Press
SoMAS News from Stony Brook University and other sources
International Fisheries Task Force Met in Portland, ME, to Develop Smart Management Plans for Forage Fish, a Growing Target of Commercial Fishing Operations
Lenfest Forage Fish Task Force working to ensure that forage fish populations continue to flourish; excessive removal can imperil marine food webs
STONY BROOK, N.Y. October 15, 2009 — The Lenfest Forage Fish Task Force met from October 12-14 in Portland, ME to continue developing critical management recommendations for “forage fish,” small prey fish like sardines, anchovies and menhaden that are caught by commercial fisheries on a massive scale, almost always without consideration of their essential role in oceanic food webs.
Chaired by Dr. Ellen K. Pikitch, executive director of the Institute for Ocean Conservation Science at Stony Brook University, the Task Force includes 13 highly respected scientists from around the world. It is the first scientific team to comprehensively address the global management of forage fish, a critical food source for marine mammals, seabirds, and many large fish species. The removal of forage fish by industrial-scale fisheries poses widespread ecosystem ramifications. By late 2010, the Lenfest Task Force (http://oceanconservationscience.org/foragefish) will deliver specific recommendations to policy makers and fishery managers for managing forage fisheries using ecosystem-based management (EBM). EBM incorporates food web dynamics and environmental factors, in contrast to traditional species-by-species management.
“Forage fish are the ‘foundation fish’ of the ocean, and if you erode the foundation, the entire food web can collapse,” said Dr. Pikitch, an internationally recognized fisheries management expert who is also a Professor at Stony Brook University’s School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences. “Forage fish are being more intensely harvested than ever before,” she said. “They now account for nearly 40 percent of the world’s wild marine fish catch. Current management plans often fail to consider the oceanic predators that need these fish as food to survive.”
Task force members have expertise in a wide variety of disciplines and geographic areas – critical for a comprehensive assessment of this complex issue. Detailed information on each member can be found at http://oceanconservationscience.org/foragefish/task.php.
The Lenfest Forage Fish Task Force is supported by the Lenfest Ocean Program, which sponsors scientific research aimed at forging solutions to challenges facing the global marine environment. The Institute for Ocean Conservation Science at Stony Brook University is dedicated to advancing ocean conservation through science. The Institute transforms real-world policy while pursuing serious science, both of which are essential for ocean health. Visit http://oceanconservationscience.org.
FORAGE FISH FAQs:
WHAT ARE FORAGE FISH?
Forage fish are small schooling fishes that feed on plankton and are eaten by larger predators that are higher on the food chain. These “foundation” fish play a fundamental role in marine ecosystems by converting energy from lower trophic levels into food for larger fish, marine mammals, and seabirds. Forage fish can also benefit the ecosystem: For example, menhaden in Chesapeake Bay act as filter feeders thus maintaining water quality and helping to prevent algae blooms. Forage fish species include sardines, herring, anchovy, krill and menhaden.
HOW ARE THEY IMPACTED BY “SYSTEM” CHANGE?
Forage fish species are heavily influenced by changes in environmental and oceanographic conditions, including natural climate variation, upwelling, and predator dynamics. For example, in coastal Peru, the anchovy population shrinks when El Niño conditions occur. During these times, fishing must decrease to safeguard the population. The Task Force is investigating how environmental forces and fishing pressure can impact forage fish, and will use this information to develop holistic and precautionary fisheries management strategies.
HOW DO HUMANS USE FORAGE FISH?
Of the 31.5 million tons of forage extracted from the world’s oceans each year, 90 percent is “reduced” into fish meal and fish oil that is primarily used for livestock and aquaculture feeds and for human dietary supplements, according to a November 2008 study co-authored by task force member Dr. Daniel Pauly and primarily funded by the Institute for Ocean Conservation Science. See http://oceanconservationscience.org/projects/Forage_Fish_-_F/intro.php?ID=57.
DANGER OF OVER-EXPLOITATION?
Unsustainable exploitation of forage fish can fracture the marine food web, and cause declines in seabird and marine mammal populations.
WHAT IS ECOSYSTEM-BASED MANAGEMENT?
It is now widely acknowledged that the interconnected nature of marine populations requires a multispecies approach to management that incorporates food web dynamics and environmental factors. For example, EBM would consider the food needs of penguins in setting fishing limits for penguins’ prey. As Task Force member Dr. Dee Boersma of the University of Washington, a world expert on penguins, explains: “Penguins are not the target of fishing operations, but they clearly are suffering the consequences. These flightless birds spend half their lives underwater, feeding mostly on krill, squid, and small fish. Their survival is directly threatened by excessive forage fishing.”
Learn more about the Lenfest Forage Fish Task Force
View images related to forage fisheries
Visit the official Lenfest Forage Fish Task Force website
Rip Currents Pose Greater Risk To Swimmers Than To Shoreline
Long term monitoring by Stony Brook University researchers finds rip currents are frequent but short-lived at East Hampton Village Beach
STONY BROOK, N.Y., October 14, 2009 – Rip currents—powerful, channeled currents of water flowing away from the shore—represent a danger to human life and property. Rip currents are responsible for more than one hundred deaths on our nation’s beaches each year, according to the United States Lifesaving Association, and if rip currents persist long enough they can cause beach erosion. Henry Bokuniewicz, Professor in the School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences at Stony Brook University, and Ph.D. candidate Michael Slattery found that rip currents at East Hampton Village Beach lasted on average a little over one minute, not long enough to substantially alter the shoreline. They will present their findings October 14th at the American Shore and Beach Preservation Association’s 2009 National Coastal Conference, “Integrating Coastal Science & Policy.”
