two Fish, Crawfish,

    Continued on page 7

    In Memory of CecilChristopher Cecil Sharp arrived at the

    Graduate Program in Marine Biology as anenthusiastic, bright-eyed, hard-working and veryentertaining student. In spite of what life threwat him, he remained that way throughout. Hewas the first graduate student I advised, and itdidn’t take long for me to realize he was not goingto bathe in my words of wisdom. He had nohesitation in letting me know if he thought I wasincorrect, and would then show me the literatureto prove it. I learned so much from him. And yethe was uniquely trusting, too. A fellow MARMAPemployee from Trinidad managed to persuadeCecil during a research cruise to Florida that he

    had never heard oftequila, had noidea what it was,and that no suchdrink existed inTrinidad. Ofcourse, when wearrived in Florida,Cecil had toenlighten thispoor chap, and itwas only manyshots of tequilalater that herealized he’d beenhad.

    Cecil choseto do his thesison a non-priorityspecies, that is,

    a species that was considered economicallyunimportant. He faced plenty of ribbing for hischoice, but by the time he was done, we wereall persuaded that knobbed porgy was the ‘fishof the future’. He completed his thesis in spiteof all his medical setbacks, and still had the timeto collaborate with a graduate student from theUniversity of North Carolina at Wilmington whowas working on the same species, travel toMexico to present his work at the AmericanSociety of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists(where he ate a few too many fish tacos),coordinate a soccer team… The thesis is allhis work. I incorporated the final edits to histhesis that his committee had suggested, butdid not alter any other aspect of his work.

    Cecil was a wonderful person, who had somuch to offer. I wish there had been more timeto accept his offerings.

    by Patrick J. HarrisDr. Harris was Cecil’s major advisor and worksfor the Marine Resources Research Institute atthe South Carolina Department of NaturalResources

  • Microbial Communities - Cont. from page 1

    Grice Logbook - 3Grice Logbook - 3Grice Logbook - 3Grice Logbook - 3Grice Logbook - 3

    See the on-lineSee the on-lineSee the on-lineSee the on-lineSee the on-line

    version of thisversion of thisversion of thisversion of thisversion of this

    newsletter atnewsletter atnewsletter atnewsletter atnewsletter at

    www.cofc.edu/www.cofc.edu/www.cofc.edu/www.cofc.edu/www.cofc.edu/

    ~grice~grice~grice~grice~grice

    secreted adherent biofilms, which consist ofdiverse bacterial types and secretedexopolymeric slimes. The high density ofbacteria in biofilms suggests that quorum sensingmay be fundamentally related to populationgrowth and biofilm physiology.

    This research should lead to a betterunderstanding of the processes of biofouling andmay have applications in the field ofbioremediation. In addition, several smallerprojects with undergraduate students areongoing. These include the study of: 1) seasonaland wave energy effects on the vertical migrationsof benthic diatoms, 2) quantitative and qualitativeeffects on microbial community structure ofdefaunation protocols (freezing, sieving, andanoxia) in marine sediments, and 3) the effectsof facultative deposit feeders on the structure ofsedimentary microbial communities.

    Dr. Craig Plante conducted his doctoral workin the Oceanography Department at theUniversity of Washington under the tutelage ofDr. Peter Jumars. Immediately prior to comingto the College of Charleston in August of 1994,he was a post-doctoral associate at theUniversity of Maine performing microbial ecologyand biogeochemistry research with Drs. GaryKing and Larry Mayer.

    Dr. Plante’s primary teaching responsibilityat the College of Charleston is the undergraduateGeneral Ecology course; he has also taughtEnvironmental Studies, Benthic Ecology andIntroductory Biology courses. He looks forwardto teaching a graduate course in Marine Ecologyin the fall.

