11th ICRS Abstract book - Nova Southeastern University

22.858
The Effect Of Temperature And Pesticides On The Damselfish acanthochromis
Polyacanthus
Emmanuelle BOTTE* 1,2 , Carolyn SMITH-KEUNE 1 , Sue CODI-KING 2 , Andrew
NEGRI 2 , Dean JERRY 1
1 School of Marine and Tropical Biology, James Cook University, Townsville, Australia,
2 Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, Australia
Over the last century and as a result of global warming, the Great Barrier Reef has
experienced an increase in sea surface temperature. In addition, the coastal reefs from the
Great Barrier Reef lagoon are likely to be impacted by direct anthropogenic disturbances,
as they receive outflow from fifteen river catchments. Toxic compounds can spread in
fringing reefs and impact the health of these ecosystems and their inhabitants. In order to
detect the declining health of reef fish, I will characterize the response of a common and
abundant damselfish, Acanthochromis polyacanthus, to temperature, pesticide
(chlorpyrifos) and the combination of both stresses, at the phenotypic and molecular
level.
Damselfish will be kept in captivity. After acclimation, they will be exposed for 4 days to
a temperature stress, a chlorpyrifos exposure stress or a combination of both stresses. The
environmental conditions will then return to control levels for 6 weeks. Eight fish will be
sacrificed at t=0h, t=2h, t=24h, t=96h and t=6 weeks after the first day of exposure.
Growth, plasma glucose and cortisol levels will be assessed as phenotypic measures of
stress. The degree of inhibition of acetylcholinesterase (the target of chlorpyrifos) will be
determined by enzymatic assay. The expression level of acetylcholinesterase and two
heat shock proteins (hsp70 and hsp90) will be measured in liver and muscle tissues, using
quantitative PCR and ELISA.
I expect to find a dose-response pattern as we intensify the stress. The combination of
mild stresses may also be more deleterious than an acute but individual stress. Ideally this
study will be a basis for the development of biomarkers for temperature and pesticide
exposure. It will be one of the first investigating the effect of a combination of
environmental stresses on the physiology of a tropical marine organism.
22.859
Mpa Effects On The Structure Of Population Of epinephelus Merra in Reunion
Island (Sw Indian Ocean): An Initial Study.
Karine POTHIN* 1 , Emmanuel TESSIER 2
1 Faculty of Sciences, University of Reunion Island, Marine Ecology Laboratory, Saint-
Denis, Reunion, 2 Parc Marin de La Reunion, Saint-Leu, Reunion
A new Marine Protected area have been created in february 2007 at Reunion Island to
protect coral reefs. Although a previous study was effected on the biodiversity of coral
reef fishes, this work is a complementary evaluation of the effects of the MPA on the
structure of the population and the life traits of one commercial and target species, the
grouper Epinephelus merra. This protogenous and sedentary species lives exclusively on
the reef flat. Hence, it is easy to get to the structure of all the population. It is now
exploited by traditionnal fishers, fishing by foot with bamboo lines. This species would
benefit of the MPA by the adjustment of the sex-ratio of the population.
The first step of this study is to obtain informations about density and structure of
population of Epinephelus merra. The data would be collected by visual census along
Line Intercept transects. Each evaluation would be performed in the four reef units, in
each of the three levels of protection (sanctuaries, no take areas, fished areas).
120 pairs of sagittal otoliths would be extracted (30 fishes in each of the reef units) in
order to estimate the age of fishes. After preparation (thin slides), yearly marks would be
read and theoretical growth curve established.
Third, the gonads of this species would be analyzed in order to define the size of sex
change and the sex-ratio of the population.
This study would give the first informations of 1) the structure of the population of one
commercial species of coral reef fishes 2) the impact of fishing on the population 3) the
biology of the species (reproduction, growth). These informations are essential to adapt
management rules for a long time exploitation. This is an original use of traditional stock
assessement method to manage fisheries by foot.
