-' .. •••TU.WS from 'TIU 'l1niversity of'I'e~as %mine Sciat.a Institute Volume 1, Issue 4, 17 July 1992 Port :U-an.sas, 'Il:t.as 783 7 3-1267 Lazarette (jazette In this issue of :.la.t:Are.tu tjautu -Lee Ftiman: haggl and hemng·1n ·the highlands -Trip Reports & -Travel (cover).;.Jevised loog term schedule for RIV LONGHORN-Cruise Repotts &Boat Operations.(p. ·3)-.NewSeminar Schedule-SeminarSchedule (p. 3)--Mater/al-Safety Data Sheets-Lbrary (p.4).-no one has to walk the pladc-students (p. 4)-"bounce around• design for pierhead-Facilities &EqujJment (p. S)__gettlng your. computer-lega~erComer (p. S)•....;.shr/mp fanning short ·course scheduled-Marine ~tion Services (p.6).~.8111 Behrens Back...Perso~ (p~ .6)-We;llher Data and Tide Predlctlonr.Tony's Tlcfings·(p. 7)._.CU"ent CU/sine-Gastronomic Gazette (p. 8) ___She Roats!-Editor's Note (p. 8) · "Lee Fuiman reports on Scottish Rites _;,Those who have never visited the Scottish Highlands probably wonder what attracts a fish biologist to the west coast of Scotland. Anyone would be drawn by tjie lush, scenic beauty of the West Highlands, where coastal mountains plunge into the ·fjord-like sea lochs.. But, what attracts the biologist? Perhaps it's .the natural curiosities that abotind there. The most famous, Nessie the Loch Ness monster, never appeared to me in.all the time I spent looking for the wee be3.$tie. Ofcourse, there's the wild haggis. Huddles ofhaggi are sometimes seen grazing ori distant hillsides. Their peculiarity is that the legs on one side ofthe body are longer than on the .other side.. So, they always face the same way on the hills, with their shorter legs uphill. This explains the spiral trails seen on many hills. Archaeologists once believed these were the paths used by spiritual leaders to.ascend to mountaintop altars. Actually, it's herring that keeps me going back. Atlantic herring are the basis for one of the oldest and largest fisheries in the world. Studies ofthe herring populations have been going on for at least a century, resulting in many important discoveries about fish population dynamics, as well as fundamental principles in animal populations. The fact that the mortality of herring during their first month or two of life determines the number available to fisherman several years later has generated a lot of research interest in the biology of fish larvae and the factors that affect their survival. The Scottish Marine Biological Association (SMBA), located in Ohan, and especially Dr. John Blaxter, have a long reputation for significant contributions to the biology of herring larvae. . .. / My most recent trip to Ohan was supported by a bursary (fellowship) awarded by the SMBA. During that trip, Dr. Bob Batty and I compared the escape responses of herring larvae being attacked by juvenile herring with those ofherring attacked by juvenile cod. Herring and cod capture their prey in very different ways. A herring engulfs its food while swimming quickly toward it. A cod moves slowly up to the prey then uses suction to draw the item into its mouth. We also compared the responses of larvae of a flounder-like fish (plaice) to attacks by the same two species. As in previous visits, the work grew beyond our original plans. We knew that fish larvae swam slower in colder water than they do in warmer water. There are two possible reasons for this. The most obvious is that, being cold blooded, everything a fish does is slower at lower temperatures. However, for small organisms moving in water, something else could affect their speed: water viscosity. As water gets colder, it gets stickier and therefore harder to move through. So, we devised a series of experiments to measure the effects oftemperature and viscosity, separately. Unfortunately, it takes a long time to analyze the video tapes from these experiments, so I can't tell you how it turned outyet. My guess is that it will take another trip to Ohan to get the ·answer, but I promise an answer before Nessie is caught. --Lee Fuiman July 4-17 Travel + Terry Whitledge, July 5-21, St. Paul Island, Alaska, to participate in Pribilof Island Ecological Studies . funded by U. S. Dept. of State in.cooperation with the Russian Academy of Science. +Tony Amos, Judy Roberson, Andy Wickham, July 8-August 20, Punta Arenas, Chile, to join the RIV NATHANIEL B. PALMER for a research cruise to the Antarctic. +Bill Henley, July 7, Stillwater, Oklahoma, present paper at research seminar at Oklahoma State University, Algal