Summer 2005 • Volume XX, Number 3

Nova Southeastern UniversityOceanographic Center

NSUOC faculty member Edward O.Keith led a group of graduate students on afive-day cruise to the Tongue of the Ocean,Bahamas, aboard the R/V Suncoaster,accompanied by scientists from theSoutheast Fisheries Science Center(NOAA Fisheries) Miami Laboratory. Thecruise departed from Miami on the eveningof May 5 and returned on the morning ofMay 10. The purpose of the cruise was toconduct visual and acoustic surveys ofmarine mammals and to collect physicaland biological oceanographic data. The tripwas designed to instruct OC graduatestudents on marine mammal andoceanographic data collection techniquesand was made possible by a ship-time grantawarded to Keith from the Florida Instituteof Oceanography.

Scientists from the NOAA MiamiLaboratory have conducted visual andacoustic surveys of cetaceans in the waters ofPuerto Rico and the Virgin Islands and overthe southeast United States continentalshelf. These surveys have indicated thatnumerous species of cetaceans occur inthese areas, however there is a gap inknowledge in and around the Bahamas.This cruise represented an attempt to fillthat gap.

The Tongue of the Ocean is an area ofdeep water nearly surrounded by the shallowBahama Banks. A variety of dolphins andwhales (cetaceans), including severalspecies of beaked whales, which are usuallyfound far offshore, are found there. This areawas also the location of a multispecies massstranding of 17 individual cetaceans (five

different species) in 2000. This is one reasonthat more information about the speciesinhabiting this region is needed.

The data collection techniques usedwere relevant to several students who madethe cruise. Susan Zaretsky was finishingher thesis on cetacean vocalizations (shesuccessfully defended her thesis on July 15),and Jennifer Scharnitz was writing herthesis on the vocalizations of a specificcetacean genus. Melinda Bigelow, MeilingEwing-Chow, Sarah Maurer, StephanieRogers, Abraham Smith, and LeslyeWaugh were aboard to learn the techniquesand assist with the data collection. NOAAscientists Anthony Martinez and JesseWicker provided the acoustic hydrophoneand monitoring equipment, as well as thetechnical expertise.

The crew of the R/V Suncoaster—Captain Larry Braun, Asst. Captain JosephCross, Chief Engineer Jay Harding, Asst.Engineer George Guthro, and StewardMargaret Musmon—welcomed everyoneaboard the evening of May 5. Once all ofthe gear was aboard and stowed fordeparture, Musmon served a deliciousdinner. After a few more errands, the shipdeparted Miami about 10:00 p.m., with anunforgettable view of the city lights overthe stern.

In contrast to a previous trip (CurrentsWinter 2004; Volume XVIII, No. 1) thewind and weather provided a smoothcrossing and the ship arrived in Freeport,Bahamas, to clear customs early the nextmorning. After clearing Bahamiancustoms, the ship set out to conduct the

Marine Mammal Survey in the Tongue of the Ocean, Bahamas

The R/V Suncoaster

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for easy identification of cetacean whistlesand clicks, some of which can be speciesspecific. WhalTrack determines thebearing, relative to the ship’s course, fromwhich the sounds arrived and facilitatesvisual sightings of the animals.

As soon as the hydrophone wasdeployed, teams of visual observers tooktheir positions above the bridge of theship. These observers maintain constantsurveillance of the water in front, and onboth sides, of the ship. The visual teamsand the hydrophone both attempt to detect

first day of data collection. A CTDinstrument was on board to collect atemperature profile of the water. Thisinstrument monitors the conductivity(salinity) and temperature of the water as itis lowered to a predetermined depth. Tocollect data with the CTD, the ship mustremain stationary in the water while theinstrument is deployed, using a winch, tothe bottom or to a depth of 200 m,whichever is reached first. The plan was todeploy a CTD at first light and at dusk toavoid conflicting with the marine mammalsurveys conducted during the majority ofthe daylight hours. Immediately after theCTD cast, plankton and neuston nets weretowed behind the ship and yielded samplesof invertebrates, fish, and plankton. Thesesamples were divided and preserved inethanol and formalin for later analysis atthe NSUOC.

After the CTD and tows wereconcluded, marine mammal observationsbegan. This involved deploying thehydrophone; a series of five sensitiveunderwater microphones encased in a longplastic sleeve and towed about 250 metersbehind the ship. The microphones candetect any noise in the water. The outputfrom the microphones was recorded ondigital audiotape and interpreted using twocomputer software programs—Ishmael andWhalTrack. Ishmael displays a frequencyhistogram of the sounds detected, allowing

the animals. Visual observers can seeanimals that are not making any sounds,while hydrophones can detect animals thatmay be under the water. Once animals aresighted, photographs are taken and theanimals are counted and identified.

The marine mammal observationswere terminated about an hour before dusk,and a CTD cast and plankton/neuston towswere conducted. After dark, the ship madeway to the next day’s starting position. Bythe middle of the second day, the R/VSuncoaster was in the center of the cul-de-sac at the end of the Tongue of the Ocean.A large buoy tethered to the bottom in thisarea attracts a large number of fish, and thescientific party and crew spent severalhours fishing. As a result, the menu fordinner that evening included deliciousfresh fish.

