Grantee Research Project Results
2005 Progress Report: Consortium for Estuarine Ecoindicator Research for the Gulf of Mexico (CEER-GOM)
EPA Grant Number: R829458Center: EAGLES - Consortium for Estuarine Ecoindicator Research for the Gulf of Mexico
Center Director: Brouwer, Marius
Title: Consortium for Estuarine Ecoindicator Research for the Gulf of Mexico (CEER-GOM)
Investigators: Brouwer, Marius , Thomas, Peter , Noble, Peter , Rose, Kenneth A. , Cheek, Ann , Rakocinski, Chet , Lepo, Joe , Han, Luoheng , Denslow, Nancy , Snyder, Richard , Yang, Xiaojun
Institution: University of Southern Mississippi , The University of Texas at Austin , University of Florida , The University of Alabama , University of Washington , Louisiana State University - Baton Rouge , Florida State University
Current Institution: University of Southern Mississippi , Florida State University , Louisiana State University - Baton Rouge , The University of Alabama , The University of Texas at Austin , University of Florida , University of Washington
EPA Project Officer: Packard, Benjamin H
Project Period: December 1, 2001 through November 30, 2005 (Extended to May 20, 2007)
Project Period Covered by this Report: December 1, 2004 through November 30,2005
Project Amount: $5,906,323
RFA: Environmental Indicators in the Estuarine Environment Research Program (2000) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Environmental Justice , Water , Aquatic Ecosystems , Ecological Indicators/Assessment/Restoration
Objective:
The main objective of the Consortium for Estuarine Ecoindicator Research for the Gulf of Mexico (CEER-GOM) program, which works in partnership with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA ) Gulf Ecology Division, is to study, develop, and validate indicators of estuarine condition at four levels of increasing biological complexity, viz. Individual, Population, Community, and Eco system/Watershed, and to integrate the suite of indicator responses into models that can be applied to assess estuarine ecosystem condition. In addition, we will develop sensitive indicators of early stages of eco logical change. Our main focus will be on increased nutrient loading and concomitant hypoxic conditions, which are considered as one of the major factors responsible for declines in habitat quality in the Gulf of Mexico region. During year 4 of the program, Mobile Bay and Pensacola Bay were sampled by CEER-GOM program components in a highly coordinated design. Due to destructive impact of Hurricane Katrina on the University of Southern Mississippi’s (USM ) Gulf Coast Research Laboratory many of the field samples collected by the USM teams have been lost. Workshops for data sharing, analysis, and integration were held in May 2005 and March 2006.
Progress Summary:
Individual/Population Level Indicators: Reproductive Function in Estuarine Fishes
The overall long-term objective of this project is to evaluate biomarkers of reproductive function in Gulf killifish (Fundulus grandis) as early warning indicators of fish population hazards due to degrada tion of estuarine environments, using low dissolved oxygen (DO) as a stressor. The major goals for the fourth year were to compare reproductive biomarker responses between estuaries and between years. Collection sites were characterized as normoxic or mildly, moderately, or severely hypoxic based on mean daily DO minimum, mean daily period with DO ≤ 2 mg/L, and frequency of diel hypoxia based on continuous recordings. Reproductive biomarkers varied in sensitivity to hypoxia: gonadosomatic index and the male-specific androgen 11-ketotestosterone were consistently reduced by mild, moderate, or severe hypoxia. Testosterone (T) changes were sex-specific —female T was reduced by moderate, but not severe hypoxia, while male T was reduced only by severe hypoxia. Female estradiol was reduced only by severe hy poxia. Female vitellogenin (VTG) appeared to be reduced by mild hypoxia only. This result may be misleading, since VTG has a long half-life in plasma and may be responding to stimuli not measured. These morphometric and endocrine responses are potentially useful as early warning indicators of reproductive failure, an ecologically relevant endpoint, because in the laboratory they correlated with declines in fecundity.
Individual/Population Level Indicators: Molecular Indicators of Dissolved Oxygen Stress in Crustaceans.
