Subject: RE: The Dust Hypothesis Date: Wed, 1 Jan 2003 17:45:28 -0500 From: szmanta To: "Precht, Bill" , coral-list Dear All: I have read several times the hypothesis that the Diadema die-off in the Caribbean was somehow caused by African dust. Can someone explain to me the logic behind this when the same species of sea urchin is doing well, and matter of fact, has been a pest because of too high of population densities on reefs just off the West coast of Africa (much closer to the dust and potential pathogen source)? Happy New Year to all. Alina Szmant >===== Original Message From "Precht, Bill" ===== >Dear Coral List: > >For those following the "dust" for the past few years I thought you might >find these tidbits of interest. > >Have a great holiday! >- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - > >The Dust Hypothesis > >Question: > >Why have coral reefs that are bathed in clear oceanic waters throughout >much of the Caribbean suffered algal infestation, coral diseases, and near >extinction of herbivorous sea urchins almost simultaneously during the >1970s, 1980s, and early 1990s? The best known factors detrimental to coral >reefs include sewage, run-off from land, dredging, UV light, etc. These >factors do not apply for many affected reefs where human population is low. >Is there an alternative way to spread nutrients and diseases? > >(Contineud) > >http://coastal.er.usgs.gov/african_dust/ > > > Online mini-movie > > Watch USGS scientists Ginger Garrison, Gene Shinn, Chuck Holmes, and > Dale Griffin in "The Effects of Globally Transported African and > Asian Dust on Coral Reef and Human Health" > > http://coastal.er.usgs.gov/african_dust/documentary/ > > > National Public Radio interview > > Project scientists Gene Shinn and Ginger Garrison were interviewed > along with geologist/novelist Sarah Andrews on National Public Radio > station KQED in San Francisco on the popular morning talk show > "Forum" on January 15, 2002. Listen to the interview. > > www.kqed.org/audioarchive/frameset/forum/2002/01/2002-01-15b-forum.html > > >//////////////// > > >Mercury From China Rains Down on California > > Environmental News Service (ENS) > http://ens-news.com/ > > December 20, 2002 > >SANTA CRUZ, California, - Industrial emissions in Asia are a major source >of mercury in rainwater that falls along the California coast, a new study >suggests. > >The mercury in rainwater is not in itself a health threat, but mercury >pollution is a problem in San Francisco Bay and other California waters >because the toxic element builds up in the food chain. State regulatory >agencies are looking for ways to reduce the amount of mercury entering the >state's waters from various sources. > >It is not just the mercury itself but a whole cocktail of atmospheric >pollutants that contribute to the deposition of mercury in rainfall. >Elemental mercury behaves as a gas in the atmosphere and is not washed out >in rain until it has been oxidized into a charged ionic form that can be >captured by water droplets. > >Ozone, a major component of urban and industrial smog, plays a key role in >this oxidation process, said Douglas Steding, lead author of a paper >published Thursday in the online edition of the "Journal of Geophysical >Research - Atmospheres." The report by Steding and other researchers from >the University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC) will appear in a later >print edition of the journal. > >"There is a relatively large reservoir of mercury in the atmosphere, and >it's the rate of oxidation that determines how much of it gets deposited in >rainfall," Steding said. > >Mercury is a trace contaminant of most coal, and emissions from coal >burning power plants are a major source of mercury pollution in many parts >of the world. In the Pacific Basin, the main source of atmospheric mercury >is coal combustion in China. > >China relies on coal as a fuel and accounts for about 10 percent of the >total global industrial emissions of mercury. > >Air pollution in China also generates ozone, which peaks during the winter >due to increased fuel consumption for heating. Air loaded with mercury and >ozone moves off the continent into the Western Pacific, where it is >incorporated into developing storms. > >"The mercury we measured in rainwater results from a combination of mercury >emissions and ozone production, as well as meteorological factors - the >storm tracks that transport the pollutants across the Pacific," Steding >said. > >Steding collected rainwater samples at two sites in central California: on >the coast at UCSC's Long Marine Laboratory and at Moffett Field near San >Jose, on the inland side of the Santa Cruz Mountains. For each rainfall >event, the researchers used air mass trajectories calculated by a national >climate lab to trace the movement of the storms across the Pacific from >Asia. > >Rainwater collected at the coastal site showed the background >concentrations of mercury in storms as they arrived off the Pacific Ocean. >Those measurements were about three times higher than estimates of the >natural, preindustrial level, Steding said. > >Rainwater from the inland site showed mercury concentrations 44 percent >higher than at the coastal site. Steding attributed the difference between >the two sites to ozone in Bay Area smog, rather than local emissions of >mercury. > >"There is a local influence of urban smog on the mercury oxidation rate. We >see a background signal of mercury blowing off the Pacific, then a local >enrichment that's probably due to urban smog," Steding said. "If we want to >reduce mercury deposition, it's not enough to shut down local emissions of >mercury, because other pollutants influence how much of the mercury in the >atmosphere ends up in rainwater." > >Steding said people should not worry about health effects from the mercury >in rainwater, because the concentrations are very low. But the deposition >in rain does add mercury to surface waters, where the toxin enters the food >chain and builds up to high levels in certain kinds of fish. > >State health officials have issued advisories warning people not to eat >fish from more than a dozen bodies of water in California, including San >Francisco Bay. > > # # # > >http://ens-news.com/ens/dec2002/2002-12-20-09.asp#anchor1 > > >/////////////////// > > >Steding, Douglas J.; Flegal, A. Russell > >Mercury concentrations in coastal California precipitation: >Evidence of local and trans-Pacific fluxes of mercury to North America > >10.1029/2002JD002081 > >19 December 2002 > >http://www.agu.org/pubs/toc2002/jd.shtml#dec > > >//////////////// > > >Mercury In California Rainwater Traced ... > >ScienceDaily News Release > >.. Steding emphasized that people should not worry about health effects >from the mercury in rainwater, because the concentrations are very low. > >http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2002/12/021220075156.htm > >- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - > >***************************************** >Season's Greetings from NOAA's CHAMP! >***************************************** >~~~~~~~ >For directions on subscribing and unsubscribing to coral-list or the >digests, please see http://www.coral.noaa.gov/lists/coral-list.html . Alina M. Szmant UNCW Center for Marine Science On travel from UNCW ~~~~~~~ For directions on subscribing and unsubscribing to coral-list or the digests, please see http://www.coral.noaa.gov/lists/coral-list.html . Subject: URGENT - Looking for a small coral reef animals specialist for Date: Wed, 1 Jan 2003 17:47:29 -0500 From: "Fabrice Poiraud-Lambert" To: "Coral List" a talk Sender: owner-coral-list@coral.aoml.noaa.gov Precedence: list Dear All, CIRCoP (International Coral Reef Conferences of Paris - 31st of Jan 1st of Feb 2003) is a General Public dedicated event, created to communicate about coral reefs (their status; what can be done and what is done to protect & restore them; reef life and behavior, economy related to coral reefs; Medicine and coral reefs; etc...). We expect 3000 visitors during 2 days, to follow 16 talks and about 20 movies about all aspects of Coral Reefs (check web site : www.circop.com for program, venue detail, etc...) To replace a missing lecturer, we are looking for one or two 45' talks about small reefs animals such as : shrimps, crabs, nudibranches, worms, etc... and about their way of life, interaction, symbiosis with other animals (such corals or other inverts), techniques of camouflage/protection, etc... If you would like to be candidate, please reply and suggest a tittle + 5 lines of description. Best Regards Fabrice Poiraud-Lambert CIRCoP, Director http://www.circop.com, to Enjoy Great Protected Coral Reefs ~~~~~~~ For directions on subscribing and unsubscribing to coral-list or the digests, please see http://www.coral.noaa.gov/lists/coral-list.html . Subject: Land Based Pollution Date: Fri, 3 Jan 2003 07:11:16 -0500 From: CSalt5@aol.com To: coral-list@aoml.noaa.gov CC: dmeyer@peer.org I received the email regarding Coral Reef Task Force Priorities indirectly, through Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility. Sand dredged from offshore may not be considered land based, but it is one of the primary causes of coral reef degradation in south Florida. As a Fish and Wildlife Service biologist, I specialized in commenting on beach restoration projects for over 10 years; I know beach projects and beach project politics. This controvercial area is not for the faint hearted. I was eventually forced into early retirement for proposing that the FWS conduct surveys of the proposed Broward County beach project area (and offshore dredge area) rather than Broward County's environmental consultant. This was in accordance with past procedures and consistent with the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act. The Broward County project will bury at least 36 acres of nearshore coral communities and degrade uncalculated acreage just outside the proposed fill area due to the settling of suspended sediment. Unnumbered ancient star and brain corals near the proposed dredge area will suffer the same fate. These impacts have been documented in numerous past projects. How is it that this, perhaps the number one cause of direct coral destruction, is not on the Coral Reef Task Force's list of priorities? As for land based pollution, there are perhaps hundreds of acres of coral community in Broward County that are either dead or nearly dead because insufficiently treated sewage is being pumped just offshore of Broward beaches. The one outfall I know of runs east from Hollywood, Fl. I would be happy to accompany you or any other Task Force member to see the damage first hand. Chuck Sultzman ~~~~~~~ For directions on subscribing and unsubscribing to coral-list or the digests, please see http://www.coral.noaa.gov/lists/coral-list.html . Subject: Re: CIRCoP lecturer needed Date: Fri, 3 Jan 2003 07:13:05 -0500 From: Michael Janes To: coral-list@coral.aoml.noaa.gov Dear Fabrice, Listed bellow are two possible talks I would be able to prepare and give at your conference if invited. Please let me know if this is what you are looking for. Coral Reef Partnerships: Symbiosis, Commensalisms, and Parasitism A variety of tropical reef organisms rely on each other in intimate ways for their survival. In many cases, both micro and macro life forms are sustained through tight relationships that have developed over many generations. This talk provides detailed examples of partnerships occurring among different phyla (algae, worms, other invertebrates, and fish) on the reef and defines both their similarities and differences. The Coral / Algae Connection...Light is life For most corals light affords them a means to prosper through their symbiotic relationship with single cell algae. Others lack this form of partnership yet still thrive. My talk outlines the fundamental basis of coral algae partnerships, examines how they function, and defines their role on the coral reef. Further, the differences between photosynthetic and non-photosynthetic corals are explored. Best wishes for a successful conference. Sincerely, Michael. Michael P. Janes Senior Aquarist AquaTouch, Inc. 12040 N. 32nd Street Phoenix, Arizona 85028 USA (602) 765-9058 phone (602) 765-9044 fax email: mjanes@aquatouch.com ~~~~~~~ For directions on subscribing and unsubscribing to coral-list or the digests, please see http://www.coral.noaa.gov/lists/coral-list.html . Subject: Landmark meeting Date: Fri, 3 Jan 2003 07:25:25 -0500 From: "N A J Graham" To: Time is running