MARINE SCIENCE LIBRARY THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN The University of Texas at AustinMAR!NESCIENCE INSTITUTE 750 Channelview DrivePORT ARANSAS, TEXAS Port Aransas, Texas 78373·5.015 U.S. A. MAY 14 1998 The usRARvlazaretteGazette NEWS FROMThe University ofTexas at AustinMARINE SCIENCE INSTITUTEPort Aransas, Texas 78373-5015(512-749-6760 -fax 512-749-6777)(internet: thompson@utmsi.utexas.edu) Vol. 7, Issue 4, 8 May 1998 In this issue of Lazarette Gazette Wayne Gardner: New endowed lectureship in Marine Science ............ cover Kirsten Poling: Sensory and behavioral ontogeny of three species ofSciaenids and the importance of habitat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2Lee Fuiman: Kirsten Poling is first woman Ph.D. in Department of Marine Science Regular sections: director's report -p. 1, attaboys -p. 2, abstract -p. 3, stu4ents -p. 3,egabrag woes .-p. 4, msi on the www -p. 5, cruise reports & boat operations -p. 6, personnel -p. 7, seminars p. 8, trip reports & travel -p. 9, tony's tidings -p. 10, editor's note -p. 12 · It is a great privilege and pleasure to announce the establishment ofThe Laura RandallSchweppe Endowed Lectureship in Marine Science, Port Aransas. We are deeply appreciative of our MSI Advisory Council member, Dr. H. Irving Schweppe, Jr., his daughters Anne Schweppe Ashmun and Jane Venable Schweppe, and his grandchildren ~~~-· . Laura Randall Schweppe Ashmun and Stuart Whitaker Ashmun, Jr. for this very ~-~;~·· [ill;~:.} generous gift. Interestfrom the permanent endowment of$100,000 will provide funds for----·--· travel expenses, honoraria, and other administrative costs to support a Visiting Scientist/Lecturer series at the Marine Science Institute. These funds will allow us to bring in acclaimedexperts in various aspects of the marine sciences. These experts will provide public and in-house lecturesand spend time with students, faculty, and other staff to enhance our educational and research activities.Some of the visiting scientists may also extend their visits at UTMSI and participate in collaborative research or educational projects with UTMSI scientists. This program will be an excellent extension ofthe Critical Issues Seminars that Dean Rankin and the College ofNatural Sciences have funded as an extension of our 50th Year Anniversary Celebration. The endowment is in memory of Laura Randall Schweppe who left a most positive impression on all of those people whose life she affected. A gift related to marine science and the sea seems particularly appropriate to her memory. Laura Randall Schweppe was born and raised in Galveston and her grandfather, Edward Randall, Sr., was a Professor of Medicine at U.T .M .B. and Chairman of the Board of Regents in the 1930's. Laura Randall Schweppe's father, Edward Randall, Jr., was also a Professor of Medicine in Galveston. Recently Anne Ashmun related how her parents started visiting Port Aransas in the 60's. They fished with the senior Farleys and stayed at the Tarpon Inn. During those visits to Port Aransas in the 60's, Laura Randall Schweppe and her daughters explored spoil islands and St. JosephIsland, and keyed sea shells at every opportunity. She extensively photographed the birds of the area. We are highly honored that the Schweppe family has chosen this endowment in honor of Laura Randall Schweppe as a means of sharing and memorializing their cherished family experiences in and by the sea in Port Aransas. Our Marine Science Advisory Meeting at the end ofMarch was successful and enjoyable. On behalfofDean Rankin, Ben Vaughan, and myself, I thank all of our Advisory Council Members for their attendance participation, and support. It was an exciting event with the announcement of the Perry R. Bass Chair i~ Fisheries and Mariculture and the designation ofConnie Arnold as the first recipient ofthis Chair. We are gratified that Chancellor and Isabella Cunningham were able to attend our social event on Friday eveningand that President and Priscilla Flawn were able to participate in the meeting before his term ended as President ad interim. We were honored by the attendance ofState Representative Gene Seaman, and also ofState Senator Carlos Truan who was able to