fisheries – NOAA's Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory

New NOAA, Partner Buoy in American Samoa Opens Window into a Changing Ocean

AOML Communications — Wed, 22 May 2019 16:51:17 +0000

NOAA and partners have launched a new buoy in Fagatele Bay within NOAA’s National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa to measure the amount of carbon dioxide in the waters around a vibrant tropical coral reef ecosystem. "This new monitoring effort in a remote area of the Pacific Ocean will not only advance our understanding of changing ocean chemistry in this valuable and vibrant coral ecosystem but will also help us communicate these changes to diverse stakeholders in the Pacific Islands and across the United States,” said Derek Manzello, coral ecologist with NOAA’s Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory . Fagatele Bay is home to more than 160 species of coral, as well as giant clams, fish, dolphins, and the critically endangered hawksbill sea turtle. Coral reefs and shellfish are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of increasing carbon dioxide in our ocean. As the ocean absorbs carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, the acidity of seawater increases. This is known as ocean acidification, which can threaten the ability of shellfish and corals to build their skeletons, hamper new coral growth and accelerate reef erosion. The loss of coral reefs impacts local economies, affecting the health of fisheries and tourism and exposing coastal communities to increased storm surge. [caption id="attachment_7839" align="aligncenter" width="525"] A diver explores the reefscape in Fagatele Bay, American Samoa. Photo Credit, NOAA.[/caption] “The deployment of this buoy complements existing monitoring efforts in Fagatele Bay, and the data will be beneficial for all ocean management partners in the Territory,” said Atuatasi Lelei-Peau, Acting Superintendent of National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa, “It was great to see the local resource management agencies come together to support this important project.” Through an array of moored carbon dioxide buoys near our nation’s coral reefs, NOAA is working to improve our understanding of the impacts of ocean acidification on reefs and the species that depend on them. Each buoy collects data on carbon dioxide from surface seawater and the atmosphere as well as data on water temperature, salinity, pH, oxygen, and chlorophyll. A team of scientists also conduct long-term monitoring of the surrounding coral reef ecosystem. [caption id="attachment_7840" align="aligncenter" width="600"] An Aerial view of Fagatele Bay in American Samoa.[/caption] “Each buoy is unique based on the location and partners involved,” said Adrienne Sutton, oceanographer at NOAA’s Pacific Marine Environmental Lab who oversees NOAA’s ocean acidification mooring network. “It takes a whole village to create and manage an ocean acidification observing site like this.” The Fagatele Bay buoy is modeled on the ocean acidification monitoring station in Kāneʻohe Bay, Hawai‘i, which combines automatic environmental monitoring with applied science by government, cultural, academic, and citizen scientists. By deploying an ocean acidification monitoring buoy in the sanctuary, researchers are able to leverage existing monitoring and research programs to better understand the impacts of ocean acidification on coral reef ecosystems. All data can be viewed online on PMEL and Pacific Islands Ocean Observing System (PacIOOS) websites and is available to other researchers and the public. Partners in the project include PacIOOS, the National Park of American Samoa, Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources of American Samoa, the Coral Reef Advisory Group of American Samoa and NOAA’s Ocean Acidification Program , Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory, Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory, Coral Reef Conservation Program, Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, and National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa.

NOAA Research on Microbial Communities Contributes to National Microbiome Initiative

AOML Communications — Fri, 13 May 2016 23:45:35 +0000

On May 13th, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy introduced the National Microbiome Initiative, an effort to support multi-agency research to help sample and better understand communities of microorganisms that are critical to both human health and the world’s ecosystems. As the nation’s premier ocean science agency, NOAA is leading interdisciplinary research to improve observation and assessment of marine microbiomes. To support this national initiative, NOAA’s Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory (AOML) received nearly $2 million in funding this year to conduct a number of projects that integrate genetic sampling techniques and technologies to help advance the understanding of the ocean’s microbiomes.