Occurrence of hypoxia in estuarine waters is increasing, and recovery of estuaries, once im pacted, is slow. Detection of early effects of hypoxia is needed for timely remedial action to be taken. We have examined the use of hypoxia-responsive gene expression profiles in grass shrimp, Palaemonetes pugio, as early warning signals of impacts of hypoxia. Macroarrays were constructed using 78 potentially hypoxia-responsive genes, as determined through suppression subtractive hybridization and direct cloning. Arrays were hybridized with 33 P- labeled cDNA from shrimp exposed to hypoxia under controlled laboratory conditions. Analysis of intensity data identified 47 of the 78 genes as the most hypoxia responsive. Grass shrimp exposed to moderate, chronic hypoxia (2.5 ppm DO) showed minimal changes in gene expression. The response after short-term (3- day) exposure to severe chronic hypoxia (1.5 ppm DO) was up-regulation of genes encoding proteins involved in oxygen uptake/transport and energy production, such as hemocyanin and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) synthases. The major response by day 7 was an increase of transcription of genes in the mitochondrial genome (16S rRNA, cytochrome b, cytochrome c oxidase I and III), and up-regulation of genes encoding proteins involved in iron metabolism, possibly reflecting the dependency of mitochondria on Fe for heme (cytochrome) biosynthesis and for the biogenesis of [Fe-S] clusters that are present in more than 10 subunits of enzymes in Complex I, II, and III of the respiratory chain. By day 14 a dramatic reversal was seen, with a significant down-regulation of both mitochondrial and Fe-metabolism genes. Grass shrimp exposed to cyclic hypoxia (1.5 ppm – 8 ppm DO over a 24- hour cycle) showed changes in gene expression profiles distinct from chronic hypoxia exposures. After 3- day exposure, a dramatic up-regulation of the antioxidant enzyme mitochondrial Mn Superoxide dismutase was observed, a common re sponse to oxidative stress. Hemocyanin expression was not affected. After 7- day exposure, four genes encoding mitochondrial proteins involved in protein synthesis, lipid degradation, ATP synthesis, and electron trans port were down-regulated. Yet another mitochondrial enzyme involved in gluconeogenesis (synthesis of glucose from amino acids) was up-regulated, together with crustapain, a cytosolic proteolytic enzyme. Taken together these changes in gene expression profiles suggest down-regulation of mitochondrial protein synthesis, trichloroacetic acid cycle, and electron transport with up-regulation of proteolysis and gluconeogenesis. After 14 days of exposure to cyclic DO, this pattern has returned to pre-exposure conditions. Genes coding for VTG, an egg yolk protein, were upregulated after 77- day exposure to cyclic hypoxia. Validation of the macroarray results of the chronic hypoxia studies with real-time q-PCR showed similar up- or down-regulation at multiple time points for nine genes. Currently, an expanded microarray is being constructed with genes responsive to cyclic hypoxia, which appear to be distinct from the hypoxia-responsive genes, to enable more thorough testing of gene expression in response to cyclic hypoxia, which commonly occurs in Gulf of Mexico estuaries and both the Weeks Bay, Alabama and East Bay, Pensacola field sites during the summer. Laboratory experiments suggest grass shrimp from Weeks Bay and East Bay react differently to chronic hypoxia exposure. Shrimp from Weeks Bay had higher mortality and fewer females produced eggs than shrimp from East Bay, suggesting the Weeks Bay shrimp may be more sensitive to hypoxia than the East Bay shrimp. Gene expression data from the two populations are currently being analyzed. A suite of 28 molecular and whole-animal indicators of hypoxia have been identified for field-collected grass shrimp to be used in an ecosystem-wide integration for the CEER-GOM research group. Progress during this period has been negatively impacted by H urricane Katrina, which, among others, has resulted in a loss of all 2005 field samples.