Poster Mini-Symposium 22: Coral Reef Associated Fisheries
22.860
Spatial Distribution Patterns Of Abundance Of Major Life Stages Of Reef Fishes in Sulu
Sea, Philippines
Melchor DEOCADEZ* 1 , Eugene MOLEÑO 2 , Arceo HAZEL 3 , Jerome CABANSAG 4 ,
Jonathaniel APURADO 5 , Samuel MAMAUAG 1 , Cesar VILLANOY 1 , Porfirio ALIÑO 1
1 The Marine Science Institute, University of the Philippines, Quezon City, Philippines, 2 School
of Marine Fisheries and Technology, Mindanao State University, Cagayan De Oro City,
Philippines, 3 DAI USAID Philippine Environmental Governance 2 Project, Philippines, Cebu
City, Philippines, 4 Health and Sciences, 3St. Scholastica’s College, Tacloban City, Philippines,
5 University of San Carlos, Cebu City, Philippines
Abundance of egg, larvae, juveniles and adults of commonly occurring reef fish taxa/species
was determined at several sites along major marine corridors (Verde Passage, Cagayan Ridge
and Balabac Strait) in the Sulu Seascape. Underwater fish visual census of the composition and
abundance of reef fish juveniles and adults were undertaken. Presence/absence and abundance
of taxa/species at each stage showed varying patterns among the corridor sites. For adults, there
was variation in assemblage and abundance (and also biomass) across the major corridor sites
(ANOSIM at p < 0.05). While some sites showed increasing similarities with decreasing
distance (e.g. adjacent Cagayancillo-Tubbataha sites versus distant Cagayancillo-Batangas
sites), some sites, however, showed contrasting patterns with distant sites (e.g. Batangas-
Tubbataha) exhibiting similarities. For patterns of juvenile abundance, there were some
similarities with those of the adults. Correlation between juvenile and adult abundance at some
major sites was significant (ANOSIM at p < 0.05). These matching and mismatching of spatial
patterns of distributions of the various life stages of benthic reef-associated fishes in Sulu Sea
are influenced by two major factors. Local water circulation patterns at the different corridors
in the Sulu Seascape, which potentially disperses egg and larvae within and between corridors
shows shifting connectivity potential of fish populations. There is a concordance on the
diversity of juvenile fish species in areas of high entrainment and adult fish species. On the
other hand, disturbance and stresses such as over-fishing and habitat degradation will increase
the mortality of the fish populations at varying stages of their life history and therefore reduces
the connectivity potential in the same range of spatial scales in the Sulu Seascape.
22.862
Behavior And Survivorship Of Hatchery-Reared Trochus Niloticus
(Gastropoda:trochidae):implications To Restocking Efforts
Davelyn PASTOR* 1 , Marie Antonette JUINIO-MEÑEZ, PH D 1
1 Marine Science Institute, University of the Philippines, Quezon City, Philippines
The activity pattern, anti-predation responses and survivorship of hatchery-reared topshell
Trochus niloticus were studied in hatchery and tethering experiments to develop a restocking
strategy to improve post-release survival of Trochus. Three juvenile sizes (1cm –3cm basal
shell width) of topshells were tested in the hatchery to determine 24-hour activity patterns. The
effect of sizes and conditioning treatments (unconditioned, habitat-conditioned and fieldconditioned)
on anti-predatory behaviors were scored in tank experiments. T. niloticus exhibited
a diel activity pattern over 24-hours which varied significantly with type of substrate (e.g.
greater movement in sand and bare tank; higher frequency of cryptic or hiding behaviors in high
relief coral rubble substrates). Topshells exhibited significant avoidance behaviors in the
presence of a crab predator, regardless of sizes or conditioning. Based on these initial results, a
tethering study in two restocking sites (shallow intertidal and subtidal reef) was done to further
gain insights on relative survivorship in the field. Survivorship was significantly higher in the
shallow intertidal compared to subtidal reef area while conditioning treatments and bigger size
(>3cm) appear to improve survivorship in the topshell’s natural habitat. Based on the
organism’s diel activity pattern, deployment in the morning when topshells are cryptic could
enhance refuge from predators. The release of bigger sizes in coral rubble substrates in the
shallow intertidal zone improve post-release survival. Preliminary results on growth and
survivorship of released sub-adult topshells (4-5cm) and constraints due to low recovery rates
are discussed. The effect of the conditioning treatments on survivorship of hatchery reared
topshells needs to be tested further for future restocking programs.
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