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GULF ECOLOGY DIVISION
RESEARCH
1. The NUTRIENT TEAM,
under the leadership of Dr. Emile (Skeets) Lores (lores.emile@epa.gov;
telephone (850) 934-9238), conducts research to: (i) provide state and
federal regulators with information needed to set nutrient criteria in
estuarine and coastal waters, (ii) understand nutrient processing in these
systems, (iii) develop tools to identify the cause/effects relationships
between the three priority effects of nutrient enrichment or eutrophication
(hypoxia, loss of SAV, and food web shifts), and (iv) understand how these
relationships are controlled by physical, chemical and biological factors.
The Dissolved Oxygen Response to Nutrients: Causes and Effects
Research Task, coordinated by Dr. Emile (Skeet) Lores (lores.skeet@epa.gov;
telephone (850) 934-9238), is designed to better understand how changing
nutrient loading manifests in estuarine productivity, subsequent depletion
of dissolved oxygen (DO) and the effects of low DO on commercially and
ecologically important aquatic species.
The Development of SAV Loss-Nutrient Load Relationships
and Factors which Control SAV Response to Nutrients Research Task,
coordinated by Dr. Richard Devereux (devereux.richard@epa.gov
; telephone (850) 934-9346), is designed to obtain the data necessary to
validate and test models to protect SAV beds from losses due to anthropogenic
nutrient enrichment.
The Effects of Nutrient Loading on Food Web Structure, Dynamics,
and Ascendancy in Coastal Receiving Waters Research Task, coordinated
by Dr. Richard Greene (greene.rick@epa.gov;
telephone (850) 934-2497), is designed to identify nutrient loading thresholds
that cause shifts in primary producers and other key components of the
food web and to assess the use of food web structure and processes to improve
our ability to classify systems and predict changes in response to nutrients
that affect hypoxia and SAV.
2. The GLOBAL CHANGE
RESEARCH TEAM,
under the leadership of Dr. William Fisher (fisher.william@epa.gov;
telephone (850) 934-9394) conducts research to characterize the effects
of global change stressors, particularly elevated temperatures and ultraviolet
light (UVR), on health of corals and coral reef ecosystems.
The Coral Disease and Mortality Research Task, coordinated
by Dr. Deborah Santavy (santavy.debbie@epa.gov; telephone (850) 934-9358)
is designed to detect changes in the condition of coral reefs in South
Florida and to characterize potential effects of anthropogenic and climatic
stressors on the health of coral communities.
The Effects of Temperature and UVR on Corals Research Task,
coordinated by Leah Oliver (oliver.leah@epa.gov;
telephone (850) 934-9470) is designed to characterize the interactive roles
of ultraviolet radiation (UVR), temperature, and water quality on coral
bleaching and incidence of coral disease.
The Effects of Temperature and UV on Coral Symbionts Research Task,
coordinated by Dr. John E. Rogers (rogers.johne@epa.gov;
telephone (850) 934-9326), is designed to characterize the responses of
coral symbionts (Symbiodinium spp.) to elevated ultraviolet light
radiation (UVR), photosynthetically-active radiation, elevated temperature
and changes in water quality.
3. The ECOLOGICAL
RISK RESEARCH TEAM,
under the leadership of Dr. Michael Hemmer (hemmer.michael@epa.gov;
telephone (850) 934-9243) conducts research to determine the reproductive
and developmental responses of estuarine organisms to environmental stressors
and to quantitate and evaluate those responses as indicators of population
condition.
The Influence of Xenobiotic chemicals on Physiological Performance
of Estuarine Crustaceans Research Task, coordinated by Dr. Charles
McKenney (mckenney.chuck@epa.gov;
telephone (850) 934-9311) Part A (Biomarker Development for Endocrine
Disrupting Compounds in the Marine Enviornment: Crustacean Reproduction
and Development) is designed to provide the Agency with the necessary
protocol for an in vivo screening tool, which can be used in evaluating
chemicals which disrupt endocrine systems in sensitive invertebrate populations
in the marine environment. Part B (Transgenerational Responses of Estuarine
Crustaceans to Select Pesticides) is designed to provide a protocol
for evaluating transgenerational effects of pesticides on an estuarine
crustacean. Part C (Development of Genomic Arrays for Estuarine Crustaceans
Exposed to Xenobiotic Chemicals)is designed to provide the Agency with
the necessary analytical tools to evaluate genomic differences between
affected and robust crustacean populations (field studies) and differential
gene regulation resulting from exposure to different classes of chemical
contaminants.
The Development of Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism Markers
to Assess Genetic Diversity of Estuarine Fish Species Research Task,
coordinated by Dr. Michael Hemmer (hemmer.michael@epa.gov; telephone (850)
934-9243), Part A (Development of Genetic Markers of Population Condition
Using and Estuarine Fish Model) is designed to 1) develop AFLP markers
to investigate the genetic diversity within and between populations of
sheepshead minnow, 2) investigate possible correlations between sheepshead
population structure and local environmental conditions, 3) identify DNA
markers of genotypic sex, and, 4) if successful, expand scope to include
population surveys of other fish species. Part B
(Application and Validation
of a Sheepshead Minnow Estrogen Responsive cDNA Macroarray) is designed
to assess the sensitivity and reproducibility of estrogen responsive cDNA
macroarray developed for the sheepshead minnow using both laboratory and
field components.