out to register for the 5th International Conference on Environmental Future. This landmark conference on the 'environmental future of aquatic ecosystems' (http://www.icef.eawag.ch) is to be held in Zurich, Switzerland, 23-27 March 2003 and cheap registration is available until January 15th only. Leading scientists from around the world are to predict the potential alternative state(s) of each of the 21 marine and freshwater ecosystems by the year 2025 with respect, in particular, to climate change, human population growth and fisheries decline (see abstracts on website). Many of the reviews have been published in the journal Environmental Conservation and the outputs of the conference will be published by Cambridge University Press in a 2-volume book which each registrant will receive for free. Registration fees for this significant venture are substantially reduced upto January 15th 2003 and student rates are also available (http://www.icef.eawag.ch). Best regards, Nick Graham Junior Research Associate Marine Science & Technology University of Newcastle-Upon-Tyne Tel: +44 (0)191 222 5868 ~~~~~~~ For directions on subscribing and unsubscribing to coral-list or the digests, please see http://www.coral.noaa.gov/lists/coral-list.html . Subject: RE: The Dust Hypothesis Date: Fri, 3 Jan 2003 07:31:26 -0500 From: lessiosh To: coral-list@coral.aoml.noaa.gov, "'szmanta'" Alina and others Happy new year. "Diadema antillarum" on the African coast has the same name, but it is not the same species. Its mitochondrial DNA is as different from Caribbean D. antillarum as that of D. paucispinum and D. savignyi. See Lessios, Kessing and Pearse, 2001, Population structure and speciation in tropical seas: global phylogeography of the sea urchin Diadema. Evolution, 55:955-975. So, this may answer this particular objection, but there are additional difficulties with the dust hypothesis to explain the Diadema mass mortality: 1. Why did it start at such a specific point at the mouth of the Panama Canal? The data in "H.A. Lessios, D.R. Robertson, J.D. Cubit. 1984 Spread of Diadema mass mortality through the Caribbean. Science, 226:335-337" are good enough to conclude that it really did start at the mouth of the canal, rather than first being noticed there. Disease due to dust traveling all the way from Africa and falling in the Caribbean would be more likely to start at various places in a large area. That it only started in one location, and that this location is so close to where ships discharge ballast water is more consistent with its having come in ballast water from the Pacific. Presumably, the pathogen is benign for Pacific species of Diadema, but killed the Atlantic ones. That it infected no other sea urchin species, not even the E. Atlantic Diadema, suggests that it is very specific. 2. Why did the mortality front travel by currents over large distances of water? If it came from the atmosphere, there should be no correlation with water current direction in its spread. The last locations to be infected were Bermuda and the Virgin Islands, not particularly consistent with dust coming from Africa. 3. Why were Diadema in aquaria also infected? 4. Why have there been subsequent local outbreaks at very specific times? I suppose that it can all be explained if one assumes that dust, traveled high over most of the Atlantic and the Caribbean, fell in the SE Caribbean and only what landed in Panama happened to contain a pathogenic organism, which was then spread by the currents and cross-infection. We will never know for sure. The dust hypothesis, like any other, is speculation, with some things that fit and others that don't. Haris Lessios H. A. Lessios Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute Balboa, Panama Telephone: +507/212-8708 Fax +507/212-8791 Telephone from the US (domestic call): 202/786-2099 x 8708 Mail address: From the USA: Unit 0948 APO AA 34002-0948 From elsewhere: Box 2072 Balboa, Panama > > >-----Original Message----- >From: owner-coral-list@aoml.noaa.gov >[mailto:owner-coral-list@aoml.noaa.gov] On Behalf Of szmanta >Sent: Wednesday, January 01, 2003 5:45 PM >To: Precht, Bill; coral-list >Subject: RE: The Dust Hypothesis > > >Dear All: > >I have read several times the hypothesis that the Diadema die-off in >the Caribbean was somehow caused by African dust. Can someone explain >to me the logic behind this when the same species of sea urchin is doing >well, and matter of fact, has been a pest because of too high of >population densities on reefs just off the West coast of Africa (much >closer to the dust and potential pathogen source)? > >Happy New Year to all. > >Alina Szmant > > >===== Original Message From "Precht, Bill" ===== > >Dear Coral List: > > > >For those following the "dust" for the past few years I thought you >might > >find these tidbits of interest. > > > >Have a great holiday! > >- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - > > > >The Dust Hypothesis > > > >Question: > > > >Why have coral reefs that are bathed in clear oceanic waters throughout > >much of the Caribbean suffered algal infestation, coral diseases, and >near > >extinction of herbivorous sea urchins almost simultaneously during the > >1970s, 1980s, and early 1990s? The best known factors detrimental to >coral > >reefs include sewage, run-off from land, dredging, UV light, etc. These > >factors do not apply for many affected reefs where human population is >low. > >Is there an alternative way to spread nutrients and diseases? > > > >(Contineud) > > > >http://coastal.er.usgs.gov/african_dust/ > > > > > > Online mini-movie > > > > Watch USGS scientists Ginger Garrison, Gene Shinn, Chuck Holmes, >and > > Dale Griffin in "The Effects of Globally Transported African and > > Asian Dust on Coral Reef and Human Health" > > > > http://coastal.er.usgs.gov/african_dust/documentary/ > > > > > > National Public Radio interview > > > > Project scientists Gene Shinn and Ginger Garrison were >interviewed > > along with geologist/novelist Sarah Andrews on National Public >Radio > > station KQED in San Francisco on the popular morning talk show > > "Forum" on January 15, 2002. Listen to the interview. > > > > >www.kqed.org/audioarchive/frameset/forum/2002/01/2002-01-15b-forum.html > > > > > >//////////////// > > > > > >Mercury From China Rains Down on California > > > > Environmental News Service (ENS) > > http://ens-news.com/ > > > > December 20, 2002 > > > >SANTA CRUZ, California, - Industrial emissions in Asia are a major >source > >of mercury in rainwater that falls along the California coast, a new >study > >suggests. > > > >The mercury in rainwater is not in itself a health threat, but mercury > >pollution is a problem in San Francisco Bay and other California waters > >because the toxic element builds up in the food chain. State regulatory > >agencies are looking for ways to reduce the amount of mercury entering >the > >state's waters from various sources. > > > >It is not just the mercury itself but a whole cocktail of atmospheric > >pollutants that contribute to the deposition of mercury in rainfall. > >Elemental mercury behaves as a gas in the atmosphere and is not washed >out > >in rain until it has been oxidized into a charged ionic form that can >be > >captured by water droplets. > > > >Ozone, a major component of urban and industrial smog, plays a key role >in > >this oxidation process, said Douglas Steding, lead author of a paper > >published Thursday in the online edition of the "Journal of Geophysical > >Research - Atmospheres." The report by Steding and other researchers >from > >the University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC) will appear in a later > >print edition of the journal. > > > >"There is a relatively large reservoir of mercury in the atmosphere, >and > >it's the rate of oxidation that determines how much of it gets >deposited in > >rainfall," Steding said. > > > >Mercury is a trace contaminant of most coal, and emissions from coal > >burning power plants are a major source of mercury pollution in many >parts > >of the world. In the Pacific Basin, the main source of atmospheric >mercury > >is coal combustion in China. > > > >China relies on coal as a fuel and accounts for about 10 percent of the > >total global industrial emissions of mercury. > > > >Air pollution in China also generates ozone, which peaks during the >winter > >due to increased fuel consumption for heating. Air loaded with mercury >and > >ozone moves off the continent into the Western Pacific, where it is > >incorporated into developing storms. > > > >"The mercury we measured in rainwater results from a combination of >mercury > >emissions and ozone production, as well as meteorological factors - the > >storm tracks that transport the pollutants across the Pacific," Steding > >said. > > > >Steding collected rainwater samples at two sites in central California: >on > >the coast at UCSC's Long Marine Laboratory and at Moffett Field near >San > >Jose, on the inland side of the Santa Cruz Mountains. For each rainfall > >event, the researchers used air mass trajectories calculated by a >national > >climate lab to trace the movement of the storms across the Pacific from > >Asia. > > > >Rainwater collected at the coastal site showed the background > >concentrations of mercury in storms as they arrived off the Pacific >Ocean. > >Those measurements were about three times higher than estimates of the > >natural, preindustrial level, Steding said. > > > >Rainwater from the inland site showed mercury concentrations 44 percent > >higher than at the coastal site. Steding attributed the difference >between > >the two sites to ozone in Bay Area smog, rather than local emissions of > >mercury. > > > >"There is a local influence of urban smog on the mercury oxidation >rate. We > >see a background signal of mercury blowing off the Pacific, then a >local > >enrichment that's probably due to urban smog," Steding said. "If we >want to > >reduce mercury deposition, it's not enough to shut down local emissions >of > >mercury, because other pollutants influence how much of the mercury in >the > >atmosphere ends up in rainwater." > > > >Steding said people should not worry about health effects from the >mercury > >in rainwater, because the concentrations are very low. But the >deposition > >in rain does add mercury to surface waters, where the toxin enters the >food > >chain and builds up to high levels in certain kinds of fish. > > > >State health officials have issued advisories warning people not to eat > >fish from more than a dozen bodies of water in California, including >San > >Francisco Bay. > > > > # # # > > > >http://ens-news.com/ens/dec2002/2002-12-20-09.asp#anchor1 > > > > > >/////////////////// > > > > > >Steding, Douglas J.; Flegal, A. Russell > > > >Mercury concentrations in coastal California precipitation: > >Evidence of local and trans-Pacific fluxes of mercury to North America > > > >10.1029/2002JD002081 > > > >19 December 2002 > > > >http://www.agu.org/pubs/toc2002/jd.shtml#dec > > > > > >//////////////// > > > > > >Mercury In California Rainwater Traced ... > > > >ScienceDaily News Release > > > >.. Steding emphasized that people should not worry about health effects > >from the mercury in rainwater, because the concentrations are very low. > > > >http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2002/12/021220075156.htm > > > >- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - > > > >***************************************** > >Season's Greetings from NOAA's CHAMP! > >***************************************** > >~~~~~~~ > >For directions on subscribing and unsubscribing to coral-list or the > >digests, please see http://www.coral.noaa.gov/lists/coral-list.html . > >Alina M. Szmant >UNCW Center for Marine Science >On travel from UNCW > >~~~~~~~ >For directions on subscribing and unsubscribing to coral-list or the >digests, please see http://www.coral.noaa.gov/lists/coral-list.html . ******************************************************************* Dr. Alina M. Szmant Coral Reef Research Group Professor of Biology Center for Marine Science University of North Carolina at Wilmington 5600 Marvin K. Moss Lane Wilmington NC 28409-5928 tel: (910)962-2362 fax: (910)962-2410 email: szmanta@uncwil.edu http://www.uncwil.edu/people/szmanta/ ****************************************************************** --Boundary_(ID_LWPAmk1OzhYyaFAKJvhtSw) Content-type: text/html; charset="us-ascii" I think Haris meant to send this message out to all interested parties by hit the 'reply' instead of 'reply all' button.