Because of the threat of bad weather,the ship quickly returned to the mouth ofthe Tongue of the Ocean and the shelter ofGrand Bahama Island and Greater AbacoIsland. However, the bad weather nevermaterialized, and the following day, theship steamed along the eastern shore ofGreater Abaco Island. The winds werelight, and the day was warm and sunny.One visual observer team saw a beakedwhale, but they were unable to identify it.In the middle of the afternoon, the shipreversed course and began its returnto Freeport.

The following day was spent cruisingjust south of Greater Bahama Island. In themorning, a group of Risso’s dolphins(Grampus griseus) were observed, counted,and photographed. Unfortunately, theseanimals did not make any sounds thatcould be detected by the hydrophone. TheR/V Suncoaster returned to Freeport on May9 to clear customs and allow everyone tospend a few hours shopping for souvenirs intown. The ship departed Freeport about7:00 p.m. As soon as it cleared the harbor,a group of Atlantic spotted dolphins(Stenella frontalis) rode the bow of the shipfor about 20 minutes, allowing for a lot ofpicture taking and eliciting exclamationsof delight.

That evening, the R/V Suncoaster madeits way southwest across the Gulf Streamtowards Miami. The crossing wasuneventful, and the ship arrived about8:00 a.m. Everyone felt that it had been asuccessful cruise.

Leslye Waugh and Susan Zaretzky ready the CTDinstrument for lowering into the water and datacollection.

Meiling Ewing-Chow and Stephanie Rogers retrievingthe CTD instrument after it had been lowered intothe ocean.

NOAA scientist Jesse Wicker with a dorado(coryphaena hippurus) he had just caught.

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People on the Move

Advancing the Science of Limnology andOceanography (ASLO) is the leading professionalorganization for researchers and educators in aquaticscience worldwide. “A Pilgrimage through GlobalAquatic Sciences” was the theme of the ASLO 2005Summer Meeting, June 19–24, in Santiago deCompostela, Spain.

Six scientists from the NSUOC and its internalNational Coral Reef Institute (NCRI) traveled to thissite, known for intense pilgrimages as the burial place ofthe apostle James (Santiago in Spanish). The “camino”or trail of Santiago features innumerable historicmonuments and significant works of art built inmemory to the apostle. Unlike most “nine-to-five”conferences, this international meeting adapted to theSpanish tradition. Morning sessions ran until almost2:00 p.m. After a two-hour lunch break, sessionsresumed until 7:00 or 7:30 each evening. Long hoursand historic backgrounds, however, did not interruptthe purpose of sharing important science. The sixNSUOC and NCRI presentations were part of thesession “Applied Ecosystem-Level Research to ReverseCoral Reef Degradation.” This session was organized byscientists from the National Oceanic and AtmosphericAdministration (NOAA) National Ocean Service(NOS).

La Plaza del Obradoiro (from “Obra de Oro” [work of gold]), with the Cathedral of Santiagode Compestela in Spain, started in 1075 CE.

• Associate professor and NCRI associate directorBernhard M. Riegl, Ph.D., presented on “TheNCRI monitoring network: Multi-dimensionaland multidisciplinary reef assessment on aworldwide scale,” co-authored by Samuel J.Purkis, Richard E. Dodge, Bernardo Vargas-Ángel, and Mahmood Shivji.

• Bernardo Vargas-Ángel, Ph.D., presented:“Higher resolution, multilayered approach toassessing sedimentation stress in reef corals,”co-authored by Bernhard M. Riegl; Richard E.Dodge; P. Blackwelder and T. Snell, (GeorgiaInstitute of Technology); David S. Gilliam; L.Fisher (Broward County EnvironmentalProtection Department); Erin C. Hodel,graduate student; and D. Abigail Renegar, M.Sc.

• NCRI research scientist and director of the GuyHarvey Research Institute (GHRI) MahmoodShivji, Ph.D., presented “Reproductive dispersalstrategy and genetic connectivity in commensal,sponge-dwelling, coral reef invertebrates,” co-authored by Vincent P. Richards, graduatestudent, and J.D. Thomas, Ph.D.

• Samuel J. Purkis, Ph.D., presented “Spatial patterns in coralcommunities as an indication of ecosystem status,” co-authored byBernhard M. Riegl, and Richard E. Dodge.

• Richard E. Dodge, Ph.D., NCRI executive director, presented “Science,management, and conservation gaps and opportunities: coral reef injuriesresulting from a large-ship anchorage,” co-authored by Walter C. Jaap,Ph.D., (Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission); K. Banks(Broward County Environmental Protection Department); David S.Gilliam; Brian K. Walker, M.Sc./Ph.D. candidate; and Richard Shaul (SeaByte, Inc.).

• Richard E. Spieler, Ph.D., presented “Mitigation of a S.E. Florida (USA)coral reef damaged by the grounding of a nuclear submarine—results of ahypotheses-based, multivariate restoration study,” co-authored by T.Patrick Quinn, M.Sc./Ph.D. candidate, Elizabeth G. Fahy, M.Sc.; andRichard E. Dodge.