Modeling and Integration
The modeling group had three objectives: (1) development of models for scaling individual-level effects of hypoxia on croaker to the population level; (2) development of models for scaling indicators of grass shrimp to the population and community levels; and (3) program-wide integration of results. We have completed development of the physiological model of an individual female croaker-like fish that simulates the reproductive process of vitellogenesis. The model helps interpret indicator data by relating indicators to the ecological output of cumulative vitellogenin production. We have also finalized the series of linked models that scale laboratory-measured indicators to population responses. The series consists of three models: statistical, individual-based larval cohort, and stage-based matrix projection population dynamics. The results of simulating the effects of mercury and polychlorinated biphenyls for a Gulf of Mexico version and a mid-Atlantic Bight version have been completed, and we will next simulate hypoxia effects using the laboratory results from CEER-GOM-sponsored experiments. We have completed an initial version of the individual-based fish community model of Gulf of Mexico marsh ecosystem. The model simulates resident fish species (Fundulus, Sheepshead minnow, and silversides), blue crab, bay anchovy, and grass shrimp predatory and competitive interactions on a fine-scale grid of habitat cells. We are using the model to predict the community responses to various scenarios of low D O conditions superimposed on different arrangements of vegetated and open water cells. We continued our attempt at program-wide integration by conducting a meeting with all project principal investigators during year 4. Over 50 indicators collected during coordinated sampling in July and August in Pensacola and Mobile Bays were standardized and compared for consistency within and among components, between sampling times and stations, and by their time scale of responsiveness to DO concentrations. The analysis showed that, despite our best efforts, there existed several major gaps and disconnects in the data when compared across program components and among bays. We decided to make one more attempt at program-wide integration when all of the data become available in the next year.
Community Indicators: Microbial Biofilms as Indicators of Estuarine Ecosystem Condition
Research activity during this period included continuing analysis of samples collected from previous years, synthesis of data, completion of two master’s theses, microcosm work, a field experiment coordinated between biofilms and remote sensing projects, and continued manuscript writing and editing to publish results. Results from a previously completed master’s thesis have been published in the journal Applied and Environmental Microbiology. The two theses just completed are being reformatted and edited for publication. Microcosms were run during the summers of 2005 and 2006 in the laboratory. Estuarine water, collected daily from the Pensacola Bay System, was used to replenish the supply carboys. Treatments were designed to simulate the effect of DO on biofilm growth and other endpoints under con trolled conditions. Conditions were: (1) no added nutrients, vigorous aeration; (2) no added nutrients, no aeration; (3) nutrients, vigorous aeration; (4) nutrients, no aeration. We were able to maintain approx imately 1 ppm more DO in the aerated microcosms for 3 to 5 days, after which biological oxygen demand caused DO to drop in all microcosms. The following parameters from these experiments are currently being assessed at 4 or 5 days: pixel density of scans (average of three plates per treatment); dry weight of biomass post enzyme assay; acetylene reduction for nitrogen fixation; fluorescein diacetate hydrolysis for general esterase activity; phosphatase (alkaline) activity; C and N; and DNA for 16S and functional guild analysis. A coordinated sampling of Pensacola Bay with Luoheng Han’s remote sensing work (see report for R829458C001) was conducted, with the biofilms project analyzing biofilms and water quality parameters and providing logistical support for the field operations. A significant feature of this work will be a report on the use of hyperspectral scanning for non-destructive biofilm chlorophyll determination.
Community Indicators: Macrobenthic Process Indicators of Estuarine Condition
Six specific objectives were pursued by the macrobenthic indicator component in the fourth year of the of CEER GOM project: (1) conduct integrated and independent field sampling in 2005; (2) recover from impacts of Hurricane Katrina and personnel loss; (3) continue processing CEER-GOM macrobenthic samples; (4) conduct macrobenthic data reduction through 2004; (5) initiate implementation of a mass balance model of macrobenthic responses to hypoxia; and (6) conduct CEER-GOM related graduate student research. In fulfillment of the first objective, field sampling efforts continued in East Bay and the Weeks Bay/Mobile Bay study areas. During the 2005 study period, benthic sampling was conducted at the six established sites in the Weeks-Mobile Bay system in late July, and again in late October 2005. In addition, eleven established sites in the East Pensacola Bay system were sampled in late August and again in late November 2005. Thus, a total of 39 sites were sampled in 2005, yielding 117 infaunal samples, 39 samples each of pore water nutrients, total organic carbon (TOC), sediment composition, and datasonde profiles. The first 22 pore water nutrient samples were lost due to the ravages of Hurricane Katrina. In fulfillment of the second objective, TOC analysis of 53 TOC samples was outsourced to TDI Brooks International, Inc., of College Station, TX, a group that also does