Alina Szmant



Date: Thu, 02 Jan 2003 10:35:35 -0500
From: lessiosh <lessiosh@naos.si.edu>
Subject: RE: The Dust Hypothesis
To: 'szmanta' <szmanta@uncwil.edu>
Reply-to: lessiosh@naos.si.edu
X-VMS-To: IN%"szmanta@uncwil.edu"  "'szmanta'"
X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook, Build 10.0.4024
Importance: Normal
Original-recipient: rfc822;szmanta@uncwil.edu

Alina and others

Happy new year.

"Diadema antillarum" on the African coast has the same name, but it is
not the same species.  Its mitochondrial DNA is as different from
Caribbean D. antillarum as that of D. paucispinum and D. savignyi.  See
Lessios, Kessing and Pearse, 2001, Population structure and speciation
in tropical seas: global phylogeography of the sea urchin Diadema.
Evolution, 55:955-975.

So, this may answer this particular objection, but there are additional
difficulties with the dust hypothesis to explain the Diadema mass
mortality:

1.  Why did it start at such a specific point at the mouth of the Panama
Canal? The data in "H.A. Lessios, D.R. Robertson, J.D. Cubit.  1984
Spread of Diadema mass mortality through the Caribbean. Science,
226:335-337" are good enough to conclude that it really did start at the
mouth of the canal, rather than first being noticed there.  Disease due
to dust traveling all the way from Africa and falling in the Caribbean
would be more likely to start at various places in a large area.  That
it only started in one location, and that this location is so close to
where ships discharge ballast water is more consistent with its having
come in ballast water from the Pacific.  Presumably, the pathogen is
benign for Pacific species of Diadema, but killed the Atlantic ones.
That it infected no other sea urchin species, not even the E. Atlantic
Diadema, suggests that it is very specific.

2.  Why did the mortality front travel by currents over large distances
of water?  If it came from the atmosphere, there should be no
correlation with water current direction in its spread.  The last
locations to be infected were Bermuda and the Virgin Islands, not
particularly consistent with dust coming from Africa.

3.  Why were Diadema in aquaria also infected?

4.  Why have there been subsequent local outbreaks at very specific
times?

I suppose that it can all be explained if one assumes that dust,
traveled high over most of the Atlantic and the Caribbean, fell in the
SE Caribbean and only what landed in Panama happened to contain a
pathogenic organism, which was then spread by the currents and
cross-infection.  We will never know for sure.  The dust hypothesis,
like any other, is speculation, with some things that fit and others
that don't.

Haris Lessios

H. A. Lessios
Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute
Balboa, Panama

Telephone: +507/212-8708
Fax +507/212-8791
Telephone from the US (domestic call): 202/786-2099 x 8708

Mail address:
From the USA:
Unit 0948
APO AA 34002-0948

From elsewhere:
Box 2072
Balboa, Panama



-----Original Message-----
From: owner-coral-list@aoml.noaa.gov
[mailto:owner-coral-list@aoml.noaa.gov] On Behalf Of szmanta
Sent: Wednesday, January 01, 2003 5:45 PM
To: Precht, Bill; coral-list
Subject: RE: The Dust Hypothesis


Dear All:

I have read several times the hypothesis that the Diadema die-off in
the  Caribbean was somehow caused by African dust.  Can someone explain
to me the logic behind this when the same species of sea urchin is doing
well, and matter of fact, has been a pest because of too high of
population densities on reefs just off the West coast of Africa (much
closer to the dust and potential  pathogen source)?

Happy New Year to all.