Two rip currents along the East Hampton Village Beach about 100 yards apart. Rip currents can be recognized as a gap in the line of incoming waves. Photo credit: Michael Slattery.
With funding from the East Hampton Beach Preservation Society and the Halpern Foundation, Dr. Bokuniewicz and graduate student Michael Slattery set up a video camera to record an image of a half mile stretch of the East Hampton Village Beach every 20 seconds. In the images, rip currents can be detected as a gap in the line of incoming waves. They collected over 500 hours of video images and observed hundreds of rip currents in this short stretch of coast.
The monitoring showed that the rip currents were not associated with man-made structures and they were short lived, with the most persistent rip currents lasting no more than a few minutes. “Most rip currents we observed did not last long enough to change the character of the shoreline, although they could pose a risk to swimmers unfortunate enough to encounter them,” said Dr. Bokuniewicz.
Besides gathering statistics on the occurrence of rip currents, Dr. Bokuniewicz and Michael Slattery are studying the wave patterns that lead to rip currents. Rip currents are generated by a combination of waves, including, long, low, barely perceptible waves that appear along the ocean shoreline, called “infragravity waves.” Infragravity waves cannot be measured directly and computer models are inadequate for predicting them. Bokuniewicz and Slattery are using a novel approach to study these waves; they deploy seismometers to measure the noise created by breaking waves.
“It appears that very slow, long-period changes in the amount of wave noise are precursors to the generation of rip currents,” said Dr. Bokuniewicz. “We are hopeful that seismometers can be used to measure wave patterns that we can’t easily observe in any other way. In the future, we hope to utilize this method to monitor and ultimately forecast wave conditions that cause rip currents.”
About the School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences at Stony Brook University
The School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences (SoMAS) is the State University of New York’s center for marine and atmospheric research, education, and public service. With more than 85 faculty and staff and more than 500 students engaged in interdisciplinary research and education, SoMAS is at the forefront of advancing knowledge and discovering and resolving environmental challenges affecting the oceans and atmosphere on both regional and global scales.
For more information contact: Leslie Taylor, SoMAS Communications Manager
631-632-8621
Int’l Fisheries Task Force to meet in Portland, Maine, to develop smart management plans for forage fish
These fish are a growing target of commercial fishing operations; excessive removal can imperil marine food webs
STONY BROOK UNIVERSITY
The Lenfest Forage Fish Task Force will meet from October 12-14 in Portland, ME to continue developing critical management recommendations for “forage fish,” small prey fish like sardines, anchovies and menhaden that are caught by commercial fisheries on a massive scale, almost always without consideration of their essential role in oceanic food webs.
Chaired by Dr. Ellen K. Pikitch, executive director of the Institute for Ocean Conservation Science at Stony Brook University, the Task Force includes 13 highly respected scientists from around the world. It is the first scientific team to comprehensively address the global management of forage fish, a critical food source for marine mammals, seabirds, and many large fish species. The removal of forage fish by industrial-scale fisheries poses widespread ecosystem ramifications. By late 2010, the Lenfest Task Force (http://oceanconservationscience.
“Forage fish are the ‘foundation fish’ of the ocean, and if you erode the foundation, the entire food web can collapse,” said Dr. Pikitch, an internationally recognized fisheries management expert who is also a Professor at Stony Brook University’s School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences. “Forage fish are being more intensely harvested than ever before,” she said. “They now account for nearly 40 percent of the world’s wild marine fish catch. Current management plans often fail to consider the oceanic predators that need these fish as food to survive.”
Task force members have expertise in a wide variety of disciplines and geographic areas – critical for a comprehensive assessment of this complex issue. Detailed information on each member can be found at http://oceanconservationscience.
The Lenfest Forage Fish Task Force is supported by the Lenfest Ocean Program, which sponsors scientific research aimed at forging solutions to challenges facing the global marine environment. The Institute for Ocean Conservation Science at Stony Brook University is dedicated to advancing ocean conservation through science. The Institute transforms real-world policy while pursuing serious science, both of which are essential for ocean health. Visit http://oceanconservationscience.
FORAGE FISH FAQs:
WHAT ARE FORAGE FISH?
Forage fish are small schooling fishes that feed on plankton and are eaten by larger predators that are higher on the food chain. These “foundation” fish play a fundamental role in marine ecosystems by converting energy from lower trophic levels into food for larger fish, marine mammals, and seabirds. Forage fish can also benefit the ecosystem: For example, menhaden in Chesapeake Bay act as filter feeders thus maintaining water quality and helping to prevent algae blooms. Forage fish species include sardines, herring, anchovy, krill and menhaden.
HOW ARE THEY IMPACTED BY “SYSTEM” CHANGE?
Forage fish species are heavily influenced by changes in environmental and oceanographic conditions, including natural climate variation, upwelling, and predator dynamics. For example, in coastal Peru, the anchovy population shrinks when El Niño conditions occur. During these times, fishing must decrease to safeguard the population. The Task Force is investigating how environmental forces and fishing pressure can impact forage fish, and will use this information to develop holistic and precautionary fisheries management strategies.
HOW DO HUMANS USE FORAGE FISH?