ecophysiology from Beaufort, North Carolina. to the Beaufort Sea. +Charles Laidley, July 9-15, Raleigh, North Carolina, to attend workshop and present paper at the 25th annual meeting of the Society for the Study of Reproduction, North Carolina State University, +Peter Thomas, July 12-15, Raleigh, North Carolina, presentpaper, GTHincreases MIS membrane receptor concentrations in spotted seatrout ovarian follicles during FOM in vitro. · · + Paul Montagna, July 13, Corpus Christi, invited participant in workshop on habitat degradation at Citizen's Coastal Monitoring Conference. · +Michael-Dibble, July 14-August·15, Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, assist graduate supervisor Ken Dunton with ongoing research iri. the Arctic. · + David Shormann, July 14..;August 11, Saint Paul Island, Alaska, to assist graduate supervisor Terry Whitledge in Pribilof Islarid Ecological Studies. · +Bill Henley, July 14-August 9, Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, to conduct field research on the physiology ofArctic kelps. +Rick Tinnin, July 15-August 6, Portland, Oregon, to attend National Marine Educators Association Annual Conference as Secretary to the NMEA, participate in annual board meeting, present talk, Marine Educatwn: Program for Student Groups and Classroom Teachers. +Paul Montagna, July 6, Houston, to attend The Texas Environmental Coalition Annual Convention and make invited presentation, Effect of Freshwater lnfiow on Biological Resources in Texas Estuaries. RIVLONGHORNLONG TERM SCHEDULE --1992 -July 16: Behrens, Class, Aransas Bay (&Jet Boat) July 18: Behrens, Class, Gulf, Coring August 7 --9: Behrens, Class, Baffin Bay (& Kleberg) October 22 --31: Wiseman & Boicourt, NOAA, NECOP --1993 -April 1 --7: Suttle, NSF Proposal, Marine Viruses, Biol.Oceanography, CTD/rosette May 10 --17: Swift, Old Dominion, NSF Proposal . June 14 --20: Summer Class Reservation (dates approximate) July 1 --7: Suttle, Marine Viruses July 10 --30: NOAA/NECOP August 9 --16: Summer Class Reservation .(dates approximate) October 1--7: Suttle, ~arine Viruses --1994 - April 1 --7: Suttle, Marine Viruses July 1 --7: Suttle, Marine Viruses October 1 --7: Suttle, Marine Viruses RIVKATY --July 4-17 --One class trip. Smal.lboat Trips --July 4-17 -BIG .WHALER, ·2 trips; JEFFERSON, 3 trips; JETBOAT, 2 trips;KLEBERG, 3 trips; SONNY MAC, 2 trips. . · 11111••111111111111•1;;:·=·:·:· ...!lllllfillllllllllllllll!lllllll!l!!llilllllll!l!!llllllllllllll!llllilillll!llililil!ll!ilil!lllllllll!lllll!llllilill!l!llllllllllllllillllllllllllllllllllllllllllll!llilllll July 16, Thursday --8:30 a~-~ MSI AuditoriumDr. Adam Heller (UT Austin, Dept. of Chemical Engineering) Photoassisted Cleanup ofOil Spills July 21, Tuesday --4:00 pm --MSI AuditoriumDr. Paul Montagna (Marine Science Institute) Benthic Ecology ofthe Laguna Madre August 11, Tuesday --4:00 pm --MSI AuditoriumDr. Russell Chapman (Louisiana State University) Green Algae from Tropical Rain Forests to Ribosomal RNA Gene Sequences 3 Material Safety Data Sheets --The General Libraries is providing access to a new chemical database: Sigma-Aldrich's Material Safety Data Sheets, which gives you direct information on 60,000 chemical compounds. This database is currently on UTCATPLUS. Access UTCAT in the usual way and then choose option four (4). This is a commercial database; therefore, you must enter your social security number to gain access. You can print on-line by choosing option one (1). This option removes the UTCAT screen format. You must then use your print screen capability to send the screen to your print spool. At the end of the data sheet your will return to the UTCAT screen format. The second and recommended print function is to send it to your Bitnet address. I found that downloading to my Bitnet address (ruth@utmsi) was the easiest. You can then capture the Bitnet file using your communications package and your word processing package to print the file. The file is immediately sent to your Bitnet address. Another way is to have it sent to your Internet address. There is a help screen and a phone number to call if you cannot fmd the chemical MSDS you require. It is important that you get the MSDS issued by the chemical company that manufactured the chemical(s) you use. --Ruth Grundy Students on first session: ''some kudos, no major gripes"--Sixteen students, departing Port Aransas after completing the first sum.mer session, were asked ifthey would volunteer to comment on the facilities arid life at Port Aransas. Five chose to do so. The following excerpts and summarizes the replies: KUDOS-dorms: good, clean, comfortable; food: ·good Mexican food, taquitos, fajitas, tacos; library: good facility and helpful staff; Port Aransas: "it was great" & "Port A is whatled me to UT"; Boats: "The boats & RIVWNGHORN were awesome. I was impressed with ·the efficiency of the crews"; Special Awards To: (this is in reply to the question "Was there anyone in particular here who deserves a medal for how they treated you?'