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As it has for the last four years, the Oceanographic Centerparticipated in Florida Oceans Day by manning a booth at the statecapitol. Unlike past years, though, when the NSU banner was hungover the railing in the Rotunda, this year all the exhibits were outside,in the Capitol Plaza. A mild, beautiful day graced the exhibit area, withonly an occasional gust of wind to challenge some of the taller exhibits.Many people stopped by to chat and ask questions, especially about theOceanographic Center’s graduate school distance education program.

Representing the center were Richard E. Dodge, dean and executivedirector of the National Coral Reef Institute (NCRI), and Carol R.Fretwell, coordinator of administrative operations for NCRI.

Richard Dodge and Carol Fretwell stand near the NSUOC display

NCRI scientists with conference session co-chairs: (top row, left to right)Mahmood Shivji, Richard E. Speiler, Samuel J. Purkis, and Michael J.Dowgiallo (NOAA); (bottom row, left to right) Richard E. Dodge,Bernhard M. Riegl, and Felix A. Martinez (NOAA).

Mahmood Shivji begins his talk on “Reproductive dispersal strategy andgenetic connectivity in commensal, sponge-dwelling, coral reefinvertebrates” at the ASLO meeting in Spain.

Richard E. Dodge (left), and Richard E. Spieler at a poster session atthe ASLO meeting.

Three Nova Southeastern University Oceanographic Center(NSUOC) and National Coral Reef Institute (NCRI) scientists andthree NSUOC graduate students made seven presentations at the 32ndScientific Meeting of the Association of Marine Labs of the Caribbean(AMLC) in Curaçao, Netherlands Antilles, June 13–17. The venue forthe meeting was the Curaçao Sea Aquarium.

(L–R Back Row) Kevin E. Kohler, David S. Gilliam, Luz Raquel Hernández-Cruz,Brian K. Walker, and Vince P. Richards (front row) Bernhard M. Riegl.

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Top Row (left to right): Richard E. Dodge; Richard Spieler; Eugene Rosenberg, Ph.D.,[Tel Aviv University, Israel and Disease Working Group]; Pat Quinn, Ph.D. student,[NSUOC]. Bottom Row (left to right): Robert vanWoesik, Ph.D., (FIT and BleachingWorking Group]; Eric Jordán Dahlgren, Ph.D., [Institute of Marine Sciences andLimnology (ICML) of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM)and Disease Working Group]; Drew Harvel, Ph.D., [Cornell University and chair ofthe Disease Working Group]; and Roberto Iglesias Prieto, Ph.D., [ICML—UNAM,and Bleaching Working Group]

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The Targeted Research Project will focus on those areas of theworld that have significant coral reef resources, establishing “Centersof Excellence” in Mexico, Tanzania, and the Philippines and twinningthese with existing centers of excellence in Australia. These centerswill serve as regional hubs for training scientists in cutting-edgetechniques and for applying the findings in practical ways to improvethe management of these beautiful, economically vital—andthreatened—treasures. There are six thematic based working groups:Bleaching and Local Ecological Responses; Disease, Connectivity, andLarge-Scale Ecological Processes; Restoration and Remediation;Remote Sensing; and Modeling and Decision Support Tools.

NSU scientists visited reef sites at Akumal and Puerto Morales, aswell as the National University of Mexico (UNAM) to meet withscientists of the bleaching and the disease working groups to discussmutual strategies.

On May 22–24, professors Richard E. Dodge and RichardSpieler, and doctoral graduate student Pat Quinn visited Mexico toinvestigate study sites as part of their research project on coral reefrestoration. Dodge is a member of the Coral Reef Restoration andRemediation Working Group of an international six-group projectfunded by the World Bank Global Environment Facility.

The Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the World Bank arefunding a five-year initiative to help protect coral reefs in critical areasof developing countries. Coral reefs are the largest—and some of themost beautiful—living structures on earth, and play a key role in thelivelihoods of hundreds of millions of coastal dwelling poor people, yetthey are in decline in most parts of the world.

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• NCRI associate director and NSUOC associateprofessor Bernhard M. Riegl, Ph.D., gave two oralpresentations: “Geomorphology of the SoutheastFlorida Reef Tract (Dade, Broward, and Palm BeachCounties), USA,” co-authored by K. Banks andWerner Piller, Ph.D., (Karl-Franzens UniversityGraz); and Richard E. Dodge, Ph.D., NCRI executivedirector and NSUOC dean, in the session “RemoteSensing and GIS”; and “The NCRI MonitoringNetwork: Multilayered Reef Assessment on aCaribbean-Wide Scale,” co-authored by Samuel J.Purkis, Ph.D.; Dodge; Bernardo Vargas-Ángel, Ph.D.;and Mahmood Shivji, Ph.D., in the session “NOAAApplied Research.”

