A second article from our collaboration with UH’s Marine Mammal Research Program over at the Hawai`i Institute of Marine Biology has been accepted at Deep Sea Research Part I. In the article, we use passive acoustic recordings to explore spatial variability in toothed whale occurrence in the Ligurian Sea, Mediterranean.
Neuheimer Lab @ Aarhus University
Anna is visiting Peter Grønkjær in the Department of Bioscience at Aarhus University (Aarhus, Denmark) for the next two months to collaborate on ongoing research of high latitude fishes.
Neuheimer Lab MSc defence - Congrats Chantel!
On 15 July 2016, lab member Chantel Chang successfully defended her Oceanography MSc thesis entitled "The Influence of Biophysical Factors on the Connectivity of Holoplanktonic Copepods". It was a wonderful celebration of all Chantel's hard work and excellent contributions to our lab and department. Congratulations Chantel!
Before! - photo by J. Wong-Ala
Thesis cake! - Photo by J. Wong-Ala
Jenn & Chantel, MSc - photo by J. Wong-Ala
Anna & Chantel, MSc.
Neuheimer Lab @ Bayesian Workshop, Colorado State University
Anna is at CSU in Fort Collins, CO this month to attend a NSF-funded (award #: DEB-1145200) Bayesian modelling workshop presented by Drs. Tom Hobbs, Mevin Hooten, Kiona Ogle, and Maria Uriarte. The workshop follows material in Drs. Hobbs and Hooten's 2015 book Bayesian Models: A Statistical Primer for Ecologists.
Congratulations 2016 C-MORE Scholars!
Congratulations to this year's C-MORE Scholars, including our very own Jennifer Wong-Ala! Best of luck in all your future endeavours, Scholars!
Neuheimer Lab @ ICES/PICES 6th Zooplankton Production Symposium
Chantel and Anna are in Bergen this week for the ICES/PICES 6th Zooplankton Production Symposium. Come check out our poster "Can biophysical processes explain copepod connectivity and distribution across the Atlantic Ocean basin?" (#136, Tues. 10 May, 17:45-19:45). A big mahalo (takk!) to PICES for providing Chantel with a grant to support her travel to Norway.
Adult and offspring size paper featured at The Centre for Ocean Life
Our paper (and accompanying data paper) exploring patterns of adult and offspring size in the ocean is featured on the Centre for Ocean Life's website here.
New Article: Adult and offspring size in the ocean data paper
Our data paper, Adult and offspring size in the ocean: A database of size metrics and conversion factors, is posted as an Accepted Article over at Ecology. The database contains adult and offspring size estimates (and associated conversion factors) for marine species covering >17 orders of magnitude in body mass. The work is a collaboration with the Centre for Ocean Life and accompanies our papers:
Andersen, K.H., T. Berge, R.J. Gonçalves, M. Hartvig, J. Heuschele, S. Hylander, N.S. Jacobsen, C. Lindemann, E.A. Martens, A.B. Neuheimer*, K. Olsson, A. Palacz, F. Prowe, J. Sainmont, S.J. Traving, A.W. Visser, N. Wadhwa, and T. Kiørboe. 2016. Characteristic Sizes of Life in the Oceans, from Bacteria to Whales. Annual Review of Marine Science. 8:3.1-3.25. (pdf)
Neuheimer, A.B.*, M. Hartvig, J. Heuschele, S. Hylander, T. Kiørboe, K.H. Olsson, J. Sainmont, and K.H. Andersen. 2015. Adult and offspring size in the ocean over 17 orders of magnitude follows two life history strategies. Ecology 96:3303–3311. (link, pdf)
Lab Member Chantel Chang awarded PICES travel grant!
MSc student Chantel Chang was awarded a travel grant from the North Pacific Marine Science Organization (PICES) to present her work "Can biophysical processes explain copepod connectivity and distribution across the Atlantic Ocean basin?" at the ICES/PICES 6th Zooplankton Production Symposium in Bergen, Norway in May. Congrats Chantel!
In the press: Coverage of our study exploring near-island biological hotspots
Below are links to press coverage of our island mass effect paper published last week in Nature Communications. A press release is available here.
Neuheimer Lab @ the 2016 Ocean Sciences Meeting, New Orleans
Lab member Jennifer Wong-Ala will be presenting our work on larval reef fish connectivity this week at the 2016 Ocean Sciences Meeting in New Orleans. The work is in collaboration with the Hixon and Powell labs here at UH (details below). Much thanks to ASLOMP for awarding Jennifer with a travel grant to attend the conference. Congratulations and safe travels, Jenn!
