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Identification of Crustose Coralline Algae Species in Florida and Their Ability to Induce Coral Larval Settlement in Florida of Caribbean Corals
No full textCrustose coralline algae (CCA) are a diverse, globally spread and yet poorly studied group of benthic organisms. These red algae produce a calcium carbonate skeleton that grows horizontally across loose sediment and rocks, binding them together, making them a key reef building species. CCA also act as settlement cues for coral larvae and provide coral recruits readily available carbonate for growth. Despite their ecological importance, information on these species’ abundance and distribution in the world’s ocean is limited. Their taxonomical identification at the species level is complicated by morphological plasticity, and these morphological characteristics can often only be assessed under a microscope. DNA extraction is difficult, as their skeleton makes the lysis process more complicated. Previous literature reviews have shown that of 127 species of CCA said to exist in the Caribbean Sea, 44 of these were either incorrectly identified, synonymous to another species, or had no information on the name provided. While CCA have been shown to promote coral settlement, settlement induction is often species-specific, while some CCA species produce inhibitory cues for settlement of corals. Genetic analysis will be conducted to identify CCA species growing along Florida’s Reef Tract and their capacity to induce or inhibit larval settlement of multiple Caribbean coral species will be tested through settlement experiments. This will provide a better understanding of CCA diversity in South Florida, which can be used as a new avenue for assessing coral health by determining the abundance of beneficial or inhibitory CCA across the reef. Knowing settlement promoting CCA species also optimizes methodologies of sexual propagation of corals for reef restoration at ex situ nurseries
Regional Differences in the Effects of Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease and Antibiotic Treatments on the Fecundity of Orbicella faveolata in Florida
No full textThe reproductive capacity of a colony to create and disperse offspring is critical for maintenance and distribution of the population. As coral populations continue to decline due to both local and global stressors, it has become increasingly critical to understand how different factors impact coral reproductive and gametogenic cycles. Eutrophication, thermal stress, and age can all affect a coral colony’s reproductive output and cause reproductive senescence. Additionally, the emergence of stony coral tissue loss disease (SCTLD) in 2014 was a massive mortality event on Florida’s Coral Reef, from which came a disease intervention response that treated thousands of corals with antibiotic paste to stop lesions. Understanding how the reproductive output of threated species are affected by local environmental factors, SCTLD, and its treatments will aid in determining optimal restoration strategies.
In the summer of 2022, core samples were collected from 87 large Orbicella faveolata genetically similar colonies split between southeast Florida and the Lower Keys (Looe and Sand Keys). In each region 15 colonies were sampled that never showed signs of SCTLD (no treatments), had a low disease incidence and number of antibiotic treatments, and had high disease incidence and treatments. Histological tissue analyses revealed that 91% of colonies had ova and 85.4% had spermaries. The proportion of colonies with oocytes present was not significantly different between locations, however the proportion of colonies with spermaries present was significantly lower at Looe Key. Mean polyp fecundity was significantly higher in southeast Florida compared to both sites in the Lower Keys. In southeast Florida, fecundity, gamete presence, and oocyte size were not significantly different between affected and unaffected colonies, however there was a weak negative correlation (r²=0.08) between fecundity and total historical treatments. In the Lower Keys, colonies with a history of SCTLD had significantly lower fecundity than those that had never been affected. However, there was no relationship between historical treatments and fecundity, despite the Lower Keys having significantly higher treatments compared to Southeast Florida. Genetic analyses showed these populations are highly connected suggesting that local factors are creating regional fecundity differences.