• NCRI and NSUOC research scientist David S.Gilliam, Ph.D., gave the oral presentation “CoralTransplantation Effectiveness for Reef Restorationand Impact Mitigation off Southeast Florida, USA,”co-authored by W.C. Jaap, Ph.D., (Florida Fish andWildlife Conservation Commission); Richard E.Dodge, Ph.D.; Brian D. Ettinger, M.Sc.; Elizabeth G.Fahy, M.Sc.; and Daniel P. Fahy, Shaun M. Gill, JamieA. Monty, and Lauren F. Shuman, graduate students,in the session “Environmental Restoration.”

• Graduate student Vince P. Richards gave the oralpresentation “Reproductive Dispersal Strategy andGenetic Connectivity in Commensal, Sponge-Dwelling, Coral Reef Invertebrates,” co-authoredby NSUOC faculty J.D. Thomas, Ph.D., and M.Shivji, Ph.D., in the session “Regional EcologicalConnectivity.”

• Graduate student Luz Raquel Hernández-Cruzgave the oral presentation “Synergy of MultipleSensors as an Assessment Tool for Monitoring theStatus of Acropora palmata (Elkhorn Coral) inVieques Island, Puerto Rico,” co-authored by SamuelJ. Purkis, Ph.D.; Bernhard M. Riegl, Ph.D.; andRichard E. Dodge, Ph.D., in the session “RemoteSensing and GIS.”

• Also in the same session, Ph.D. candidate Brian K.Walker gave the oral presentation “Mapping CoralReefs of Southeast Florida, USA,” co-authored byBernhard M. Riegl, Ph.D., and Richard E. Dodge, Ph.D.

• Kevin E. Kohler, M.Sc., senior programmer atNSUOC, presented the poster “Coral Point Countwith Excel Extensions (CPCe): A Windows-BasedProgram for the Analysis of Coral and SubstrateCoverage Using the Random Point Count Method,”co-authored by Shaun M. Gill, graduate student.

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From June 2–16, Edward O. Keith,Ph.D., was in the Philippines conducting asecond year of study of the cetaceans in theTañon Strait, which lies between theislands of Cebu and Negros in the centralPhilippines. He was with his collaborator,Lemnuel Aragones, Ph.D., who is withthe Rosenstiel School of Marine andAtmospheric Sciences, University of Miami.This project began last year when Aragonesand Keith received a President’s FacultyResearch and Development Grant fromNSU. Their work this year was supportedby a grant from the Sea World BuschGardens Conservation Fund, and the deansof NSU’s Farquhar College of Arts andSciences and Oceanographic Center.

The project has two major objectives:1) to repeatedly photograph whales anddolphins in the Tañon Strait in order toidentify individual animals, observing andrecording their behavior and estimatingtheir populations, and 2) to work withdolphin and whale watching tour operatorsand local municipalities to develop policiesand procedures to regulate this ecotourismactivity in order to prevent disturbance ofthe animals and competition between touroperators.

During 2004, Keith and Aragones tookthousands of digital and film photographsof the spinner dolphins (Stenella longirostris),spotted dolphins (Stenella attenuata), andbotttlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus).They also recorded the vocalizations ofsome of these species and conductedextensive interviews with the localfisherfolk and tourists (Currents Summer2004; Vol. XVIII, No. 3). Aragones andKeith also organized a series of workshopson the need for a set of rules governing theoperation of the dolphin watching vesselsin order to minimize the impact of the tourson the animals. These workshops alsoindicated the need for cooperation betweenthe various municipalities on both sides ofthe Tañon Strait as well as between thedifferent tour operators. After their return,the photographs were examined and acatalog of about 30 known individuals wasdeveloped. The analysis of the interviewsindicated that most respondents found thewhale and dolphin watching tours to beinteresting and educational, and that mostwould be willing to pay a small fee to supportwhale and dolphin conservation efforts.

On their return visit this year,Aragones and Keith continued their

participants. Participants went on adolphin-watching cruise, and theappropriate behavior of the vessel, thecrew, and the visitors was demonstrated. Anew version of a “script” for the tour guideswas also introduced. The objectives were toimprove the quality of the experience forthe visitors, to minimize disturbance of thedolphins and whales, and to increase thestatus of the crews of the vessels and thetour guides as professionals.

All of this laid the groundwork for theestablishment of a unified conservation andmanagement plan for the entire TañonStrait, where 11 of the 24 species of marinemammals found in the Philippine Islandscan be found. The dolphin and whalewatching tours have become a significantsource of income to the municipality ofBais City, and have the potential tobecome a source of income to othermunicipalities in the area, as well as toprivate tour operators. In order to besustainable, however, this small ecotourismindustry must operate with regard to thesafety and security of the dolphins andwhales in Tañon Strait, the tourists whovisit, and the crews of the vessels.

photographic identification studies,spending most mornings on small boatssearching for dolphins, photographingthem, and recording their vocalizations andbehavior. They utilized an underwatervideo camera to monitor the behavior ofthe animals below the surface of the water.Several other species of cetaceans were alsosighted and photographed, includingRisso’s dolphins (Grampus griseus) anddwarf sperm whales (Kogia sima).

