CATEGORY A SCHOLARLY ACTIVITY IMPROVEMENT FUND FINAL REPORT

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1 CATEGORY A SCHOLARLY ACTIVITY IMPROVEMENT FUND FINAL REPORT PRELIMINARY STUDY OF THE BIOGEOGRAPHY OF THE SMOOTH BRITTLE STAR (OPHIOPLOCUS ESMARKI) IN THE SEA OF CORTEZ DR. RHEA PRESIADO ABSTRACT This SAIF grant supported research on the biogeography of brittle stars (Ophiuroids) in the Sea of Cortez, Baja California Sur, Mexico. The grant provided funding to obtain a scientific collecting permit in Mexico, for fieldwork via SCUBA in Mexico, for employment of a part time undergraduate lab assistant, and for purchasing necessary biogeographic lab equipment. This research yielded publications, presentations of the research data and results, and direct undergraduate participation in research. I will use this research data to apply for research funds for marine Biogeographic research from NSF in winter RESEARCH RESULTS This SAIF funded research project commenced with the approval of a scientific colleting permit (DGOPA/10557/190905/5305) from the National Commission of Agriculture and Fishing, for field research in Mexico from September 28, 2005 to September 24, This permit was one of only 22 such scientific permits granted in Research preparations were conducted at UWP during the fall 2005 semester, aided by undergraduate lab assistant Ian Brown. In January 2006, myself and a research dive assistant conducted surveys for brittle stars via SCUBA in the near shore waters of La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico. We completed 11 subtidal surveys in 9 different survey sites from 1

2 January (Figure 1). A total of 25 brittle star specimens were collected in the field, in addition to DNA samples from all species found. Upon returning to UW Platteville, undergraduates were directly exposed to and involved in the research process. Under my supervision, lab assistant Ian Brown identified all specimens to species level, and collected data on disk diameter, arm length, and arm/disk ratio (Figure 2). Also on arrival, students in Geography 1340 (Biogeography) used taxonomic keys in lab to identify all specimens of brittle stars. Four species of brittle stars were found: Ophiocoma alexandri, Ophionereis annulata, Ophioderma panamense and Ophioderma teres (Figure 3). No individuals of the species of interest, Ophioplocus esmarki, were located in La Paz. I hypothesize this is because populations of O. esmarki could be in deeper waters deeper than 56 feet (to reach cooler waters), or are rarer toward the edges of its range, as often occurs in other marine species. DNA collected in the field will be analyzed during the fall 2006 semester in cooperation with faculty in the Biology and Chemistry departments. This data contributes to previously collected data on O. esmarki s species range, abundance, and distribution and can be used for conservation efforts to predict the brittle star s response to climate change, anthropogenic impacts, and to interpret other near shore ophiuroids abundance patterns PUBLICATIONS Data from this SAIF research from this yielded two publications. One was recently submitted to the journal Diversity and Distributions, and the second was recently published in the Slate, a newsletter of the American Academy of Underwater Scientists (Appendix A). 2

3 PRESENTATIONS This research was presented in four different formats. I will present the results at the Association of Pacific Coast Geographers 2006 conference on September 7, 2006 and I presented results more informally on the UW Platteville campus at the Research and Poster day March 21, and at a brown bag talk on February 23. Ian Brown also presented results from this work at the UWP research and poster day. September 7, Program and Abstracts: Association of Pacific Coast Geographers. Presented paper, Biogeography of the Pacific coast brittle star Ophioplocus esmarki: Occurrence patterns and environmental correlates p. 74. March 21, Research and Poster Day, UW Platteville. Presented poster, preliminary study of the biogeography of the smooth brittle star (Ophioplocus esmarki) in the Sea of Cortez. February, 23, Brown Bag, UW Platteville. Pushing the boundaries: The quest for the smooth brittle star. FUTURE GRANTS I will be applying for a $200,000 NSF grant (NSF PD-1650 Biological Oceanography) this winter. My SAIF research results will serve as preliminary data for the grant, however the research will be much larger in scope. This grant will fund several UWP students to engage in undergraduate research on campus based upon data collected in the field, and a mobile research lab. Financially, UWP will benefit from the fringe benefits of this grant: 42.5 % of faculty salary (total fringe benefit $17,000.00), 7.65% of Undergraduate Assistant salary and stipends (total fringe benefit $765). APPENDIX A: PUBLICATION. Presiado, Rhea The Smooth Brittle Star: Hidden Critter along the Pacific Coast. Slate 3: Newsletter of the American Academy of Underwater Scientists. 3