attend the Saturday morning session. We are very grateful for Representative Seaman's strong support as exemplified byhis generous personal donation to our student scholarship fund while attending our meeting. The first two Critical Issues Seminars by Drs. Anderson and Karl had good attendance with interested audiences and many questions about the Red Tide and El Nino, repectively. The seminar by Dr. Anderson was done in conjunction with the Red Tide Workshopthat was held at UTMSI on April 17-18. In addition to his public seminar on El Nino, Dr. Karl presented an informal seminar during the day and spent time discussing science with the students and faculty during his visit at UTMSI. Both events were successful and we are glad that the visiting scientist program can continue. We have scheduled another Open House,Saturday, May 23. The last one held in 1996 was a major success and we look forward to even a better one this year. Open House Chairman Ken Dunton and other committee members are doing a great job of organization and promotion. (A special color flyer is enclosed with mailed copies of the LazGaz.) Congratulations to Ron Benner, who has been approved for promotion to full professor effective the first of September. Ron is one of our stars at MSI, who is internationally known for his research on the composition and activityofdissolved organic carbon in theworld's oceans. Congratulations also to Assistant Professor Ellery Ingall who was recently selected by the College of Natural Sciences to receive this year's . Teaching Excellence Award for the Department of Marine Science. -Wayne.Gardner • Mike did a fine job with plumbing the UV sterilizer in my lab the other day. Thanks. (From Lee Fuiman to John Shaw and John Thompson regarding Mike McGill) • Thanks for the efforts made by your crew to address the water supply to the outside tanks. The situation is much improved. Thanks especially to Mike McGill for his idea of putting risers to better the circulation in each tank. (From Tony Amos to John Shaw and John Thompson regarding the maintenance crew and Mike McGill) • Kathy Quade was nominated by Director Wayne Gardner to receive an employee excellence award in the College of Natural Sciences. The LazGaz understands some very complimentary remarks were made at a high level in Austin concerning Kathy. SENSORY AND BERAVIORAL ONTOGENY OF THREE SPECIES OF SCIAENIDS AND THE IMPORTANCE OF HABITAT Kirsten R. Poling, Ph.D. Supervisor: Lee Fuiman The sensory and behavioral development of three species of sciaenid larvae with different patterns of habitat use were examined. Atlantic croaker, Micropogonias undulatus, larvae·spend the early part oftheir development offshore, and even after arriving inshore spend relatively little time in seagrass nurseryhabitats. Red drum, Sciaenops ocellatus, larvae occur inshore throughout most of the larval period and utilize seagrass nursery habitats, although not exclusively. Spotted seatrout, Cynoscion nebulosus, larvae develop entirely inshore and are strongly associated with ~eagrass nursery habitats. Changes in the visual system were examined by measuring photoreceptor densities, theoretical acuity and theoretical sensitivity of the eye. Changes in the mechanosensory system were examined by counting neuromasts and documenting lateral line canal formation. Behavioral development was assessed by examining response to an anti.:.predator stimulus. Visual and mechanoreceptive attributes of these three species differed most near the end of the larval period when habitat differences are most pronounced. Atlantic croaker had more visual specializations than the other species with large eyes, more rod (low-light)photoreceptors and higher sensitivity (summation) of photoreceptors. Seatrout had more abundant neuromasts but poorer visual measures relative to the other two species. Red drum were intermediate in sensory morphology, with neuromast numbers that were slightly higher than both species of a portion of the early larval period and visual attributes that were slightly better than seatrout during the late larval period. Use of these sensory systems for anti-predator behavior roughly corresponded to differences in the development of sensory