    Joanna FoundationGraduate Fellowship inMarine Biology

    First awarded in 1986, this scholarship isexclusively dedicated to providing support tograduate students in the College of Charleston’sGraduate Program in Marine Biology (GPMB).The Joanna Foundation (formerly known as theMarquette Foundation) worked with the Collegeto establish a challenge grant program whichenabled a permanent endowment to be formedin 1989/1990. The interest on this endowmentnow yields about $7-9 thousand per year forcompetitive student awards. At least 34 GPMBstudents have received awards since theprogram was established.

    The Graduate Program in Marine Biology wasinitially established in 1973. It is generallyrecognized as one of the top graduate programsin marine biology in the country. Alumni havebeen very successful in the field and continueto make major contributions to ourunderstanding of coastal and ocean processes.The site of the Grice Marine Laboratory at theFort Johnson Marine Science Complex providesstudents and faculty with a nearly idealenvironment to launch both laboratory and fieldstudies in marine biology. With the recentopening of the Hollings Marine Laboratory, alsoin the Fort Johnson Marine Science Complex,additional new state of the art laboratories areavailable for top quality research. There are nowmore than 90 active faculty from the CofC, theSouth Carolina Department of NaturalResources, the Medical University of SouthCarolina, the National Ocean Sciences labs, theNational Institute of Standards and Technology,the Citadel and the Belle Baruch Laboratory ofthe University of South Carolina. The combinedlabs at the Complex provide a truly uniquecollaborative environment for students andfaculty to participate in excellent courses andquality research.

    In order to continue to be competitive as agraduate program in marine biology, it is clearwe need to increase our direct financial supportfor graduate students, particularly as they initiatetheir thesis research. The more than 90 facultyrepresenting all the collaborating institutions ofthe GPMB are strongly behind a new initiativeto encourage donations to the JoannaFoundation Graduate Fellowship Fund.

    If you have questions or would like to makea donation, please contact Dr. David Owens,Director of the Graduate Program in MarineBiology (843-953-9200) or the College ofCharleston Foundation (843-953-5562).

    New Graduate StudentsGaëlle Blanvillain – Université Catholique del’Ouest, Angers, FranceChristopher Bradshaw – Texas A&M University,Kelly Filer – University of VirginiaCara Fiore – State University of New YorkRebecca Gregory – Hendrix College, ARLori Homa – Cornell UniversityJennifer Ikerd – College of CharlestonEric Pante – College of CharlestonJohn Robinson – Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VAJeffrey Schwenter – Lake Superior StateUniversity, Sault Ste. Marie, MILorimar Serrano – University of Puerto RicoJacqueline Shapo – University of Rhode Island,Kingston, RIJulie Vecchio – Albion College, Albion, MIAmelia Viricel – College of CharlestonMelissa Yencho - Coastal Carolina University,Conway, SC

  • Grice Logbook - 4Grice Logbook - 4Grice Logbook - 4Grice Logbook - 4Grice Logbook - 4

    Recent GPMB DegreesAnne Blair – Phenotypic variation and plasticityin Leptogorgia virgulata near Charleston, SouthCarolina (Advisor Phil Dustan)Jamie Colman – Developmental toxicity ofbrevetoxins and ciguatoxins in Medaka embryos(Advisor John Ramsdell)Elizabeth Daniel – Reproductive seasonality,maturation, fecundity, & spawning frequency ofRed Porgy, Pagrus pagrus, off the southeasternUnited States (Advisor Jack McGovern)Marcus Drymon – Age, growth and maturationof the Finetooth shark, Carcharhinus isodon inthe Atlantic waters of the Southeastern UnitedStates (Advisor Pat Harris)Michelle Lee – Reproductive biology andseasonal testosterone patterns of theDiamondback Terrapin, Malaclemys terrapin, inthe estuaries of Charleston, South Carolina(Advisor Dave Owens)Jeannine Logan – Contextual use of whistlesin the Bottlenose Dolphin Tursiops truncatus(Advisor Arch McCallum)Jeanine Miller – Stress responses in Kareniabrevis : identification and responsecharacterization of stress proteins andantioxidant enzymes (Advisor Fran Van Dolah)Mark Renshaw – Use of microsatellites forgenetic marking of hatchery-stock individuals inthe wild as part of red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus)stock enhancement research in South Carolina(Advisor Bob Chapman)Christopher Cecil Sharp – Life-history of theknobbed porgy, Calamus nodosus, on thecontinental shelf of North and South Carolina(Advisor Pat Harris)