Of the 31.5 million tons of forage extracted from the world’s oceans each year, 90 percent is “reduced” into fish meal and fish oil that is primarily used for livestock and aquaculture feeds and for human dietary supplements, according to a November 2008 study co-authored by task force member Dr. Daniel Pauly and primarily funded by the Institute for Ocean Conservation Science. See http://oceanconservationscience.
DANGER OF OVER-EXPLOITATION?
Unsustainable exploitation of forage fish can fracture the marine food web, and cause declines in seabird and marine mammal populations.
WHAT IS ECOSYSTEM-BASED MANAGEMENT?
It is now widely acknowledged that the interconnected nature of marine populations requires a multispecies approach to management that incorporates food web dynamics and environmental factors. For example, EBM would consider the food needs of penguins in setting fishing limits for penguins’ prey. As Task Force member Dr. Dee Boersma of the University of Washington, a world expert on penguins, explains: “Penguins are not the target of fishing operations, but they clearly are suffering the consequences. These flightless birds spend half their lives underwater, feeding mostly on krill, squid, and small fish. Their survival is directly threatened by excessive forage fishing.”
Marine Science Lecture Series Looks at Evolution, the Seas and Global Climate Change
SOUTHAMPTON, N.Y., September 18, 2009 – Due to global warming, is it “back to the future” for our oxygen-stressed seas? The School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences (SoMAS) and Stony Brook Southampton will present an interesting and timely evolutionary talk as part of its popular Public Lecture Series.
“Life Without Oxygen in Venezuela’s Cariaco Basin: A Modern Analog of Ancient Seas” with marine science Prof. Gordon T. Taylor of Stony Brook University will take place on Friday, October 2, at 7:30 p.m. in Duke Lecture Hall. A reception will follow. For further information, call 631-632-5046. The event is free and open to the public.
Life first evolved in oceans devoid of free oxygen. Anoxia was the norm for microbes, the only life forms for the first 3.5 billion years of Earth’s history. Then, photosynthetic single-celled bacteria, the cyanobacteria, changed all that about 2.5 billion years ago and algae later helped raise oxygen to current levels over the next 1.7 billion years. Only then did complex multi-cellular life forms arise. The ocean has fluctuated in and out of anoxic states throughout geologic history. Today, anoxic and oxygen-stressed marine environments appear to be expanding as a consequence of global climate change. As part of a long-term observation program (CARIACO), Dr. Taylor’s team has been exploring the unique biological and chemical features of the permanently anoxic Cariaco Basin off the Caribbean coast of Venezuela. While the Basin is inhospitable to almost all animals, Taylor’s results reveal an astonishing diversity of microbes, surviving in very innovative ways. Dr. Taylor’s talk will explore how this system may be a window into our ocean’s dark anoxic past as well as one into its not-too-distant future.
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Scientists Shed New Light On Behavior Of Shark ‘Tweens’ And ‘Teenagers’
A long-term field and DNA study by the Institute for Ocean Conservation Science at Stony Brook University, University of Miami, Field Museum of Chicago and others has shown that young lemon sharks born at the Bimini islands, Bahamas, tend to stay near their coastal birthplace for many years. While shark research and conservation typically focuses on baby sharks confined to shallow habitats, or ocean-roaming adults, less is known about these intermediate-aged animals, which are the breeders of tomorrow and are roughly similar in development to human ‘tweens’ and teenagers.
Tropical island-nations that sacrifice their nursery habitats to coastal development are therefore likely to lose not only babies but also much older sharks from their local areas, with potentially dire effects on the surrounding ecosystem. The study, conducted over a 14-year period at the Bimini Biological Field Station, is the cover article in the August issue of Molecular Ecology, a leading international scientific journal.
“It takes some sharks more than a decade to reach reproductive age, so we set out to better understand the phase of their development from when they are a couple of years old until they are on the verge of sexual maturity,” said lead author Dr. Demian Chapman, shark scientist with the Institute for Ocean Conservation Science at Stony Brook University (SBU) in New York, and an assistant professor at SBU. “We were very surprised to see that many lemon sharks lingered for years around the island where they were born — often more than half of their development to adulthood.”
Fear of deep waterand the bigger predators that live there combined with abundant prey in the mangroves around Bimini probably keeps these island-born sharks in safer waters near home for several years after their birth. “This means that using marine reserves and other local conservation measures may help protect sharks born around tropical islands for much longer than we thought,” Dr. Chapman explained. He suspects that future research could show that these stay-at-home behavior patterns are common among many shark species that live and breed around tropical islands. “If island communities develop all of their shark nursery habitats, like mangroves, or overfish baby sharks in local waters, then they will subsequently lose a big chunk of the older sharks as well,” he said.
Love them or not, sharks are essential to healthy oceans. Removing these top-level ocean predators will disrupt the local food web and cause negative consequences for other species and the ecosystem at large. Moreover, many tropical islands generate substantial revenue from shark-dive tourism, which this new research suggests will be heavily reliant on sharks born in local nursery areas.
During the course of the Bimini study, from 1995 to 2007, over 1,700 immature lemon sharks were caught, tagged and released. The implanted tags, plus subsequent recaptures and DNA analysis, showed that more than half of the 3- to 7-year-old sharks caught off Bimini were born locally and had lingered near their birthplace for years. Full results are described in the study, entitled, Long-term natal site-fidelity by immature lemon sharks (Negaprion brevirostris) at a subtropical island.