Alina Szmant

>===== Original Message From "Precht, Bill" <Bprecht@pbsj.com> =====
>Dear Coral List:
>
>For those following the "dust" for the past few years I thought you
might
>find these tidbits of interest.
>
>Have a great holiday!
>- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
>
>The Dust Hypothesis
>
>Question:
>
>Why have coral reefs that are bathed in clear oceanic waters throughout
>much of the Caribbean suffered algal infestation, coral diseases, and
near
>extinction of herbivorous sea urchins almost simultaneously during the
>1970s, 1980s, and early 1990s? The best known factors detrimental to
coral
>reefs include sewage, run-off from land, dredging, UV light, etc. These
>factors do not apply for many affected reefs where human population is
low.
>Is there an alternative way to spread nutrients and diseases?
>
>(Contineud)
>
>http://coastal.er.usgs.gov/african_dust/
>
>
>   Online mini-movie
>
>      Watch USGS scientists Ginger Garrison, Gene Shinn, Chuck Holmes,
and
>      Dale Griffin in "The Effects of Globally Transported African and
>      Asian Dust on Coral Reef and Human Health"
>
>   http://coastal.er.usgs.gov/african_dust/documentary/
>
>
>   National Public Radio interview
>
>      Project scientists Gene Shinn and Ginger Garrison were
interviewed
>      along with geologist/novelist Sarah Andrews on National Public
Radio
>      station KQED in San Francisco on the popular morning talk show
>      "Forum" on January 15, 2002. Listen to the interview.
>
>
www.kqed.org/audioarchive/frameset/forum/2002/01/2002-01-15b-forum.html
>
>
>////////////////
>
>
>Mercury From China Rains Down on California
>
>   Environmental News Service (ENS)
>   http://ens-news.com/
>
>   December 20, 2002
>
>SANTA CRUZ, California, - Industrial emissions in Asia are a major
source
>of mercury in rainwater that falls along the California coast, a new
study
>suggests.
>
>The mercury in rainwater is not in itself a health threat, but mercury
>pollution is a problem in San Francisco Bay and other California waters
>because the toxic element builds up in the food chain. State regulatory
>agencies are looking for ways to reduce the amount of mercury entering
the
>state's waters from various sources.
>
>It is not just the mercury itself but a whole cocktail of atmospheric
>pollutants that contribute to the deposition of mercury in rainfall.
>Elemental mercury behaves as a gas in the atmosphere and is not washed
out
>in rain until it has been oxidized into a charged ionic form that can
be
>captured by water droplets.
>
>Ozone, a major component of urban and industrial smog, plays a key role
in
>this oxidation process, said Douglas Steding, lead author of a paper
>published Thursday in the online edition of the "Journal of Geophysical
>Research - Atmospheres." The report by Steding and other researchers
from
>the University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC) will appear in a later
>print edition of the journal.
>
>"There is a relatively large reservoir of mercury in the atmosphere,
and
>it's the rate of oxidation that determines how much of it gets
deposited in
>rainfall," Steding said.
>
>Mercury is a trace contaminant of most coal, and emissions from coal
>burning power plants are a major source of mercury pollution in many
parts
>of the world. In the Pacific Basin, the main source of atmospheric
mercury
>is coal combustion in China.
>
>China relies on coal as a fuel and accounts for about 10 percent of the
>total global industrial emissions of mercury.
>
>Air pollution in China also generates ozone, which peaks during the
winter
>due to increased fuel consumption for heating. Air loaded with mercury
and
>ozone moves off the continent into the Western Pacific, where it is
>incorporated into developing storms.
>
>"The mercury we measured in rainwater results from a combination of
mercury
>emissions and ozone production, as well as meteorological factors - the
>storm tracks that transport the pollutants across the Pacific," Steding
>said.
>
>Steding collected rainwater samples at two sites in central California:
on
>the coast at UCSC's Long Marine Laboratory and at Moffett Field near
San
>Jose, on the inland side of the Santa Cruz Mountains. For each rainfall
>event, the researchers used air mass trajectories calculated by a
national
>climate lab to trace the movement of the storms across the Pacific from
>Asia.
>
>Rainwater collected at the coastal site showed the background
>concentrations of mercury in storms as they arrived off the Pacific
Ocean.
>Those measurements were about three times higher than estimates of the
>natural, preindustrial level, Steding said.
>
>Rainwater from the inland site showed mercury concentrations 44 percent
>higher than at the coastal site. Steding attributed the difference
between
>the two sites to ozone in Bay Area smog, rather than local emissions of
>mercury.
>
>"There is a local influence of urban smog on the mercury oxidation
rate. We
>see a background signal of mercury blowing off the Pacific, then a
local
>enrichment that's probably due to urban smog," Steding said. "If we
want to
>reduce mercury deposition, it's not enough to shut down local emissions
of
>mercury, because other pollutants influence how much of the mercury in
the
>atmosphere ends up in rainwater."
>
>Steding said people should not worry about health effects from the
mercury
>in rainwater, because the concentrations are very low. But the
deposition
>in rain does add mercury to surface waters, where the toxin enters the
food
>chain and builds up to high levels in certain kinds of fish.
>
>State health officials have issued advisories warning people not to eat
>fish from more than a dozen bodies of water in California, including
San
>Francisco Bay.
>
>  #  #  #
>
>http://ens-news.com/ens/dec2002/2002-12-20-09.asp#anchor1
>
>
>///////////////////
>
>
>Steding, Douglas J.; Flegal, A. Russell
>
>Mercury concentrations in coastal California precipitation:
>Evidence of local and trans-Pacific fluxes of mercury to North America
>
>10.1029/2002JD002081
>
>19 December 2002
>
>http://www.agu.org/pubs/toc2002/jd.shtml#dec
>
>
>////////////////
>
>
>Mercury In California Rainwater Traced ...
>
>ScienceDaily News Release
>
>.. Steding emphasized that people should not worry about health effects
>from the mercury in rainwater, because the concentrations are very low.
>
> http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2002/12/021220075156.htm
>
>- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
>
>*****************************************
>Season's Greetings from NOAA's CHAMP!
>*****************************************
>~~~~~~~
>For directions on subscribing and unsubscribing to coral-list or the
>digests, please see http://www.coral.noaa.gov/lists/coral-list.html .

Alina M. Szmant
UNCW Center for Marine Science
On travel from UNCW

~~~~~~~
For directions on subscribing and unsubscribing to coral-list or the
digests, please see http://www.coral.noaa.gov/lists/coral-list.html .

*******************************************************************
Dr. Alina M. Szmant
Coral Reef Research Group
Professor of Biology
Center for Marine Science
University of North Carolina at Wilmington
5600  Marvin K. Moss Lane
Wilmington  NC  28409-5928
tel:  (910)962-2362  fax:  (910)962-2410
email:  szmanta@uncwil.edu
http://www.uncwil.edu/people/szmanta/
****************************************************************** --Boundary_(ID_LWPAmk1OzhYyaFAKJvhtSw)-- ~~~~~~~ For directions on subscribing and unsubscribing to coral-list or the digests, please see http://www.coral.noaa.gov/lists/coral-list.html . Subject: Re: The Dust Hypothesis Date: Fri, 3 Jan 2003 07:31:27 -0500 From: "Alan E Strong" To: szmanta CC: "Precht Bill" , coral-list Hi Alina, ...could have something to do with aerosol particle size and selective settling as air trajectory carried dust westward...? Just a thought....happy new year every one! Cheers, Al szmanta wrote: >Dear All: > >I have read several times the hypothesis that the Diadema die-off in >the Caribbean was somehow caused by African dust. Can someone explain >to me the logic behind this when the same species of sea urchin is doing >well, and matter of fact, has been a pest because of too high of >population densities on reefs just off the West coast of Africa (much >closer to the dust and potential pathogen source)? > >Happy New Year to all. > >Alina Szmant > >>===== Original Message From "Precht, Bill" ===== >>Dear Coral List: >> >>For those following the "dust" for the past few years I thought you might >>find these tidbits of interest. >> >>Have a great holiday! >>- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - >> >>The Dust Hypothesis >> >>Question: >> >>Why have coral reefs that are bathed in clear oceanic waters throughout >>much of the Caribbean suffered algal infestation, coral diseases, and near >>extinction of herbivorous sea urchins almost simultaneously during the >>1970s, 1980s, and early 1990s? The best known factors detrimental to coral >>reefs include sewage, run-off from land, dredging, UV light, etc. These >>factors do not apply for many affected reefs where human population is low. >>Is there an alternative way to spread nutrients and diseases? >> >>(Contineud) >> >>http://coastal.er.usgs.gov/african_dust/ >> >> >> Online mini-movie >> >> Watch USGS scientists Ginger Garrison, Gene Shinn, Chuck Holmes, and >> Dale Griffin in "The Effects of Globally Transported African and >> Asian Dust on Coral Reef and Human Health" >> >> http://coastal.er.usgs.gov/african_dust/documentary/ >> >> >> National Public Radio interview >> >> Project scientists Gene Shinn and Ginger Garrison were interviewed >> along with geologist/novelist Sarah Andrews on National Public Radio >> station KQED in San Francisco on the popular morning talk show >> "Forum" on January 15, 2002. Listen to the interview. >> >> www.kqed.org/audioarchive/frameset/forum/2002/01/2002-01-15b-forum.html >> >> >>//////////////// >> >> >>Mercury From China Rains Down on California >> >> Environmental News Service (ENS) >> http://ens-news.com/ >> >> December 20, 2002 >> >>SANTA CRUZ, California, - Industrial emissions in Asia are a major source >>of mercury in rainwater that falls along the California coast, a new study >>suggests. >> >>The mercury in rainwater is not in itself a health threat, but mercury >>pollution is a problem in San Francisco Bay and other California waters >>because the toxic element builds up in the food chain. State regulatory >>agencies are looking for ways to reduce the amount of mercury entering the >>state's waters from various sources. >> >>It is not just the mercury itself but a whole cocktail of atmospheric >>pollutants that contribute to the deposition of mercury in rainfall. >>Elemental mercury behaves as a gas in the atmosphere and is not washed out >>in rain until it has been oxidized into a charged ionic form that can be >>captured by water droplets. >> >>Ozone, a major component of urban and industrial smog, plays a key role in >>this oxidation process, said Douglas Steding, lead author of a paper >>published Thursday in the online edition of the "Journal of Geophysical >>Research - Atmospheres." The report by Steding and other researchers from >>the University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC) will appear in a later >>print edition of the journal. >> >>"There is a relatively large reservoir of mercury in the atmosphere, and >>it's the rate of oxidation that determines how much of it gets deposited in >>rainfall," Steding said. >> >>Mercury is a trace contaminant of most coal, and emissions from coal >>burning power plants are a major source of mercury pollution in many parts >>of the world. In the Pacific Basin, the main source of atmospheric mercury >>is coal combustion in China. >> >>China relies on coal as a fuel and accounts for about 10 percent of the >>total global industrial emissions of mercury. >> >>Air pollution in China also generates ozone, which peaks during the winter >>due to increased fuel consumption for heating. Air loaded with mercury and >>ozone moves off the continent into the Western Pacific, where it is >>incorporated into developing storms. >> >>"The mercury we measured in rainwater results from a combination of mercury >>emissions and ozone production, as well as meteorological factors - the >>storm tracks that transport the pollutants across the Pacific," Steding >>said. >> >>Steding collected rainwater samples at two sites in central California: on >>the coast at UCSC's Long Marine Laboratory and at Moffett Field near San >>Jose, on the inland side of the Santa Cruz Mountains. For each rainfall >>event, the researchers used air mass trajectories calculated by a national >>climate lab to trace the movement of the storms across the Pacific from >>Asia. >> >>Rainwater collected at the coastal site showed the background >>concentrations of mercury in storms as they arrived off the Pacific Ocean. >>Those measurements were about three times higher than estimates of the >>natural, preindustrial level, Steding said. >> >>Rainwater from the inland site showed mercury concentrations 44 percent >>higher than at the coastal site. Steding attributed the difference between >>the two sites to ozone in Bay Area smog, rather than local emissions of >>mercury. >> >>"There is a local influence of urban smog on the mercury oxidation rate. We >>see a background signal of mercury blowing off the Pacific, then a local >>enrichment that's probably due to urban smog," Steding said. "If we want to >>reduce mercury deposition, it's not enough to shut down local emissions of >>mercury, because other pollutants influence how much of the mercury in the >>atmosphere ends up in rainwater." >> >>Steding said people should not worry about health effects from the mercury >>in rainwater, because the concentrations are very low. But the deposition >>in rain does add mercury to surface waters, where the toxin enters the food >>chain and builds up to high levels in certain kinds of fish. >> >>State health officials have issued advisories warning people not to eat >>fish from more than a dozen bodies of water in California, including San >>Francisco Bay. >> >> # # # >> >>http://ens-news.com/ens/dec2002/2002-12-20-09.asp#anchor1 >> >> >>/////////////////// >> >> >>Steding, Douglas J.; Flegal, A. Russell >> >>Mercury concentrations in coastal California precipitation: >>Evidence of local and trans-Pacific fluxes of mercury to North America >> >>10.1029/2002JD002081 >> >>19 December 2002 >> >>http://www.agu.org/pubs/toc2002/jd.shtml#dec >> >> >>//////////////// >> >> >>Mercury In California Rainwater Traced ... >> >>ScienceDaily News Release >> >>.. Steding emphasized that people should not worry about health effects >> >>from the mercury in rainwater, because the concentrations are very low. > >>http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2002/12/021220075156.htm >> >>- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - >> >>***************************************** >>Season's Greetings from NOAA's CHAMP! >>***************************************** >>~~~~~~~ >>For directions on subscribing and unsubscribing to coral-list or the >>digests, please see http://www.coral.noaa.gov/lists/coral-list.html . >> > >Alina M. Szmant >UNCW Center for Marine Science >On travel from UNCW > >~~~~~~~ >For directions on subscribing and unsubscribing to coral-list or the >digests, please see http://www.coral.noaa.gov/lists/coral-list.html . > -- **** <>< ******* <>< ******* <>< ******* <>< ******* Alan E. Strong Team Leader, Marine Applications Science Team (MAST) Phys Scientist/Oceanographer NOAA/NESDIS/ORA/ORAD -- E/RA3 NOAA Science Center -- RM 711W 5200 Auth Road Camp Springs, MD 20746-4304 Alan.E.Strong@noaa.gov 301-763-8102 x170 FAX: 301-763-8572 http://orbit-net.nesdis.noaa.gov/orad --------------050205080207060108010100 Content-Type: text/html; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Hi Alina,

...could have something to do with aerosol particle size and selective settling as air trajectory carried dust westward...?

Just a thought....happy new year every one!

Cheers,
Al

szmanta wrote:

Dear All:

I have read several times the hypothesis
that the Diadema die-off in
the  Caribbean was somehow caused by
African dust.  Can someone explain
to me the logic behind this when
the same species of sea urchin is doing
well, and matter of fact, has
been a pest because of too high of
population densities on reefs just
off the West coast of Africa (much
closer to the dust and potential
pathogen source)?

Happy New Year to all.

Alina
Szmant

===== Original Message From "Precht, Bill" <Bprecht@pbsj.com>
=====
Dear Coral List:

For those following the "dust" for the
past few years I thought you might
find these tidbits of
interest.

Have a great holiday!
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - - - - - - -

The Dust
Hypothesis

Question:

Why have coral reefs that are bathed
in clear oceanic waters throughout
much of the Caribbean suffered
algal infestation, coral diseases, and near
extinction of herbivorous
sea urchins almost simultaneously during the
1970s, 1980s, and early
1990s? The best known factors detrimental to coral
reefs include
sewage, run-off from land, dredging, UV light, etc. These
factors do
not apply for many affected reefs where human population is low.
Is
there an alternative way to spread nutrients and
diseases?

(Contineud)


http://coastal.er.usgs.gov/african_dust/



Online mini-movie

     Watch USGS scientists Ginger Garrison,
Gene Shinn, Chuck Holmes, and
     Dale Griffin in "The Effects of
Globally Transported African and
     Asian Dust on Coral Reef and
Human Health"

  
http://coastal.er.usgs.gov/african_dust/documentary/



National Public Radio interview

     Project scientists Gene
Shinn and Ginger Garrison were interviewed
     along with
geologist/novelist Sarah Andrews on National Public Radio

station KQED in San Francisco on the popular morning talk show

"Forum" on January 15, 2002. Listen to the interview.

  www.kqed.o

rg/audioarchive/frameset/forum/2002/01/2002-01-15b-forum.html


////////////////


Mercury
>From China Rains Down on California

  Environmental News Service
(ENS)
  http://ens-news.com/

  December
20, 2002

SANTA CRUZ, California, - Industrial emissions in Asia
are a major source
of mercury in rainwater that falls along the
California coast, a new study
suggests.

The mercury in
rainwater is not in itself a health threat, but mercury
pollution is
a problem in San Francisco Bay and other California waters
because
the toxic element builds up in the food chain. State
regulatory
agencies are looking for ways to reduce the amount of
mercury entering the
state's waters from various sources.

It
is not just the mercury itself but a whole cocktail of
atmospheric
pollutants that contribute to the deposition of mercury
in rainfall.
Elemental m
ercury behaves as a gas in the atmosphere and is not washed out
in
rain until it has been oxidized into a charged ionic form that can
be
captured by water droplets.

Ozone, a major component of
urban and industrial smog, plays a key role in
this oxidation
process, said Douglas Steding, lead author of a paper
published
Thursday in the online edition of the "Journal of
Geophysical
Research - Atmospheres." The report by Steding and other
researchers from
the University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC) will
appear in a later
print edition of the journal.

"There is a
relatively large reservoir of mercury in the atmosphere, and
it's the
rate of oxidation that determines how much of it gets deposited
in
rainfall," Steding said.

Mercury is a trace contaminant of
most coal, and emissions from coal
burning power plants are a major
source of mercury pollution in many parts
of the world. In the
Pacific Basin, the main source of atmosph
eric mercury
is coal combustion in China.

China relies on coal
as a fuel and accounts for about 10 percent of the
total global
industrial emissions of mercury.

Air pollution in China also
generates ozone, which peaks during the winter
due to increased fuel
consumption for heating. Air loaded with mercury and
ozone moves off
the continent into the Western Pacific, where it is
incorporated into
developing storms.

"The mercury we measured in rainwater results
from a combination of mercury
emissions and ozone production, as well
as meteorological factors - the
storm tracks that transport the
pollutants across the Pacific," Steding
said.

Steding
collected rainwater samples at two sites in central California:
on
the coast at UCSC's Long Marine Laboratory and at Moffett Field
near San
Jose, on the inland side of the Santa Cruz Mountains. For
each rainfall
event, the researchers used air mass trajectories
calculated by a na
tional
climate lab to trace the movement of the storms across the
Pacific from
Asia.

Rainwater collected at the coastal site
showed the background
concentrations of mercury in storms as they
arrived off the Pacific Ocean.
Those measurements were about three
times higher than estimates of the
natural, preindustrial level,
Steding said.

Rainwater from the inland site showed mercury
concentrations 44 percent
higher than at the coastal site. Steding
attributed the difference between
the two sites to ozone in Bay Area
smog, rather than local emissions of
mercury.

"There is a
local influence of urban smog on the mercury oxidation rate. We
see a
background signal of mercury blowing off the Pacific, then a
local
enrichment that's probably due to urban smog," Steding said.
"If we want to
reduce mercury deposition, it's not enough to shut
down local emissions of
mercury, because other pollutants influence
how much of the mercury
in the
atmosphere ends up in rainwater."

Steding said people
should not worry about health effects from the mercury
in rainwater,
because the concentrations are very low. But the deposition
in rain
does add mercury to surface waters, where the toxin enters the
food
chain and builds up to high levels in certain kinds of
fish.

State health officials have issued advisories warning
people not to eat
fish from more than a dozen bodies of water in
California, including San
Francisco Bay.

 #  #  #


http://ens-news.com/ens/dec2002/2002-12-20-09.asp#anchor1



///////////////////


Steding,
Douglas J.; Flegal, A. Russell

Mercury concentrations in coastal
California precipitation:
Evidence of local and trans-Pacific fluxes
of mercury to North America

10.1029/2002JD002081

19
December 2002


http://www.agu.org/pubs/toc2002/jd.shtml#dec



////////////////


Mercury
In California Rainwater Traced ...

ScienceDaily News
Release

.. Steding emphasized that people should not worry about
health effects
>from the mercury in rainwater, because the
concentrations are very low.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2002/12/021220075156.htm

-
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
-

*****************************************
Season's Greetings
from NOAA's
CHAMP!
*****************************************
~~~~~~~
For
directions on subscribing and unsubscribing to coral-list or
the
digests, please see 
http://www.coral.noaa.gov/lists/coral-list.html
.