Although these colonies are several hundred years old, reside in close proximity to anthropogenic impacts, and included individuals with antibiotic treatments, the majority of colonies sampled were highly fecund. Lower fecundity in the Lower Keys corals is of utmost concern and needs further investigation. Analyses are underway identifying environmental and biological indicators associated with differences in fecundity
A Stingray’s Preferred Menu: A Wide Selection of Small Invertebrates
No full textThe Indian River Lagoon (IRL) is a brackish estuarine ecosystem along the Atlantic coast of Florida. Along with other elasmobranchs, Hypanus sabinus and Hypanus say stingray are common, particularly in shallow-water areas along the shorelines. Life-history parameters of these species are poorly-known, including diet. In particular, the diet of an organism provides crucial information such as prey selection, prey abundance, and population shifts of both the stingray and prey species, and more. Traditional diet research used visual identification of partially digested prey in the stomach, but soft-bodied prey ingested by many batoids tend to be quickly digested. For this study, three separate techniques have been applied to better quantify prey items and assimilation for these two stingray species: stomach content analyses, DNA metabarcoding, and stable isotope biogeochemistry. A 129-sample set was examined from H. sabinus (n= 67) and H. say (n=62) using stomach content analysis, a subsample of 5 individuals were selected for investigative metabarcoding analysis using three techniques. Polychaetes, shrimps, crabs, brittle stars, and small fishes were the most abundant findings to date. Stable isotope analysis will also be applied as a different approach to measure the flux of organic elements across the ecosystem through diet analysis. Detecting dietary trends of H. sabinus and H. say such as seasonal or ontogenetic diet preferences is vital for understanding general knowledge of the two species and broader IRL ecosystem health
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Shiny New Beginnings: Reaching for Celestial Bodies in Romance and Research
No full textThis commentary explores a series of social fiction novels about relationships through the lens of ethnographic research. It amplifies the lessons about love and life from Dr. Patricia Leavy’s Celestial Bodies series focused around two people with complex trauma finding kinship and healing with one another after a chance meeting. In the process, it uplifts the rigor and uniqueness of Leavy’s methods in translating findings from many years of observational research with people in different kinds of relationships to the social fiction format whose name she coined herself. In journeying through a shared life with main protagonists Tess Lee and Jack Miller, readers discover a thriving ecology of connections and histories spanning multiple families and locations, and come away with deeper sociological understanding of how people shape and are shaped by their close relationships. Leavy’s stories center the idea of starting anew after trauma or conflict as a leitmotif in guiding readers through a diverse cast of characters and situations centering family, love, and teamwork
Impacto de la Usabilidad del Entorno Virtual Frente al Aprendizaje de la Estadística Descriptiva en un Programa Presencial de una Universidad Privada Colombiana
No full textEsta investigación tuvo como propósito identificar el impacto de la usabilidad del Entorno Virtual en el aprendizaje de la Estadística Descriptiva en un programa presencial de una universidad privada colombiana. Los entornos virtuales, en el contexto educativo actual, se han consolidado como herramientas clave para complementar la enseñanza presencial. Sin embargo, su efectividad depende en gran medida de la usabilidad, factor que puede incidir directamente en el desempeño académico de los estudiantes en asignaturas técnicas como la Estadística. El estudio analiza la relación entre la experiencia de los estudiantes con el entorno virtual y su rendimiento, utilizando una metodología cuantitativa con cuestionarios y reportes académicos.
A través de la revisión de literatura, se justifica la necesidad de examinar cómo las herramientas digitales pueden favorecer la comprensión e implementación de conceptos estadísticos en entornos presenciales, destacando las implicaciones pedagógicas de su usabilidad. Bajo un enfoque cuantitativo, se recolectaron datos sobre percepciones estudiantiles y desempeño académico para establecer su relación. Esta investigación busca identificar fortalezas y debilidades del entorno virtual en la enseñanza de Estadística Descriptiva, aportando a la mejora de las prácticas pedagógicas y el uso de tecnologías educativas en la universidad.
Los resultados de la investigación evidencian que una mayor percepción de usabilidad se asocia con mejor rendimiento académico. La facilidad de uso, accesibilidad, interacción con recursos multimedia y actividades interactivas se vinculan con una mejor comprensión estadística. No obstante, se identificaron dificultades en la adaptación tecnológica de algunos estudiantes, lo cual resalta la necesidad de acompañamiento formativo.
Las conclusiones del estudio sobre la usabilidad del entorno virtual desempeñan un papel crucial en la enseñanza de la Estadística Descriptiva dentro de un programa presencial, tanto desde la percepción del estudiantado como del profesorado. A través del análisis contextual, las implicaciones educativas y las recomendaciones formuladas, se evidencia que el uso adecuado de los entornos virtuales puede transformar positivamente la experiencia de enseñanza-aprendizaje, siempre que se integren estrategias pedagógicas pertinentes y se atiendan los desafíos técnicos y formativos. Esta reflexión final da paso al capítulo de conclusiones, en el cual se sintetizan los principales aportes del estudio y se plantea su contribución al campo de la educación superior apoyada en tecnologías digitales