“In general, the survival of these intermediate-aged sharks is critical for sustaining shark populations,” said study co-author Dr. Samuel Gruber, Professor at the University of Miami’s Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science and Director of the Bimini Biological Field Station, who has been leading the overall lemon shark research program at Bimini since 1978. “Our study suggests that local conservation efforts can help many lemon sharks born at islands like Bimini survive through roughly half of their development to adulthood. Broader scale, sometimes international, management is needed to protect them after they’ve left their birthplace as adolescents and adults.”
Detailed information on how sharks disperse from their birthplace could be very useful for conservation efforts throughout the tropics, given that many tropical shark species are threatened by overexploitation to supply the trade for shark fin soup, for which demand is especially high in Asia. Between 22 and 73 million sharks are killed each year to supply the fin trade, and international management agencies are scrambling for solutions to stem severe shark population declines.
“Our study suggests that many tropical island nations may not have to wait for complex international shark regulations to be established in order to act,” said Dr. Chapman. “Their local management efforts could give immature sharks a chance to grow up in relative safety until they are big and ‘bad’ enough to roam deeper habitats far from home, where broader scale protection becomes more important.”
The research team is now extending its study to answer one of the great mysteries of shark biology: do sharks home back to their birthplace as adults? Co-author Dr. Kevin Feldheim of the Field Museum in Chicago, who led the genetics part of the study, said: “This research showed that most of the young sharks left the island by the time they were mature. Now we want to find out if they end up coming back to the place where they were born to breed, much like salmon and sea turtles do.”
Stony Brook University Announces Formal Partnerships With Atlantis Marine World And The Riverhead Foundation
SBU’s SoMAS joins ranks of major universities collaborating with regional aquariums and preservation foundations to advance marine research and education
STONY BROOK, N.Y., August 25, 2009 — Stony Brook University’s School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences (SoMAS,) Atlantis Marine World Aquarium, and the Riverhead Foundation for Marine Research and Preservation today announced a public-private partnership that will promote collaboration between the three institutions. The partnership makes the research expertise of SoMAS faculty available in support of Atlantis Marine World Aquarium and Riverhead Foundation efforts, and provides Stony Brook University students with opportunities for hands-on learning in the fields of aquaculture, science education, and marine animal rehabilitation.
Joe Yaiulli, Co-founder and curator of Atlantis Marine World Aquarium; Dr. Samuel L. Stanley,Jr., President, Stony Brook University; David Conover, Dean, School of Atmospheric and Marine Sciences; Robert DiGiovanni, Director of the Riverhead Foundation.
“I am delighted that we are able to establish an official collaboration between three amazing entities; each committed to environmental education, research, and the protection, rescue and rehabilitation of marine life,” said President Samuel L. Stanley, Jr. “This promising and exciting initiative brings together the very best each of the partners has to offer. It is an example of an agreement between people with a shared mission and a desire to achieve mutual goals in the best possible setting.”
“This partnership is unique in that it unites a public non-profit organization– Stony Brook University; a private non-profit organization–the Riverhead Foundation for Marine Research and Preservation; and a private enterprise–Atlantis Marine World,” said Dr. David Conover, Dean of the School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences. “We are thrilled to form this alliance with these two vital Long Island institutions, both of which provide unique opportunities for education and practical experience in marine science.”
SoMAS recently initiated undergraduate degree programs in marine biology and marine vertebrate biology and this partnership will provide interested students with opportunities to gain real-world practical experience through internships at Atlantis Marine World Aquarium, a full-scale aquarium, and at the Riverhead Foundation for Marine Research and Preservation, New York State’s only authorized marine mammal and sea turtle rescue and rehabilitation center. Riverhead Foundation staff will also enrich the SoMAS student experience by teaching classes on marine mammals and rehabilitation of marine mammals and sea turtles.
“SoMAS students have helped us in our rescue work in the past, and we were impressed with their knowledge and enthusiasm,” said Robert DiGiovanni, director of the Riverhead Foundation who also teaches a course on rehabilitation of sea turtles and marine mammals Stony Brook Southampton. “We look forward to SoMAS students helping us with our animal rehabilitation efforts, our public education programs, and our research projects such as the New York state marine mammal and sea turtle abundance study.”
John Dunleavy, Riverhead Town Council member; Barbara Blass, Riverhead Town Council member; Fred Thiele, Jr., NYS Assemblyman; Marc Alessi, NYS Assemblyman; Dr. Samuel L. Stanley, Jr., President, Stony Brook University; Robert DiGiovanni, Director of the Riverhead Foundation; Joe Yaiulli, Co-founder and curator of Atlantis Marine World Aquarium; Philip Cardinale, Riverhead Town Supervisor; Ed Romaine, Suffolk County Legislator
At Atlantis Marine World, SoMAS students interested in science education will fill docent positions and learn how the aquarium provides an interactive and exciting educational experience that emphasizes the importance of marine life and environmental preservation.
“Atlantis Marine World aims to not just entertain visitors, but to also inform them about marine life and aquatic ecosystems,” said Joe Yaiullo, aquarium co-founder and curator. “Through internships, SoMAS students will have the opportunity to learn about exhibit design and innovative methods of communicating information about science and nature to the public.”
With the rapid growth of its programs on the Southampton campus, there are now over 400 undergraduates students pursuing B.S. or B.A. degrees within SoMAS. “With Riverhead positioned midway between our Stony Brook and Southampton campuses, this partnership will give all SoMAS undergraduate students a great and nearby opportunity to supplement their education outside the university setting and to reach out to the larger Long Island community,” said Dr. Conover.
