THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN MAKINE SCIENCE INSTITUTE The PORT ARANSAS, TEXAS Lazareffe1996 Gazetfi RARY NEWS FROM The University of Texas at Austin MARINE SCIENCE INSTITUTE Port Aransas, Texas 78373-1267 (512-749-6760 -fax 512-749-6777) (internet: thompson@utmsi.zo.utexas.edu) In this issue ofLazarette Gazette Wayne Gardner: Goals for UTMSI in the second half century .............. cover Major Achievements 1995-96 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 News from MSI Ex Peter Jackson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Greta Fryxell named AAAS Fellow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 50-Year Anniversary Reunion Questionnaire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Regular sections: director's report -p. 1, cruise reports & boat operations -p. 3, 50-year anniversary -p. 5, letters to the editor -p. 5, attaboys -p. 6, seminars -p. 6, trip reports & travel-p. 7, irish pennants -p. 7, personnel-p. 8, bureaucratic beatitudes -p. 8, tony's tidings -p. 9, facilities & equipment -P. 11, editor's note -p. 11 It is an honor for me to assume the Directorship of The University of Texas Marine Science Institute as we begin our second half century of operation and I am excited about working with" the people at MSI and other parts of The University of Texas. The Institute and Department of Marine Science have made substantial contributions during the first 50 years and I believe that we will have great opportunities in the future for expanding our role in marine coastal research, education, and outreach. ...: . ..._ ':>II~ l l~\..,.t., LIB'.RAllY .·v, :sity ofTexas at Austin 1 "ill Chm1J1elview Drive .1 ort Aransas , TX 78373 !Fifty ry"ear 5tnniversarg: 1946 -1996 U.S.A. In this first contribution to Laz Gaz, it seems useful to define some general goals that I see for UTMSI as we begin the second halfcentury. I believe that UTMSI should continue to develop its high-quality research programs focusing on fish physiology/ecology, biogeochemistry, and ecosystem dynamics in coastal and· estuarine regions. A major goal is to make UTMSI a world-class "Center of Excellence" for research and education in these areas, that promotes interdisciplinary as well as disciplinary coastal projects. This research will improve fundamental understanding and help solve regional (e.g., harmful algal blooms, fishery stock fluctuations) as well as global problems (e.g., carbon and nutrient cycle changes and global warming). We need to expand the faculty and staff at UTMSI to cover more disciplines than we currently have (e.g.,to replace some ofthe faculty that have left or retired) and thereby make it a more complete Marine Science Department/Laboratory. To begin this process, Dean Rankin has authorized UTMSI to fill a position for a phytoplankton ecologist. A Search Committee has been formed and the position has already been advertised in Science and EOS. We are also hoping to recruit soon for a second position in the UT Department of Marine Science who will participate with others in teaching an undergraduate course in Marine Ecology on the Austin campus from UTMSI via the video link. Goals for this position are to broaden our research activities at the UTMSI campus and at the same time to develop our undergraduate Marine Science Program on the main campus. As I begin working at UTMSI, it is apparent that we have excellent staff and facilities. An important role of the administrative group is to promote the effectiveness of the rest of the staffin implementing their research, education, and outreach activities in marine science. We welcome your ideas on how we can improve the process. -Wayne Gardner MAJOR ACHIEVEMENTS 1995-96 (as listed in the recent MS/ Annual Organized Research Unit Report) • A new conceptual model, the Size-Reactivity Continuum Model, ofthe cycling oforganic matter in aquaticenvironments was developed reflecting the observation that macromolecular materials