structures, with Atlantic croaker depending most on vision, red drum depending more on mechanoreception, and seatrout depending almost entirely on mechanoreception. Behavioral development also relates to the hab~tats occupied byeach species. Between offshore and deep waterhabitats after settlement, croaker inhabit primarily open water habitats where vision is unobstructed. Seatrout and red drum inhabit more shallow, structured habitats where seagrass can reduce visual contact between predators and prey and therefore rely more on mechanoreception to detect predators. Thus, development of these three species differs so that sensory capabilities are most appropriate for the habitats that each species predominantly occupies. Greetings from Kirsten Poling -Hi to everyone in Port Aransas! I really love being so close to the mountains and TREES, although being three hours from the beach is certainly a big changel All that time in Port A made me really grow used to being able to escape to the water's edge. I actually find myselfgetting a little nostalgic for certain things in Port A, especially the seafood. The job here is going well. am studying brain development in zebrafish, which is also a big change from "real" fish like redfish and seatrout, and you certainly can't eat the leftovers! They're a lot easier to keep though. I hope all is well with everyone there. -Kirsten Poling llirsten Poling completed her work at the Marine Science Institute in May 1997, making her the firstwoman to receive a Ph.D from the Department of Marine Science. Kirsten came to the Marine ScienceInstitute from Boston University where she graduated with a bachelor's degree in biology and marinescience experience at Woods Hole. She was especially interested in sensory biology and it took her littletime to develop a complex and important research proposal on the role of the developing sensory systemsin the ecology of larval fishes. Kirsten's ambitious, multi-faceted proposal included morphological andbehavioral studies of three sensory systems and how they changed throughout the larval period in threeclosely related species (red drum, spotted seatrout, and Atlantic croaker). Along the way, Kirsten presentedher work at various international meetings and was always praised for the quality ofher work and her finepresentations, including honorable mention for a best student paper award. Kirsten's unique combinationof interests in sensory structure, function, development, and ecology earned her several offers forpostdoctoral positions, one of which she accepted at the University of Virginia. Lauren Clark has been awarded a fellowship by the Dreyfus Foundation. Dreyfus Fellowships areawarded to graduate students whose research involves chemistry and some other field of study, including interdisciplinary work with a substantial chemistry component. Lauren was one ofthree recipients at TheUniversity of Texas at Austin this year. Her research on dissolved organic phosphorus, under thesupervision of Ellery Ingall, clearly qualifies her for this honor. Congratulations, Lauren! Christine Ritter has been awarded a Tuition Fellowship by the Office of Graduate Studies. Thesefellowships are given to a small and select group ofgraduate students at The University ofTexas at Austin. Christine's research is supervised by Paul Montagna. Congratulations, Christine! -Lee Fuiman, Graduate Adviser NAVY DOLPHINS AT MSI Talk about carrying coals to Newcastle, isn't carrying dolphins to Port Aransas about the same? By nowyou have probably read all about itAn the South Jetty, seen it on TV, or witnessed it in person here at MSI.Five dolphins were fl.own in from San Diego by the Navy, transported from NAS Corpus Christi to MSI vialarge helicopters, wheeled in their small vat-transports to the RIVLONGHORN, lifted by the ship's craneto small boats and deposited in portable pens in the MSI Boat Basin-all so the dolphins could participatein exercises with the Navy mine sweepers whose homeport is Ingleside. The Navy Dolphin visit promisesto be like Hurricane Celia-a never ending source of comments, stories and anecdotes. The Navy startedby ticking off the P. A. Fire Department-by holding their practice helicopter landing so far