4. The ECOSYSTEM ASSESSMENT
TEAM, under the leadership of Mr. John Macauley
(macauley.john@epa.gov; telephone (850) 934-9353), conducts research
to develop, validate and integrate approaches and methodologies to assess
the ecological condition of estuarine and coastal waters of the United
States, regardless of scale, watershed activities, and anthropogenic effects.
The Planning, Design, and Oversight of Coastal Programs
for the EMAP Western Pilot, National Coastal Assessment, Gulf of Mexico,
and Indicator Development Research Task, coordinated by Dr. Kevin Summers
(summers.kevin@epa.gov; telephone (850) 934-9244), is designed to create
an integrated, comprehensive coastal monitoring program across the coastal
states (including Alaska and Hawaii) and Puerto Rico to assess estuarine
condition, foster better understanding of the existing conditions of the
estuaries of the United States and to permit a rigorous and statistically
defensible estimate of that condition for the Nation's 305(b) report, develop
a single or series of indicators that define the ecological condition of
a site based on measured and derived parameters, and ascertain the applicability
of approaches and indicators in selected geographic locations to determine
their efficacy for further region-wide and/or national application.
The Development of a Diagnostic Framework for the Assessment of Aquatic
and Estuarine Resources in Pensacola Bay, Escambia Bay, and Escambia River
Systems Research Task, coordinated by Mr. John Macauley (macauley.john@epa.gov;
telephone (850) 934-9353), is designed to evaluate existing ecological
data for the Escambia Bay/River Watershed to assess ecological condition
of the Pensacola Bay system, identify early warning indicators of environmental
stress and develop and implement a framework for evaluating the assimilative
capacity of an estuarine ecosystem for environmental stress and allocating
that capacity among potential users.
The Aquatic Mortality Tracking Research Task, coordinated by
Dr. William Fisher (fisher.william@epa.gov;
telephone (850) 934-9394), is designed to implement a standard Gulf-wide
reporting system to track diseases and mortalities of aquatic organisms
as an indicator of changing environmental condition and expand the number
of states using a similar database to include those along the Atlantic
coast of the U.S.
5. The ECOLOGICAL
FUTURES TEAM,
under the leadership of Dr. Fred Genthner (genthner.fred@epa.gov; telephone
(850) 934-9342) conducts short-term research to directly respond to EPA
Regional or Program Office needs and to address emerging environmental
issues.
The Altered Habitat Research Task, coordinated by Dr.
William Fisher (fisher.william@epa.gov or telephone (850) 934-9394), is
designed to characterize the consequences of: 1) altered seagrass bed habitat
(quality and quantity) on commercially important penaeid shrimp species,
2) altered oyster bed habitat on commercially important eastern oyster
populations, and 3) altered seagrass and oyster bed habitats on commercially
important marine finfish populations.
The Indicators, Pathogens and Environmental Quality of Beaches and
Near-Coastal Waters Research Task, coordinated by Dr. Fred Genthner
(genthner.fred@epa.gov; telephone (850) 934-9342), is designed to improve
the science supporting monitoring the bacterial quality of recreational
waters and includes research to develop a delayed incubation procedure
for the enumeration of enterococci, determine the extent to which ecological
niches provide a sink for the accumulation and proliferation of indicator
bacteria and pathogens, and develop methods to source-track fecal indicator
bacteria to better understand ecological effects.
The Refinement of the Bivalve (Mulinia lateralis) Sediment Toxicity
Test Research Task, coordinated by Ms. Geraldine Cripe (cripe.geraldine@epa.gov;
telephone (850) 934-9233), is designed to define an effective culture methodology,
make minor modifications to the acute bi-valve testing method, and produce
a final test method manual.
The Development and Validation of Predictive Phytotoxicity Bioassays
and In-Situ Assays as Useful Tools for Near-Coastal Hazard Evaluations
Research Task, coordinated by Mr. Darrin Dantin (dantin.darrin@epa.gov;
telephone (850) 934-9383), is designed to develop predictive laboratory
toxicity test methods for determining the effects of water-borne contaminants
and contaminated sediments on several common vascular aquatic plant species,
field validate results of the laboratory sediment phytotoxicity tests using
mesocosms and in situ exposures, and determine the toxicological significance
of measured environmental contaminant concentrations on plant species.
The Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of Toxic Cyanobacteria: Growth
Requirements: Regulation of Development and Dioxin Production; Biochemistry
of Toxin Biosynthesis Research Task, coordinated by Dr. Richard Eaton
(eaton.richard@epa.gov; telephone (850) 934-9345), is designed to identify
genetic, biochemical, and environmental factors that control bloom formation
and toxin production by cyanobacteria.
The Small Fish Carcinogenesis Models Research Task, coordinated
by Dr. Jack Fournie (fournie.jack@epa.gov; telephone (850) 934-9272), is
designed to establish small fish as alternative models for chemical carcinogenesis
and for use as indicators of contaminants in costal waters.
The Predicting Contaminant Effects Research Task, coordinated
by Dr. Foster Mayer (mayer.foster@epa.gov;
telephone (850) 934-9356), is designed to evaluate the sensitivity of endangered
fish to contaminants through use of surrogate species.
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