are more reactive and less diagenetically altered than smaller molecules measured in sea water. • A paper published in Science demonstrated how the ocean stabilizes the concentration ofoxygen in the atmosphere over geologicaltime-scales. •A new untethered "free-vehicle" device was developed to measure sediment-water fluxes in. the ocean. • An in situ instrument to measure nitrate was developed and tested to monitor sewageoutflow in the Nueces River. •A new technique was developed to measure photosynthesis in marine algaeusing Carbon-13, a stable isotope. •An integrative model was developed to estimate seagrass productivity in the Laguna Madre. • Field studies, mesocosm experiments, and laboratory studies were implemented to study why zooplankton grazers cannot bring the persistent and harmful Texas "brown tide ".under control in Texas coastal waters. • Environmentally-friendly diets for marine shrimp and finfish were developed. • Significant changes were observed in the sensory and locomotor abilities ofAtlantic croaker larvae whose parents had been exposed to a model pesticide, to demonstrate the ecological implications of parental history for survival of their young. • A steroid hormone receptor was discovered on fish spermthat appears to help regulate sperm motility. • The pelagic transport stage was identified as being a critical period for nutritional condition during transport of red drum from spawning sites to estuarine nursery grounds. • A Corpus Christi Bay National Estuary Program studying the history and trends of the incidence of bay/marine (anthropogenic) debris was completed. • UTMSI sponsored the 13th Biennial International Conference for the Estuarine Research Federation. • The MSI ELDERHOSTEL programachieved "Super-Site" status. Cruise #96-677 -RIV LONGHORN departed Port Aransas at 1900 hours on October 14 with Texas Parks and Wildlife Department personnel Jan Culbertson as Chief Scientist and Doug Peter. Other TPWD personnel boarding in Freeport on the 17th were . : Chris Thibodeaux, Jim Newby, Richard Benefield, Bryan Eastham, James Choung, Mark ·1..--T-...... ~= ·.~-;?~~~ Fisher, Leria Ozune, and William Balboa. We arrived at the reef site 140 miles East of '"~Port Aransas after 24 hours. The RIV LONGHORN could only make 6.5 knots due to ---~ high seas and the current. Two buoys were deployed. After the seas calmed divers were deployed and a video of the site taken. At 0830 additional personnel were taken aboard and the RIV LONGHORN proceeded to a reef site near Freeport. TPWD personnel attempted to recatch tagged Red Snapper and caught" 24 of 500 previously caught and tagged at the site. TPWD personnel were returned to Freeport and the RIV LONGHORN made homeport at 1115 hours on October 18. Cruise #96-678 -This was a two-day cruise for the Department of Marine Science's Marine Chemistry Course, departing Port Aransas 0805 on October 30 and returning 1510 on October 31. Ellery lngall was Chief Scientist, accompanied by Terry Whitledge. Students were Tracey McDonnell, Christine Weilhoefer, Dan Lara, and Charles Detweiler. RIV LONGHORN headed South East from Port Aransas and did CTD's on LONGSEC stations and then headed to 100 meters to deploy the Knight Corer, afterwards heading back inshore to 10 fathoms to deploy the Lander and anchor for the night. The Lander was recovered the following day. Chief Scientist lngall reported: Excellent cruise! Cruise #96-679 -This cruise was scheduled on a short time basis for Chief Scientist Dr. Andre W. Draxler of Rice University, Department of Geology and Geophysics. The ship departed Port Aransas 1915 hours on November 2 and returned home at 2115 November 5. In addition to Dr. Draxler, others aboard in the scientific group from Rice were Andres Belopolsny, Mark Noble, David Mucciarone, and Mark Herring. Engineers aboard from the Ifremer firm were Jacques Meunier and Bruno Marsset. The work was a very high resolution seismic survey for Rice's research program Imaging