About the School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences at Stony Brook University
The School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences (SoMAS) is the State University of New York’s center for marine and atmospheric research, education, and public service. With more than 85 faculty and staff and more than 500 students engaged in interdisciplinary research and education, SoMAS is at the forefront of advancing knowledge and discovering and resolving environmental challenges affecting the oceans and atmosphere on both regional and global scales.
Marine Science Lecture Looks at Environmental Policy
SOUTHAMPTON, N.Y., August 21, 2009 – The School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences (SoMAS) and Stony Brook Southampton will present an interesting environmental talk as part of its popular Public Lecture Series. These events regularly attract up to 120 audience members.
“The Politics and Policy of Climate Change” with Prof. Sultan Hameed of Stony Brook University will take place on Friday, September 4, at 7:30 p.m. in Duke Lecture Hall. A reception will follow. For further information, call 631-632-5046.
In December 2009, the nations of the world will gather in Copenhagen to negotiate a new international climate treaty to replace the Kyoto Protocol. This lecture will speculate on possible outcomes of the Copenhagen summit by presenting a history of the Kyoto Protocol and the efforts to legislate curbs on carbon emissions in the United States. Dr. Hameed earned his Ph.D. from the University of Manchester and has been at the forefront of analyzing these developments.
The event is free and open to the public.
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Researchers At Stony Brook University Show Warmer Environment Means Shorter Lives For Cold-Blooded Animals
Temperature explains much of the geographic variation in lifespan within species
STONY BROOK, N.Y., July 27, 2009 — Temperature explains much of why cold-blooded organisms such as fish, amphibians, crustaceans, and lizards live longer at higher latitudes than at lower latitudes, according to research published this week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) online. Assistant Professor Dr. Stephan Munch and Ph.D. candidate Santiago Salinas, both of Stony Brook University’s School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences (SoMAS), found that for a diverse range of species whose body temperatures vary with the temperature of their surroundings, ambient temperature is the dominant factor controlling geographic variation of lifespan within species.
“We were intrigued by the fact that pearl mussels in Spain have a maximum lifespan of 29 years, while in Russia, individuals of the same species live nearly 200 years,” said Dr. Munch. “We wondered how a relatively small difference in latitude (Spain 43ºN and Russia 66ºN) could have such a drastic impact on lifespan. While one might expect that local adaptations or geographic variations in predator and food abundance would account for this disparity, we wanted to see whether the geographical variation in lifespan that we see in all sorts of species has a common physiological basis in temperature.”
Munch and Salinas looked at lifespan data from laboratory and field observations for over 90 species from terrestrial, freshwater, and marine environments. They studied organisms with different average longevities–from the copepod Arcartia tonsa, which has an average lifespan of 11.6 days, to the pearl mussel Margaritifera margaritifera, which has an average lifespan of 74 years. They found that across this wide range of species, temperature was consistently exponentially related to lifespan.
The relationship between temperature and lifespan that Munch and Salinas found through data analysis was strikingly similar to the relationship that the metabolic theory of ecology (MTE) predicts. The MTE is a modeling framework that has been used to explain the way in which life history, population dynamics, geographic patterns, and other ecological processes scale with an animal’s body size and temperature.
“You can think of an animal as a beaker in which chemical reactions are taking place,” said Salinas. “The same rules that apply to a liquid inside a beaker should apply to animals. Chemists have a relationship for how an increase in temperature will speed up reaction rates, so the MTE borrows that relationship and applies it–with some obvious caveats–to living things.”
The lifespan in 87% of the free-living species Munch and Salinas studied varied as predicted by the MTE. Yet after removing the effect of temperature, there was still considerable variation in lifespan within species, indicating that other, local factors still play a role in determining lifespan.
“It is interesting to consider how cold-blooded species are likely to react in the face of global warming,” said Salinas. “Because of the exponential relationship between temperature and lifespan, small changes in temperature could result in relatively large changes in lifespan. We could see changes to ecosystem structure and stability if cold-blooded species change their life histories to accommodate warmer temperatures but warm-blooded species do not.”
For more information contact Leslie Taylor at 631-632-8621.
Little-Known Marine Decomposers Attract The Attention Of Genome Sequencers
Joint Genome Institute to sequence the genomes of four species of labyrinthulomycetes
STONY BROOK, N.Y., June 29, 2009 – The Department of Energy’s Joint Genome Institute (JGI) announced today that they will sequence the genomes of four species of labyrinthulomycetes. These little-known marine species were selected for sequencing as the result of a proposal submitted to the competitive JGI Community Sequencing Program by a team of microbiologists led by Dr. Jackie Collier, assistant professor at the School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences (SoMAS) at Stony Brook University.
“Labyrinthulomycetes are a huge group of organisms that behave ecologically like fungi,” said Dr. Collier. “But we know so little about them and there is more diversity among this group than among all the animals you can think of.”
Labyrinthulomycetes are single-celled marine decomposers that eat non-living plant, algal, and animal matter. They are ubiquitous and abundant—particularly on dead vegetation and in salt marshes and mangrove swamps. Although most labyrinthulomycetes species are not pathogens, the organisms responsible for eelgrass wasting disease and QPX disease in hard clams are part of this group.