Argones and Keith also conducted aseminar/workshop in the town of Bais Cityon the establishment of rules andregulations governing dolphin and whalewatching, which began as an ecotourismindustry there. The work products of thisworkshop were varied and many. Onegroup, made up of representatives of manylocal city and town governments, draftedsome boilerplate language for a municipalordinance that each of their respective cityand town councils could adopt for thegoverning of the dolphin and whalewatching tour boats in waters under theirjurisdictions. A second group, made up ofthe tour operators, organized themselvesinto the “Tañon Strait Association ofCetacean Watchers.” They drafted aconstitution and bylaws for theirorganization and elected officers.

On the second day of the workshop,Keith and Aragones conducted a seriesof hands-on demonstrations for the

Participants in the hands-on portion of the seminar/workshop on cetacean conservation in the TañonStrait. This demonstrated the proper operation ofthe whale watching boats in the presence ofmarine mammals.

A dwarf sperm whale (Kogia sima) in the TañonStrait. This species is considered rare, and is usuallyfound in pelagic waters far from shore.

Two spinner dolphinsexhaling at the surface.The lower animal isblowing bubbles, abehavior known as a“trumpet blow.” Thiscan indicate that theanimal is excited orconcerned aboutsomething.

Lauren Shuman and Howard Lasker on board the R/V F.G. Walton Smith.

In May, M.S. student and NCRI research assistant LaurenShuman participated in another research cruise to the Bahamasaboard the University of Miami’s R/V F.G. Walton Smith. Shumanis part of a team led by Howard R. Lasker, Ph.D., that is monitoringpopulations of the Caribbean gorgonian, Pseudopterogorgiaelisabethae along the southern edge of the Little Bahama Bank.This research team, consisting primarily of Lasker’s graduatestudents from State University of New York at Buffalo, establishedthese monitoring sites in May 2004 and revisits them every sixmonths. Lasker developed this project to detect effects thatharvesting of P. elisabethae, which is used in the cosmetics industry,may have on recruitment and population structure. Recruitment ismonitored following annual spawning events on the Little BahamaBank, and the origin of recruits is assessed from DNAmicrosatellite analysis of the recruits. Shuman is also working withLasker to create a Web-based field-guide to gorgonians,photographing and collecting specimens on these Bahamas dives.

Charles Messing, Ph.D., visited the National Museum ofNatural History, Smithsonian Institution, on July 1 to begin hissabbatical research on crinoid systematics. He also met withSmithsonian research scientist Stephen D. Cairns, Ph.D., withwhom he will be working on deep-sea corals in the Strait of Floridathis fall.

Veljko Dragojlovic, Ph.D., gave an oral presentation at the229th American Chemical Society National Meeting andExposition held in San Diego, California, on March 15. It wastitled, “Adaptation of phase-vanishing and solid-solid reaction toundergraduate organic chemistry laboratory.”

Ph.D. candidate, Dan Fahy went to Taipei (NorthernTaiwan) for the seventh Indo-Pacific Fish Conference andpresented a talk on May 17. His talk in the ReproductiveMechanisms of Chondrichthyes section was based on his ongoingreproductive study on yellow stingrays and was titled “Preliminaryobservations on the reproductive cycle and uterine fecundity of theyellow stingray, Urobatis jamaicensis in southeast Florida, USA” Apaper will be submitted from the proceedings.

Students in Andrew Rogerson’s laboratory have been on themove this summer, receiving specialized training to further theirresearch. Christina Gwaltney and Connie Versteeg spent aweek in June at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institutionlearning molecular sequencing techniques for naked amoebaeunder the supervision of Rebecca Gast, Ph.D. At the same time,Megan Shoff traveled to Ohio to learn molecular identificationprotocols for acanthamoebae under the supervision of GregBooton, Ph.D., of Ohio State University.

In July, Gwaltney returned to the north to participate in a one-week PRIMER workshop held at the EPA facility on theUniversity of Rhode Island Bay campus. PRIMER, a statisticalsoftware program with a variety of applications for largeenvironmental data sets, is used by several researchers at NSUOC,as well as by scientists with the Rookery Bay National EstuarineResearch Reserve, where Gwaltney’s research is based.

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Other News

Center Hosts Florida Coastal Ocean Observing System (COOS) Caucus Meeting

On June 7, nearly 40 ocean scientists and managers fromacross Florida participated in a meeting of supporters of theconcept of a Florida Coastal Ocean Observing System (FloridaCOOS). NSU’s Oceanographic Center hosted this meeting withattendees Dean Richard Dodge and professors Alex Solovievand Sasha Yankovsky. The caucus was convened by the

University of Miami and the University of South Florida.Members of the NSU Institute of Government and Public Policyserved as the meeting facilitators.

Representatives included scientists and managers fromocean-related industry, the federal government (National

Center: Tom Gustafson,J.D., from the NSUInstitute of Governmentand Public Policy facilitatedthe meeting of the FloridaCoastal Ocean ObservingSystem Caucus at theNSU Orlando SEC.