Southern Bank, a Fossil Coral Reefon the margin ofthe Southern Texas Shelf, a collaboration between Rice University and Ifremer of Brest, France. The Chief Scientist reported: We have achieved our objectives. The RIV LONGHORN and her crew were at the basis ofour success. We had no down time. Personnel on the bridge navigated the· LONGHORN to our expectations. This is my first experience on the RIVLONGHORN. I am~impressed by the Captain and the crew as well as the equipment available aboard. Hope to sail again soon! -Noe Cantu RIV KATY SCHEDULE FOR NOVEMBER 01 04 04 05 06 06 07 08 08 09 09 11 12 12 15 15 16 16 18 18 19 21 22 22 23 1300-1700 0800-1200 1300-1700 0800-1200 0800-1200 1300-1700 0800-1200 0800-1200 1300-1700 0800-1200 1300-1700 0800-1200 0800-1200 1300-1700 0800-1200 1300-1700 0800-1200 1300-1700 0800-1200 1300-1700 130d-1700 1300-1700 0800-1200 1300-1700 0800-1200 AUSTIN COMMUNITY COLLEGE, AUSTIN TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE DEPT. TEXAS MILITARY INSTITUTE SOUTHPARK MIDDLE SCHOOL, CORPUS HYDE PARK HIGH . SCHOOL, AUSTIN LAGO VISTA ELEMENTARY LAGO VISTA ELEMENTARY ZAVALA ELEMENTARY, AUSTIN BIOL DEPT, SOUTHW ADV COL, KEENE MARE TEACHER WORKSHOP AUSTIN COMMUNITY COLLEGE, AUSTIN TEXAS WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY PARKDALE BAPTIST SCHOOL FAYETTEVILLE HS, ARKANSAS UT ARLINGTON AUSTIN COMMUNITY COLLEGE, AUSTIN INCARNATE WORD HS, SAN ANTONIO UT AT SAN ANTONIO NORTHSIDE ISD SAN ANTONIO TAMUCC TAMU KINGSVILLE BRUNDRETT MS, PORT ARANSAS BRUNDRETT MS, PORT ARANSAS SOUTHWEST TEXAS STATE U. FAUBION ELEMENTARY, CEDAR CREEK SALLY STRONG CARL CLONINGER MARY KENNEDY DEBRA MIGET ANNE CARREY ANNE SPOONER ANNE SPOONER TODD MCDOWELL DR. PETR MSI STAFF DR. RODI DR. DEATON LYNDA DAVIES ROBIN BUFF DR. HELLIER DR. ESTES NORMA COPELAND VI LIEN DEBBIE TRAYNOR DR. MCKEE DR. WOOD ANDREA CANTU ANDREA CANTU DR. EARL CINDY WHEELER News from MSI Ex Peter Jackson The Lazarette Gazette recently received a letter from Peter Jackson which included a summary of his life since leaving UT and MS/.It is reproduced below, not only for the benefit of the many who will enjoy knowing what Pete has been doing, but also as a sample for everyone of the kind of information the Reunion Committee would like to have (see the Reunion Questionnaire elsewhere in this issue). Peter R. Jackson, Ph.D., Scientific Review Program, Solar Building, Room 4C10, NIAID, NIH Bethesda, MD 20892. Contact Pete at: 301-496-8426 (Phone); 301-402-2638; (FAX); PJ8V@NIH.GOV (email). Pete Jackson completed his MA in 1972 (worked on gray mullet osmoregulation with Dr. Martin Sage).Following his interest in parasitology, Pete enrolled in a Ph.D. program in the Department ofBiology, Rice University, Houston, Texas. He studied amino acid and sugar transport mechanisms in a protozoanparasite of horses, Trypanosoma equiperdum, and received his degree in 1976. A post-doc at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst (1976-1978) followed and Pete studied surface carbohydrates of Trypanosoma congolense which infects livestock in Africa. Here he met his wife Joan, also a Ph.D. parasitologist. They moved to the Washington, DC area in 1978 and Pete worked on a National Research Council Post-doc at the Walter Reed Army Institute ofResearch. He studied Trypanosoma rhodesiense which causes sleepingsickness in Africa until 1980. Then, after six months ofwork on sheep nematodes at the Food and Drug Administration's Animal Medical Research Institute in Beltsville, Maryland, Pete was hired back at Walter. Reed in the Department of Immunology. He studied Leishmania and Trypanosoma parasites until 1987. In 1987, Pete left the government to work with the American Institute of Biological Sciences conducting peer review meetings and site visits of US Agency for International Development-funded labs working on malaria vaccines. In 1990 Pete joined the Scientific Review Program of the National Institute ofAllergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health. He