In some regions, labyrinthulomycetes may be as important as bacteria in degrading organic matter. In coastal systems, the abundance of bacteria is tied to levels of organic matter from marine sources, while the abundance of labyrinthulomycetes is more closely tied to levels of particulate organic matter from land sources. This suggests that labyrinthulomycetes may play an important role in the marine carbon cycle by breaking down material that is difficult to degrade. Because labyrinthulomycetes—unlike bacteria—make long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), they are also thought to improve the nutritional value of poor quality organic detritus.
Labyrinthulomycetes
Photo Credit: Enixy Collado Mercado,
Stony Brook University
“The genome sequences will provide a quantum leap in our understanding of the physiological capacity of these organisms,” said Dr. Collier. “The genes can tell us which enzymes a species is capable of producing, which in turn tells us what kinds of material they can potentially degrade and what role they play in a marine ecosystem’s food web.”
In addition, genomic information might suggest ways to exploit labyrinthulomycetes in novel biotechnological applications. Labyrinthulomycetes produce a wide array of enzymes and some species can degrade crude oil. Also, some labyrinthulomycetes are currently cultured for nutritional supplements. If PUFAs derived from labyrinthulomycetes were to replace fish oils and meal used in aquaculture and animal farming, it would likely reduce the number of fish caught for use as animal feed and have a positive impact on the health of the world’s oceans.
Marine Science Symposium Dissects Bivalves
SOUTHAMPTON, N.Y., May 22, 2009 – The School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences (SoMAS) and Stony Brook Southampton will present interesting local environmental findings in its “Critical Issues Facing the World’s Oceans” lecture series.
The popular series regularly attracts up to 120 audience members, but this one is expected to attract a lot more and has been moved to the campus’ Avram Theater.
With several top experts on the subject participating, “The SoMAS Symposium on Bivalve Aquaculture” will take place on Friday, June 5, at 8 p.m. A reception will follow. For further information, call 631-632-5046.
Speakers include: Karen Rivara, President of the East End Marine Farmers Association; John Aldred, Town of East Hampton Shellfish Hatchery; and Gregg Rivara, Suffolk Co. Marine Environmental Learning Center. The New York State Marine Education Association will also be in attendance.
Karen Rivara will speak from the perspective of a commercial aquaculturist about the rewards of shellfish farming and the issues facing shellfish growers.
Aldred will speak about using bivalve aquaculture as a restoration tool and the history of aquaculture on Long Island.
Gregg Rivara will speak about the science of bivalve aquaculture, including using aquaculture for ecological and commercial restoration.
The event is free and open to the public.
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Retiring SBU President Shirley Strum Kenny Confers Degrees At Her Final Commencement Ceremony
5,421 Degrees Conferred at Long Island’s Largest Commencement Ceremony
STONY BROOK, N.Y., May 22, 2009 – Shirley Strum Kenny conferred the final 5,421 degrees of her 15 year career as President of Stony Brook University at the annual University Commencement ceremony today. The Commencement – Long Island’s largest – will conferred 3,391 undergraduate degrees, 1,290 Masters, 294 doctoral, 223 Doctor of Medicine/Doctor of Dental Surgery/Doctor of Physical Therapy, and 223 certificates. Dr. Kenny has conferred a total of 70,562 degrees during her tenure; 46 percent of the total degrees issued by the University since it opened.
Receiving Honorary Doctorates this year were SBU alum, Dr. Carolyn Porco (BS-Earth and Space Sciences/’74), and former SBU Associate Professor of Environmental Toxicology for the Marine Sciences Research Center, Dr. Charles Wurster. Dr. Porco is Director of the Cassini Imaging Central Laboratory for Operations (CICLOPS) and considered one of the foremost scientific leaders of the 21st century. In 1990, she was selected as the leader of the imaging team for the Cassini mission to Saturn, which successfully placed a spacecraft in orbit around Saturn as well as sending an atmospheric probe to Titan, Saturn’s largest moon. Dr. Wurster, co-founder of the Environmental Defense Fund, is a legendary scientist who helped make revolutionary discoveries that have had a significant impact on the environment and society. Dr. Wurster is highly regarded for his scientific work in documenting the environmental damage of DDT and as an activist who led the fight for and end to its use. Both will receive an honorary Doctor of Science degree.
The Student Speaker was Ashley Barton of Westbury, a Journalism major who is graduating with a 3.30 GPA. She is a member of The National Association of Black Journalists and a member of the campus Journalism Student Advisory Board. Ashley has volunteered for Habitat for humanity and teaches Sunday school at her church. She is a T. Howard Foundation Alumni who has performed internships at NBC and News 12. The Student Speaker is chosen by a panel of students and faculty.
In giving her final presidential commencement address, Dr. Kenny culminates 15 years of guiding the institution to national and international acclaim as one of the top public institutions in the United States. Under Dr. Kenny’s leadership the University earned designation as one of two “flagship” institutions of the 64-school State University of New York system. It also developed into one of the top public research universities in the country, as evidenced by its selection for admission into the Association of American Universities, the invitation-only organization comprising just such institutions, and its ranking among the top two percent of universities worldwide by both The London Times and the Shanghai Higher Education Institute. As chairman of the landmark Boyer Commission on Educating Undergraduates in the Research University, she helped transform undergraduate education across the country. Dr. Kenny was formally recognized last year for her “extraordinary leadership and civic and cultural contributions,” receiving the prestigious Fulbright Lifetime Achievement Medal.