Microbiomes are communities of diverse microscopic organisms that may include plants, animals, fungi, viruses, bacteria and other organisms that live on and inside people, plants, animals, soil, oceans, and the atmosphere. These microbiomes can influence human health, climate change, and food security, as well as many other aspects of our lives and environment. By sampling DNA, RNA, and proteins from single cells to whole organisms to entire communities, scientists hope to better understand where these organisms are, what they are doing, how they are affected by changing environmental conditions, and how they affect the environment in turn. The multi-disciplinary research conducted at AOML leverages existing resources and partnerships to enhance ecosystem observations and establish new approaches to assessing these communities.

Coral Microbiome Sampling to Understand and Combat Environmental Stressors

At research sites in Florida and the Caribbean, scientists will sample coral reefs, water, and marine sediments to identify variations that may explain why some corals are more susceptible or resilient to bleaching or coral diseases than others. With a focus on two species of rare and endangered corals, scientists are collecting and studying coral tissue to identify the genetic makeup and diversity of the microbiome, which consists of poorly understood communities of microorganisms living in close association with corals.

[caption id="attachment_4907" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Black-band disease on a pale coral colony of Montastraea cavernosa in the Florida Keys. Warming oceans and bleaching can increase a coral's susceptibility to disease. Credit: NOAA[/caption] By using next-generation-sequencing of the DNA and RNA associated with these microbiome communities before, during, and after bleaching or coral disease events, researchers hope to identify the genetic traits of the most resilient corals and their microbial communities. Experiments will aim to identify communities that are associated with corals that are resistant to warming waters and disease in order to advise coral restoration efforts across the region.

Autonomous Technology to Support Ecosystem and Fisheries Assessments

Another collaborative project will test the potential of a state-of-the-art autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) to conduct marine microbiome analysis. Successful development and transition of genomic analysis using AUV technology could reduce sample processing time, ship time needs and costs, and reliance on tissue sample collection. This work will test instrumentation from the Monterey Bay Research Institute in partnership with the J. Craig Venter Institute, NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service, and the Scripps Institution of Oceanography. In addition to assessing the microbiome to improve our understanding of food web dynamics, the project will also include field-testing of a new concept known as environmental DNA (eDNA). This technique detects the genetic signatures of macro-organisms such as invertebrates or fish by analyzing cells that have been shed into the water column. Understanding the connection between the marine microbiome and fisheries will improve our ability to monitor and predict ecosystem response to environmental change.

[caption id="attachment_4908" align="aligncenter" width="300"] AOML’s microbiome initiative will test whether autonomous sampling coupled with DNA analysis can combat rising ship-time costs, with emphasis on fisheries applications. Credit: Kelly Lance, MBARI[/caption]

Sampling Ocean Genomics in the California current ecosystem

NOAA is also enhancing an existing ecosystem observation program by adding technology for genetic sampling as part of the California Cooperative Oceanic Fisheries Investigations (CalCOFI) program. The multi-agency program is one of the longest-running ocean observing programs and seeks to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the dynamics of the California Current ecosystem to foster stewardship, resilience, and sustainable resource management. By introducing these genetic sampling technologies, scientists hope to improve understanding of the diversity and functions of microbes in the ecosystem, enabling better prediction of ecosystem response to environmental pressures, including climate change. This project is a pilot for potential broader applications to other regions and across the NOAA research ship fleet.

Bioinformatics and Computing Capacity Enhancement

New projects at AOML will focus on increasing computing capacity and enhancing bioinformatic capabilities. Bioinformatics is the application of computer science to analyze and integrate biological and genetic information. This new field has developed in response to the massive amounts of sequencing data generated by the types of studies described above, all of which rely on bioinformatics. AOML’s bioinformatic capabilities will be used to improve our understanding and prediction of ecosystem response to changing environmental conditions.

Originally Published by Edward Pritchard, 2016

Collaborative NOAA Research Cruise Studies Role of Ocean Currents in Larval Fish Distribution in Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean

AOML Communications — Thu, 12 May 2016 23:51:39 +0000

A team of NOAA oceanographers sets sail from Miami aboard the NOAA Ship Nancy Foster on May 7th to investigate ocean currents and fish larvae distribution in the southern Gulf of Mexico and western Caribbean. The joint cruise between NOAA’s Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory (AOML) and Southeast Fisheries Science Center (SEFSC) is a new chapter in a long-term effort that pools cross-line office resources to better understand the early life history and larval recruitment pathways of important fisheries in the region, including the ecologically important and commercially valuable Atlantic bluefin tuna.