    and Technology. Students from around thecountry participate in the program that includesan intensive research experience, lectures, fieldtrips to local marine habitats, and an overnighttrip to the ACE Basin for a seminar in ethics.These students form a close knit group, workingand learning together and living in the dormitoriesat the Grice Marine Laboratory. This program issupported by the National Science Foundationand is intended to stimulate students to considercareers in scientific research. Happily, thesesummer students have been applying to theGraduate Program in Marine Biology at theCollege of Charleston in record numbers as theyhave come to value the personal attention of thefaculty and the collaborative researchatmosphere at Fort Johnson.

    Undergraduate Research - Cont. from page 1Some Photos from the30th Anniversary

    David McLean '88David McLean '88David McLean '88David McLean '88David McLean '88

    Chip BiernbaumChip BiernbaumChip BiernbaumChip BiernbaumChip Biernbaum

    Bill Hoffman ' 91Bill Hoffman ' 91Bill Hoffman ' 91Bill Hoffman ' 91Bill Hoffman ' 91

    Chris Koenig '82Chris Koenig '82Chris Koenig '82Chris Koenig '82Chris Koenig '82

    John Dwyer '94John Dwyer '94John Dwyer '94John Dwyer '94John Dwyer '94

    Stuart Edmunds '93Stuart Edmunds '93Stuart Edmunds '93Stuart Edmunds '93Stuart Edmunds '93

    President, CollegePresident, CollegePresident, CollegePresident, CollegePresident, College

    of Charleston -of Charleston -of Charleston -of Charleston -of Charleston -

    President and Mrs.President and Mrs.President and Mrs.President and Mrs.President and Mrs.

    Leo HigdonLeo HigdonLeo HigdonLeo HigdonLeo Higdon

    Carole Baldwin '86Carole Baldwin '86Carole Baldwin '86Carole Baldwin '86Carole Baldwin '86

    Chip BiernbaumChip BiernbaumChip BiernbaumChip BiernbaumChip Biernbaum

    Andrea LePAndrea LePAndrea LePAndrea LePAndrea LePard '03ard '03ard '03ard '03ard '03

    Lisa Carter '00Lisa Carter '00Lisa Carter '00Lisa Carter '00Lisa Carter '00

  • Grice Logbook - 5Grice Logbook - 5Grice Logbook - 5Grice Logbook - 5Grice Logbook - 5

    Slocum-Lunz FoundationHelps Support StudentResearch

    The Slocum-Lunz Foundation, created fromthe sale of the Bears Bluff Laboratory, hasprovided financial assistance to graduatestudents at Colleges and Universities of SouthCarolina since its inception. Dozens of Collegeof Charleston students have received funding toassist in the research projects since the 1970s.Over the last five years, the Foundation hasprovided research funding to sixteen College ofCharleston students. Among the studies fundedare: the genetic population structure of groupers,cellular responses of oysters to low dissolvedoxygen, a taxonomic study of blennies, andreproductive biology of diamondback terrapins.

    The Foundation’s Board of Trustees iscurrently chaired by David Whitaker, a graduateof the College of Charleston. Other boardmembers include Dr. William Anderson of the

    Research ColloquiumThe 7th annual Marine Biology Student

    Research Colloquium celebrated studentresearch on February 20 and 21, 2004. Thekeynote speaker of the event was Dr. J. MalcolmShick, a physiological ecologist and Professorof Biology at the School of Marine Sciences atthe University of Maine. Dr. Shick is a scholarinternationallyknown for hisbroad interests inthe physiology ofa variety ofm a r i n eorganisms. Hismost recentresearch hasfocused on theuse of moleculesthat act as sunscreens in coralsand other marineanimals. The titleof Dr. Shick’skeynote address on Friday was “Coral Sea toCôte d’Azur to Coast o’Maine: Field andLaboratory Studies of UV Sunscreens in MarineOrganisms.” Saturday was devoted to studentresearch as 13 students highlighted theirresearch accomplishments. The final talk in theSaturday session was by Dr. Shick who reflectedon some historical views of research done atmarine labs and his travels to a few of theselabs in particular. A traditional oyster roastcapped the weekend’s activities. See photos atwww.cofc.edu/~marine.