Part of the State University of New York system, Stony Brook University encompasses 200 buildings on more than 1,400 acres. In the 51 years since its founding, the University has grown tremendously, now with nearly 24,000 students and 2,100 faculty, and is recognized as one of the nation’s important centers of learning and scholarship. It is a member of the prestigious Association of American Universities, and ranks among the top 100 national universities in America and among the top 50 public national universities in the country according to the 2008 U.S. News & World Report survey. As one of the flagship campuses in the SUNY system, Stony Brook University is a driving force of the Long Island economy, with an annual economic impact of $4.65 billion, generating nearly 60,000 jobs. Stony Brook accounts for nearly four percent of all economic activity in Nassau and Suffolk counties, and roughly 7.5 percent of total jobs in Suffolk County.
Three Stony Brook Faculty Members Named To Rank Of Distinguished Service And Teaching Professor
Henry Bokuniewicz, Steven Skiena and Joseph Lauher Honored
STONY BROOK, N.Y., May 20, 2009—Three faculty members from Stony Brook University have been appointed to the rank of Distinguished Service and Distinguished Teaching Professor, the State University of New York has announced. Henry Bokuiewicz was among the ten SUNY professors approved for appointment to Distinguished Service Professor. SUNY also approved the appointment of Steven Skiena and Joseph Lauher to Distinguished Teaching Professors. The honor is one of the highest that SUNY bestows and is awarded for exemplary teaching.
“The genius of SUNY faculty lies not only in their intellectual capacity, but also in their surpassing excellence in teaching and in their ability to apply their scholarship and research in service to the campus and larger community in which we all live,” said SUNY Board of Trustees Chairman Carl T. Hayden. “These SUNY faculty attract students and scholars to our campuses, enhance the prestige of the entire university and they are most deserving of highest academic rank the university can bestow. My sincere gratitude and hearty congratulations go to them all.”
“SUNY faculty who receive appointment to the rank of distinguished service professor and distinguished teaching professor are nationally- and internationally-recognized scholars and scientists of the highest academic distinction,” said SUNY Vice Chancellor and Officer-in-Charge John J. O’Connor. “Each of these remarkable individuals has met or exceeded the rigorous requirements for this promotion and I commend the Board of Trustees for recognizing their talent and service by approving their appointments to distinguished rank.”
Henry Bokuniewicz is a Professor in the School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences. Dr. Bokuniewicz has been involved in multiple international groundwater projects, including those in Mauritius (Indian Ocean), Mallorca (Mediterranean Sea), and Barbados. His research focuses on the behavior of coastal sedimentary systems, coastal groundwater hydrology, and monitoring programs for ocean beaches.
Steven Skiena is a Professor in the Department of Computer Science. Dr. Skiena has made significant contributions in several areas of algorithm design, particularly applied algorithms and computational biology. He developed new DNA sequencing assembly techniques to sequence the genome of Borrelia burgdorferi, the bacterium which causes Lyme disease.
Joseph W. Lauher, is a Professor in the Department of Chemistry. Dr. Lauher has introduced innovative and effective teaching strategies to maintain a highly interactive class environment. He led the Department in the development of educational materials and strategies that are usable by successors.
The Distinguished Service Professorship honors and recognizes extraordinary service. It is a rank above that of full professor, and this promotion can be conferred solely by the State University of New York Board of Trustees. Candidates must have demonstrated substantial distinguished service not only at the campus and the State University, but also at the community, regional and State levels. Further, many candidates for appointment to the rank have rendered influential service contributing at the national and international levels. In addition to the selection criteria for the Distinguished Service Professorship, to be nominated a faculty member must have held the rank of full professor for five years, have three years of full-time service at the nominating institution, and have completed at least ten years of full-time service in the State University of New York
The Distinguished Teaching Professorship recognizes and honors mastery of teaching at the graduate, undergraduate or professional levels. For this prestigious tribute to be conferred, candidates must have demonstrated consistently superior mastery of teaching, outstanding service to students and commitment to their ongoing intellectual growth, scholarship and professional growth, and adherence to rigorous academic standards and requirements. Further, to be eligible for nomination, a faculty member must have attained and held the rank of full professor for five years, have completed at least three years of full-time teaching on the nominating campus, 10 years of full-time teaching within the SUNY System, and must have regularly carried a full-time teaching load as defined by the campus.
Part of the State University of New York system, Stony Brook University encompasses 200 buildings on more than 1,400 acres. In the 50 years since its founding, the University has grown tremendously, now with nearly 24,000 students and 2,100 faculty, and is recognized as one of the nation’s important centers of learning and scholarship. It is a member of the prestigious Association of American Universities, and ranks among the top 100 national universities in America and among the top 50 public national universities in the country according to the 2008 U.S. News & World Report survey. Considered one of the “flagship” campuses in the SUNY system, Stony Brook University is a driving force of the Long Island economy, with an annual economic impact of $4.65 billion, generating nearly 60,000 jobs. Stony Brook accounts for nearly four percent of all economic activity in Nassau and Suffolk counties, and roughly 7.5 percent of total jobs in Suffolk County.
Marine Science Lecture Probes Local Waterways
SOUTHAMPTON, N.Y., April 17, 2009 – The School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences and Stony Brook Southampton will present interesting local environmental findings in its “Critical Issues Facing the World’s Oceans” lecture series. The popular series regularly attracts up to 100 audience members.