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Center Scientists to Evaluate Tomorrow’sSeabed Mapping Technology

The NSU Oceanographic Center has entered into acollaboration to test a cutting-edge marine mapping tool. The tool,developed by Optech Internation Inc., combines a marine Lidarand a hyperspectral imaging system into a single unit mounted ona low-flying aircraft. Using a pulsed laser fired out of the undersideof the aircraft, the unit delivers an unrivaled capability to map theshallow seafloor. Grady Tuell, Ph.D., managing director of OptechInternation Inc., visited the center on June 2 to discuss the possiblecollaboration. Sam Purkis, Ph.D., and a team from the NSUOCwill provide Optech with the required optical seabedmeasurements at the time of flight. The test will be carried out inlate June in the shallow waters off Dania Beach, right on the doorstep of the Oceanographic Center. The collaboration is envisagedto yield important data and positions the NSUOC at the cuttingedge of today’s marine airborne technology.

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Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration), state agencies(Department of Environmental Protection and Fish and WildlifeCommission), and a host of academic and research organizations(UM, FAU, UF, USF, FSU, FIT, UNF, Mote, Florida SeaGrant).

The caucus rationale was that the United States is in theprocess of coordinating the development of an operational,integrated, and sustained ocean observing system (IOOS).Information from this IOOS system will serve national needs for

• detecting and forecasting oceanic components of climatevariability

• facilitating safe and efficient marine operations• ensuring national security• managing resources for sustainable use• preserving and restoring healthy marine ecosystems• mitigating natural hazards• ensuring public health

The IOOS will be composed of a number of regionalassociations. Florida is in the unique position of falling within therealm of two regional associations, the Southeast Coastal OceanObserving System RA (SECOORA) and the Gulf of MexicoCoastal Ocean Observing System RA (GCOOS). Hence aFlorida strategy is urgently needed to focus attention on Florida’sroles within each RA.

Caucus meeting outcomes included emphasis on the need toengage the state and the regional associations of SECOORA,and GCOOS more actively, and with a more united front, thanin the past. It was agreed that with unity comes strength in actionto help promote the interests of Florida, the state with the mostocean coastline on the east coast. SECOORA is still in a

formative stage, hence, there will be effort focused on developingFlorida’s participation in coming months.

The NSU Orlando SEC provided a perfect venue for themeeting. It was convenient to all and was praised by participantsfor its great meeting facilities and the professional manner ofthe staff.

The FL COOS Caucus plans to meet again in August, witha larger group.

Georges Weatherly, Ph.D., Professor from Florida State University and RichardDodge, Ph.D. Dean of NSUOC at the Florida COOS Caucus. (Dr. Weatherlyis a noted oceanographer and is also one of the first 17 graduates of NSU!)

Graduate students Jennifer Magnussen (left) and Debra Abercrombie stand withtheir professor, Mahmood Shivji, in front of bins of shark parts.

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Two Scientists’ Research FeaturedOceanographic professor Mahmood Shivji, Ph.D., is featured

in the latest Sea Grant Florida publication, Ahead of the Class, apublication focusing on marine education. The article brings

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attention to the work, led by Shivji, that is assisting NOAA in itsefforts to identify and prosecute U.S. fishing vessels suspected ofcatching and selling protected shark species. Shivji developed arapid and reliable DNA test that can identify shark species fromfins and other body parts, which helps fisheries managers enforceprotective measures for overfished shark populations. Just recently,Shivji’s research helped federal prosecutors confirm the presence ofprohibited species in four of five investigations, resulting in fines ofmore than $100,000. His work has been featured in internationaljournals, newspapers, radio, and TV, including NBC TV’sEcoWatch. To read the complete article, go to the Sea Grants Website at www.FLseaGrant.org.

Artwork from an article by Sam Purkis, Ph.D., a researchscientist with NCRI, has been used on the cover page of the Juneedition of the journal IEEE Transactions on Geoscience and RemoteSensing. The figure is taken from Purkis’ article in the same issuethat describes the use of field spectral measurements to aid themonitoring of reef environments from space. The article stemsfrom a long-term monitoring project in the Arabian Gulf, off of thecoast of Dubai. It is envisaged that, in the near future, satelliteremote sensing will be routinely used to monitor the status of coralreefs on a global scale, and as such, the technique will haverelevance to the detection of habitat shifts related to global climatechange. For further information, see “Publications” on page 11.

Cover of journal with figures by Sam Purkis.

Seminars and DefensesSEMINARThree scientists from the U.S. Geological Society presented aseminar on July 15 as a “USGS Coastal Research Sampler.”The three talks were:

Christian Langevin, “Groundwater discharge to Biscayne Bay”

Clinton Hittle, “Freshwater flows to Florida Bay”

Eric Swain, “Hydrodynamic model of Taylor Slough andNortheastern Florida Bay”

THESISJennifer E. Magnussen, “Development and application ofspecies diagnostic PCR primers to identify internationallyprotected sharks and commercially traded shark fins for lawenforcement and conservation.” Committee Members:Mahmood Shivji, Ph.D.; Andrew Rogerson, Ph.D.; andRichard Spieler, Ph.D. May 27.