~ --Librarians, Toni Martinez (cook), Mark McGarity (small boat operator) (twice), Beau Hardegree (twice), Robin Brinkmeyer (TA) (twice), Ken Dunton, Joan Holt, Andrew Czerny. ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT--dorms: mattresses and phone; food: fried food (too much); library: the hours (not enough); boats: the WV Sponge (Jefferson); Port Aransas: no complaints (!); Special Awards To: In reply to the question "...or anyone who needs to walk the plank?" --no one was listed (thank goodness!). We really do appreciate these students talring the time and effort to reply to the questionnaire, and we hope that next summer's students will benefit. ''New Comer"--Jennifer DiCocco is a the latest Marine Science graduate student, newly arrived to attend the second summer session. Jennifer recently graduated from TAMU-Galveston with a BS in Marine Science. She. will be working with Peter Thomas. ''New Short Timer" --John Granmayeh, from the Energy and Mineral Resources Department at UT Austin, is here for the second summer session's Marine Geology course. Prebid Meeting Held for Pier Project --Representatives from four marine contracting firms attendeda prebid conference at MSI Thursday, July 9. At least two other marine contractors have expressed aserious interest in bidding the project (attendance at the meeting was not mandatory for bidders). . PatVeteto of Russell-Veteto Engineering, project engineers, conducted the meeting which·was also attendedby Edgar Campbell, from UT's Architectural and Engineering Services, and MSI's John Thompson andJerry Clanton. Bids are scheduled to be opened Tuesday, July 21. Pier Design has Innovative Features --The new MSI pier will be much more than just a replacement in kind of the old pier and pier laboratory building. The new design places the major "pier" building onland rather than at the seaward end of the pier. The plans call for a prestressed concrete pier structurein the Aransas Pass, connected to a timber walkway on the landside, where the new pier laboratory building is located. There is a removable section over the South Jetty. This design permits the entranceto the pier to be located within the University's property rather than at the Jetty. The elevated walkwayis high enough over the Jetty so that it does not interfere with public use of the Jetty. The old pier·was ·-constructed with an "L" shape at the seaward termination. In several instances boats that were drifting-down the channel were caught in the comer of the."L" and damaged·the pier. The new design has anoctagonal shape which is intended to let boats "bounce" around the end rather than being trapped in the comer.. Items on the old pier which are provided for in the new include a pier tidetrap, pumping station,·small instrument room, and lower work platform.. New features include an improved work area and access at the top level as well as a long, lower, work walkway close to the water (of timber, suspended below the concrete structure). · The new·pier laboratory building·is primarily designed for visiting classes of theMarine Education Services Program.. .The appearance of·the new pier laboratOry building is to .becompatible with that of the older frame buildings at MSI and the new USFWS/NFCRC Building. 11111111111111111111~:.... . .......:t11111t;1111111111111111111111111111111111r111111111111111111rl11111111111t&tiil!