is Chief, AIDS Clinical and EpidemiologyResearch Review Branch, Scientific Review Program, Division ofExtramural Activities, NIAID, NIH. Pete sets up and reports the results of peer review meetings ofgrants and contracts in many areas ofinfectious disease, especially AIDS. Pete has two kids (Dot and David). His wife is at the Division of Experimental Therapeutics, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research working on new drugs against Leishmania parasites and on the diagnosis of Leishmania in troops deployed in endemic areas. • Here's my plug for the April 4, 5, 6 weekend for the UTMSI Reunion. These dates will not interfere with Easter or Palm Sunday (or my final examination grading). Mary and I are looking forward to the trip to Port Aransas and to seeing all of our friends there! (from Joe Cech, M.A. 1969, Ph.D. 1973) • For the past two weeks the Marine Education Services program and the UT-Mustang Island ELDERHOSTEL program have hosted 26 participants. The logistical support and attention to details provided by Toni Longoria and Anita Mireles in the cafeteria and Elsa Benavides in. the dorms was above and beyond the call of duty. Toni and Anita provided a wide assortment of delicious meals accompanied by warm smiles and friendly service. They got top billing in our program evaluations. Most of the participants wanted to take them home with them! Elsa is to be commended for the short turn around time in cleaning up the dorms following our normal visiting class groups and setting up the dorms with clean linens, blankets, and towels. Although most of our participants commented that staying in the dorms reminded them of their college days, they were most complimentary on the cleanliness of the dorms and Elsa's attention to small details. Ladies, your efforts contributed greatly to the overall success ofthese two programs and I really appreciate it. (To Toni Longoria, Anita Mireles, and Elsa Benavides from Rick Tinnin) •Thank you for all your help with the preparations for my research group retreat at the Marine Science Institute October 11-13. As always, everything in the auditorium was set up just as we requested, and the breakfasts on Saturday and Sunday were excellent. I only wish you could have joined us for dinner on Saturday evening. Maybe next time. Thanks again, Rick. (To Rick Tinnin from Laurence H. Hurley, UT College of Pharmacy) • This was an excellent cruise....The captain and crew were excellent all around. They were very professional in all aspects of their jobs, and they also were extremely cooperative with the various aspects ofthe science operations, particularly with the deployment and recovery ofthe OBS instruments. The cook was excellent, and the food was some of the best we have had at sea... (In Research Vessel Cruise Assessment for recent Mexico cruise of the RN LONGHORN in regard to Noe Cantu, Hayden Abel, Randy _Pritchard, Chuck Rowe f!Ind William Walker as reported by Chief Scientists Richard Buff/er and Yosio Nakamura of the UT/nstitute for Geophysics) • ... Note: Crew was helpful and courteous. Cook was great! (In Research Vessel Cruise Assessment #96-677 by Chief Scientist Jan Culbertson, Texas Parks and Wildlife) • Greg Street, The University of Texas at Austin, Department of Marine Science, Loss ofgenetic diversity in harpacticoid copepods as a result ofcontaminant exposure, Thursday, October 17. •Nancy Marcus, Florida State University, Department ofOceanography, Resting eggs ofmarine copepods, Friday, October 25. Travel ending between October 12 and November 8 +Ken Dunton, October 4-12, Stony Brook, New York and Washington D.C., attend AAUS symposium and dive officers meeting, meet with colleagues at the Smithsonian, deliver Arctic plants for polar research to Stony Brook. +Steve Opsahl, October 14-15, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, collect water samples from the Mississippi River to study the effects of sunlight on water chemistry. +Tony