ahead of thescheduled time that the Fire Department missed it (after being told how essential their presence was). Myfavorite part of the entire episode was the talk the senior Chief Petty Officer gave to the Port Arans as third grade. .The Navy was around long enough for us to learn that Chief Lehniter was The. Man-atough guy in control and not to be messed with by anybody. The tough Chief gave a great talk to the 47young third-graders. Part of it was to the embarrassment of several Navy Rambos (the divers were allgreat guys-butseveral in appearance Stallone-clones with dolphins tatooed on their calves). In the middleof the Chiefs talk a boat load (they had a Macho Boat-a semirigid inflatable with two 250 hp. outboards)pulled up to the dolphin pens with much revving of motors and frothing of seawater. Just as a hugeRambo (I am certain no one but the Chief dared mess with him) stepped out on the dock, the Chiefconducted all 47 third-graders in a loud ooooooohhh-aaaaaahhhh. And a very small girl was coached toask, are you a diver? And the best act the dolphins did was not at the direction oftheir trainers. Somehowone ofthe Navy men fell (or maybe was pushed) into the water with a loud splash. There was loud laughterfrom the seamen in the vicinity. All 47 third-graders craned their heads to get a better view, curious to 4 know what had happened; five dolphins did exactly the same, sticking their heads way out ofthe water andlooking around, trying to see what was going on. With the Navy's entertaining and informative talks tothe third-graders, to students from the middle-school, to P.A. Webelos Scouts and Boy Scouts, and theirinformal many friendly conversations with MSI employees and island residents and visitors alike, the NavyDolphins truly became an island event. Sure, there were a few (very few) negative comments about keeping intelligent animals prisoner, but the Navy folks pointed out that the dolphins were capable ofjumping out of their pens and leaving any time they wished. They quoted numbers of 70,000 releases at sea and onlythree instances when dolphins failed to return. Why did they ask to use MSI's facilities? Because the UTBoat Basin was the closest to the Gulf of MeXico. By having the dolphins at MSI they were able to cutdown on the amount of time which the dolphins had to ride by small boat to the exercise area. This wasalso a good opportunity for MSI to return a favor. Thirty-five years ago the Navy provided helicopters fora MSI research project which involved dropping a large net (six different times) from a helicopter in Corpus Christi Bay. -John Thompson Visitors to the M SI Web Site 180 160 >. 140 (IJ "C ._ 120 Q) a. 100 !l :cQ) 80 :::s sr 60 • ~ 40 • c _;-...JII :_ 20 0 .... 1-31-1-31-30-30-29-29-28-27-27-26-26 Jan Jan Mar Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Date WEB SITE UPDATES CURRENT EVENTS There have been quite a few changes on our Web site recently. Back by popular demand, MSI will host another OPEN HOUSE on Memorial Day (May 23, 1998). The schedule ofevents is posted on the web. The Press Clippings page has been expanded. South Jetty editor, Mary Judson, provided the text ofseveral more stories about MSI and the Corpus Christi Caller Times newspaper has given us permission to link to their stories about the Marine Science Institute. Finally and at long last, we are able to provide up-to-the-hour graphs oftoday's environmental data at Port Aransas. This new link on the "Weather & Tides" page provides eight charts of the present day's air/sea temperatures, humidity, salinity, barometric pressure, wind speed, winddirection, wind gusts, and sea height, which are updated on the hour. This requires the use of Microsoft Excel. Check out all of these new items by selecting "What's New" on our home page. -Lee Fuiman 5 Cruise #98-706-RIVLONGHORN departed Port Aransas at 0715 on 4/14198 on a cruise to Baffin Bay, returning to homeport at 1630 on 4/15198. This was a National Science Foundation cruise in connection with Dr. Buskey's Brown Tide Research. The . .·... work involves data collection along the ICW as well as in Baffin Bay. The Boston Whaler ·· ......."",.-~~..,,...