Alina M. Szmant
UNCW Center for Marine
Science
On travel from UNCW

~~~~~~~
For directions on
subscribing and unsubscribing to coral-list or the
digests, please
see 
http://www.coral.noaa.gov/lists/coral-list.html
.


--
**** <>< ******* <>< ******* <>< *******
<>< *******
  Alan E. Strong
   Team Leader, Marine Applications Science Team (MAST)
          Phys Scientist/Oceanographer
    NOAA/NESDIS/ORA/ORAD -- E/RA3
    NOAA Science Center -- RM 711W
    5200 Auth Road
    Camp Springs, MD 20746-4304
          Alan.E.Strong@noaa.gov
               301-763-8102 x170
                FAX: 301-763-8572
    
http://orbit-net.nesdis.noaa.gov/orad

--------------050205080207060108010100-- ~~~~~~~ For directions on subscribing and unsubscribing to coral-list or the digests, please see http://www.coral.noaa.gov/lists/coral-list.html . Subject: African Dust: Experimental Approach? Date: Fri, 3 Jan 2003 10:02:49 -0500 From: Jim Hendee To: coral-list@coral.aoml.noaa.gov I have tried to search the literature to see if any controlled experiments have been conducted to ascertain whether pathogens on African Dust have been implicated in the onset of sea urchin or coral disease. I searched Aquatic Sciences and Fisheries Abstracts, Oceanic Abstracts, Biosis, FirstSearch and the last couple of years of the Coral Reefs journal, but could not find that any work that has been done with controlled experiments and African Dust (AD). I would be interested to know if any work has been done, because we would be interested in using any results in the development of a sensor for the Dust on our CREWS environmental monitoring stations. So, if no experimental work has been done, might I suggest the following be considered by those of you who might have the resources. My apologies if this seems obvious, but it does appear the theory needs to be further investigated. Experimental Grid Utilizing Closed Aquaria ------------------------------------------ 1) Control tank with one or more species of corals and or urchins (with appropriate permits, of course!). Use the species of urchin that we know gets infected (see Haris Lessios' last post). 2) Tank with same critters, gets AD collected from USGS dust collectors, at same theorized rate of introduction as through AD storms. 3) Second control tank with "sanitized" AD. Any change in animal health in this tank might thus be due to the chemical properties of the dust itself; or in some way stress the animal(s) to be more susceptible to secondary infection by a pathogen. 4) Third control tank innoculated with theorized pathogens (including human ones) alone (i.e., no AD). Obviously, this would have to be closely controlled to prevent infecting the researcher! Follow up with microbiological assay. Continuously monitor the room(s) where aquaria are kept to see if the AD "leaks" into the rooms. All temperatures, salinity, light, feeding, etc. controlled to be same across all tanks and to be the as close to nature as possible. Future or parallel experiment might be to raise sea temperature to near bleaching threshold, thus seeing any possible correlations there. That should help settle the question, I would think. Sounds like a good graduate student project to me. Cheers, Jim szmanta wrote: > Dear All: > > I have read several times the hypothesis that the Diadema die-off in > the Caribbean was somehow caused by African dust. Can someone explain > to me the logic behind this when the same species of sea urchin is doing > well, and matter of fact, has been a pest because of too high of > population densities on reefs just off the West coast of Africa (much > closer to the dust and potential pathogen source)? > > Happy New Year to all. > > Alina Szmant > > >===== Original Message From "Precht, Bill" ===== > >Dear Coral List: > > > >For those following the "dust" for the past few years I thought you might > >find these tidbits of interest. > > > >Have a great holiday! > >- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - > > > >The Dust Hypothesis > > > >Question: > > > >Why have coral reefs that are bathed in clear oceanic waters throughout > >much of the Caribbean suffered algal infestation, coral diseases, and near > >extinction of herbivorous sea urchins almost simultaneously during the > >1970s, 1980s, and early 1990s? The best known factors detrimental to coral > >reefs include sewage, run-off from land, dredging, UV light, etc. These > >factors do not apply for many affected reefs where human population is low. > >Is there an alternative way to spread nutrients and diseases? > > > >(Contineud) > > > >http://coastal.er.usgs.gov/african_dust/ > > > > > > Online mini-movie > > > > Watch USGS scientists Ginger Garrison, Gene Shinn, Chuck Holmes, and > > Dale Griffin in "The Effects of Globally Transported African and > > Asian Dust on Coral Reef and Human Health" > > > > http://coastal.er.usgs.gov/african_dust/documentary/ > > > > > > National Public Radio interview > > > > Project scientists Gene Shinn and Ginger Garrison were interviewed > > along with geologist/novelist Sarah Andrews on National Public Radio > > station KQED in San Francisco on the popular morning talk show > > "Forum" on January 15, 2002. Listen to the interview. > > > > www.kqed.org/audioarchive/frameset/forum/2002/01/2002-01-15b-forum.html > > > > > >//////////////// > > > > > >Mercury From China Rains Down on California > > > > Environmental News Service (ENS) > > http://ens-news.com/ > > > > December 20, 2002 > > > >SANTA CRUZ, California, - Industrial emissions in Asia are a major source > >of mercury in rainwater that falls along the California coast, a new study > >suggests. > > > >The mercury in rainwater is not in itself a health threat, but mercury > >pollution is a problem in San Francisco Bay and other California waters > >because the toxic element builds up in the food chain. State regulatory > >agencies are looking for ways to reduce the amount of mercury entering the > >state's waters from various sources. > > > >It is not just the mercury itself but a whole cocktail of atmospheric > >pollutants that contribute to the deposition of mercury in rainfall. > >Elemental mercury behaves as a gas in the atmosphere and is not washed out > >in rain until it has been oxidized into a charged ionic form that can be > >captured by water droplets. > > > >Ozone, a major component of urban and industrial smog, plays a key role in > >this oxidation process, said Douglas Steding, lead author of a paper > >published Thursday in the online edition of the "Journal of Geophysical > >Research - Atmospheres." The report by Steding and other researchers from > >the University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC) will appear in a later > >print edition of the journal. > > > >"There is a relatively large reservoir of mercury in the atmosphere, and > >it's the rate of oxidation that determines how much of it gets deposited in > >rainfall," Steding said. > > > >Mercury is a trace contaminant of most coal, and emissions from coal > >burning power plants are a major source of mercury pollution in many parts > >of the world. In the Pacific Basin, the main source of atmospheric mercury > >is coal combustion in China. > > > >China relies on coal as a fuel and accounts for about 10 percent of the > >total global industrial emissions of mercury. > > > >Air pollution in China also generates ozone, which peaks during the winter > >due to increased fuel consumption for heating. Air loaded with mercury and > >ozone moves off the continent into the Western Pacific, where it is > >incorporated into developing storms. > > > >"The mercury we measured in rainwater results from a combination of mercury > >emissions and ozone production, as well as meteorological factors - the > >storm tracks that transport the pollutants across the Pacific," Steding > >said. > > > >Steding collected rainwater samples at two sites in central California: on > >the coast at UCSC's Long Marine Laboratory and at Moffett Field near San > >Jose, on the inland side of the Santa Cruz Mountains. For each rainfall > >event, the researchers used air mass trajectories calculated by a national > >climate lab to trace the movement of the storms across the Pacific from > >Asia. > > > >Rainwater collected at the coastal site showed the background > >concentrations of mercury in storms as they arrived off the Pacific Ocean. > >Those measurements were about three times higher than estimates of the > >natural, preindustrial level, Steding said. > > > >Rainwater from the inland site showed mercury concentrations 44 percent > >higher than at the coastal site. Steding attributed the difference between > >the two sites to ozone in Bay Area smog, rather than local emissions of > >mercury. > > > >"There is a local influence of urban smog on the mercury oxidation rate. We > >see a background signal of mercury blowing off the Pacific, then a local > >enrichment that's probably due to urban smog," Steding said. "If we want to > >reduce mercury deposition, it's not enough to shut down local emissions of > >mercury, because other pollutants influence how much of the mercury in the > >atmosphere ends up in rainwater." > > > >Steding said people should not worry about health effects from the mercury > >in rainwater, because the concentrations are very low. But the deposition > >in rain does add mercury to surface waters, where the toxin enters the food > >chain and builds up to high levels in certain kinds of fish. > > > >State health officials have issued advisories warning people not to eat > >fish from more than a dozen bodies of water in California, including San > >Francisco Bay. > > > > # # # > > > >http://ens-news.com/ens/dec2002/2002-12-20-09.asp#anchor1 > > > > > >/////////////////// > > > > > >Steding, Douglas J.; Flegal, A. Russell > > > >Mercury concentrations in coastal California precipitation: > >Evidence of local and trans-Pacific fluxes of mercury to North America > > > >10.1029/2002JD002081 > > > >19 December 2002 > > > >http://www.agu.org/pubs/toc2002/jd.shtml#dec > > > > > >//////////////// > > > > > >Mercury In California Rainwater Traced ... > > > >ScienceDaily News Release > > > >.. Steding emphasized that people should not worry about health effects > >from the mercury in rainwater, because the concentrations are very low. > > > >http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2002/12/021220075156.htm > > > >- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - > > > >***************************************** > >Season's Greetings from NOAA's CHAMP! > >***************************************** > >~~~~~~~ > >For directions on subscribing and unsubscribing to coral-list or the > >digests, please see http://www.coral.noaa.gov/lists/coral-list.html . > > Alina M. Szmant > UNCW Center for Marine Science > On travel from UNCW > > ~~~~~~~ > For directions on subscribing and unsubscribing to coral-list or the > digests, please see http://www.coral.noaa.gov/lists/coral-list.html . ~~~~~~~ For directions on subscribing and unsubscribing to coral-list or the digests, please see http://www.coral.noaa.gov/lists/coral-list.html . Subject: African Dust Date: Fri, 3 Jan 2003 14:43:28 -0500 From: Jim Hendee To: coral-list@coral.aoml.noaa.gov I have subsequently heard that Gene Shinn and Ginger Garrison have graduate students working on this aspect, so I expect they will publish and/or describe something before too long. Sorry for the extra bandwidth... Cheers, Jim Jim Hendee wrote: > I have tried to search the literature to see if any controlled > experiments have been conducted to ascertain whether pathogens on > African Dust have been implicated in the onset of sea urchin or coral > disease. I searched Aquatic Sciences and Fisheries Abstracts, Oceanic > Abstracts, Biosis, FirstSearch and the last couple of years of the Coral > Reefs journal, but could not find that any work that has been done with > controlled experiments and African Dust (AD). I would be interested to > know if any work has been done, because we would be interested in using > any results in the development of a sensor for the Dust on our CREWS > environmental monitoring stations. > > So, if no experimental work has been done, might I suggest the following > be considered by those of you who might have the resources. My > apologies if this seems obvious, but it does appear the theory needs to > be further investigated. > > Experimental Grid Utilizing Closed Aquaria > ------------------------------------------ > > 1) Control tank with one or more species of corals and or urchins (with > appropriate permits, of course!). Use the species of urchin that we > know gets infected (see Haris Lessios' last post). > > 2) Tank with same critters, gets AD collected from USGS dust > collectors, at same theorized rate of introduction as through AD storms. > > 3) Second control tank with "sanitized" AD. Any change in animal > health in this tank might thus be due to the chemical properties of the > dust itself; or in some way stress the animal(s) to be more susceptible > to secondary infection by a pathogen. > > 4) Third control tank innoculated with theorized pathogens (including > human ones) alone (i.e., no AD). Obviously, this would have to be > closely controlled to prevent infecting the researcher! > > Follow up with microbiological assay. Continuously monitor the room(s) > where aquaria are kept to see if the AD "leaks" into the rooms. All > temperatures, salinity, light, feeding, etc. controlled to be same > across all tanks and to be the as close to nature as possible. Future > or parallel experiment might be to raise sea temperature to near > bleaching threshold, thus seeing any possible correlations there. > > That should help settle the question, I would think. Sounds like a good > graduate student project to me. > > Cheers, > Jim > > szmanta wrote: > > > Dear All: > > > > I have read several times the hypothesis that the Diadema die-off in > > the Caribbean was somehow caused by African dust. Can someone explain > > to me the logic behind this when the same species of sea urchin is doing > > well, and matter of fact, has been a pest because of too high of > > population densities on reefs just off the West coast of Africa (much > > closer to the dust and potential pathogen source)? > > > > Happy New Year to all. > > > > Alina Szmant > > > > >===== Original Message From "Precht, Bill" ===== > > >Dear Coral List: > > > > > >For those following the "dust" for the past few years I thought you might > > >find these tidbits of interest. > > > > > >Have a great holiday! > > >- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - > > > > > >The Dust Hypothesis > > > > > >Question: > > > > > >Why have coral reefs that are bathed in clear oceanic waters throughout > > >much of the Caribbean suffered algal infestation, coral diseases, and near > > >extinction of herbivorous sea urchins almost simultaneously during the > > >1970s, 1980s, and early 1990s? The best known factors detrimental to coral > > >reefs include sewage, run-off from land, dredging, UV light, etc. These > > >factors do not apply for many affected reefs where human population is low. > > >Is there an alternative way to spread nutrients and diseases? > > > > > >(Contineud) > > > > > >http://coastal.er.usgs.gov/african_dust/ > > > > > > > > > Online mini-movie > > > > > > Watch USGS scientists Ginger Garrison, Gene Shinn, Chuck Holmes, and > > > Dale Griffin in "The Effects of Globally Transported African and > > > Asian Dust on Coral Reef and Human Health" > > > > > > http://coastal.er.usgs.gov/african_dust/documentary/ > > > > > > > > > National Public Radio interview > > > > > > Project scientists Gene Shinn and Ginger Garrison were interviewed > > > along with geologist/novelist Sarah Andrews on National Public Radio > > > station KQED in San Francisco on the popular morning talk show > > > "Forum" on January 15, 2002. Listen to the interview. > > > > > > www.kqed.org/audioarchive/frameset/forum/2002/01/2002-01-15b-forum.html > > > > > > > > >//////////////// > > > > > > > > >Mercury From China Rains Down on California > > > > > > Environmental News Service (ENS) > > > http://ens-news.com/ > > > > > > December 20, 2002 > > > > > >SANTA CRUZ, California, - Industrial emissions in Asia are a major source > > >of mercury in rainwater that falls along the California coast, a new study > > >suggests. > > > > > >The mercury in rainwater is not in itself a health threat, but mercury > > >pollution is a problem in San Francisco Bay and other California waters > > >because the toxic element builds up in the food chain. State regulatory > > >agencies are looking for ways to reduce the amount of mercury entering the > > >state's waters from various sources. > > > > > >It is not just the mercury itself but a whole cocktail of atmospheric > > >pollutants that contribute to the