    College of Charleston, Dr. Arnold Eversole ofClemson University, Dr. Robert Feller of USC,Dr. Amy Ringwood of UNC, Charlotte, Mr. BillRoumillat of SC DNR, Mr. Skip Johnson ofColumbia, Dr. Elizabeth Lunz of Atlanta, and Mr.Rick Stoughton (treasurer) of Charleston. TheBoard’s policy is to provide 80 percent of allannual income, above required accounting costs,to students and the remaining 20 percent is rolledinto the corpus. Board members receive nocompensation.

    The Foundation’s annual grants to studentshave declined in recent years because declininginterest rates have reduced the Foundation’sincome. To remedy this problem, the Board ofTrustees is soliciting tax free donations toincrease the organization’s corpus. If graduatesof the College’s Marine Biology program areaware of entities wishing to provide tax deductiblememorial gifts or gifts from fishing clubs,environmental organizations, or others, pleasecontact David Whitaker (843-953-9392).

    Student AwardsStephanie Brunelle – Best Student OralPresentation Award, 2004 Marine BiologyGraduate Student Research Colloquium,February 2004 (pictured below with keynotespeaker Dr. J. Malcolm Shick).

    Rusty Day – 2004 Conference of SouthernGraduate Schools Master Thesis Award for theLife Sciences division at the CSGS AnnualMeeting, February 20-23, 2004, in Charlotte, NC.Nathan Garcia & Joe Rafalowski – NSFFunded Low Country Partners for InquiryTeaching and Learning FellowshipJeremy Holman (undergraduate)– 2nd place inBest Student Poster, Division of ComparativePhysiology and Biochemistry, annual meetingof the Society of Integrative and ComparativeBiology, New Orleans. January 2004.Noel Turner – John A. Knauss Marine PolicyFellowship.

    http://www.cofc.edu/~marine

  • Faculty NotesDr. Scott France joined the faculty in the

    Dept. of Biology in 1999 as an assistantprofessor. After the fall semester of 2003 Scottleft the College of Charleston to join the facultyat the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. BothScott and his research on deep-sea benthicinvertebrates will be missed.

    Dr. Gorka Sancho, Dept. of Biology, and Dr.Leslie Sautter , Dept. of Geology andEnvironmental Geosciences teach a new oceanscience course funded by the National ScienceFoundation titled “Oceanographic Research.” InNovember 2003, they took students on a 5-dayoceanographic research cruise on the RVSavannah to the continental shelf off Charleston.The students collected a broad range ofoceanographic samples and data along a transectline perpendicular to the coast. During the coursethis spring these students will analyze data andconduct individual research projects, whilelearning about different oceanographictechniques.

    Antarctic ExplorersDr. Jack DiTullio, his research associate

    Sarah Riseman, and his graduate studentNathan Garcia spent a month in Antarctica onan oceanographic research cruise. OnDecember 18th they departed Lyttleton, NewZealand aboard the RVIB Nathaniel B. Palmerand headed south, steaming across the Antarctic

    CircumpolarCurrent of theS o u t h e r nOcean to theRoss Sea. Thecruise was partof a researchproject toinvestigate theeffects of ironavailability andirradiance onPhaeocyst isantarctica in

    the Ross Sea. Phaeocystis antarctica is a majorbloom-forming alga in Antarctic shelf waterswhere it is considered a keystone species in itsimpact on regional biogeochemical cycling andecosystem structure. The primary goal of their

    work aboard the N.B. Palmer was to collect andisolate strains of Phaeocystis spp. in order tobring them back to the College of Charlestonwhere they could be maintained in culture forfuture laboratory-based experiments. Some ofthe lab experiments to be conducted will formthe thesis research component of Mr. Garcia’s