4 Figure 1. Map of research area and all 9 dive sites in La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico. La Paz, BCS 1. Los Islotes 2. El Bajito 3. La Partida Isla Espíritu Santo 4. El Coralito La Paz, BCS 5. Swanee Reef San Lorenzo Channel 6. El Merito 7. San 8. El Faro 9. La Gaviota 4

5 Figure 2. Data on disk diameter, arm length, and arm/disk ratio for all specimens collected. Research Site Name GPS Coordinates Date Species Code Disk Diameter Arm Length Arm/Disk Ratio (mm) (mm) Los Islotes N W 1/8/2006 O. alexandri 12.2mm 79.0mm 6.5:1 Los Islotes N W 1/8/2006 O. annulata 9.2mm 51.8mm 5.6:1 Los Islotes N W 1/8/2006 O. annulata 6.5mm 30.3mm 4.7:1 Los Islotes N W 1/8/2006 O.panamense 17.8mm 78.0mm 4.4:1 Swanee N W 1/8/2006 O.panamense 4.9mm 17.8mm 3.6:1 Swanee N W 1/8/2006 O.panamense 7.3mm 30.4mm 4.2:1 Swanee N W 1/8/2006 O.panamense 7.3mm 35.8mm 4.9:1 El Merito N W 1/5/2006 O. teres 17.3mm 60.5mm 3.5:1 El Merito N W 1/5/2006 O. teres 13.3mm 30.8mm 2.3:1 El Bajito N W 1/8/2006 O.panamense 14.2mm 82.0mm 5.8:1 El Bajito N W 1/8/2006 O.panamense 10.0mm 41.0mm 4.1:1 San N W 1/5/2006 O.panamense 7.8mm 36.3mm 4.6:1 San N W 1/5/2006 O. teres 19.3mm 53.0mm 2.7:1 San N W 1/5/2006 O.panamense 16.9mm 69.8mm 4.1:1 San N W 1/5/2006 O. teres 3mm 13.2mm 4.4:1 El Faro N W 1/4/2006 O. teres 18.0mm 57.3mm 3.2:1 El Faro N W 1/4/2006 O. teres 16.3mm 68.5mm 4.2:1 El Faro N W 1/4/2006 O.panamense 8.6mm 27.3mm 3.2:1 La Partida N W 1/4/2006 O.panamense 11.5mm 55.3mm 4.8:1 La Partida N W 1/4/2006 O.panamense 12.5mm 73.3mm 5.9:1 La Partida N W 1/4/2006 O.panamense 10.2mm 46.0mm 4.5:1 La Gaviota N W 1/5/2006 O.panamense 15.1mm 55.5mm 3.7:1 La Gaviota N W 1/5/2006 O.panamense 18.1mm 65.5mm 3.6:1 Islotes N W 1/7/2006 O.panamense 18.8mm 88.3mm 4.7:1 5

6 Figure 3. The four species of brittle stars found: Ophionereis annulata, Ophiocoma alexandri, Ophioderma panamense, and Ophioderma teres. Ophionereis annulata Ophiocoma alexandri Dorsal View Ventral View Ophioderma panamense Dorsal View Ventral View Ophioderma teres Dorsal View Ventral View Dorsal View Ventral View 6