deposition of mercury in rainfall. > > >Elemental mercury behaves as a gas in the atmosphere and is not washed out > > >in rain until it has been oxidized into a charged ionic form that can be > > >captured by water droplets. > > > > > >Ozone, a major component of urban and industrial smog, plays a key role in > > >this oxidation process, said Douglas Steding, lead author of a paper > > >published Thursday in the online edition of the "Journal of Geophysical > > >Research - Atmospheres." The report by Steding and other researchers from > > >the University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC) will appear in a later > > >print edition of the journal. > > > > > >"There is a relatively large reservoir of mercury in the atmosphere, and > > >it's the rate of oxidation that determines how much of it gets deposited in > > >rainfall," Steding said. > > > > > >Mercury is a trace contaminant of most coal, and emissions from coal > > >burning power plants are a major source of mercury pollution in many parts > > >of the world. In the Pacific Basin, the main source of atmospheric mercury > > >is coal combustion in China. > > > > > >China relies on coal as a fuel and accounts for about 10 percent of the > > >total global industrial emissions of mercury. > > > > > >Air pollution in China also generates ozone, which peaks during the winter > > >due to increased fuel consumption for heating. Air loaded with mercury and > > >ozone moves off the continent into the Western Pacific, where it is > > >incorporated into developing storms. > > > > > >"The mercury we measured in rainwater results from a combination of mercury > > >emissions and ozone production, as well as meteorological factors - the > > >storm tracks that transport the pollutants across the Pacific," Steding > > >said. > > > > > >Steding collected rainwater samples at two sites in central California: on > > >the coast at UCSC's Long Marine Laboratory and at Moffett Field near San > > >Jose, on the inland side of the Santa Cruz Mountains. For each rainfall > > >event, the researchers used air mass trajectories calculated by a national > > >climate lab to trace the movement of the storms across the Pacific from > > >Asia. > > > > > >Rainwater collected at the coastal site showed the background > > >concentrations of mercury in storms as they arrived off the Pacific Ocean. > > >Those measurements were about three times higher than estimates of the > > >natural, preindustrial level, Steding said. > > > > > >Rainwater from the inland site showed mercury concentrations 44 percent > > >higher than at the coastal site. Steding attributed the difference between > > >the two sites to ozone in Bay Area smog, rather than local emissions of > > >mercury. > > > > > >"There is a local influence of urban smog on the mercury oxidation rate. We > > >see a background signal of mercury blowing off the Pacific, then a local > > >enrichment that's probably due to urban smog," Steding said. "If we want to > > >reduce mercury deposition, it's not enough to shut down local emissions of > > >mercury, because other pollutants influence how much of the mercury in the > > >atmosphere ends up in rainwater." > > > > > >Steding said people should not worry about health effects from the mercury > > >in rainwater, because the concentrations are very low. But the deposition > > >in rain does add mercury to surface waters, where the toxin enters the food > > >chain and builds up to high levels in certain kinds of fish. > > > > > >State health officials have issued advisories warning people not to eat > > >fish from more than a dozen bodies of water in California, including San > > >Francisco Bay. > > > > > > # # # > > > > > >http://ens-news.com/ens/dec2002/2002-12-20-09.asp#anchor1 > > > > > > > > >/////////////////// > > > > > > > > >Steding, Douglas J.; Flegal, A. Russell > > > > > >Mercury concentrations in coastal California precipitation: > > >Evidence of local and trans-Pacific fluxes of mercury to North America > > > > > >10.1029/2002JD002081 > > > > > >19 December 2002 > > > > > >http://www.agu.org/pubs/toc2002/jd.shtml#dec > > > > > > > > >//////////////// > > > > > > > > >Mercury In California Rainwater Traced ... > > > > > >ScienceDaily News Release > > > > > >.. Steding emphasized that people should not worry about health effects > > >from the mercury in rainwater, because the concentrations are very low. > > > > > >http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2002/12/021220075156.htm > > > > > >- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - > > > > > >***************************************** > > >Season's Greetings from NOAA's CHAMP! > > >***************************************** > > >~~~~~~~ > > >For directions on subscribing and unsubscribing to coral-list or the > > >digests, please see http://www.coral.noaa.gov/lists/coral-list.html . > > > > Alina M. Szmant > > UNCW Center for Marine Science > > On travel from UNCW > > > > ~~~~~~~ > > For directions on subscribing and unsubscribing to coral-list or the > > digests, please see http://www.coral.noaa.gov/lists/coral-list.html . > > ~~~~~~~ > For directions on subscribing and unsubscribing to coral-list or the > digests, please see http://www.coral.noaa.gov/lists/coral-list.html . ~~~~~~~ For directions on subscribing and unsubscribing to coral-list or the digests, please see http://www.coral.noaa.gov/lists/coral-list.html . Subject: DUST BORNE VICE WATER BORNE PATHOGEN; BACTERIAL VS. VIRAL: CARIBBEAN DIADEMA Date: Fri, 3 Jan 2003 17:33:59 -0500 From: "Keven Reed" To: , "lessiosh" , "szmanta" Dear all, Since the spread of the 1983 Diadema antillarum die off started on the Caribbean end of the Panama canal and then moved across the Caribbean in a typical epizootic fashion, and the surveys of fish predators such as toadfishes stayed at preabundance levels (albeit with broader diets), intuition (not data) makes me want to pin the etiology on a viral pathogen that Pacific species of Diadema were immune to, then it was delivered in ship's ballast after passage from West to East through the canal. I believe I once heard Chuck Birkeland lament that we didn't have virologists on the field specimens twenty years ago to answer this medical veterinary mystery. Respectfully, Keven Keven Reed, O.D. Joint Readiness Clinical Advisory Board 1423 Sultan Street Fort Detrick, MD 21702 kevenreed@earthlink.net Work (301) 619-2186 Work FAX (301) 619-2355 ----- Original Message ----- From: "szmanta" To: "Precht, Bill" ; "coral-list" Sent: Wednesday, January 01, 2003 5:45 PM Subject: RE: The Dust Hypothesis > Dear All: > > I have read several times the hypothesis that the Diadema die-off in > the Caribbean was somehow caused by African dust. Can someone explain > to me the logic behind this when the same species of sea urchin is doing > well, and matter of fact, has been a pest because of too high of > population densities on reefs just off the West coast of Africa (much > closer to the dust and potential pathogen source)? > > Happy New Year to all. > > Alina Szmant > > >===== Original Message From "Precht, Bill" ===== > >Dear Coral List: > > > >For those following the "dust" for the past few years I thought you might > >find these tidbits of interest. > > > >Have a great holiday! > >- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - > > > >The Dust Hypothesis > > > >Question: > > > >Why have coral reefs that are bathed in clear oceanic waters throughout > >much of the Caribbean suffered algal infestation, coral diseases, and near > >extinction of herbivorous sea urchins almost simultaneously during the > >1970s, 1980s, and early 1990s? The best known factors detrimental to coral > >reefs include sewage, run-off from land, dredging, UV light, etc. These > >factors do not apply for many affected reefs where human population is low. > >Is there an alternative way to spread nutrients and diseases? > > > >(Contineud) > > > >http://coastal.er.usgs.gov/african_dust/ > > > > > > Online mini-movie > > > > Watch USGS scientists Ginger Garrison, Gene Shinn, Chuck Holmes, and > > Dale Griffin in "The Effects of Globally Transported African and > > Asian Dust on Coral Reef and Human Health" > > > > http://coastal.er.usgs.gov/african_dust/documentary/ > > > > > > National Public Radio interview > > > > Project scientists Gene Shinn and Ginger Garrison were interviewed > > along with geologist/novelist Sarah Andrews on National Public Radio > > station KQED in San Francisco on the popular morning talk show > > "Forum" on January 15, 2002. Listen to the interview. > > > > www.kqed.org/audioarchive/frameset/forum/2002/01/2002-01-15b-forum.html > > > > > >//////////////// > > > > > >Mercury From China Rains Down on California > > > > Environmental News Service (ENS) > > http://ens-news.com/ > > > > December 20, 2002 > > > >SANTA CRUZ, California, - Industrial emissions in Asia are a major source > >of mercury in rainwater that falls along the California coast, a new study > >suggests. > > > >The mercury in rainwater is not in itself a health threat, but mercury > >pollution is a problem in San Francisco Bay and other California waters > >because the toxic element builds up in the food chain. State regulatory > >agencies are looking for ways to reduce the amount of mercury entering the > >state's waters from various sources. > > > >It is not just the mercury itself but a whole cocktail of atmospheric > >pollutants that contribute to the deposition of mercury in rainfall. > >Elemental mercury behaves as a gas in the atmosphere and is not washed out > >in rain until it has been oxidized into a charged ionic form that can be > >captured by water droplets. > > > >Ozone, a major component of urban and industrial smog, plays a key role in > >this oxidation process, said Douglas Steding, lead author of a paper > >published Thursday in the online edition of the "Journal of Geophysical > >Research - Atmospheres." The report by Steding and other researchers from > >the University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC) will appear in a later > >print edition of the journal. > > > >"There is a relatively large reservoir of mercury in the atmosphere, and > >it's the rate of oxidation that determines how much of it gets deposited in > >rainfall," Steding said. > > > >Mercury is a trace contaminant of most coal, and emissions from coal > >burning power plants are a major source of mercury pollution in many parts > >of the world. In the Pacific Basin, the main source of atmospheric mercury > >is coal combustion in China. > > > >China relies on coal as a fuel and accounts for about 10 percent of the > >total global industrial emissions of mercury. > > > >Air pollution in China also generates ozone, which peaks during the winter > >due to increased fuel consumption for heating. Air loaded with mercury and > >ozone moves off the continent into the Western Pacific, where it is > >incorporated into developing storms. > > > >"The mercury we measured in rainwater results from a combination of mercury > >emissions and ozone production, as well as meteorological factors - the > >storm tracks that transport the pollutants across the Pacific," Steding > >said. > > > >Steding collected rainwater samples at two sites in central California: on > >the coast at UCSC's Long Marine Laboratory and at Moffett Field near San > >Jose, on the inland side of the Santa Cruz Mountains. For each rainfall > >event, the researchers used air mass trajectories calculated by a national > >climate lab to trace the movement of the storms across the Pacific from > >Asia. > > > >Rainwater collected at the coastal site showed the background > >concentrations of mercury in storms as they arrived off the Pacific Ocean. > >Those measurements were about three times higher than estimates of the > >natural, preindustrial level, Steding said. > > > >Rainwater from the inland site showed mercury concentrations 44 percent > >higher than at the coastal site. Steding attributed the difference between > >the two sites to ozone in Bay Area smog, rather than local emissions of > >mercury. > > > >"There is a local influence of urban smog on the mercury oxidation rate. We > >see a background signal of mercury blowing off the Pacific, then a local > >enrichment that's probably due to urban smog," Steding said. "If we want to > >reduce mercury deposition, it's not enough to shut down local emissions of > >mercury, because other pollutants influence how much of the mercury in the > >atmosphere ends up in rainwater." > > > >Steding said people should not worry about health effects from the mercury > >in rainwater, because the concentrations are very low. But the deposition > >in rain does add mercury to surface waters, where the toxin enters the food > >chain and builds up to high levels in certain kinds of fish. > > > >State health officials have issued advisories warning people not to eat > >fish from more than a dozen bodies of water in California, including San > >Francisco Bay. > > > > # # # > > > >http://ens-news.com/ens/dec2002/2002-12-20-09.asp#anchor1 > > > > > >/////////////////// > > > > > >Steding, Douglas J.; Flegal, A. Russell > > > >Mercury concentrations in coastal California precipitation: > >Evidence of local and trans-Pacific fluxes of mercury to North America > > > >10.1029/2002JD002081 > > > >19 December 2002 > > > >http://www.agu.org/pubs/toc2002/jd.shtml#dec > > > > > >//////////////// > > > > > >Mercury In California Rainwater Traced ... > > > >ScienceDaily News Release > > > >.. Steding emphasized that people should not worry about health effects > >from the mercury in rainwater, because the concentrations are very low. > > > >http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2002/12/021220075156.htm > > > >- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - > > > >***************************************** > >Season's Greetings from NOAA's CHAMP! > >***************************************** > >~~~~~~~ > >For directions on subscribing and unsubscribing to coral-list or the > >digests, please see http://www.coral.noaa.gov/lists/coral-list.html . > > Alina M. Szmant > UNCW Center for Marine Science > On travel from UNCW > > ~~~~~~~ > For directions on subscribing and unsubscribing to coral-list or the > digests, please see http://www.coral.noaa.gov/lists/coral-list.html . > ~~~~~~~ For directions on subscribing and unsubscribing to coral-list or the digests, please see http://www.coral.noaa.gov/lists/coral-list.html . Subject: Announcement: MARINE PROTECTED AREA FEDERAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE (USA) Date: Mon, 06 Jan 2003 13:45:15 -0500 From: "Roger B Griffis" Organization: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration To: Coral list FYI Coral listers - Note there are several members named to this new U.S. Federal Advisory Committee on marine protected areas that are active in coral reef issues (e.g., Mark Hixon, Tundi Agardi, Ernesto Diaz, Lelei Peau (Chair of the All-Islands Coral Reef Initiative)). ________________________ NOAA 2003-001 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Glenda Tyson 1/3/03 NOAA News Releases 2003 NOAA Home Page NOAA Public Affairs COMMERCE AND INTERIOR DEPARTMENTS SELECT CANDIDATES FOR NATIONAL MARINE PROTECTED AREA FEDERAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE Today, the Department of Commerce, with assistance from the Department of the Interior, named final candidates for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Marine Protected Area Federal Advisory Committee. Required as part of Presidential Executive Order 13158 dealing with Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), the 30-person committee represents a broad stakeholder community, including scientists, academia, commercial and recreational fishermen, resource users and managers, and environmentalists. The advisory committee’s duties include providing advice and recommendations to the Secretaries of Commerce and the Interior on implementation of aspects of the MPA Executive Order. The members may establish working groups, subcommittees, or task forces as needed to fulfill the committee’s goals. They also will create a scientific working group of experts in marine and ocean science fields, which will assess the conditions of natural and submerged cultural resources within the nation’s MPAs. The members will serve for two or three-year terms, and will elect a chairperson from the group. “Marine protected areas are important resource management tools,“ said Commerce Secretary Don Evans. “We look forward to strong leadership from these individuals in helping us determine how best to continue our efforts, balancing conservation needs with commercial and recreational interests as we move forward to protect the marine environment for present and future generations.” The committee will be supported by the National Marine