TOC analyses for the EPA. Also, rather than hire a new taxonomist to replace lost personnel for the remaining duration of the project, a portion of the remaining taxonomic work for the project was outsourced to Dr. Carol Cleveland, who has previously identified benthic samples from the Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program-Estuaries Louisianian Province. In addition, an additional 6 month no-cost ex tension was requested. In fulfillment of the third objective, raw data were obtained for all macrofaunal and accompanying samples through 2004. To date, sample sorting and size fractionation of extracted macro invert ebrates has been completed for all 117 2005 samples. Taxonomic identification is complete for 75 percent of the 2005 samples, and volumetric determinations are 25 percent complete. In fulfillment of the fourth objective, calculation of macrobenthic process indicators and data reduction has been completed for all pooled collections through 2004. In addition, process indicators have been determined for individual grabs for all of the collections through 2004. Existing CEER-GOM macrobenthic datasets through 2004 have been posted to the CEER-GOM ftp site. Daily summaries of continuous DO data from datasonde site deployment events for use in the integration of 2003 and 2004 CEER-GOM data are well underway. In fulfillment of the fifth objective, the Peters mass balance model has been successfully replicated and examined using the simulation software package, Simile v4.4. In addition, the mass balance model was modified to enable the derivation of unique size-specific mortality coefficients so the model could be tuned to reach a target biomass distribution within some specified time period. Hypothetical effects of DO limitation on ingestion were also introduced within the context of the mass balance model. In fulfillment of the sixth objective, macrofaunal indicators were compared between intertidal Spartina and subtidal habitats and between a set of created marsh islands that had been established for 27 years and a set of nearby natural marsh islands within Davis Bayou, Mississippi. Twenty stations each were located on the created islands and the natural islands; stations were divided equally between intertidal and sub-tidal habitats. A couple methodological innovations were implemented for salt marsh habitats, including the use of smaller core samples and standard printed grids for size-sorting infaunal organisms. Total abundance, production potential, and Biomass Size-Spectrum (BSS) residual intercept values differed significantly between created and natural marshes as well as between intertidal and subtidal habitats. Mean body size differed significantly between habitats but not between created and natural marshes. Turnover time did not differ significantly with respect to either marsh status or habitat. Parallel to differences in total abundance, production potential was higher at the natural marsh and in intertidal habitat. BSS intercept residuals were generally higher from the natural marsh and from intertidal habitat. The restoration study showed turnover time and production potential values comparable to those from the CEER-GOM salt marsh sites.
Ecosystem/Watershed Indicators: Remote Sensing of Water Quality
Hyperspectral sensing of chlorophyll a continued in the fourth year of the “ Remote Sensing of Water Quality” project. In addition, hyper spectral sensing of biofilms was conducted. This is part of a collaborative effort between the University of Alabama and University of West Florida to explore the applications of remote sensing to other components of CEER-GOM. The main goal of this joint endeavor was to develop a practical tool for estimating chlorophyll concentration of biofilms using spectral reflectance. Findings from the study include the utility of the first derivative spectra and the best wavelengths for determining chlorophyll content of biofilms deployed at both surface and bottom. Two articles were published in the International Journal of Remote Sensing during the period of this report.
Ecosystem/Watershed Indicators: GIS and Terrestrial Remote Sensing
During this reporting period, we conducted research on non-point source pollution modeling. This includes a pilot study in a small watershed and an extended study considering the entire Pensacola estuarine watershed. The aim was to simulate the generation and transport of pollutants in overland flow to waterways (and finally the receiving basin) by using the Agricultural Non-point Source Pollution Model (AGNPS). The pilot study was undertaken for a complete sub-basin (610 km2 in size) within the Pensacola estuarine watershed. This model has three major output products: runoff, erosion, and total nitrogen . We validated the model with real measurements dated on September 25, 2002. We also tested the model performance at four different levels of spatial resolution, namely, 45 m, 60 m, 75 m, 90 m, and 105 m. This part of the work has been very computationally intensive (30 m does not work; program crashed). We also considered different rain fall conditions—return periods (5, 10, 50 years). The pilot work was quite successful. Starting from late 2005, we have been extending the geographic dimension of non-point source pollution modeling into the entire Pensacola estuarine drainage area while considering several different watershed management scenarios. We also investigate the scale impacts upon non-point pollution modeling through the simulations undertaken at different levels of spatial resolution. This involves the use of a land cover transition model being loosely coupled with the AGNPS . We reported our pre liminary work on non-point source pollution at the 102nd Annual Meeting of the Association of American Geographers on March 11, 2006, Chicago.