Susan C. Zaretsky, “A comparison of bottlenose dolphin(Tursiops truncates), Atlantic spotted dolphin (Stenellafrontalis), and the pilot whale (Globicephala sp.) vocalizationsin the western north Atlantic and northern Gulf of Mexico.”Committee Members: Edward O. Keith, Ph.D.; KeithRonald, Ph.D., and Lance Garrison, Ph.D., (NOAA FisheriesLaboratory). July 12.

CAPSTONEAllison Rangolan, “Impacts of harmful algal blooms (HABs)on finfish and shellfish industries.” Committee Members:Don S. McCorquodale, Ph.D., and Andrew Rogerson, Ph.D.April 27.

Lea Motzko, “An overview of beach erosion and the impactsof coastal development with an emphasis on the USA eastcoast.” Committee Members: Steffen Schmidt, Ph.D.; DonMcCorquodale, Ph.D.; and Edward Keith, Ph.D. June 10.

Kristina Evans, “Impacts of African dust on Caribbeancorals and human health.” Committee Members: Don S.McCorquodale, Ph.D., and James Prospero, Ph.D.,(University of Miami).

Todd Shuskey, “The Use of Aquatic Macrophytes inRecirculating Aquaculture Systems: A Review.” CommitteeMembers: Curt Burney, Ph.D., and Stacy Myers. July 8.

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MASTERCURRENTSINSTITUTE OF MARINE AND COASTAL STUDIES

M.S. degree specialties are marine biology, coastal zone management, marineenvironmental science, and physical oceanography. Each course carries three credithours or may be audited. Tuition is $595 per credit hour (50 percent less for audit).Classes meet once a week from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at the Oceanographic Center(unless otherwise specified.) The fall term runs from Sept. 26–Dec. 16. (unlessotherwise specified). Registration ($25 nonrefundable fee) begins two weeks prior tothe start of classes. For further information, call Andrew Rogerson or Melissa Dore at(954) 262-3610 or 800-396-2326, or email imcs@nsu.nova.edu. More information canbe found at the NSUOC Web site: www.nova.edu/ocean.

Fall Term 2005September 26–December 16

Marine EcosystemsOCOR-5602A core course focusing on marineecological processes and functions.Emphasis will be devoted to coastalmarine communities. Instructor: CurtBurney, Ph.D., associate professor,burney@nsu.nova.edu

Biostatistics IOCOR-5603A core course, Biostatics I is a basic courseon the practical applications of descriptiveand inferential statistics with emphasis onprinciples and methods of summarizing andanalyzing biological data. Instructor: MarkFarber, Ph.D., adjunct professor, mfarber@nsu.nova.edu

Concepts of Physical OceanographyOCOR-5607A core course, physical oceanographycovers basic ocean physics with a focus onthe large scale circulation of the oceans andtheir relation to weather and climate.Students are required to take either thiscourse or OCOR-5601 as a CORE course.Instructor: Sean Kennan, Ph.D., assistantprofessor, skennan@nsu.nova.edu

Marine BiodiversityCZMT-0685/MEVS-5107/OCMB-6315This course will discuss multiple aspects ofmarine biodiversity including definitionand importance of marine biodiversity tomarine conservation issues, threats tomarine biodiversity including non-indigenousspecies introductions, impediments tomarine conservation, and scientificconstraints. Management approaches willbe discussed and evaluated. Instructor: JimThomas, professor, thomasjd@nsu.nova.edu

Environmental ChemistryOCMB-6190/MEVS-5350/CZMT-TBDThe course deals with contemporaryenvironmental issues including the greenhouse effect and global warming, chemistryof the ozone layer, toxic organic chemicals,the chemistry of natural waters, and someaspects of green chemistry. Regulatory laws,compliance, and enforcement will also betaught. Instructors: Veljko Dragojlovic,Ph.D., associate professor, veljko@nsu.nova.edu and Don McCorquodale, Ph.D.,adjunct professor, mccorq@nsu.acast.nova.edu

Concepts in Fluid MechanicsMSPO-5000A core in the physical oceanography M.S.,this course introduces the principles ofcontinuity, momentum, and energy appliedto fluid motion. Instructor: AlexanderSoloviev, Ph.D., associate professor,soloviev@nsu.nova.edu

Waves in the OceanMSPO-5250The course will focus on gravity, inertial-gravity and vorticity waves, mechanisms oftheir generation, and their role in thevariability of hydro physical fields in theocean. Instructor: Alexander Yankovsky,Ph.D., assistant professor. sasha@nsu.nova.edu

Winter 2006Tentative ScheduleJanuary 2–March 24

Environmental ChemistryOCMB-6190/MEVS-5350/CZMT-TBDThe course deals with contemporaryenvironmental issues including the greenhouse effect and global warming, chemistryof the ozone layer, toxic organic chemicals,the chemistry of natural waters, and someaspects of green chemistry. Regulatory laws,compliance, and enforcement will also betaught. Instructors: Veljko Dragojlovic,Ph.D., associate professor, veljko@nsu.nova.edu and Don McCorquodale, Ph.D.,adjunct professor, mccorq@nsu.acast.nova.edu

