Annual Conference St. Croix, US Virgin Islands May 26-28, 2015 Dr. - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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Annual Conference St. Croix, US Virgin Islands May 26-28, 2015 Dr. - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Mare Nostrum Caribbean VI-EPSCoR supported research and development: an overview of accomplishments and new initiatives Annual Conference St. Croix, US Virgin Islands May 26-28, 2015 Dr. Richard S. Nemeth VI-EPSCoR Objectives 1. Build


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Annual Conference

  • St. Croix, US Virgin Islands

May 26-28, 2015

  • Dr. Richard S. Nemeth

Mare Nostrum Caribbean VI-EPSCoR supported research and development: an overview of accomplishments and new initiatives

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VI-EPSCoR Objectives

  • 1. Build research capacity in the Virgin Islands
  • 2. Support faculty research development
  • 3. Strengthen linkages between research and

education

  • 4. Enhance local and regional awareness of

environmental stewardship and management

  • 5. Connect VI-EPSCoR investments and

initiatives with economic development in the USVI.

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3

  • Regional ¡national ¡and ¡

international ¡conferences ¡ provide ¡opportunities ¡for ¡ students ¡to ¡network ¡

  • UVI ¡research ¡symposia ¡allow ¡

students ¡to ¡present ¡VI-­‑EPSCoR ¡ supported ¡research

Graduate ¡and ¡Undergraduate ¡Research: ¡

Training ¡the ¡next ¡generation ¡of ¡scientists

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Scientific Publications

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Publications

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Modern research facilities

  • 1. Oceanography lab
  • 2. Expanded seawater system
  • 3. Environmental Analysis lab
  • 4. GeoCAS Spatial Analysis & Statistics
  • 5. Boat ramp and storage area
  • 6. Extended boat dock
  • 7. VI Environmental Research Station
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Advanced equipment to support research

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Cooperative Fisheries Research Institute

  • Strengthen partnerships between UVI and agencies
  • Acquisition of basic instrumentation for fisheries research
  • Training for local F&W staff
  • Paid Internships for MMES students
  • Thesis projects focused on F&W prioritized needs
  • Improved management of fishery resources
  • Enhanced workforce
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MARE ¡NOSTRUM ¡ Integrated ¡Caribbean ¡Coastal ¡Ecosystems

Environmental ¡ ¡ Analysis ¡& ¡ ¡

  • Mgmt. ¡

Ocean ¡& ¡ Coastal ¡ ¡ Processes ¡ Coral ¡Disease ¡ ¡ Demographics ¡ ¡ Dynamics ¡ GeoCAS ¡ Spatial ¡Analysis ¡ ¡ & ¡Statistics ¡ Human ¡Dimensions ¡ and ¡Watershed ¡ Processes ¡

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Coral Bleaching

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Coral Disease – White Plague

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Coral Disease – Black Band

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  • St. Thomas,

Marine Conservation District 135’ Orbicella reef

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  • St. Thomas,

Grammanik Bank 210’ Agaricia reef

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Shallow reefs (90.9 km2 = 39.8%) Mesophotic reefs (137.3 km2 = 60.2%)

  • St. Thomas
  • St. John

?

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Smith et al. 2008 depth 2-25m 2-25m 15-40m 25-70m

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  • St. Thomas
  • L. analis (2)
  • M. venenosa (1)
  • E. guttatus (1)
  • E. striatus (1)
  • N. brevirostris (1 adult)
  • N. brevirostris (1 juv)

Legend

  • G. cuvier (7)
  • C. limbatus (1 juv)
  • St. John

Spawning aggregation sites Cross-roads of fish migrations Hot-spots of biological diversity Focal points for Ecosystem Based Fisheries Management

Pittman et al. 2014

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Latitudinal gradients in reef function

Bermuda USVI Curacao 2000 km

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Herbivory and reef function

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Ecosystem Study of Brewer’s Bay, St. Thomas

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Benthic Habitats

coral reef seagrass sediments

Mobile organisms

distribution, habitat use movement patterns response variables

Oceanography

chemical physical biological

Watersheds

linkages to coast inputs (chem, sediments)

Human Dimension

resource use attitudes, behaviors

Develop inter-disciplinary research questions.

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Acoustic tracking of mobile marine animals

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Acoustic tracking of mobile marine animals

sediment

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East End Marine Park

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Invasive species

Halophila stipulaceae Pterois volitans

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Citizen Science program concept to control and eliminate erosion and sedimentation in the USVI

Citizen Science coordinator Community participants GeoCAS DPNR - CZM Education of land owners Geo-referenced data collection Data synthesis and mapping Smart phone app development & training Database development Prioritized response to hot spots Recruitment of local team leaders Adopt-a- watershed Implement erosion control

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