Data Analysis and Integration
Novel analytical/computational tools have been developed. The application of these tools has resulted in publication of 10 peer-reviewed articles. These articles deal with: (1) the organizational properties of phytoplankton in estuaries; (2) the application and development of artificial neural networks to solve (and understand) complex biological and ecological problems; and (3) the development of oligonucleotide arrays for the rapid identification of microbial targets in complex samples. The most significant finding of my research was the discovery of a new invention that may revolutionize how microorganisms are identified and quantified in complex microbial samples. Work in this area is ongoing, and long-term impacts of this discovery are potentially far reaching, beyond the initial objectives of the CEER-GOM project. The ability to identify, and perhaps quantify, known microbial targets in a complex mixture of targets would be applicable to many areas of science, including health care, monitoring food sources and products, and pathogen tracking.
Journal Articles: 52 Displayed | Download in RIS Format
Other center views: | All 175 publications | 58 publications in selected types | All 52 journal articles |
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Breitburg DL, Adamack A, Rose KA, Kolesar SE, Decker MB, Purcell JE, Keister JE, Cowan JH. The pattern and influence of low dissolved oxygen in the Patuxent River, a seasonally hypoxic estuary. Estuaries 2003;26(2A):280-297. |
R829458C009 (2003) |
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Brouwer M, Larkin P, Brown-Peterson N, King C, et al. Effects of hypoxia on gene and protein expression in the blue crab, Callinectes sapidus. Marine Environmental Research 2004;58(2-5):787-792. |
R829458C003 (2003) R829458C003 (2004) |
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Brouwer M, Brown-Peterson NJ, Larkin P, Patel V, Denslow N, Manning S, Brouwer TH. Molecular and whole animal responses of grass shrimp, Palaemonetes pugio, exposed to chronic hypoxia. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 2007;341(1):16-31. |
R829458C003 (2005) |
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Brown-Peterson NJ, Larkin P, Denslow N, King C, Manning S, Brouwer M. Molecular indicators of hypoxia in the blue crab Callinectes sapidus. Marine Ecology Progress Series 2005;286:203-215. |
R829458C003 (2004) R829458C003 (2005) |
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Cheek A, Landry C, Seele S, Manning S. Diel hypoxia in marsh creeks impairs the reproductive capacity of estuarine fish populations. MARINE ECOLOGY PROGRESS SERIESN 2009;392:211-221. |
R829458 (2005) |
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Cheek A. Diel hypoxia alters fitness in growth-limited estuarine fish (Fundulus grandis). JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL MARINE BIOLOGY AND ECOLOGY 2011;409(12):13-20 |
R829458 (2005) |
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Popular article featuring Cheek & Thomas projects: Janet Raloff. Choked Up: How dead zones affect fish reproduction. Science News 2004;166(20):309. |
R829458C005 (2004) |
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El Fantroussi S, Urakawa H, Bernhard AE, Kelly JJ, Noble PA, Smidt H, Yershov GM, Stahl DA. Direct profiling of environmental microbial populations by thermal dissociation analysis of native rRNAs hybridized to oligonucleotide microarrays. Applied and Environmental Microbiology 2003;69(4):2377-2382. |
R829458C004 (2003) |
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Ferguson HJ, Rakocinski CF. Tracking marsh restoration using macrobenthic metrics: implementing a functional approach. Wetlands Ecology and Management 2008;16(4):277-289. |
R829458 (2005) |
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Fuiman LA, Rose KA, Cowan Jr. JH, Smith EP. Survival skills required for predator evasion by fish larvae and their relation to laboratory measures of performance. Animal Behaviour 2006;71(6):1389-1399. |
R829458C009 (2005) |
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Gough HL, Dahl AL, Tribou E, Noble PA, Gaillard J-F, Stahl DA. Elevated sulfate reduction in metal-contaminated freshwater lake sediments. Journal of Geophysical Research: Biogeosciences 2008;113(G4):G04037, doi:10.1029/2008JG000738. |
R829458C004 (2003) R829458C004 (2004) |
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Han LH, Jordan KJ. Estimating and mapping chlorophyll-a concentration in Pensacola Bay, Florida using Landsat ETM+ data. International Journal of Remote Sensing 2005;26(23):5245-5254. |
