SEAFWA 2018

AUTHORS: Patrick G.R. Jodice, USGS South Carolina Cooperative Fish & Wildlife Research Unit, Clemson University; Mark Woodrey, Mississippi State University & Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve; Auriel Fournier, Coastal Research and Extension, Mississippi State University

ABSTRACT: The Gulf of Mexico supports a diverse suite of seabirds throughout coastal and pelagic waters during both breeding and nonbreeding phases of the annual cycle. Breeding birds in the northern Gulf consist of nearshore species (e.g., pelicans, terns) that winter throughout the northern Gulf but also migrate to the southern Gulf. Breeding birds in the southern Gulf include both nearshore as well as more pelagic species (e.g., boobies, pelagic terns) that are disperse throughout the Gulf and Caribbean during the nonbreeding season. Further, inland breeding waterbirds (e.g. Black Terns) and seabirds from outside the Gulf region migrate to and through the Gulf. As a guild, however, the distribution, abundance, and habitat use at sea of seabirds in the Gulf have not received a level of research attention that is warranted given their high conservation status and the level of anthropogenic development throughout the coastal and pelagic waters of the Gulf. Here, we review case studies of the application of biotelemetry to seabirds to address conservation needs throughout the Gulf. We purposefully focus on data collected via different technologies that result in data across a range of spatial and temporal scales to demonstrate how these multi-scale efforts can be applied to conservation in the Gulf. As a means to further our understanding of Gulf marine systems, we conclude by proposing a biologging approach focused on multiple taxa of apex predators (e.g., seabirds and predatory fish).

AUTHORS: Daniel J. Daugherty, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department; Kevin L. Pangle, Central Michigan University; David L. Buckmeier, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department; Nathan G. Smith, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department

ABSTRACT: Telemetry-based study of Alligator Gar (Atractosteus spatula) movement in the lower Trinity River, Texas, indicated that fish primarily remained within discrete home ranges less than 60 river kilometers (rkm), supporting the potential for local-scale management. However, the temporal scale of inference was limited (22 months), which may inadequately represent fish movements and home range size at the lifetime (i.e., =50 yrs) scale. Therefore, we used otolith microchemistry to examine the long-term movements of Alligator Gar (N = 59; total length range 1,152 to 2,420 mm, age range 4 to 60 yrs) between the lower Trinity River and Trinity-Galveston Bay system. Strontium:calcium (Sr:Ca) concentrations were measured along laser-ablated transects from the otolith core (i.e., time at hatch) to the edge (i.e., time at capture) for fish collected throughout the system, documenting movements between the river (freshwater) and bay (saltwater). We identified two residence contingents among fish in the lower Trinity River that differed in prevalence across the system. Multiple logistic regression indicated that river residence, in which fish remained in the river over their entire lifetimes, was most common at the upstream end of the study reach (63% of fish). In contrast, transience, in which fish moved between the river and bay, was prevalent nearest the river mouth (82% of fish). Although our inferences from the otolith data suggest a somewhat greater degree of homogenization across the system than was captured via telemetry, our results generally suggest localized management of Alligator Gar in the lower Trinity River could be appropriate.

AUTHORS: Kayla P. DaCosta, Ruth H. Carmichael – Dauphin Island Sea Lab, University of South Alabama

ABSTRACT: Florida manatees are migratory and disperse long distances, show site fidelity, occupy fragmented habitats, and are experiencing population recovery and range expansion in U.S. waters. To better understand migration and habitat use of manatees in the nGOM, satellite tags were deployed from 2009-present. During that time, 13 unique individuals were tagged for periods of 3-17 consecutive months. Data indicate that manatees using the nGOM are regular, seasonal visitors, rather than accidental strays as previously thought. Tag data have also allowed for the identification of manatee hotspots and migratory pathways throughout the nGOM. In addition to satellite tags, manatees are equipped with two sonics, one inside the satellite tag itself and another located in the tagging belt. Acoustic receivers were deployed at strategic choke points throughout Alabama and Mississippi waterways to collect data from animals that have a disconnected or malfunctioning tag. Use of these receivers has provided additional data to further corroborate results from satellite tags and fill in data gaps created by the loss or malfunction of satellite tags. Use of satellite and acoustic telemetry has provided information on the migration and habitat use of manatees that is important for the conservation and management of the species. In addition to manatee tagging, we will also be providing a brief overview of other active tagging programs based out of the Dauphin Island Sea Lab.