Led by Prof. Chris Gobler, the “2009 Stony Brook Southampton Coastal and Estuarine Research Program (SCERP) Environmental Symposium” will take place on Friday, May 1, at 7 p.m. in Stony Brook Southampton’s Duke Lecture Hall. A reception will follow. For further information, call 631-632-5046.
The Symposium is an opportunity for Long Island residents, as well as government and non-government agencies, to learn about the most recent research findings and near-term research plans of SCERP.
Some findings have already been previewed on scerp.net, and will be featured on May 1, including:
- A review of harmful algal blooms on Long Island in 2008: A bad situation worsens.
- The effects of elevated carbon dioxide concentrations on the metamorphosis and survival of larval hard clams (Mercenaria mercenaria), bay scallops (Argopecten irradians), and eastern oysters (Crassostrea virginica).
- Bathing beach and shellfishing water quality of Havens Beach, Sag Harbor, NY.
- Characterization of the toxicity of Cochlodinium polykrikoides isolates from NY estuaries to planktivorous fish and larval bivalves.
- A quantitative budget of nitrogen sources, sinks, and remineralization in the Forge River, NY.
- Consumption of brown tide by the slipper shell snail, Crepidula fornicate.
- Estimating impacts of power plant water withdrawal on fish populations: Developing a novel Bayesian approach for calculating entrainment mortality.
- The growth of estuarine resources (Zostera marina, Mercenaria mercenaria, Crassostrea virginica, Argopecten irradians, Cyprinodon variegatus) across a naturally-occurring eutrophication gradient in the Peconic Estuary.
- Environmental controls on eelgrass populations on Long Island.
The event is free and open to the public.
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Jack Macrae and Paula Cooper Donate Forge River Property In Support of SBU School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences
Gift will be used to further understanding of the Forge River and other systems like it in the region and around the world
STONY BROOK, N.Y., March 24, 2009 — Stony Brook University today announced that Jack Macrae and Paula Cooper have donated a four-acre residential property on the banks of the Forge River to support the programs of the School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences (SoMAS). Valued at $2.7M, the waterfront peninsula represents the largest ever gift to SoMAS. Mr. Macrae and Ms. Cooper also become the fifth largest donors to the University’s seven-year $300 million capital campaign, “The Emergence of Stony Brook.” The property was gifted to the Stony Brook Foundation, which accepts and manages private gifts and grants for the University’s benefit.
“Jack and Paula are deeply concerned about preservation and restoration of local marine waters and their generosity will help SoMAS continue to apply science to these and other marine conservation issues,” said Stony Brook University President Dr. Shirley Strum Kenny. “By supporting marine science education and research, this gift will support and strengthen SoMAS as a principal source of expertise in addressing New York’s marine environmental problems.”
“This incredibly generous donation will help SoMAS extend our knowledge and thereby promote restoration of this vital estuary and other marine habitats like it throughout the region and around the world,” said SoMAS Dean Dr. David Conover.
Jack Macrae was born in New York City and graduated from Harvard University in 1954. In his long career in publishing, he has edited and published such award-winning authors as Jorge Luis Borges, David Levering Lewis, Ed Abbey, Calvin Tomkins, and Hilary Mantel. Today he manages the Henry Holt imprint, John Macrae Books. Jack and his wife, art gallery owner Paula Cooper, have been married more than twenty years and together they own and operate “192 Books,” an independent bookstore on 10th Avenue in Manhattan.
At a luncheon held today at the School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences in honor of Jack Macrae and Paula Cooper, students and faculty spoke about ongoing research projects conducted on the Forge River and the SoMAS community expressed its gratitude for the couple?s generous support for marine science and conservation.
“Stony Brook University is a vital voice in these lethal times,” said Jack Macrae. “It’s easy enough to rail against environmental degradation, it’s something else to come up with a workable plan that restores life to the Forge River estuary and others like it on Long Island. And that’s where David Conover and the faculty, students, and administration of SoMAS enter the picture.”
About the School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences at Stony Brook University
The School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences (SoMAS) is the State University of New York’s center for marine and atmospheric research, education, and public service. The expertise of SoMAS faculty places them in the forefront in addressing and answering questions about immediate regional problems, as well as long-term problems relating to the global oceans and atmosphere.
Marine Science Lecture Series Continues at Stony Brook Southampton
SOUTHAMPTON, N.Y., March 19, 2009 – The School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences and Stony Brook Southampton will present an interesting talk on Antarctic ecosystem in its “Critical Issues Facing the World’s Oceans” lecture series. The popular series regularly attracts nearly 100 audience members.
Dr. Darcy Lonsdale, an Assistant Professor in Stony Brook University’s School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, will discuss a trip during the austral summer of 2008 where graduate students and faculty crossed icy waters from New Zealand to Antarctica to study its food web and research the Ross Ice Shelf, the furthest global point south navigable by ship. Her talk, titled “Antarctica: Our Experience at the Bottom of the World,” will take place on Friday, April 3, at 7:30 p.m. in Stony Brook Southampton’s Duke Lecture Hall. A reception will follow. For further information, call 631-632-5046.
The Ross Sea is a highly productive ecosystem within the Southern Ocean, although it mainly has only had “top and base” food web research done until now. The group strived to learn more about what makes up the rest of the Antarctic food web, especially focusing on microbial and crustacean glaciers.
The work objectives of this research are still in progress; however, it is recommended that anyone interested should come to the presentation.
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