    M.S. Degree. Once the algal samples had beencollected and work was completed in the RossSea, the ship broke into the ice near McMurdoStation. DiTullio’s group was flown via helicopterto McMurdo Station where they spent anotherweek working with the algal cultures at the CraryLab before returning back to Charleston in mid-January. The Phaeocystis cultures were packedinto a cooler with enough ice to keep them coldand were brought home as checked luggage.Despite being delayed in Chicago for about 12hours, the cultures survived the long journey fromAntarctica and are now being kept at 0oC in alighted incubator at the Hollings MarineLaboratory in Charleston.

    Marine Biology AlumniTell us what you are up to!

    [email protected]

    Presidential SummerResearch Award

    This is a new award, made possible throughthe efforts of President Leo Higdon, for recruitinggraduate students in both the EnvironmentalStuides and the Marine Biology graduateprograms. The recipients will be selected by ascholarship selection committee. Scholarshiprecipients must be fully admitted, first year,degree-seeking graduate students. They mustbe excellent academically by virtue of theirundergraduate grade point averages, researchaccomplishments, and/or other criteria that allowsthem to be labeled “top-ranked.” Recipients mustmaintain a minimum GPA of 3.0 in order to remaineligible. The student must be enrolled full-timein the two terms preceding the summer of theinitial award. This award may be granted for asecond summer if the student receiving the awardmeets all the criteria stated above and hascompleted a total of at least 12 graduate hoursof coursework in the two terms preceding thesummer of the second award.

    Faculty NotesDr. Scott France joined the faculty in the

    Dept. of Biology in 1999 as an assistantprofessor. After the fall semester of 2003 Scottleft the College of Charleston to join the facultyat the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. BothScott and his research on deep-sea benthicinvertebrates will be missed.

    Dr. Gorka Sancho, Dept. of Biology, and Dr.Leslie Sautter , Dept. of Geology andEnvironmental Geosciences teach a new oceanscience course funded by the National ScienceFoundation titled “Oceanographic Research.” InNovember 2003, they took students on a 5-dayoceanographic research cruise on the RVSavannah to the continental shelf off Charleston.The students collected a broad range ofoceanographic samples and data along a transectline perpendicular to the coast. During the coursethis spring these students will analyze data andconduct individual research projects, whilelearning about different oceanographictechniques.

    Grice Logbook - 6Grice Logbook - 6Grice Logbook - 6Grice Logbook - 6Grice Logbook - 6

    Antarctic ExplorersDr. Jack DiTullio, his research associate

    Sarah Riseman, and his graduate studentNathan Garcia spent a month in Antarctica onan oceanographic research cruise. OnDecember 18th they departed Lyttleton, NewZealand aboard the RVIB Nathaniel B. Palmerand headed south, steaming across the Antarctic

    CircumpolarCurrent of theS o u t h e r nOcean to theRoss Sea. Thecruise was partof a researchproject toinvestigate theeffects of ironavailability andirradiance onPhaeocyst isantarctica in

    the Ross Sea. Phaeocystis antarctica is a majorbloom-forming alga in Antarctic shelf waterswhere it is considered a keystone species in itsimpact on regional biogeochemical cycling andecosystem structure. The primary goal of their

    work aboard the N.B. Palmer was to collect andisolate strains of Phaeocystis spp. in order tobring them back to the College of Charlestonwhere they could be maintained in culture forfuture laboratory-based experiments. Some ofthe lab experiments to be conducted will formthe thesis research component of Mr. Garcia’s

    M.S. Degree. Once the algal samples had beencollected and work was completed in the RossSea, the ship broke into the ice near McMurdoStation. DiTullio’s group was flown via helicopterto McMurdo Station where they spent anotherweek working with the algal cultures at the CraryLab before returning back to Charleston in mid-January. The Phaeocystis cultures were packedinto a cooler with enough ice to keep them coldand were brought home as checked luggage.Despite being delayed in Chicago for about 12hours, the cultures survived the long journey fromAntarctica and are now being kept at 0oC in alighted incubator at the Hollings MarineLaboratory in Charleston.