~~~ was deployed at three different sites along the way and used to trawl for plankton while · .... ·~the RIV LONGHORN was deploying the CTD and collecting water. Ed Buskey was ·.'--=.:a:':':_::: --~.:2-aboard as Chief Scientist. Other members of the scientific party were M;ark McCarthy, Hongbin Liu, Tracy Villareal, Peter Lavrentyev, Jose Bersano, Chris Collumb, and Archie Ammons. Chief Scientist Buskey reported, Great Cruise. No problems. New cook did a good job. -Noe Cantu RIV KATY SCHEDULE -APRIL AND MAY APRIL 01 0800-1200 01 1300-1700 02 0800-1200 02 1300-1700 03 0800-1200 03 1300-1700 04 0800-1200 04 1300-1700 10 0800-1200 10 1300-1700 11 1300-1700 13 0800-1200 13 1300-1700 14 0800-1700 15 0800-1700 16 0800-1700 17 0800-1700 18 0800-1700 20 0800.._1200 20 1300-1700 21 0800-1200 22 0800-1200 23 0800-1200 23 1300-1700 24 1300-17-00 27 0800-1200 28 1300-1700 29 0800-1200 29 1300-1700 30 0800-1200 30 1300-1700 MAY 01 0800-1200 01 1300-1700 04 0800-1200 04 1300-1700 05 0800-1200 05 0800-1200 06 0800-1200 07 0800-1200 07 1300-1700 08 0800-1200 08 1300-1700 11 0800-1200 11 1300-1700 12 0800-1200 12 1300-1700 1J 0800-1200 14 0800-1700 15 0800-1200 15 1300-1700 16 0800-1200 18 0800-1200 19 0800-1200 19 1)00-1700 20 0800-1200 23 OA00-1830 7.G Ofl00 -1200 30 Ofl00 -17.00 SELWYN MS, DENTON BURBANK HS, SAN ANTONIO DUNBAR MS, LUBBOCK WM. JAMES MS, FORT WORTH ST. MARY'S CATHEDRAL, AUSTIN SOUTHWEST TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY, SAN MARCOS TAMU, COLLEGE STATION AUSTIN COMMUNITY COLLEGE, AUSTIN ELDERHOSTEL ROOSEVELT HS, SAN ANTONIO AUSTIN COMMUNITY COLLEGE, AUSTIN BECKER ELEMENTARY, AUSTIN LUEHRS JR. HS, BISHOP GREGORY-PORTLAND HS, PORTLAND GREGORY-PORTLAND HS, PORTLAND GREGORY-PORTLAND HS, PORTLAND THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT ARLINGTON NORTH MESQUITE HS, MESQUITE RIVIERA HS, RIVIERA ALLEN HS, ALLEN TAFT HS, SAN ANTONIO FLORENCE MS, FLORENCE PHONEIX ACADEMY, LOCKHART PRESBYTERIAN PAN AMERICAN SCHOOL, KINGSVILLE ALEXANDER HS, LAREDO YOE HS, CAMERON JOURDANTON HS, JOURDANTON ROCKPORT-FULTON HS, ROCKPORT SEGUIN HS, SEGUIN ST. GEORGE EPISCOPAL, SAN ANTONIO IMMANUEL LUTHERAN SCHOOL, HOUSTON LEE HS, SAN ANTONIO TEXAS WATCH, AUSTIN MACARTHUR HS, SAN ANTONIO LIBERTY HILL HS, LIBERTY HILL MARTIN MIDDLE SCHOOL, CORPUS A. C. JONES HS, BEEVILLE EANES ELEMENTARY, AUSTIN BARTON CREEK ELEMENTARY, AUSTIN MESQUITE HS, MESQUIRE EANES ELEMENTARY, AUSTIN LEE HS, SAN ANTONIO CEDAR VALLEY COLLEGE, LANCASTER A. C. JONES HS, BEEVILLE BARTON CREEK ELEMENTARY, AUSTIN CEDAR VALLEY COLLEGE, LANCASTER LBJ HS, JOHNSON CITY ELDERHOSTEL U. OF MARY HARDIN-BAYLOR, BELTON DECATUR MS, DECATUR HOUSTON MUSEUM OF NATURAL SCIENCE EASTFIELD COLLEGE, MESQUITE FOREST TRAIL ELEMENTARY, AUSTIN OZONO llS, OZONO ROl3STOWN llS, ROl3STOWN MSI OPEN llOUSE LOllN ISD. LOHN S T . CEOHGE EPISCOP/\L. S/\N /\NTONIO BARRY HANSTEIN CINDY WEEHLER JIM CRITES AVA MYERS MISTY POE DR. LACSON DR. OWENS DR. RODI JUDY REYNOLDS J. SVALBERG DR. RODI PAT JOHNSON ROBERTA JENKINS KIM SCHMID KIM SCHMID KIM SCHMID DR. MCMAHON PATTY LEARD JOSEPHINE SMITH GAYLE MITTERER SUE LANOUX SHERI HILL DOUG ALFIER ANGELA ALARCON THOMAS MILLER TONI LAFFERTY CONNIE NIXON MARK DEHN BETSY MARTIN RICHARD miccio DEL MAU JEFF JACKSON GREG BRYANT CAROLYN PESTHY CAROLYN COBB NANCY LONG BENNIE BELEW LINDA HARRIS ELLEN ARNOLD VIVIAN KINES LINDA HARRIS JEFF JACKSON RON BEECHAM BENNIE BELEW ELLEN ARNOLD RON BEECHAM STANLEY PROCHNOW JUDY REYNOLDS STEVE ALEXANDER STEVE WOODS DR. WISE GAYLE WEAVER DEBl3IE LAUDERDALE RON CASEY REDECC/\ SULLIVAN RICK TINNIN RICH/\HD MOORE HICll/\HD NUCCIO fPersonnel Linda Fuiman has been reclassified from Office Assistant to Senior Office Assistant. Linda has beenworking in Marine Education Services at MSI sin_ce ~ay of 1990. Linda is the primary person for keepingthe schedule and arrangements sorted out for the hundreds of classes and thousands of students visitingMSI each year, staying in the dormitories, using the Pier and Pier Laboratory, and going to sea aboard the RIVKATY. Among a great many other duties, she also conducts tours, and is especially good with the many younger student groups. Linda is the spouse of Research Scientist and Associate Professor Lee Fuiman. Congratulations to Linda and may you never become so completely a Texan as