Protected Areas Center, established by NOAA in cooperation with the Department of the Interior, as required by Executive Order. The MPA Center is charged with providing federal, state, territorial, tribal and local governments with the information, technologies, training and strategies to coordinate federal activities related to MPAs. Final candidates for the MPA Federal Advisory Committee are: Dr. Tundi Agardy, Sound Seas; Bethesda, Md. Mr. Robert Bendick, Jr., The Nature Conservancy; Altamonte Springs, Fla. Mr. David Benton, North Pacific Fishery Management Council; Anchorage, Alaska Dr. Daniel Bromley, University of Wisconsin; Madison, Wis. Dr. Anthony Chatwin, Conservation Law Foundation; Boston, Mass. Dr. Michael Cruickshank, Marine Minerals, Technology Center Associates; Honolulu, Hawaii Mr. Ernesto Diaz, Puerto Rico Coastal Zone Mgmt. Program; San Juan, Puerto Rico Ms. Carol Dinkins, Vinson & Elkins Attorneys At Law; Houston, Texas Dr. Rodney Fujita, Environmental Defense; Oakland, Calif. Dr. Dolores Garza, University of Alaska; Ketchikan, Alaska Mr. Eric Gilman, National Audubon Society; Honolulu, Hawaii Dr. Mark Hixon, Oregon State University; Corvallis, Ore. Mr. George Lapointe, Maine Department of Marine Resources; Augusta, Maine Dr. Bonnie McCay, Rutgers University; New Brunswick, N.J. Mr. Melvin E. Moon, Jr., Quileute Natural Resources Department; LaPush, Wash. Mr. Robert Moran, American Petroleum Institute, Washington, D.C. Dr. Steven Murray, California State University; Fullerton, Calif. Mr. Michael Nussman, American Sportfishing Association; Alexandria, Va. Dr. John Ogden, Florida Institute of Oceanography; St. Petersburg, Fla. Mr. Terry O’Halloran, hulaRez Inc.; Kalaheo, Hawaii Mr. Lelei Peau, Dept. of Commerce of American Samoa Pago Pago; American Samoa Dr. Walter Pereyra, Arctic Storm Management Group, Inc.; Seattle, Wash. Mr. Max Peterson, International Assoc. of Fish and Wildlife Agencies; Washington, D.C. Mr. Gilbert Radonski, Sport Fishing Institute; Cape Carteret, N.C. Mr. James Ray, Environmental Ecology and Response Shell Global Solutions (U.S.)Inc.; Houston, Texas Ms. Barbara Stevenson, Portland Fish Exchange; Portland, Maine Dr. Daniel Suman, University of Miami; Miami, Fla. Capt. Thomas E. Thompson, USCG (Ret.), International Council of Cruise Lines; Arlington, Va. Ms. H. Kay Williams, Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council; Vancleave, Miss. Mr. Robert Zales, II, Bob Zales Charters; Panama City, Fla. Committee members were nominated by organizations and individuals. Potential members are offered membership into the committee and then must undergo a background check. These candidates were selected by a panel of experts from both agencies seeking to ensure that the committee’s membership represented the broad spectrum of interested parties throughout the nation. NOAA is dedicated to exploring, understanding, conserving and restoring the nation’s coasts and oceans. NOAA Ocean Service balances environmental protection with economic prosperity in fulfilling its mission of promoting safe navigation, supporting coastal communities, sustaining coastal habitats and mitigating coastal hazards. NOAA Fisheries ensures the sustainable use of marine fishery resources, protects marine mammal and sea turtle populations, and promotes the health of coastal and offshore marine habitats. Marine protected areas are one of several management tools NOAA Fisheries uses to prevent decline and promote recovery of marine fish, mammal and sea turtle species that fall under the agency's stewardship responsibilities. In partnership with the eight regional fishery management councils, NOAA Ocean Service, states, fishermen, and coastal communities, NOAA Fisheries combines protected areas with other marine resource management tools to ensure a healthy and bountiful ocean for all Americans. The Department of the Interior is the nation’s principal conservation agency. Interior serves as the steward for approximately 426 million acres of America’s public land, representing about 19 percent of the U.S. land surface and 66 percent of all federally owned land. Interior also manages mineral development on the 1.48 billion acre U.S. outer continental shelf. Interior’s National Park Service currently manages 385 parks and serves about 285 million visitors. Interior’s Fish and Wildlife Service is the primary federal agency responsible for the protection, conservation, and renewal of fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats, and manages 538 refuges and 37 wetland management districts throughout the U.S. For more information online: Department of Commerce - http://www.commerce.gov NOAA - http://www.noaa.gov NOAA Ocean Service - http://www.nos.noaa.gov NOAA Fisheries - http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov National Marine Protected Areas Center - http://www.mpa.gov Department of the Interior - http://www.doi.gov National Park Service - http://www.nps.gov U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - http://www.fws.gov Minerals Management Service - http://www.mms.gov ~~~~~~~ For directions on subscribing and unsubscribing to coral-list or the digests, please see http://www.coral.noaa.gov/lists/coral-list.html . Subject: the pollution word Date: Tue, 7 Jan 2003 09:54:49 -0500 From: Gene Shinn To: coral-list@aoml.noaa.gov Dear Jim, Thank you for having the fortitude to point it out the problem with the word "pollution." As you know one persons food (or funding) is another's poison. We should as you say, "identify what the anthropogenic factors are that influence reefs" In the rush to save reefs it appears we have skipped over the basic research needed to quantify these factors and/or ignored those results that do not support legal and sociopolitical leanings. Pollution means many thing$ to many people. Thanks for broaching the subject. Gene ------------------------------------ ----------------------------------- http://coastal.er.usgs.gov/african_dust/ | E. A. Shinn email eshinn@usgs.gov USGS Center for Coastal Geology | 600 4th St. South | voice (727) 803-8747 x3030 St.Petersburg, FL 33701 | fax (727) 803-2032 ------------------------------------ ----------------------------------- ~~~~~~~ For directions on subscribing and unsubscribing to coral-list or the digests, please see http://www.coral.noaa.gov/lists/coral-list.html . Subject: Re: the pollution word Date: Tue, 7 Jan 2003 13:01:49 -0500 From: "Michael Risk" To: Gene Shinn , coral-list@coral.aoml.noaa.gov Hi Gene. I think this may be another semantic problem. Friend of mine, one of the finest environmental geochemists to walk the earth, had couple simple definitions. (Yeah, I know, we all hate definitions.) Contamination is when you can measure it. Pollution is when it hurts something. Happy Hogmanay. ~~~~~~~ For directions on subscribing and unsubscribing to coral-list or the digests, please see http://www.coral.noaa.gov/lists/coral-list.html . Subject: CREI Vacancy Oceanographer/Marine Biologist Date: Tue, 7 Jan 2003 19:46:13 -0500 From: "Rusty Brainard" Organization: NOAA To: Jim Hendee , David.Gulko@coral.aoml.noaa.gov Sender: owner-coral-list@coral.aoml.noaa.gov Precedence: list Aloha, Please see the following vacancy for Oceanographer or Marine Biologist: https://www.jobs.doc.gov/cool/doc/APP_VAC_VIEW?F_USERNAME=&F_ANN_NO=84181&F_AG_ID=11&SK= Thanks, Rusty ~~~~~~~ For directions on subscribing and unsubscribing to coral-list or the digests, please see http://www.coral.noaa.gov/lists/coral-list.html . Subject: New Caledonia project Date: Wed, 8 Jan 2003 03:38:42 -0500 From: "sebastien sarramegna" To: coral-list@coral.aoml.noaa.gov Hello, I am working on an environmental monitoring program in Tropical reef ecosystem, and I am interesting in methods used to determine the stress level or the health of the corals. I am aware of the standard methods used in ecosystem environments (LIT, Quadrats etc…). I would like to have information on methods that could detect changing more precociously. For example, to detect stress on coral due to high turbidity it is possible to use the living coral tissue thickness. Thank you for all information Sébastien Sarramegna Biologiste/Service Environnement Falonbridge NC SAS 9, rue d'Austerlitz B.P. MGA08 98802 Noumé Cedex Nouvelle-Calédonie/New Caledonia Tel : (687) 24 60 40 Fax : (687) 24 60 49 Email : ssarramegna@falconbridge.nc ~~~~~~~ For directions on subscribing and unsubscribing to coral-list or the digests, please see http://www.coral.noaa.gov/lists/coral-list.html . Subject: Director Vacancy Announcement Date: Wed, 8 Jan 2003 10:48:26 -0500 From: John Wickham To: coral-list@coral.aoml.noaa.gov Dear Colleague, The following announcement opened January 6, 2003. The position will serve as the Center Director of the NOAA Center for Sponsored Coastal Ocean Research/Coastal Ocean Program (CSCOR/COP). Interdisciplinary Supervisory Ecologist, GS-408-15 OR Oceanographer, GS-1360-15, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)/National Ocean Service (NOS)/National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS)/Center for Sponsored Coastal Ocean Research, Coastal Ocean Program NOAA’s Center for Sponsored Coastal Ocean Research (CSCOR) / Coastal Ocean Program (COP) seeks a Interdisciplinary Supervisory Ecologist, GS-408-15 OR Oceanographer, GS-1360-15. The employee of this position will serve as the Center Director with oversight responsibility for all the research, programmatic, administrative and operational responsibility supporting the Center for Sponsored Coastal Ocean Research (CSCOR). He/she oversees the overall planning, direction and timely execution of the programs of CSCOR. The Center Director's oversight includes development, assignment and higher level clearance of goals and objectives for CSCOR; approving multi-year and longer range work plans developed by the staff and management of the overall work to enhance achievement of the goals and objectives; overseeing the revision of long range plans, goals and objectives for the work directed; managing the development of policy changes in response to changes in levels of appropriations or other legislated changes; managing organizational changes and major change to the structure and content of the program; and exercising discretionary authority to approve the allocation and distribution of CSCOR budgeted funds. He/she will promote the mission of CSCOR and foster collaborations and utilize CSCOR's unique capabilities to establish national and international research. Strong management and technical skills are required to lead programs aimed at ensuring sponsored research is of impeccable quality, addresses national needs, and identifies coastal environmental problems of the future. These capabilities are intended to help provide NOAA with a sound scientific basis to achieve its strategic goals of sustaining healthy coastal areas and to augment related coastal assessment and forecasting activities within NCCOS and other parts of NOAA. The salary range for this position is $92,060-$119,682. To apply, please visit: https://www.jobs.doc.gov/cool/doc/APP_VAC_VIEW?F_USERNAME=&F_ANN_NO=85408&F_AG_ID=11&SK= and submit your application via NOAA’s Commerce Opportunities On-Line (COOL) system. Please respond to vacancy number HNOS03.037JMM. The closing date is midnight, EST, February 28, 2003. Only United States citizens may apply. NOAA is an equal opportunity employer. ~~~~~~~ For directions on subscribing and unsubscribing to coral-list or the digests, please see http://www.coral.noaa.gov/lists/coral-list.html . Subject: uw-paper Date: Wed, 8 Jan 2003 13:28:59 -0500 From: "Saba National Marine Park" To: Does anyone know a supplier of underwater paper, preferably in Florida? David Kooistra Manager Saba Marine Park/Saba Hyperbaric Facility PO Box 18, The Bottom Saba, Netherlands Antilles Phone: 599 416 3295 Fax: 599 416 3435 Cellular: (5990) 522 5168 Web-site: www.sabapark.org E-mail: smp@unspoiledqueen.com Subject: Re: Diagnostic Monitoring/New Caledonia project Date: Thu, 9 Jan 03 10:00:29 -0500 From: Stephen C Jameson To: "sebastien sarramegna" , "Coral-List" CC: "Ken Potts" Dear Sebastien, Regarding: >Hello, > > I am working on an environmental monitoring program in Tropical >reef ecosystem, and I am interesting in methods used to determine the >stress level or the health of the corals. I am aware of the standard >methods used in ecosystem environments (LIT, Quadrats etcÖ). I would >like to have information on methods that could detect changing more >precociously. For example, to detect stress on coral due to high >turbidity it is possible to use the living coral tissue thickness. > > Thank you for all information > >SÈbastien Sarramegna >Biologiste/Service Environnement >Falonbridge NC SAS >9, rue d'Austerlitz >B.P. MGA08 98802 >NoumÈ Cedex >Nouvelle-CalÈdonie/New Caledonia >Tel : (687) 24 60 40 >Fax : (687) 24 60 49 >Email : ssarramegna@falconbridge.nc Ken Potts (USEPA) and I have proposed to Chair (waiting for approval) a Mini-Symposium on: "Diagnostic Monitoring & Assessment of Coral Reefs: Studies from Around the World" at the 10th ISRS Symposium in Okinawa. Aim and scope of the mini-symposium: The aim of this mini-symposium is to report progress on developing a new paradigm for coral reef monitoring and assessment - that is, one with an early warning and diagnostic capability. The scope of the mini-symposium will focus on the development of coral reef indexes of biotic integrity and biocriteria, dose-response metrics, studies on bioindicators, and other diagnostic monitoring tools. The mini-symposium will also focus on classifying coral reefs for diagnostic monitoring and assessment and establishing reference conditions. All papers presented in this mini-symposium will be placed on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency coral reef web site (www.epa.gov/owow/oceans/coral) to build the Diagnostic Monitoring and Assessment Data Base and provide information to others working in this field. Also at see: Jameson SC, Erdmann MV, Gibson Jr GR, Potts KW (1998) Development of biological criteria for coral reef ecosystem assessment. Atoll Res Bull, September 1998, No. 450, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, 102 pp and Jameson SC, Erdmann MV, Karr JR, Potts KW (2001) Charting a course toward diagnostic monitoring: A continuing review of coral reef attributes and a research strategy for creating coral reef indexes of biotic integrity. Bull Mar Sci 69(2):701-744 Best regards, Dr. Stephen C. Jameson, President Coral Seas Inc. - Integrated Coastal Zone Management 4254 Hungry Run Road, The Plains, VA 20198-1715 USA Office: 703-754-8690, Fax: 703-754-9139 Email: sjameson@coralseas.com Web Site: www.coralseas.com ~~~~~~~ For directions on subscribing and unsubscribing to coral-list or the digests, please see http://www.coral.noaa.gov/lists/coral-list.html . Subject: RE: ARMS: Artificial Reef Matrix Systems Date: Thu, 9 Jan 2003 12:39:08 -0500 From: "John McManus" To: , "Coral List" Dear Alifereti, I found this on website: http://www.nhm.org/marcom/news/voyages/research.htm. "ARMS-Artificial Reef Matrix Structure - Because it is so difficult to capture small creatures that live within the coral heads themselves without actually destroying parts of the reef, the research team invented structures that would mimic the various habitats provided by coral." Cheers! John _________________________________________________________ John W. McManus, PhD Director, National Center for Caribbean Coral Reef Research (NCORE) Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences (RSMAS) University of Miami, 4600 Rickenbacker Causeway Miami, Florida 33149. jmcmanus@rsmas.miami.edu Tel. (305) 361-4814 Fax (305) 361-4910 www.ncoremiami.org -----Original Message----- From: owner-coral-list@aoml.noaa.gov [mailto:owner-coral-list@aoml.noaa.gov]On Behalf Of tawake_a@usp.ac.fj Sent: Thursday, January 09, 2003 11:59 PM To: coral-list@coral.aoml.noaa.gov Cc: rqauqau@fisheries.gov.fj; sqalovaki@govnet.gov.fj; samasoni Sauni; etika Rupeni Subject: ARMS: Artificial Reef Matrix Systems Dear Coral Listers, A team is coming to do a survey here in Fiji and they are proposing this ARMS: Artificial Reef Matrix Systems technique. I and most of my colleages here in Fiji have not used it let alone hear it. We are only farmiliar with other standard reef monitoring methods. Can anyone please direct us to where we can find more infor on this technique or how different it is from Belt or LIT methods commonly used? Look forward to your response. _____________________________ Alifereti Tawake, Scientific Officer, Institute of Applied Science (IAS), University of the South Pacific (USP), Private Mail Bag, Suva Fiji. Ph: (679) 3212653(W), (679) 3391339 (H) Fax: (679) 3300373 Email: Tawake_a@usp.ac.fj **************************************************************************** ********* Fiji