"Cruises like this one are critical to the understanding and protection of the Atlantic bluefin tuna," said Ryan Smith, an oceanographer at AOML. "We have a lot invested in the sound management of this species."

The May - June 2016 cruise will sample data-poor regions of the southern Gulf of Mexico and western Caribbean outside of the primary Atlantic bluefin tuna spawning region in the Gulf of Mexico. These data will help researchers to identify additional areas of Atlantic bluefin tuna spawning activity and help to improve larval habitat models for the species. NOAA, along with the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT), uses the larval abundance data collected from the surveys to calculate and improve tuna stock assessments.

In addition to sampling for Atlantic bluefin tuna, this year’s survey will also sample for economically important reef fish species such as grouper and snapper. Identifying the role that major current systems play in the dispersal and retention of these species is critical for population connectivity assessments and the development of adaptive management strategies for regional marine protected areas. During the survey, scientists aboard the Nancy Foster will use data from satellites to monitor the position of major regional currents. These data will be compared with measurements collected by the ship’s hull-mounted acoustic Doppler current profiler (ADCP) to determine optimal sampling locations in relation to the circulation features observed.

[caption id="attachment_4911" align="aligncenter" width="300"] This map shows surface current velocity vectors (in red) measured with the NOAA Ship Nancy Foster's hull-mounted acoustic Doppler current profiler (ADCP) between April 26 - May 5, 2015. A schematic of the currents is also presented (based on satellite altimetry for the period). The white dots along the survey track indicate locations where oceanographic measurements were made and where net tows to collect larval fish were conducted.[/caption] Following their work in the western Caribbean, AOML and SEFSC researchers will also conduct sampling for economically important larval reef fish species around the U.S. Virgin Islands. NOAA will partner with the University of the Virgin Islands and the Department of Planning and Natural Resources in St. Thomas to study various species including snapper, grouper, and parrotfish. The long-term sustainability of these fisheries in the Virgin Islands and surrounding regions will depend on a comprehensive understanding of regional spawning and larval dispersal patterns. Data collected during the 2016 cruise in the U.S. Virgin Islands will contribute to a growing baseline of data recorded for various species across the region (initiated in 2007). As the dataset grows, it will allow researchers to develop indices of abundance for the species and enable examination of the relation between managed and non-managed areas across the region. This information will aid resource managers in assessing the effectiveness of various fisheries management strategies for the regional spawning aggregation sites. Originally Published by Edward Pritchard, 2016

AOML Partners with NOAA Fisheries to Study Larval Fish in the Caribbean

AOML Communications — Sat, 11 Apr 2015 19:32:38 +0000

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] AOML is partnering with NOAA's Southeast Fisheries Science Center (SEFSC) to conduct an interdisciplinary research cruise aboard the NOAA Ship Nancy Foster from April 11, 2015 through June 3, 2015. The cruise will begin in the U.S. Virgin Islands and extend westward across the northern Caribbean conducting various biological and physical oceanographic surveys.