~111111111 Copying of-Computer Software -Recently everyone.who has a computer was asked to review theirsoftware to make certain that they "were.legal". The UT System's General Law. Bulletin provides guidanceon what i$ permitted. First off, it.is important to remember that the UT System will not defend anindividual who has violated System policy. The Office ofGeneral Counsel recommends that all employees .monitor their use of software and avoid the uae of unauthorized copies. All computers should be·free ofsuch.unauthorized programs, and floppy diskettes ·containing same should be removed from offices andlab9ratories. Misconceptions about the "sovereign immunity" of the state of Texas may exist. Stateimmunity was removed several years ago by an amendment to the copyright law making the UT Systemand its components subject to suit and liability the same-as individuals who infringe. It is important torealize that the absence ofa copyright symbol does not indicate that it is.permissible to copy the software.The law permits, the making of a single back-up archival copy .because of the ever-present danger of ·computer system failure and the automatic· making of a copy of the program as an integral part of howcomputers operate. Questions often asked: May I make a copy ofsoftware licensed to the·university and takeit home in order to do university work on my home computer? This may be expressly authorized in thelicense agreement, as is the case with software licensed by WordPerfect Corporation; but the use ofsoftwareoff the site is not generally permitted. May I make more than one backup copy: No. May I install it on morethan one computer in my laboratory and office? No. Ifyou would like a complete copy of the bulletin,contact John Thompson. Ifyou have specific questions, contact Vice Provost Patricia Ohlendorf. 5 Texas Watch Citizens' Coastal Monitoring Conference --Marine Education Services put up a display in the exhibit area for the Texas Watch conference in Corpus Christi. The display featured an aerial photo of the ·Marine Science Institute and information about the MB.rine Science Institute, the Department of Marine Science, the summer program at Port Aransas, and the Marine Education Services Program. Over 200 people attended the conference. Texas State Aquarium Teacher Workshops --Marine Education Services is assisting with Teacher Workshops being sponsored by the Texas State Aquarium. On July 8, 22 participants went aboard the RIV KATY for a collecting trip. Another trip for an estimated additional 22 teachers is scheduled for July 22. Ocean Emporium --Many new items are being offered for sale at the Ocean Emporium. Sales have been particularly brisk for the new children's sea life T-shirts from Learning Shirts. Several new posters are available, including Fragile, Handle With Care (save the earth), Ocean Life, and Whales & Dolphins. New items for our younger visitors include: ocean action stamps, and realistic replicas of a green sea turtle, baby octopus, adult octopus, baby devilfish, and adult devilfish. Books for children include coral reef coloring books, Kingdom ofthe Sea (pop-up), andRead about Amazing Animals (5/set). Adults and younger visitors alike may be interested in assembling the new woodkits; kits may be purchased to assemble a shorecrab, a dolphin, and a hammerhead shark. · Texas Shrimp Farming Short Course --Another short course in shrimp farming has been scheduled for September 9 through 18. The courses are presented by the Texas A &·M Sea Grant pollege Program and· Texas Agricultural Extension Service :and Experiment·Station in· cooperation with the Marine Science Institute. The courses have been very successful in the past and.well attended by those actively involved in shrimp farming, potential aquaculture entrepreneurs, and investors considering opportunities in the commercial culture ofshrimp. Granvil Treece, a mariculture specialist for the Texas A & M Sea Grant College Program (and form.er MSI employee) organizes and conducts the course. Instructors include MSrs Connie Arnold. Fee for attendance at the ·course is $1,000 if registered before July 31 and $1,300 · thereafter. Attendees stay at the Channelview Condominiums and have most of their meals at the MSI Cafeteria (For.more information Call 409-845-7527 or FAX.409-845-7525.) Bill Behrens back at MSI --Bill (Dr.. E. William) Behrens is teaching the graduate course in Marine Geology this summer. To many now at MSI, Bill will be a new face. But Bill is well qualified as an "old · timer" with more than 30 years at The University of Texas at Austin, first in association with the Marine Science Institute at Port Aransas and later with the Institute for Geophysics, first at Galveston and later. in Austin. Bill is also a member of the faculty of the Department of Marine Science. After receiving his Ph.D. from Rice, Bill came to Port Aransas and the Marine Science Institutejustin time to catch Hurricane Carla in 1961 (actually he left, like everyone else with any sense, the