Amos, October 16-18, LaJolla, California, attend pre-cruise meeting for AMLR Antarctic cruise. +Allen Davis, October 16-20, Guayaquil, Ecuador, participate in First Roche International Aquaculture Seminar. +Noe Cantu, October 21-24, St. Petersburg, Florida, attend annual meeting of the Research Vessel Operators Council. +Beau Hardegree, Sue Ziegler, October 21-25, Port Isabel, Texas, conduct research in lower Laguna Madre. +Rick Tinnin, October 25-27, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, attend association of science technology center conference as a member of the Texas SSI informal science action team. . +Terry Whitledge, October 25-27, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, attend editorial planning meeting at LUMCON on book, Biogeochemistry of GulfofMexico Estuaries.. +Tony Amos, October 28-30, Galveston, Texas, give presentation on marine debris at Clean Gulf Conference. +Beau Hardegree, Sue Ziegler, November 4-8, Port Isabel, Texas, conduct researchin lower Laguna Madre. +Dean Stockwell, November 5-8, St. Petersburg, Florida, make presentation, Texas red tide 1996 update, at the Red Tide Planning and Coordinating Meeting. +Lee Fuiman, October 26-November 10, Netherlands, present keynote address, What can Flatfish Ontogenies tell us about pelagic and benthic lifestyles?, at the Third International Symposium on Flatfish Ecology; present seminar, Ontogeny and growth: form and function in fish larvae, at the Institute of Evolutionary and Ecological Sciences, University of Leiden; present seminar, Ontogeny and growth:simultaneous modifiers ofform and function, at the Department of Experimental Animal Morphology and Cell Biology, Agricultural University, Wageningen. Oiled Wildlife Response Workshop -The Wildlife Rehab & Education, Inc. and The Texas General Land Office held an Oiled Wildlife Response Workshop at MSI on October 23. A portable laboratory was set up for the "washing" instructions. Topics covered were: Wildlife Laws, TPWD; Overview of Oil SpillsAffecting the Texas Gulf Coast, Brian Cain, USFW; Overview of Steps in Rehabilitating Oiled Wildlife, Sharon Schmalz, WR&E; Effects on Wildlife, Michele Johnson, WR&E; OSHA Requirements, Kim Walker, WR&E; Zoonoses, Carole Collins, WR&E; Capture and Restraint ofWildlife, TPWD; Triage, Stacey Huffman and Carole Collins, WR&E; Aftercare, Sharon Schmalz, WR&E. GRETA FRYXELL NAMED AAAS FELLOW Richard S. Nicolson ofthe American Association for the Advancement ofScience has notified MSI Senior Research Fellow Greta Fryxell of her selection as an AAAS Fellow as follows: On behalfofthe AAAS Council, I am pleased to inform you ofyour election to the rank ofAAAS Fellow. Each year the Council elects members whose "efforts on behalf of the advancement of science or its applications are scientifically or socially distinguished." The honor of being elected a Fellow ofAAAS began in 1874 and is acknowledged with a certificate and a rosette. You are being honored for sustained contributions to the field of biological oceanography, particularly for research on the morphology, life history, semantics and distribution of marine phytoplankton. Your certificate and rosette will be presented to you in Seattle on Saturday, February 15, 1997, during the AAAS Fellows Forum, a part ofthe Association's Annual Meeting.... Congratulations on this well-deserved recognition ofyour accomplishments. BLESSED ARE THEY WHO SCHEDULE USE OF THE ''BLUE CHAIR ROOM'' Listen people and aggies, be advised that you really need to contact Linda Fuiman to schedule use ofthe "Blue Chair Room". Ifyou have an informal meeting which comes up at the last minute, well, I guess it is o.k. to just go right ahead and use it. Safest thing though-check with sweet little miss Linda aforehand. BLESSED ARE THEY WHO GET THEIR MAIL ACT TOGETHER Listen pardner, be advised that this mail situation has got to get straight, and PRONTO! I am turning this column over to Patty Webb to tell you about it. -Walker • Business Mail -Have you noticed recently on some ofyour first class mail a yellow label over the Box 1267 address? This is an alert from the Post Office to notify the sender of your new address. The forwarding order expires February 1, 1997. First class mail will be returned to the sender along with the new address for only six months. Your OTHER mail (journals, magazines, etc.) will go in the Post Office's TRASH! I have change of address cards and encourage you to complete them as soon as possible. • Personal Mail -You should NOT receive your personal mail at MSI's Channelvie~ Drive address. Students are reminded that it has been many months since the mail boxes were installed at apartments, yet some are still receiving personal mail at MSI. I have the change ofaddress cards. Examples ofpersonal mail are utility bills, credit card bills, insurance statements, magazines (other than science) and catalogues (other than science). -Patty Webb Weather Report for October 7 -November 3 1996 . . 0~00 . . . . . 0.00 . . . . . 0~00 . .... . ... 0.00 -Tony Amos rifty 'Year !itnniversary: 1946 -1996 Tide Predictions for November (For tidal heights at the tide tower, South Jetty, the AransasPass. Heights are in feet above or below mean sea level. The shaded area is nighttime. Remember, thisis tidal height, not tidal current. Slack water is when the wiggly line crosses t~e MSL line, not at peaks andvalleys, where the tidal current will be a full flood or ebb.) NOV 1996; CENTRAL STANDARD TIME SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT (J) (J) (J) (J) (J) (J) (J) :s: z :s: z :s: z 3: z (J) 3: z (J) z (J) (J) (J) O> 0z )> 00 -v 0 )> 0 -v 0 )> 0 -v 6 )> 0 -v )> 0 -v 3: )> 0 -v 3: )> :s: z :s: z :s: 0z 3: z 3: 0z 3: z 3: 0z 3: 6z :s: 0 :s: 0z :s: 0 3: 6z 3: z z 2 10-1 .. -2 2 2:x: 1 1 ~ 0 0 G> -1 -1 I-i -2 -2-:::;; ct 2 2:x: 1 1 !!! 0 0 G> -1 -1 I-i -2 -2-:::;; ct 2 10-1 -2 210-1-2 L 1 0825 L 1 0905 L1 0943 L 1 1022 H1 1536 H1 1716 H1 1805 H1 1852 H1 1935 10 Warehouse -Good news has been received-a much needed warehouse will soon be constructed. Funds from a number of different sources have been put together to allow construction of a building of at least 6,000 square feet. Boat shop -A new project has been authorized for major repair and rebuilding of the Boat shop (the small building immediately to the South of the RIV LONGHORN dock). The old boat shop was formerly a combination filling station/bait stand/restaurant for the old Enco Marina. Partially destroyed in Hurricane Celia, it was rebuilt into the existing boat shop by MSI personnel following The University's acquisition of the property. Earlier in the year MSI personnel constructed a new and larger freezer room at another location and removed the old freezer room which had been a part of the boat shop. Welcome aboard to our new Director, Wayne Gardner. And thanks to Dr. Gardner for a first contribution to the Lazarette Gazette. Its somewhat hard to believe that the Lazarette Gazette is now in its third administration. You may have noted the absence ofEgabrag Woes this issue or of any contribution from our Russian Correspondent, M:ol: He 3 HaeM. No, the editor was not told -~--·· _::;;;;.-_ that they must disappear. And we did have Texas Ranger Walker. But there is enough happening without trying to explain about all the less than serious aspects ofthe Lazarette Gazette, at least for now. Please note that pages follow from the Reunion Committee (Chairman Faust Parker) for your opinions on when and how to conduct the "reunion. While the Committee is, of course, anxious to hear from ex-students, it would also like to hear from others. Ifyou have an interest in the reunion, please complete and return a questionnaire whatever your connection with MSI. And especially provide names and addresses of others you would like to see at the reunion. Those with email capability are encouraged to use it. for the questionnaire, you will find it both quick and painless. -John Thompson