R829458C001 (2004) R829458C001 (2005) |
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Han LH. Estimating chlorophyll-a concentration using first-derivative spectra in coastal water. International Journal of Remote Sensing 2005;26(23):5235-5244 |
R829458C001 (2004) R829458C001 (2005) |
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Hansel NN, Hilmer SC, Georas SN, Cope LM, Guo J, Irizarry RA, Diette GB. Oligonucleotide-microarray analysis of peripheral-blood lymphocytes in severe asthma. The Journal of Laboratory and Clinical Medicine 2005;145(5):263-274. |
R829458 (2005) R832139 (2004) R832139 (2005) R832139 (2006) R832139 (2007) R832139C001 (2005) |
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Kelly JJ, Siripong S, McCormack J, Janus LR, Urakawa H, El Fantroussi S, Noble PA, Sappelsa L, Rittmann BE, Stahl DA. DNA microarray detection of nitrifying bacterial 16S rRNA in wastewater treatment plant samples. Water Research 2005;39(14):3229-3238. |
R829458C004 (2005) |
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Landry CA, Steele SL, Manning S, Cheek AO. Long term hypoxia suppresses reproductive capacity in the estuarine fish, Fundulus grandis. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology-Part A: Molecular & Integrative Physiology 2007;148(2):317-323. |
R829458 (2005) |
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Lewitus AJ, White DL, Tymowski RG, Geesey ME, Hymel SN, Noble PA. Adapting the CHEMTAX method for assessing phytoplankton taxonomic composition in Southeastern U.S. estuaries. Estuaries 2005;28(1):160-172. |
R829458C004 (2004) R829458C004 (2005) |
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Martinez ML, Landry C, Boehm R, Manning S, Cheek AO, Rees BB. Effects of long-term hypoxia on enzymes of carbohydrate metabolism in the Gulf killifish, Fundulus grandis. Journal of Experimental Biology 2006;209(19):3851-3861. |
R829458C005 (2005) |
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Morris JT, Porter D, Neet M, Noble PA, Schmidt L, Lapine LA, Jensen JR. Integrating LIDAR elevation data, multi-spectral imagery and neural network modelling for marsh characterization. International Journal of Remote Sensing 2005;26(23):5221-5234. |
R829458C004 (2003) R829458C004 (2005) R828677C003 (2004) R828677C003 (Final) |
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Moss JA, Nocker A, Lepo JE, Snyder RA. Stability and change in estuarine biofilm bacterial community diversity. Applied and Environmental Microbiology 2006;72(9):5679-5688. |
R829458C002 (2004) R829458C002 (2005) |
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Murphy CA, Rose KA, Thomas P. Modeling vitellogenesis in female fish exposed to environmental stressors: predicting the effects of endocrine disturbance due to exposure to a PCB mixture and cadmium. Reproductive Toxicology 2005;19(3):395-409. |
R829458C005 (2003) R829458C009 (2003) |
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Murphy CA, Rose KA, Alvarez MC, Fuiman LA. Modeling larval fish behavior: scaling the sublethal effects of methylmercury to population-relevant endpoints. Aquatic Toxicology 2008;86(4):470-484. |
R829458 (2005) |
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Murphy C, Rose K, Rahman M, Thomas P. Testing and applying a fish vitellogenesis model to evaluate laboratory and field biomarkers of endocrine disruption in Atlantic croaker (Micropogonias undulatus) exposed to hypoxia. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2009;28(6):1288-1303. |
R829458 (2005) R827399 (2001) |
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Niemi G, Wardrop D, Brooks R, Anderson S, Brady V, Paerl H , Rakocinski C, Brouwer M, Levinson B, McDonald M. Rationale for a new generation of indicators for coastal waters. Environmental Health Perspectives 2004;112(9):979-986. |
R829458C003 (2003) R829458C008 (2003) R829458C008 (2004) R828675 (2004) R828675 (Final) R828677C001 (Final) R828684 (Final) |
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Noble PA, Tymowski RG, Fletcher M, Morris JT, Lewitus AJ. Contrasting patterns of phytoplankton community pigment composition in two salt marsh estuaries in southeastern United States. Applied and Environmental Microbiology 2003;69(7):4129-4143. |
R829458C004 (2003) R829458C004 (2005) R826944 (2000) R826944 (Final) R828677C003 (2003) |
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Noble PA, Tribou EH. Neuroet: an easy-to-use artificial neural network for ecological and biological modeling. Ecological Modelling 2007;203(1-2):87-98. |