to lose yourwonderful Scottish accent. Tom Proietti has submitted his resignation and will be leaving MSI soon. Tom is accompanying hisspouse to her newjob in Virginia. Tom has worked in MSI maintenance since November of1995. Last year he was reclassified from Building Attendant II to Maintenance Worker II. Tom's can-do attitude and sunnydisposition will be missed by all. Besides, who will we get that not only knows how to set up the MSIdisplay but will actually do it when Tom leaves? · Proud parents of: J oAnna Jackson, daughter of Kim and Tommy Jackson, has beenselected as a 1998 recipient of the Jerry McDonald Good Citizen Award.JoAnna is completing the eighth grade at Brundrett Middle School. KimJackson works in Ken Dunton's research program. Dr. Peter Tytler arrived on May 4th to spend seven weeks ofhis sabbatical working with Lee.Fuiman.Peter is on the faculty ofthe University ofStirling in the Department ofBiological and Molecular Sciences.His area ofinterest is the physiology ofmarine fish larvae, especially aspects thatrelate to osmoregulation.Peter has found that some marine fish larvae are able to take up algal pigments through pinocytosis even • before the stage of first fe~ding. His work at MSI will explore this same phenomenon in our subtropical species. Dr. Patrick Louchouarn has joined Ron Benner's laboratory as a Postdoctoral Fellow as of May1, 1998. Patrick is from Canada and he and his wife, Caroline, have 2 children, a son, Noah, 6 years old and a daughter, Teva, 2 years old. Patrick's focus of research is the distribution and reactivity ofterrigenous organic matter in the world's oceans. He will be participating on a cruise to the Greenland Seathis August to investigate the contribution of Siberian Rivers to terrlgenous DOM in the North Atlantic. 7 • Dr. Daniel M. Sigman, Princeton University, The link between nitrate consumption and the nitrogenisotopes in the Southern Ocean, April 13. • Dr. Don Anderson, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, The global problem ofred tides and harmfulalgal blooms, April 1 7. •Dr. Nathalie A. D. Waser, University ofBritish Colombia, Nitrogen isotope fractionation and the nitrogen biogeochemical cycle, April 20. • Dr. Elma L. Gonzalez, University ofCalifornia, Los Angeles, The biochemistry ofsubcellular calcification in a coccolithophorid, April 24. • Dr. Jay A. Brandes, Carnegie Institute ofWashington, Isotopic perspective on the marine nitrogen cycle,April 29. •Dr. Todd Kana, University ofMaryland, Denitrification in estuarine sediments measured by membraneinlet mass spectrometry, May 6. • Dr. David Karl, University ofHawaii, A sea ofchange: The effects ofEl Nifio on the North Pacific Ocean,May7. • Dr. Jim McManus, Oregon State University, Geochemistry ofbarium in marine systems: Implicationsfor using Ba as a paleoceanographic proxy, May 20. • Dr. John Hedges, University ofWashington, The global oxygen cycle: How carbon burial gives the eartha little breathing room, Thursday::June 4, 7:00 pm, Visitors Center Auditorium. · • Dr. John Giesy, Michigan State University, Status and trends ofcontamina_nts in and their effects on fishand wildlife ofthe North American Great Lakes, Thursday, July 30, 7:00 pm, Visitors Center Auditorium. •Dr. Daniel Pauly, University ofBritish Colombia, Can we sustain ourglobal fisheries?, Monday, August31, 7:00 pm, Visitors Center Auditorium. 8 Travel ending between March 21 and May 8 +Terry Whitledge, March 23, Galveston, Texas, present paper at second annual Coastal Issues Conference of Texas General Land Office, Brown tide in Laguna Madre: Canary in the mine? +Peter Thomas, March 25-27, Sacramento, California, presenttwo seminar~ atBodega MarineLaboratory. +Peter Thomas, March 31-April 3, Washington, D.C., serve as expert witness for Justice Department. +Tracy Villareal, April 1-6,Boston, Massachusetts, attend NortheastAlgal Symposium as co-convenor and present poster, Rhizosolenia dynamics in the North Pacific Ocean. +Rick Tinnin, April 3--4, Lago Vista, Texas, conduct a teacher in-service. +Ed Buskey, April 4-7, Boston, Massachusetts, attend master thesis defense at the University of Massachusetts in Boston of a student who worked on the Texas Brown Tide Bloom using