Locally-Managed Marine Area (FLMMA) Network Project Liaison Officer (PLO) **************************************************************************** ********* LMMA Network: a FOS Learning Portfolio Coordination Team (PCT) Member ********************************************************************* ~~~~~~~ For directions on subscribing and unsubscribing to coral-list or the digests, please see http://www.coral.noaa.gov/lists/coral-list.html . ~~~~~~~ For directions on subscribing and unsubscribing to coral-list or the digests, please see http://www.coral.noaa.gov/lists/coral-list.html . Subject: RFP for the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Date: Thu, 09 Jan 2003 17:14:55 -0500 From: "Brian Keller" Organization: NOAA FKNMS To: coral-list@coral.aoml.noaa.gov Please note the following request for preproposals for research in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Posted at: http://www.fknms.nos.noaa.gov/research_monitoring/rfp2003fin.pdf Please also note that the contact person is Dr. Bill Kruczynski (kruczynski.bill@epamail.epa.gov; 850-934-9298). OPPORTUNITIES FOR SPECIAL STUDIES REQUEST FOR PREPROPOSALS U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY- REGION 4 WATER QUALITY PROTECTION PROGRAM FOR THE FLORIDA KEYS NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY NOAA’S UNDERSEA RESEARCH PROGRAM AND THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT WILMINGTON’S NATIONAL UNDERSEA RESEARCH CENTER NOAA CORAL REEF CONSERVATION PROGRAM SANCTUARY FRIENDS OF THE FLORIDA KEYS Summary: The purpose of this notice is to advise the public that The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 4, the National Undersea Research Center NOAA’s Undersea Research Program (NURP) and the University of North Carolina’s National Undersea Center, the NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program (NCRCP), and Sanctuary Friends of the Florida Keys announces opportunities for special studies in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Funding is contingent upon the availability of federal appropriations. It is anticipated that projects funded under this announcement will have an October 1, 2003 start date. Preproposals are requested for the following priority topics: 1. Factors affecting recruitment and survival of marine species 2. Triggering mechanisms and causative agents and/or processes that result in declines of coral abundance, coverage and species richness 3. Factors affecting the distribution, abundance, and virulence of pathogenic bacteria, viruses, or other pathogenic organisms 4. Affects of management measures on abundance and distribution of marine organisms BACKGROUND The Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary (FKNMS) was created by Public Law 101-605, the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary and Protection Act of 1990. Included in the Sanctuary are 2900 square nautical miles of nearshore waters extending from Biscayne Bay to the Dry Tortugas. The 1990 Act directed EPA and the State of Florida, in consultation with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), to develop a Water Quality Protection Program (WQPP) for the Sanctuary. This is the first designated marine sanctuary required to have a WQPP. The purpose of the WQPP is to recommend priority corrective actions and compliance schedules addressing point and nonpoint sources of pollution to restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the Sanctuary. This includes restoration and maintenance of a balanced, indigenous population of corals, shellfish, fish and wildlife, and recreational activities in and on the water. In addition, the Act requires the development of a comprehensive water quality monitoring program. This announcement concerns the Research/Special Studies Component of the WQPP that has been incorporated into the FKNMS Draft Science Plan. Since 1991, EPA and the State of Florida have worked with NOAA and other federal, state, and local governmental agencies, university scientists, environmental groups, and the public to develop a WQPP for the Sanctuary. The National Marine Sanctuaries Program Amendments Act of 1992 requires that EPA and the State implement the WQPP in cooperation with NOAA. A "Final Water Quality Protection Program Document" was approved by the WQPP Steering Committee and contains the rationale and strategies to achieve the goals of the WQPP. The Draft FKNMS Science Plan identifies priority research areas that include the four topic areas for this request for preproposals. These topic areas have been reviewed by the FKNMS Technical Advisory Committee (TAC). The Draft Science Plan includes short- and long-term data collection, to understand causal linkages between pollution sources and ecological problems. This understanding will be used to develop predictive models, evaluate management alternatives, devise corrective actions, and improve the monitoring program. The overall objective of the Special Studies Program is to identify and understand cause and effect relationships among pollutants, transport pathways, and the biological communities of the Sanctuary. Specific objectives are to: 1) identify and document cause and effect linkages between specific pollutants, water quality problems, and ecological impacts; 2) improve understanding of Sanctuary ecosystems, and develop predictive capabilities based on that understanding; and, 3) develop monitoring and research tools to detect pollutants, provide early warning of widespread ecological problems, and identify cause and effect relationships. PRIORITY TOPICS FOR SPECIAL STUDIES Recruitment and Survival of Marine Species Monitoring activities have documented the declines of corals and other important marine species in the Florida Keys. Research is needed to assess the recruitment and survival of stony coral populations (particularly reef-building species) throughout the Keys, the potential effects of ecological parameters on the recovery of benthic communities, and evaluation of factors responsible for the declines. Two examples of non-coral species are given below, but research proposals need not be limited to these two example species. The long-spined sea urchin (Diadema antillarum) virtually disappeared from waters surrounding the Florida Keys and much of the Caribbean basin in 1983-84, and has only recently re-appeared in a few areas. The cause of the decline was never definitively established. Research is needed to assess natural recruitment rates and factors affecting survivorship. The effectiveness of efforts (laboratory culturing and/or transplantation/translocation experiments) to reintroduce urchins and their subsequent effect on community structure need to be evaluated. The queen conch has been protected from collection in waters of the Florida Keys since 1986 because of severely diminished numbers. Even with protection, numbers of queen conch remain very low. Recent research suggests that some environmental factor(s) may prevent successful gonad development in conchs found in nearshore waters while those found offshore have mature gonads. Research is needed to determine factors controlling the population size of queen conch and methods to maximize the successful re-establishment of this important species. Decline in Coral Abundance, Coverage, and Species Diversity Monitoring at fixed stations throughout the Keys since 1996 has documented a 37% decline in living coral coverage within spur and groove habitats. Multiple stressors have been proposed for the loss of living coral, including nutrient addition to waters, coral diseases and bleaching, global climate change, and other human impacts. The etiologies of coral diseases in general, and the newly discovered diseases in particular, and the effects of disease on coral populations in terms of prevalence, incidence, and mortality rates are largely unknown. Also, the role of environmental factors, such as degraded water quality, in the onset and development of the diseases is not understood. Research is required to identify local, regional, and global causative factors and processes that cause coral decline in the Florida Keys. Research is needed to understand the short and long-term impacts of diseases, such as the impact of partial mortality on reproduction and other functions. Long-term studies of individual coral colonies are needed to assess the effects of coral bleaching, disease, mortality from various other sources, and potential for recovery. Distribution and Abundance of Pathogenic Bacteria, Viruses, and other Pathogens Previous research in the Florida Keys identified pathogenic viruses in 69% of nearshore sampling stations. Viruses were found to be infectious at some stations during winter months. Other research has documented the concentration of human bacteria and viruses in coral mucus and the identification of a potential coral disease organism as a widespread bacterium that may be found in the human intestine and other vertebrates. Research is required to assess the distribution and abundance of pathogens in waters of the Florida Keys, their sources and impacts to human health, and their role in the continued survival of the coral reef community. Effects of Management Actions on Abundance and Distribution of Marine Organisms Preliminary research on the effects of established fully protected (“no-take”) zones in the Florida Keys has demonstrated positive increases in population size and average size of several commercially and recreationally important fish species. Also, numbers and sizes of spiny lobsters have increased in areas closed to fishing and other extractive activities. Research is required to understand and assess the impacts of existing fully protected zones, including the recently implemented Tortugas Ecological Reserve, on community interactions, including commercially important fish and invertebrate species, as well as non-commercially important organisms, such as algae, corals and sponges. Also, research is required to understand siting and sizing requirements of protected areas to maximize their environmental benefits. REQUEST FOR PREPROPOSALS Investigators interested in submitting a preproposal in response to this announcement should immediately fill out the Notice-of-Interest form (Attachment A) attached to this announcement and send it to the address or FAX number given on the form. EPA has secured approximately $300,000 and Sanctuary Friends of the Florida Keys has secured $100,000 to fund the special studies discussed above. In addition, it is anticipated that NURP/NCRCP will contribute $150,000 in NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program funds, for total amount of approximately $550,000 for this announcement. Accepted proposals will be eligible to receive funds via a grant, cooperative agreement, or interagency agreement (federal agencies). Proposals may be written for one or two years. Individual grants/cooperative agreements/interagency agreements should not exceed a total of $100,000 per proposal. A minimum of 5% non-federal match is required for research projects funded by EPA and Sanctuary Friends; a minimum of 50% non-federal match is required for research projects funded by NURP/NCRCP. Non-federal matching funds may be comprised of a variety of public and private sources and may include in-kind contributions and other non-cash support. For further guidance on the matching requirement, please refer to Section 6403(b)(1) of the Coral Conservation Act of 2000. Projects with fieldwork in the upper Keys may be eligible to receive logistical support through NURC/UNCW in Key Largo. Eligibility criteria for the NURP/NCRCP funds: Eligible applicants are U.S. institutions of higher education, not-for-profit institutions, and state, local, and Indian tribal governments. Proposals may include federal researchers as collaborators with a researcher who is affiliated with a U.S. academic institution, non-federal agency, or any other non-profit organization. Federal organizations may not charge federal salary or overhead, but other categories are appropriate. Non-NOAA or EPA federal applicants must demonstrate legal authority to receive funds from another federal agency in excess of their appropriation. Proposals selected for funding from non-federal applicants will be funded through a cost-reimbursable or cooperative agreement. For proposals with a federal partner, the federal partner will receive funds through an inter-agency transfer (or intra-agency in the Case of a NOAA or EPA partner) from the national NURP office. Submission of a preproposal is required. Five copies of a preproposal must be submitted no later than February 3, 2003. Preproposals should consist of a Preproposal Title Page (Attachment B) and no greater than three pages of text (12 point/10 pitch type). Preproposals will be evaluated and ranked by the Management Committee of the WQPP and NURP/NCRCP staff. Evaluation of preproposals will be based upon conformance with this request and the goals and objectives of the FKNMS Draft Science Plan. A Draft Science Plan will be e-mailed upon request. Investigators will be notified by February 10, 2003 whether a full proposal should be submitted for review. At that time, detailed instructions for the preparation and submission of the full proposal will be sent to authors submitting successful preproposals. The deadline for receipt of a full proposal is March 10, 2003. Full proposals must be no greater than fifteen pages of text. Full proposals will be peer reviewed by an external review panel and ranked according to scientific merit and feasibility. Highly ranked proposals will be presented to the FKNMS TAC for review. The TAC will rank proposals with high scientific merit based upon relevance to the goals and objectives of the Draft Science Plan. The Management Committee will give great weight to the recommendations of the TAC in making their final selection of proposals for funding. The Management Committee will present their top candidates for funding to the Special Studies Subcommittee of the Steering Committee for final approval. Grants will be awarded no later than September 30, 2003. If you have any questions concerning the Water Quality Protection Program or this request for preproposals, please call Bill Kruczynski at 850-934-9298 or e-mail “kruczynski.bill@epa.gov”. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ OPPORTUNITIES FOR SPECIAL STUDIES ATTACHMENT A NOTICE OF INTEREST U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY WATER QUALITY PROTECTION PROGRAM FOR THE FLORIDA KEYS NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT WILMINGTON’S NATIONAL UNDERSEA RESEARCH CENTER SANCTUARY FRIENDS OF THE FLORIDA KEYS Investigators interested in submitting a preproposal for special studies in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary should complete this form and send it by mail or FAX to: Dr. Bill Kruczynski, Program Scientist U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Gulf Ecology Laboratory 1 Sabine Island Gulf Breeze, FL 32561 FAX 850 934-9201 E-mail: kruczynski.bill@epa.gov Please Note: Preproposals (5 copies) must be received no later than February 3, 2003. Name:______________________________________ Title:____________________________ Affiliation:___________________________________________________________________ Department:__________________________________________________________________ Mailing Address:_____________________________ City:____________________________ State:_______________________________________ Zip:_____________________________ Telephone Number:___________________________ FAX:____________________________ Email:_______________________________________________________________________ Your topic(s) of interest: Recruitment and Survival Coral Decline Pathogens Management Effects ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ OPPORTUNITIES FOR SPECIAL STUDIES ATTACHMENT B PREPROPOSAL TITLE PAGE TO BE SUBMITTED WITH FIVE COPIES OF THREE PAGE MAXIMUM PREPROPOSAL NO LATER THAN FEBRUARY 3, 2003 PROJECT TITLE______________________________________________________________________-- ____________________________________________________________________________ PROJECT LEADER OTHER INVESTIGATORS _______________________________ _____________________________ Name _______________________________ _____________________________ Affiliation _______________________________ _____________________________ Address _______________________________ _____________________________ _______________________________ _____________________________ _______________________________ _____________________________ Telephone _______________________________ _____________________________ E-mail Co-Funding from an agency other than EPA is_____ is not_____ required to support the propos