    Marine Biology AlumniTell us what you are up to!

    [email protected]

    Presidential SummerResearch Award

    This is a new award, made possible throughthe efforts of President Leo Higdon, for recruitinggraduate students in both the EnvironmentalStuides and the Marine Biology graduateprograms. The recipients will be selected by ascholarship selection committee. Scholarshiprecipients must be fully admitted, first year,degree-seeking graduate students. They mustbe excellent academically by virtue of theirundergraduate grade point averages, researchaccomplishments, and/or other criteria that allowsthem to be labeled “top-ranked.” Recipients mustmaintain a minimum GPA of 3.0 in order to remaineligible. The student must be enrolled full-timein the two terms preceding the summer of theinitial award. This award may be granted for asecond summer if the student receiving the awardmeets all the criteria stated above and hascompleted a total of at least 12 graduate hoursof coursework in the two terms preceding thesummer of the second award.

    http://www.cofc.edu/~ditullio

  • Grice Logbook - 7Grice Logbook - 7Grice Logbook - 7Grice Logbook - 7Grice Logbook - 7

    Bluefish. Check out www.mnh.si.edu/expeditions/galapagos (a USA Today “Hot NewSite” winner in 2001) and www.mnh.si.edu.Greg Grabowski (1989): After receiving his PhDfrom MUSC, Greg held a post-doc and facultyposition at Harvard’s School of Public Health.He is now the chair and physiologist of theBiology Department of the University of DetroitMercy. His wife, Claudia, is pursuing her Master’sdegree in blood banking and pathology. Theyhave three children (5, 9, and 13).Bill Hoffman (1991): Following graduation, Billtook a position with the Smithsonian NMNH’sDivision of Fishes, where he soon becameManager of their Marine Ecosystems exhibit. Hemanaged a public display that included fourecosystem aquaria, including a 2,000-gallon, all-live model of an Atlantic Coral Reef. When theexhibit closed, he went to the SmithsonianMarine Station in Fort Pierce, Florida. He is nowManager of the Smithsonian Marine EcosystemsExhibit in the St. Lucie County Marine Center.Check out www.sms.si.edu/smee.John Dwyer (1994): John has worked asAcademic Director of the Marine ScienceConsortium, Wallops Island, Virginia, where hedeveloped educationalprograms for pre-collegestudents and Elderhostel,and as Assistant Director ofthe Environmental StudiesGraduate Program at theCollege of Charleston. From1998 to the present he hasbeen Assistant Director for ProgramManagement of the South Carolina Sea GrantConsortium. His work covers projects from themicro (e.g., ecogenomics immunoassays) to themacro (e.g., hurricanes).Brad Wiley (1996): After a couple of yearsresearching fishes in Lake Tana, Ethiopia, Bradentered law school at Lewis and Clark University.After receiving his JD and a certificate inenvironmental law in 2001, he took a job withthe NMFS in Arcata, CA. His primaryresponsibility is applying the EndangeredSpecies Act for listed salmonids in NorthernCalifornia.Alice Palmer (2001): Alice is currently a Fishand Wildlife Biologist in the Ecological Servicesoffice of the United States Fish and WildlifeService in Athens, Georgia. Her work involvessuch issues as wetlands, reservoirs, dams,anadromous fishes, migratory birds, endangeredspecies, aquatic restoration projects, freshwatermussel surveys, and hydrologic modeling relatedto water rights and aquatic resources. She willmarry Chuck Lawrence in October 2004.