R829458 (2005) R829458C004 (2004) |
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Nocker A, Lepo JE, Snyder RA. Influence of an oyster reef on development of the microbial heterotrophic community of an estuarine biofilm. Applied and Environmental Microbiology 2004;70(11):6834-6845. |
R829458C002 (2003) R829458C002 (2004) |
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Nocker A, Lepo JE, Martin LL, Snyder RA. Response of estuarine biofilm microbial community development to changes in dissolved oxygen and nutrient concentrations. Microbial Ecology 2007;54(3):532-542. |
R829458C002 (2004) |
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Pozhitkov AE, Bailey KD, Noble PA. Development of a statistically robust quantification method for microorganisms in mixtures using oligonucleotide microarrays. Journal of Microbiological Methods 2007;70(2):292-300. |
R829458 (2005) |
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Pozhitkov AE, Stedtfeld RD, Hashsham SA, Noble PA. Revision of the nonequilibrium thermal dissociation and stringent washing approaches for identification of mixed nucleic acid targets by microarrays. Nucleic Acids Research 2007;35(9):e70. |
R829458 (2005) |
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Pozhitkov A, Chernov B, Yershov G, Noble PA. Evaluation of gel-pad oligonucleotide microarray technology by using artificial neural networks. Applied and Environmental Microbiology 2005;71(12):8663-8676. |
R829458C004 (2004) R829458C004 (2005) |
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Pozhitkov A, Noble PA, Domazet-Loso T, Nolte AW, Sonnenberg R, Staehler P, Beier M, Tautz D. Tests of rRNA hybridization to microarrays suggest that hybridization characteristics of oligonucleotide probes for species discrimination cannot be predicted. Nucleic Acids Research 2006;34(9):e66. |
R829458C004 (2005) |
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Rahman MS, Thomas P. Molecular cloning, characterization and expression of two hypoxia-inducible factor alpha subunits, HIF-1α and HIF-2α, in a hypoxia-tolerant marine teleost, Atlantic croaker (Micropogonias undulatus). Gene 2007;396(2):273-282. |
R829458 (2005) |
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Rakocinski CF. Linking allometric macrobenthic processes to hypoxia using the Peters mass balance model. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 2009;381(Suppl 1):S13-S20. |
R829458 (2005) |
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Rakocinski C. Evaluating macrobenthic process indicators in relation to organic enrichment and hypoxia. ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS 2012;13(1):1-12. |
R829458 (2005) |
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Richmond CE, Breitburg DL, Rose KA. The role of environmental generalist species in ecosystem function. Ecological Modelling 2005;188(2-4):279-295. |
R829458 (2005) |
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Richmond CE, Breitburg DL, Rose KA. The effect of stress tolerance on the relationship between species richness and system function. Ecological Modelling. |
R829458C009 (2004) |
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Rose KA, Murphy CA, Diamond SL, Fuiman LA, Thomas P. Using nested models and laboratory data for predicting population effects of contaminants on fish: a step towards a bottom-up approach for establishing causality in field studies. Human and Ecological Risk Assessment 2003;9(1):231-257. |
R829458C009 (2003) |
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Rose KA. Lack of relationship between simulated fish population responses and their life history traits: inadequate models, incorrect analysis, or site-specific factors?. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 2005;62(4):886-902 |
R829458C009 (2003) R829458C009 (2004) |
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Thomas P, Rahman MS, Kummer JA, Lawson S. Reproductive endocrine dysfunction in Atlantic croaker exposed to hypoxia. Marine Environmental Research 2006;62(Suppl 1):S249-S252. |
R829458C005 (2005) R826130 (1999) |
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Thomas P, Rahman MS, Khan IA, Kummer JA. Widespread endocrine disruption and reproductive impairment in an estuarine fish population exposed to seasonal hypoxia. Proceedings of The Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 2007;274(1626):2693-2701. |
R829458 (2005) |