Leg 1: U.S. Virgin Islands

During the first leg of the cruise, NOAA oceanographers surveyed reef fish populations and ocean currents in the U.S. Virgin Islands. In particular, research focused on the Virgin Islands coastal shelf ecosystem where data collected will provide insight into the processes that drive spawning aggregations of economically important reef fish species in the region. Results from the expedition should also enhance scientists’ understanding of the differences in larval reef fish distributions between managed and non-managed areas of the coastal shelf. Armed with the data and accompanying knowledge of where "hot spots" of species richness and diversity are likely to occur in the seascape, the scientists are in a unique position to inform resource managers about the effectiveness of various approaches to managing living resources in the coastal shelf. The reef fish larvae surveys involve casting a large net behind the vessel for 10-minute intervals. Scientists use a special kind of net known as a MOCNESS, which is a much-improved, high-tech version of the average sampling net. The letters in MOCNESS refer to the specific improvements: it's a Multiple Opening and Closing Net, with an Environmental Sensing System. As MOCNESS tows behind the ship, each net can be opened and shut independently so that it samples a discrete patch of water. By using the environmental sensing system, the researcher can pinpoint exactly when and where to deploy the net. The sensing system is made up of an array of sensors mounted on the instrument frame that relays water conditions up to the ship in real time. The data also help researchers match what they find in their sample to the physical properties of the seawater. After retrieving the nets, the contents are brought to the on board lab where scientists sample and document the species of fish. Scientists classified about 25,000 fish during each survey. This survey will build upon previous surveys conducted between 2007 and 2014, the resulting data of which is still being analyzed and studied. That data helps create a baseline for researchers to compare with new results. The long-term sustainability of fisheries in these banks will depend on the understanding of the transport, spawning aggregations and overall larval recruitment in these waters. Aside from conducting surveys, NOAA oceanographers also participated in outreach opportunities with the local community. Students from Charlotte Amalie High School on St. Thomas toured the Nancy Foster and learned about the importance of larval reef fish. They even had a chance to examine larval specimens under a stereo-microscope and got a lesson in fish identification and classification.

Leg 2: Northern Caribbean

The second leg of the cruise began April 27th from Montego Bay, Jamaica and will take the team westward across the northern Caribbean, concluding in Cozumel, Mexico on May 5th. The biological focus of the research will shift from larval reef fish to the larvae of the pelagic Atlantic Bluefin Tuna. Oceanographers will continue to use the MOCNESS to collect their samples. Measurements and samples collected will provide species abundance and distribution data, and will help to improve tuna stock assessments for the western Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico. The results will also be used to further develop a regional larval habitat model for Atlantic Bluefin Tuna.

Leg 3: Mexico/Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System

The third leg of the cruise began May 9th from Cozumel, Mexico. Oceanographers sampled along the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System, the 2^nd largest reef in the world, in an effort to learn more about the ecology and oceanography of this extremely diverse region. In this part of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, the rapidly moving Yucatan Current comes very close to shore, transporting fish larvae and other creatures. During this leg of the cruise, the focus on larval tuna continues but researchers will also sample larval lobster in an effort to measure species abundance and distribution data in the Mexican Caribbean. In addition to NOAA participants, scientific collaborators from the University of Miami, the University of South Florida, the University of the Virgin Islands, the University of Oregon, the University of Puerto Rico, the University of the West Indies (Jamaica), the Department of Natural Resources (St. Thomas), the Colegio de la Frontera Sur (Mexico), the Instituto Nacional de Pesca (Mexico), and the Instituto Espanol de Oceanografia (Spain) will participate aboard the Nancy Foster as part of this interdisciplinary, multi-institutional, and international research cruise. Originally Published in April 2015 by Edward Pritchard [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row font_color="#ffffff"][vc_column][cq_vc_imageaccordion images="5605,5607,5603,5604,5606,5602" captiontextcolor="#ffffff"][accordiondesc] Panoramic sunset of the island of St. Thomas taken aboard the Nancy Foster. Image Credit: NOAA [/accordiondesc] [accordiondesc] Small Atlantic bluefin tuna larvae collected on the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef. Image Credit: NOAA [/accordiondesc] The track of the Nancy Foster through the U.S. Virgin Islands over the course of Leg 1. Image Credit: NOAA [accordiondesc] A translucent larval parrotfish under the microscope. Image Credit: NOAA [/accordiondesc] [accordiondesc] The Nancy Foster team deploys the MOCNESS net during Leg 2 in the northern Caribbean. Image Credit: NOAA [/accordiondesc] [accordiondesc] The NOAA ship Nancy Foster in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. Image Credit: NOAA [/accordiondesc] [accordiondesc] [/accordiondesc][/cq_vc_imageaccordion][/vc_column][/vc_row]