AUTHORS: Jayne M. Gardiner, New College of Florida; Tonya R. Wiley, Havenworth Coastal Conservation; Joel A. Beaver, New College of Florida

ABSTRACT: NMFS is mandated to include Essential Fish Habitat in all Fishery Management Plans, considering all life stages of a species, not just those that are being exploited. The blacktip shark, Carcharhinus limbatus, is the dominant species captured in the directed large coastal shark fishery in the Gulf of Mexico. NMFS has managed this species since 1991, initially as part of the Large Coastal Shark Complex, and individually since 2006. Since that time, attempts have been made at quantifying blacktip shark nursery areas, which represent EFH for neonates and juveniles. However, without clear criteria for defining nurseries, EFH designations have remained broad, currently encompassing the entire US Gulf coastline. Heupel et al. (2007) proposed that nursery areas be defined based not only on the presence of juvenile sharks, but also based on site fidelity and the tendency of animals to use habitats repeatedly across several years. Low tag-recapture rates hamper efforts to define nurseries using conventional tags. Acoustic telemetry has provided important information on individual nurseries, but short battery life and the limited spatial/temporal coverage of receiver arrays have traditionally limited the relevance of this tool at a management scale. Here, we present data on two blacktip shark nurseries on the Gulf coast of Florida as case studies, demonstrating how recent advances in tag technology and the emergence of regional and Gulf-wide cooperative telemetry arrays enable assessments of long-term patterns of natal philopatry and rates of movement between nurseries, behaviors that influence population connectivity and stock structure on a Gulf-wide scale.

AUTHORS: William D. Heyman, LGL Ecological Research Associates, Inc.; Christopher Biggs, University of Texas at Austin, Department of Marine Science; Shin Kobara, Gulf of Mexico Coastal Ocean Observing System (GCOOS), Texas A&M University; Nick Farmer, NOAA Fisheries, Southeast Regional Office; Arnaud Grüss, School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences, University of Washington; Mandy Karnauskas, NOAA Fisheries, Southeast Fisheries Science Center; Sue Lowerre-Barbieri, Fisheries and Aquatic Science Program, School of Forest Resources and Conservation, University of Florida; Brad Erisman, University of Texas at Austin, Department of Marine Science

ABSTRACT: Many species of coastal and reef fishes congregate at specific times and places for reproduction in fish spawning aggregations (FSAs). These sites can attract intensive fishing pressure. Recent research indicates that many sites serve as multi-species FSAs, where tens of species from various families aggregate according to specific seasonal, lunar and diel cycles. Recent studies funded by the NOAA RESTORE Act Science Program illustrated that multi-species FSA sites occur within two distinctive bands in the Gulf of Mexico: one along the coast and another at the shelf edge. Coastal species, including spotted seatrout (Cynoscion nebulosus), red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus) and sheepshead (Archosargus probatocephalus), form FSAs in coastal channel passes and along associated jetties. By contrast, members of the snapper-grouper-jack complex, including mutton snapper (Lutjanus analis), cubera snapper (L. cyanopterus), gag (Mycteroperca microlepis), scamp (M. phenax), black grouper (M. bonaci), and greater amberjack (Seriola dumerili), form multi-species FSAs along the continental shelf edge, associated with abrupt discontinuities in bottom structure. Our intention is to work with stakeholders throughout the Gulf of Mexico and the wider Caribbean to characterize and monitor a network of ‘sentinel’ sites at multi-species FSAs, using a suite of physical and biological monitoring tools. Acoustic telemetry will form a key component of the monitoring program that will also include underwater passive and active acoustics, CTDs, and acoustic Doppler current meters. Monitoring and management of the network of sites will generate data that that will be shared with a regional network of partners and be used to support stock assessments and integrated ecosystem-based fisheries management efforts.