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Thomas P, Rahman MS. Biomarkers of hypoxia exposure and reproductive function in Atlantic croaker: a review with some preliminary findings from the northern Gulf of Mexico hypoxic zone. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 2009;381(Suppl 1):S38-S50. |
R829458 (2005) |
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Thomas P, Rahman MS. Chronic hypoxia impairs gamete maturation in Atlantic croaker induced by progestins through nongenomic mechanisms resulting in reduced reproductive success. Environmental Science & Technology 2009;43(11):4175-4180. |
R829458 (2005) |
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Urakawa H, El Fantroussi S, Smidt H, Smoot JC, Tribou EH, Kelly JJ, Noble PA, Stahl DA. Optimization of single-base-pair mismatch discrimination in oligonucleotide microarrays. Applied and Environmental Microbiology 2003;69(5):2848-2856. |
R829458C004 (2003) R829458C004 (2005) |
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Yang X, Liu Z. Quantifying landscape pattern and its change in an estuarine watershed using satellite imagery and landscape metrics. International Journal of Remote Sensing 2005;26(23):5297-5323. |
R829458C007 (2004) R829458C007 (2005) |
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Yang XJ. Remote sensing and GIS applications for estuarine ecosystem analysis:an overview. International Journal of Remote Sensing 2005;26(23):5347-5356. |
R829458C007 (2004) R829458C007 (2005) |
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Yang X. Estimating landscape imperviousness with remotely sensed imagery. IEEE Geoscience and Remote Sensing Letters 2006;3(1):6-9. |
R829458C007 (2004) R829458C007 (2005) |
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Yang X, Lo CP. Using a time series of satellite imagery to detect land use and land cover changes in the Atlanta, Georgia metropolitan area. International Journal of Remote Sensing 2002;23(9):1775-1798 |
R829458C007 (2003) |
not available |
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Yang X. Geospatial technologies for coastal and estuarine ecosystem analysis: status and research priorities. Journal of Coastal Research |
R829458C007 (2004) |
not available |
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Yang X, Liu Z. Use of satellite-derived landscape imperviousness index to characterize urban spatial growth. Computers, Environment and Urban Systems 2005; 29(5):524-540. |
R829458C007 (2003) R829458C007 (2004) R829458C007 (2005) |
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Yang X, Liu Z. Using satellite imagery and GIS for land-use and land-cover change mapping in an estuarine watershed. International Journal of Remote Sensing 2005;26(23):5275-5296. |
R829458C007 (2005) |
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Yang X, Liu Z. Use of remote sensing and landscape metrics to analyze estuarine landscape changing dynamics. International Journal of Remote Sensing . |
R829458C007 (2003) R829458C007 (2004) |
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Supplemental Keywords:
RFA, Scientific Discipline, Geographic Area, Ecosystem Protection/Environmental Exposure & Risk, Aquatic Ecosystems & Estuarine Research, Ecosystem/Assessment/Indicators, Aquatic Ecosystem, Monitoring/Modeling, Environmental Monitoring, Ecological Risk Assessment, Ecology and Ecosystems, Biology, Gulf of Mexico, Ecological Indicators, ecological exposure, monitoring, ecoindicator, ecosystem monitoring, estuaries, estuarine integrity, Mobile Bay, Galveston Bay, benthic indicators, Apalachicola Bay, estuarine ecoindicator, environmental indicators, environmental stress, water qualityRelevant Websites:
http://www.usm.edu/gcrl/ceer_gom/
Progress and Final Reports:
Original Abstract Subprojects under this Center: (EPA does not fund or establish subprojects; EPA awards and manages the overall grant for this center).
R829458C001 Remote Sensing of Water Quality
R829458C002 Microbial Biofilms as Indicators of Estuarine Ecosystem Condition
R829458C003 Individual Level Indicators: Molecular Indicators of Dissolved Oxygen Stress in Crustaceans
R829458C004 Data Management and Analysis
R829458C005 Individual Level Indicators: Reproductive Function in Estuarine Fishes
R829458C006 Collaborative Efforts Between CEER-GOM and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-Gulf Ecology Division (GED)
R829458C007 GIS and Terrestrial Remote Sensing
R829458C008 Macrobenthic Process Indicators of Estuarine Condition for the Northern Gulf of Mexico
R829458C009 Modeling and Integration
The perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.