day before Carla hit). His first work , in the early sixties along the Texas Coast involved sediment profiling with the R/VS'I'ARGAZER, which was on loan to UT from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.. Beginning with an expedition to the Alacran Reef while still a student at Rice, Bill has participated in many scientific expeditions, including more than fifty cruises aboard research vessels. He has been the principal investigator of 20 grants and contracts and is the author of over 50 scientific publications. Now that the Institute for Geophysics is located in Austin, Bill resides there with his family, including wife Barbara (formerly a first-grade teacher at PAISD), son Mikael (a student at UT--Austin) and daughter Amy (a.out to enter Southwest Texas in San Marcos). Finding a place to stay in Port Aransas is not a problem for the Behrens family--they still own the house they built in 1968 on Lantana Street, adjacent to the University's property. Weather --June 29-July 13 - Tides -July 20-August 2 -Predicti.ons are for tidal. heights at the Tide Tower on the South Jetty ofthe Aransas Pass. Heights are gi.ven in feet above or below Mean Sea Level (MSL). The shaded area is nighttime. Remember, thi.s is tidal height, not tidal. current. Slack water is when the wiggly line crosses the MSL line, not at the peaks and valleys, where the tidal current will be at full flood or ebb. Cll OI ~ GI .• J: 111 2 2 :r 111 t-4 Ci>:c -f 1 0 1 0 .... Gl :t -f ::;!! -1 -2 OI -1 ::;!! J: 2 2 :r 111 111 t-4 Ci> J: 1 1-4 Gl:r -f 0 0 -f -1' -1 -1 -1' rt rt -2 -2 7 ... -. July 20, Monday ............................................. lasagna, corn, butter beans July 21, Tuesday ........................................... chicken pot pie, yellow squash July 22, Wednesday . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . chicken fried steak, snowflake potatoes, green beans July 23, Thursday ..................................... enchiladas, pinto beans, spanish rice July 24, Friday ............................................. stuffed crabs, okra, cole slaw July 25, Saturday . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . cheeseburger with french fries July 27, Monday . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . salisbury steak, new potatoes, peas July 28, Tuesday . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . brisket, potato salad, pinto beans July 29, Wednesday . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . shrimp creole, steamed rice, black beans July 30, Thursday .... ·............................................... fajitas,· beans, rice July 31, Friday .......................... grilled chicken, broccoli, caulifiower with cheese sauce August 1, Saturday ......... ·~ ............................ ~ ~ .. hamburgers with french fri,es . Thanks to Perry Bass for writing kind words about·the Lazarette Gazette to Bob Jones. Other members of the Advisory Council have expressed similar favorable comments verbally, including Mary Abell and Judy Renick. Itis nice to know the "LazGaz" is appreciated. Lastissue Linda Yates did such a greatjob drawing Rick Tinnin few people could have failed to recognize him-even if he had not been accompanied by all the youngsters she included in recognition of the many thousands Rick has taken out on the RIV KATY or otherwise introduced to Marine Science through the programs of Marine Education Services. As usual, I won't identify the fellow sailing across the top ofthe Lazarette Gazette until next issue; but I should at least·mention that the sailboarding was about three years and thirty pounds ago. I have intentionally held off a blanket solicitation ofstories for the Lazarette Gazette--! wanted to be sure "she" would float first! This is the fourth issue and there are no barnacles·on the bootstripe as yet. So, ifyou write something suitable for the Lazarette Gazette, you can count on it being published. Please contribute. In addition to cruise and trip reports, we need to include articles on research projects and programs. And there are probably good stories out there ofinterest about some of our small boat trips (such as those two & three day trips to Port Isabel and back some are making in sniallboats) as well as those on major research vessels. Thanks to Lynn Amos, Kathy Quade, Paul Montagna, Ruth Grundy, Rick Tinnin, JoAnn Page, Lee Fuiman, Linda Fuiman, Linda Yates, Chuck Rowe, Patty Baker, and Bill Behrens for their help. · --John Thompson