    Alumni Notes - Cont. from page 2 Rich Cochran (1994): Rich is currentlyemployed by the state of Tennessee as anEnvironmental Specialist in the Department ofEnvironment and Conservation, Division of WaterPollution Control. He works in the WatershedManagement Program doing a variety of things,including GIS, stream modeling andassessment, watershed monitoring, and publicmeetings. He is married to Lisa, who is a jewelrydesigner.Shane Guan (1998): Shane is a FisheryBiologist at the US Fish and Wildlife Service’sheadquarters in Washington, DC. He is currentlyworking with the US Coral Reef Task Force,which helps lead and coordinate US efforts toaddress the coral reef crisis. He and his wife livein Maryland. Check out www.fws.gov;www.coralreef.gov.John Hayse (1987): After receiving his PhD fromMiami University (in Ohio), John took a positionwith the Environmental Assessment Division ofArgonne National Laboratory. His majorresponsibilities include evaluating and addressingeffects of hydropower operations on endangeredfish and trout in the Colorado River basin,developing environmental impact statements, andconducting ecological risk assessments for

    contaminated sites. Heand his wife, Susan, havetwo children (11 and 13).Debbie (Weinheimer)King (1982): After brieflyworking for the NationalMarine Fisheries Serviceand South Carolina

    Coastal Council, Debbie took a position with theCorps of Engineers. She works primarily withdredging and disposal projects, beachnourishment, and other projects that impactaquatic habitats. She and her husband, Patrick,live in Charleston.Mark Millikin (1983): Mark is employed by theNMFS’s Office of Fisheries Conservation andManagement in Washington, D.C., where heworks on Magnuson-Stevens Act fisherymanagement issues. He and his wife, Debbie,live in Chesapeake Beach, Maryland. Onedaughter is a student at Georgetown Law School,a son is a US Army combat medic, and theirsecond daughter is a student at SalisburyUniversity. Mark published a biography onbaseball Hall-of-Famer Jimmie Foxx in 1998, andis now preparing a book entitled The Glory ofthe 1966 Orioles and Baltimore.John Wise (1989): After receiving his PhD fromGeorge Washington University, John assumedhis present position as Curator of Malacology atthe Houston Museum of Natural Science. He hastwo children (17 and 20).

    Marine Biology AlumniTell us what you are up to!

    [email protected]

    http://www.mnh.si.edu/expeditions/galapagoshttp://www.mnh.si.edu/expeditions/galapagoshttp://www.mnh.si.eduhttp://www.sms.si.edu/smeehttp://www.coralreef.gov

  • Grice MarineGrice MarineGrice MarineGrice MarineGrice Marine

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    Grice Coffee Mugs & T-ShirtsThe graduate students in marine biology areselling t-shirts and coffee mugs to raise moneyto support student travel to meetings and otheractivities.o Shirts, long sleeve $13, short sleeve $11, invariety of colors and sizes.o Coffee mugs, $6 each or $5 for 3 or more.o Get more information by [email protected] or call (843) 953-9200.

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    A Generation ofUndergraduate Research,A Personal Note

    It is not often that one gets to experience thepleasure of associations with undergraduatestudents the way I have this year. For over 25years I have been privileged and lucky to havehad many great students doing research in my

    lab. But this year is very special for me becauseit marks time in a special way. Many of myundergraduate researchers have gone on tofulfilling careers in science. Two of my very firstundergraduate students have, in a way, returnedto the fold at the Grice Marine Laboratory. Dr.Kevin Krajniak and Dr. David Scholnick are once

    again partners with me as they were in the 1980’sat the University of San Diego where I was ajunior faculty member. Kevin is now a tenuredassociate professor at Southern Illinois Universityat Edwardsville and David is a tenured associateprofessor at Eckerd College in Florida. Both areon sabbatical leave and both are doing work withme and my students here at Grice. There is nobetter feeling than to be joined by two friendsand colleagues in another adventure. I hope Iplayed as much a role in their pursuit of a life oflearning as they played in mine in getting mestarted in this profession those many years ago.

    -Lou Burnett

    David Scholnick, Kevin Krajniak, Lou Burnett

    mailto:[email protected]://www.cofc.edu/~burnettl