antibody test partially developed at MSI. +Allen Davis, April 8, College Station, Texas, to participate in research activities at the Aquaculture Research Center. +Dean Stockwell, March 28-April 9, Seward, Alaska, participate in GLOBEC Cruise #2. +Paul Montagna, April 7-9, Jupiter, Florida, to attend cruise planning meeting and program status meeting with continental shelf associates. +Rick Kalke, Keene Haywood, Steve Jarvis, April 8---9, South Padre Island, Texas, to collect samples in the lower Laguna Madre. +Peter Thomas, April 5-10, Washington, D.C., serve as expert witness for Justice Department. +Ellery Ingall, April 5-12, Savanna, Georgia, to attend Southeast Coastal Ocean Research me~ting and give presentation,Biogeochemical dynamics ofphosphorus: New insights from nuclear magnetic resonance. +Rick Tinnin, April 14-17, Las Vegas, Nevada, to attend the mid-year board meeting of the National Marine Educators Association held in conjunction with the National Science Teachers Association annual conference. +Paul Montagna, April 15-19, New Orleans, Louisiana, to attend Estuarine Research Federation board meeting. +Joan Holt, April 16, San Antonio, Texas, to meet with Mr. Pat Marince to finalize layout for state of the bay report. +Noe Cantu, April 19-21, Galveston, Texas, to attend radar school. +Kevin Neely, April 12-30, Dutch Harbor, Alaska, participate in cruise for the Southeast Bering.Sea carrying capacity program, on the RIVMILLER FREEMAN and the RIVWECOMA +Tara Jo Holmberg, April.20-May 11, Gulfport and Pascagoula, Mississippi, retrieval ofbiomoorings for MAMES project. (Tide predictions are for tidal heights at the tide tower, South Jetty, the Aransas Pass. Heights are in feet above or below mean sea level. The shaded area is nighttime.Remember, this is tidal height, not tidal current. Slack water is when the wiggly line crosses the MSL line, not at peaks and valleys, where the tidal current will be at full flood or ebb.) MAY 1998 CENTRAL DAYLIGHT TIME SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT s: en z en s: en z en s: en z en en z en en z en .,, .,, s: s: s: en z en s: z en 6 > 0 6 > 0 0 6 > 0 .,, 6 > 0 .,, 6 )> 0 .,, > 0 .,, 0 .,, s: z s: 0 z s: z s: z s: z s: z 0 s: z s: 0 z s: z s: z 0 s: 6 z s: 0 z s: 6 z 0 z s:: z 6 2 2 I 1 m 1 0 G) 0 I -1 -1 -I -2 -2 ~ .!:!. 2 2 I 1 1 m 0 G) 0 I -1 -1 -I -2 -2 ~ .!:!. 2 2 I 1 m 1 0 G) 0 I -1 -1 -I -2 -2 ~ .!:!. 2 2 1 1 . I !:!! 0 0 G) I -1 -1 -I -2 -2 ~ .!:!. 2 I 1 m G) 0 I -1 -I 10651(+1'1.2" Hl 0743(+1·0·1 -2 _., L1 2246 (-1· 6"1 L1 2336 (-1' 4.8"1 !:!. I m G) I -I 10 L 1 0123 .1· - Weather Report for 23 March -10 May 1998 23 -29 MAR 1998 .... MON .... TUE .... WED •.•. THU .... FRI .... SAT .... SUN ... MEAN DATE ................ 23 ...... 24 ...... 25 . . . . . . 26 ...... 27 . ... .. 28 .... .. 29 AIR TEMP ... HIGH 70.1 ..... 71.2 . .... 73.7 ..... 72.8 75.5 ..... 76.6 .. . .. 75.7 ..... 73.7 AIR TEMP . . . LOW 56.3 ..... 63.8 . . . . . 65.4 . . . . . 65.8 67.1 ..... 67.1 . .. .. 68.0 ..... 64.8 SEA TEMP ... LOW 61.7 ....... --..... 66.7 ....... --68.4 . . . . . . --..... 70.7 . . . . . 66.9 RAINFALL TOTAL 0.00 ..... 0.00 ..... 0.00 ..... 0.00 0.00 ..... 0.00 ..... 0.00 . . . . . 0.00 30 MAR -5 APR 1998 . MON •... TUE .•.. WED •••• THU .•.• FRI .... SAT .... SUN •.. MEAN DATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 . . . . . . 31 . . . . . . . l . . . . . . . 2 . . . . . . 3 ....... 4 . . . . . . . 5 AIR TEMP ... HIGH . . 75.0 ..... 76.6 ...... 76.4 ..... 77.9 .... 84.9 ..... 73.0 ..... 77.1 ..... 66.4 AIR TEMP ... LOW . . 69.8 ..... 60.4 ..... 55.0 ..... 65.4 .... 63.3 . . ... 61.7 ..... 63.6 ..... 62.7 SEA TEMP . . . LOW . . . . --. . . . 68.3 ....... --. . . . . 69.8 . . . . . . --..... 68.9 ....... --..... 69.0 RAINFALL TOTAL .. 0.00 ..... 0.00 ..... 0.00 ..... 0.00 .... 0.00 ..... 0.00 ..... 0.06 ...... 0.06 6 -12 APR 1998 ...... MON .... TUE .••• WED.... THU . . • . FRI .... SAT .... SUN ••• MEAN DATE ................. 6 . . . . . . . 7 . . . . . . . 8 . . . . . . . 9 ...... 10 ...... 11 . . . . . . 12 AIR TEMP ... HIGH 75.5 ..... 74.6 ..... 86.9 . . . . . 77.3 77.0 ..... 79.1 ..... 75.7 ..... 78.0 AIR TEMP . . .LOW 67.4 ..... 68.7 ..... 69.8 ..... 63.3 60.6 ..... 70.1 ..... 