AUTHORS: Jorge Brenner, Valerie McNulty – The Nature Conservancy

ABSTRACT: Marine species migrate to fulfill essential needs: to find and follow food, reproduce, or occupy more habitable locations. During their migrations, they also provide benefits to humans. The Gulf of Mexico hosts 70% of highly migratory species. The Gulf of Mexico Migratory Species Conservation Project aims to identify these pathways in the Gulf and critical areas for conservation to protect migratory marine species and improve the health of large marine ecosystems. Since 2016, the Conservancy has led this project to help address the knowledge gap of migratory pathways, threats, and opportunities for their conservation. The accompanying online Migratory Species Decision Support Tool (DST) provides support for planners, resource managers, government officials, and the ocean conservation community to understand marine species blueways, threats and obstacles, and key stopovers or resource concentrations. The DST is built from animal satellite tracking data from over 100 researchers and institutions in the United States, Mexico, and Cuba to assess migratory pathways in the Gulf. The tool includes a visualization platform to highlight information about migratory corridors, movement density, occurrence hotspots, and stopovers, along with marine environmental data, and human- and climate-related threats. Another outcome of this project has been the identification of critical areas for conservation in the Gulf, where anthropogenic threats intersect with areas of heavy migration. These areas were identified using Marxan conservation planning software to incorporate tracking data, human threats, and regulatory boundaries for solutions that are environmentally, socially, and economically sustainable.

AUTHORS: Robert Currier, Barbara Kirkpatrick, Chris Simoniello – Gulf of Mexico Coastal Ocean Observing System/Texas A&M University

ABSTRACT: The tagging and tracking of aquatic animals using acoustic telemetry hardware has traditionally been the purview of individual researchers that specialize in single species. Concerns over data privacy and unauthorized use of receiver arrays have prevented the construction of large-scale, multi-species, multi-institution, multi-researcher collaborative acoustic arrays. SBAN was constructed to address the following concerns: guarantee data privacy; establish a sense of community and collaboration; facilitate a regional approach to addressing bigger science problems; provide the ability to monitor aquatic animals over larger spacial scales; integrate detection data with real-time and modeled oceanographic data; provide interoperability with other telemetry networks and to allow for the use of data in outreach and education. This presentation will cover in detail the methodology we used to build SBAN, including Python and Flask, the Leaflet mapping library, database tools and our custom authentication system. We will discuss the importance of regular feedback from the science community and the need for developers to become fully immersed in the day-to-day requirements of the principal investigators. Without subject matter expertise it is impossible for software engineers to develop productive and functional systems. Finally, we will provide a demonstration of SBAN including user authentication, data entry, data visualization and using the oceanographic data overlays to improve understanding of spatial and temporal habitat use.

AUTHORS: Caitlin Young, NOAA RESTORE Science Program; Chris Simoniello, Gulf of Mexico Coastal Ocean Observing System (GCOOS); Julie Bosch, NOAA National Center for Environmental Information (NCEI)

ABSTRACT: Animal Telemetry provides a unique opportunity for researchers and managers to gather information on targeted species movement, habitat, nesting/spawning areas and food web use. In the Gulf of Mexico, current and past telemetry activities have provided valuable information for resource managers and decision makers at the State, Federal and local level. However, telemetry studies in the Gulf of Mexico suffer from a lack of coordination between researchers and across state lines. This lack of coordination impedes resource manager’s ability to manage species across state lines and hinders efforts to prioritize locations for future telemetry studies. In this interactive session, symposium organizers will provide a map of the Gulf of Mexico that identifies geographical areas of telemetry research along with what species are currently being tracked. Map data is drawn from past research efforts, available through public archives, as well as current research efforts. Participants will have the opportunity to review this inventory map and add to it. Finally, participants will use the inventory map to identify data gaps for species of concern in the Gulf of Mexico and set priorities for future telemetry data collection efforts.