Coastal DynamicsMSPO-5210The course will describe major elements ofthe circulation on the continental shelfand slope. The topics will include: wind-driven currents, upwelling, coastal-trappedwaves; tides and tidal mixing; and physical-oceanographic description of the U.S.continental shelves. Prerequisite: Conceptsin Physical Oceanography. Instructor:Alexander Yankovsky, Ph.D., assistantprofessor sasha@nsu.nova.edu

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Distance EducationThe following courses are scheduled.Please check our Web site atwww.nova.edu/ocean/disted.html forupdates. For more information aboutour distance education program,please contact Jane Dougan atdouganj@nsu.nova.edu.

Coastal Policy, CZMT-0612

Marine Geology, OCOR-5604

Biology of Sharks, OCUG 3400

Environmental Remote Sensing(RS) and Geographic InformationSystem (GIS), CZMT-0655-DE1

More than Yvonne Haberer’s family and friends werebeaming proudly as she walked across the stage at the 2005commencement ceremony to shake President Ray Ferraro’s hand.Dick Dodge, Ph.D., dean of the Oceanographic Center; AndrewRogerson, Ph.D., professor and associate dean; and Jane Dougan,coordinator of distance learning, were also delighted tocongratulate the first graduate of the Oceanographic Center’sonline M.S. in Coastal Zone Management.

Haberer’s mother and father, Duane and Sharon Haberer, andher sister, Melissa Haberer-Potthast, flew in from Illinois. Her bestfriend, Tambour Eller, came in from Jacksonville.

The distance M.S. program came into effect after Haberer hadalready begun her online studies in the fall of 2002. The flexibledistance format means that students, theoretically, can begin theirgraduate studies with an individual course, or after completing afour-course distance Graduate Certificate in Coastal Studies.

Haberer reflects that for full-time working professionals such asherself, the distance format is “invaluable.” A biologist andenvironmental project leader for the U.S. Army Corps ofEngineers, Haberer is based is Jacksonville, but her work has takenher to coastal projects in Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, andthroughout Florida. She wanted to be able to pursue a graduatedegree while continuing her full-time work, and says that “thequality of online courses offered were way above my expectations.The program has allowed me to gain additional technical expertisein the marine science field and to establish a network of contactswithin the research community. The online CZM program is theideal method of delivery for the working professional. It hasstrengthened my understanding of the problems and conflictsassociated with the coastal zone and provides me with thetechnical expertise necessary to make better decisions and moreeffectively manage the coastal environment.”

PublicationsPurkis S.J. (2005). “A ‘reef-up’

approach to classifying coral habitatsfrom IKONOS imagery.” IEEETransactions on Geoscience and RemoteSensing, 43:1375–1390.

Dobbs, F.C. and A. Rogerson(2005). “Ridding Ship’s Ballast Waterof Microorganisms—Is it even possibleto remove, kill, or ‘inactivate’ allof them, and if so, should wetry?” Environmental Science andTechnology 39, 259–264.

What’s next ? “As I move forward with my career, I find it moreand more important to have a graduate-level degree. This CZMdegree will allow me to compete for management positions.”

The center is proud to be a part of bolstering the learning andcareers of dedicated professionals such as Haberer, whetherin-house or “at a distance.” For more information about ourdistance learning programs, please visit our Web site atwww.nova.edu/ocean/disted.html or get in touch with Jane Douganby email at douganj@nsu.nova.edu or by telephone at (954) 262-3621.Undergraduate and general interest credit only internship incoastal policy, CZMT-0664.

(L-R) Andrew Rogerson, Yvonne Haberer, Richard Dodge and Jane Dougan.(Picture courtesy of Melissa Haberer-Potthast.)

Ph.D. Degree Offered The Oceanographic Center offers

a doctoral degree in oceanography/marine biology. The program requiresa minimum of 90 credits beyond thebaccalaureate. At least 48 credits mustconsist of dissertation research, and atleast 42 credits must consist of upper-level coursework. Required coursesinclude the four M.S. core courses.Other upper-level coursework isusually in the tutorial mode with themajor professor. Tuition is $4,074per quarter.

Congratulations to NSUOC’s First Distance Learning Graduate!

07-168-05 DBB

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NOTICE OF NONDISCRIMINATIONNova Southeastern University admits students of any race, color, sex, age, nondisqualifying disability, religion or creed, or national or ethnicorigin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school, and does notdiscriminate in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.

Nova Southeastern University is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia30033-4097, Telephone number: 404-679-4501) to award associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s, educational specialist, and doctoral degrees.

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NOVA SOUTHEASTERN UNIVERSITYOceanographic Center8000 North Ocean DriveDania Beach, Florida 33004-3078

Currents, Summer 2005

Susan Zaretsky after successfully defending her thesis. A leaping spinner dolphin (Stenella longirostris) in the Tañon Strait. They arecalled “spinners” because of their energetic leaping and spinning behaviors.