69.4 ..... 67.0 SEA TEMP . . . LOW 68.8 ....... --. . . . . 72.2 . . . . . . . - 70. l . . . . . . --..... 70.9 . . . . 70.5 RAINFALL TOTAL 0.00 ..... 0.00 ..... 0.00 ..... 0.00 0.00 . .... 0.00 ..... 0.00 . . . . . 0.00 13 -19 APR 1998 ..... MON .... TUE .... WED .••. THU .... FRI .... SAT .... SUN ... MEAN DATE ................ 13 ...... 14 . . . . . . 15 . . . . . . 16 ...... 17 . ..... 18 . . . . . . 19 AIR TEMP . . . HIGH . . 78.8 ..... 80.7 . . . . . 76.8 . . . . . 83.1 73.2 ..... 64.2 ..... 73.4 . . . . . 75.7 AIR TEMP ... LOW . . 70.7 ..... 71.2 ..... 72.1 ..... 72.8 63.8 ..... 57.7 ..... 58.4 ..... 66.7 SEA TEMP . . . LOW --..... 73.3 ....... --. . . . . . . --70. l . . . . . . --. . . . . 70.9 . . . . . 70.5 RAINFALL TOTAL .. 0.00 ..... 0.00 ..... 0.00 ..... 0.00 0.00 ..... 0.00 . . . . . 0.00 ....·. 0.00 20 -26 APR 1998 ..... MON .... TUE .•.• WED •••• THU ...• FRI .... SAT .... SUN ... MEAN DATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 . . . . . . 21 . . . . . . 22 . . . . . . 23 ...... 24 . . . . . . 25 . . . . . . 26 AIR TEMP .. (HIGH) . . 76.8 .... : 77.1 ..... 75.5 ..... 77.0 77.9 ..... 74.8 ..... 75.5 ... _. 76.4 AIR TEMP .. (LOW) . . 66.3 .....· 63.3 ..... 59.9 ..... 61.7 68.9 ..... 69.2 ..... 70.3 ..... 65.7 SEA TEMP .. (LOW) --........ --..... 68.2.... . . --69.3 . . . . . . --..... 70.9 ..... 69.5 RAINFALL (TOTAL) .. 0.00 ..... 0.00 ..... 0.00 ..... 0.00 0.00 ..... 0.00 ..... 0.02 ..... 0.02 27 APR -3 MAY 1998 . MON ••.. TUE •••• WED •••• THU •••• FRI ..•• SAT .... SUN •.. MEAN DATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 . . . . . . 28 . . . . . . 29 . . . . . . 30 . . . . . . l . . . . . . . 2 . . . . . . . 3 AIR TEMP ... HIGH . . 7p.1 ..... 75.5 ..... 78.0 ..... 77.3 . . . . 78.6 ..... 78.4 ..... 82.4 ..... 78.0 AIR TEMP ... LOW . . 61.1 ..... 62.6 ..... 62.4 ..... 59.1 . . . . 68.l ..... 70.8 ..... 72.6 ..... 66.1 SEA TEMP ... LOW .... --..... 68.9 ....... --..... 69.7 ...... -..... 73.4 ....... --..... 70.7 RAINFALL TOTAL . . 0.06 ..... 0.00 . . . . . 0.02 . . . . . 0.00 . . . . 0.00 ..... 0.00 . . . . . 0.00 . . . . . 0.08 4 -10 MAY 1998 .••.• MON .•.• TUE •••• WED •••• THU •..• FRI .... SAT .... SUN •.. MEAN DATE .... .-............ 4 .... . .. 5 ....... 6 . . . . . . . 7 . . . . . . 8 ....... 9 ...... 10 AIR TEMP . . (HIGH) 81.3 . . . . . 77.7 . . . . . 82.2 . . . . . 82.5 83. l ..... 95. l ..... 83.4 . . . . . 83.6 AIR TEMP . . (LOW) 72.3 ..... 72.3 . . . . . 72.5 . . . . . 73.7 73.7 ..... 74.8 ..... 69.9 ..... 72.6 SEA TEMP .. (LOW) 75.9 . ... ... --..... 76.8 ..... ~ --78.5 . . . . . . --..... 77.0 ..... 77.l RAINFALL (TOTAL) 0.00 ..... 0.00 ..... 0.00 ..... 0.00 0.00 ..... 0.00 ..... 0.00 . . . . . 0.00 -Tony Amos The Navy dolphin visit may not have been the most important thing at MSIsince the last issue of the LazGaz, but it certainly attracted lots of attention.In his column in the South Jetty, Tony Amos mentioned the Navy dolphins andcommented on our own dolphins in Port Aransas and the splendid opportunitywe have to observe them. Just now as I was thinking what I wished to sayabout it, and looking out my window toward the channel, here comes a largeship and alongside, no-not dolphins but one of Port Aransas' newestcommercial enterprises, a "dolphin watching boat". They should get a sailboatinstead. My daysailer/sloop SOMETIMES is small, but she has her own log,and there are nine separate entries concerning dolphins in the 47 times she has sailed since firstbeing launched last July. For example: Several broke right next to the boat, within a long arm'sreach, always breaking water right next to where Warren and I were sitting, never anywhere elsearound the boat, some trailing and looking at us. And: Dolphin escort beyond belief, at least eightofthem, close enough that the water sometimes hit me when they broke the surface, over and over formore than 30 minutes. And: Great exhibition by one dolphin which kept crossing the boat at anangle and coming high out ofthe water soon after passing beneath. And just last Thursday, One on starboard side close by and three together at the same time on the port side, nearest no more thanthree feet from the SOMETIMES. All breaking the surface in unison. -John Thompson 12