ME14D-0640: The Influence of Life History Variability on Population Connectivity: Development and Application of a Trait-Based Biophysical Model of Individuals
J. Wong-Ala, A.B. Neuheimer, M. Hixon & B. Powell
Connectivity estimates, which measure the exchange of individuals among populations, are necessary to create effective reserves for marine life. Connectivity can be influenced by a combination of biology (e.g. spawning time) and physics (e.g. currents). In the past a dispersal model was created in an effort to explain connectivity for the highly sought after reef fish Lau‘ipala (Yellow Tang, Zebrasoma flavescens) around Hawai‘i Island using physics alone, but this was shown to be insufficient. Here we created an individual based model (IBM) to describe Lau‘ipala life history and behavior forced with ocean currents and temperature (via coupling to a physical model) to examine biophysical interactions. The IBM allows for tracking of individual fish from spawning to settlement, and individual variability in modeled processes. We first examined the influence of different reproductive (e.g. batch vs. constant spawners), developmental (e.g. pelagic larval duration), and behavioral (e.g. active vs. passive buoyancy control) traits on modeled connectivity estimates for larval reef fish around Hawai‘i Island and compared results to genetic observations of parent-offspring pair distribution. Our model is trait-based which allows individuals to vary in life history strategies enabling mechanistic links between predictions and underlying traits and straightforward applications to other species and sites.
Monday, February 22, 2016 - 04:00 PM - 06:00 PM
Ernest N. Morial Convention Center - Poster Hall
New Article: Near-island biological hotspots in barren ocean basins
In an article published today in Nature Communications, we explore the extent and possible controls behind the "island mass effect" (productivity enhancements around islands). The article is a collaboration among National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, National Geographic Society, Scripps Institution of Oceanography and Bangor University.
Lab member Marie Ferguson heads to TMB-ADMB workshop
MSc candidate Marie Ferguson will head to the Template Model Builder - AD Model Builder workshop in Seattle this week. Many thanks to the ADMB-TMB team for this opportunity. Safe travels Marie!
In the press: Sedimentation, land management and reef health in Hawai'i
A press release for our paper exploring land and ocean processes shaping sedimentation on reefs off Lāna'i is available from Conservation International. The work and its implications for ridge-to-reef management was discussed on Hawai'i Public Radio.
© Conservation International/photo by Keith Lawrence
New Article: Exploring sedimentation on coral reefs
In a collaboration with Conservation International, we've explored coastal (land erosion & erosion mitigation) and oceanic (hydrodynamics) processes shaping sedimentation in coral reef environments. The paper is available at Collabra.
Now Published: Foraging activity of deep-diving odontocetes
Our article:
Giorli, G., W.W.L. Au, and A.B. Neuheimer. 2016. Differences in foraging activity of deep sea diving odontocetes in the Ligurian Sea as determined by passive acoustic recorders. Deep-Sea Research I 107:1-8.
is now in publication format and available here.
Now Published: Adult and Offspring Size in the Ocean
Our article:
Neuheimer, A.B.*, M. Hartvig, J. Heuschele, S. Hylander, T. Kiørboe, K.H. Olsson, J. Sainmont, and K.H. Andersen. 2015. Adult and offspring size in the ocean over 17 orders of magnitude follows two life history strategies. Ecology 96:3303–3311.
is now in publication format and available here.
Now Published: Characteristic Sizes of Life in the Oceans, from Bacteria to Whales
Our article:
K.H. Andersen, T. Berge, R.J. Gonçalves, M. Hartvig, J. Heuschele, S. Hylander, N.S. Jacobsen, C. Lindemann, E.A. Martens, A.B. Neuheimer*, K. Olsson, A. Palacz, F. Prowe, J. Sainmont, S.J. Traving, A.W. Visser, N. Wadhwa, and T. Kiørboe. 2016. Characteristic Sizes of Life in the Oceans, from Bacteria to Whales. Annu. Rev. Mar. Sci. 8:3.1-3.25.
is now in publication format and available here.
New Article: Explaining temporal variation in whale foraging via passive acoustics
In a collaboration with UH’s Marine Mammal Research Program over at the Hawai`i Institute of Marine Biology, we’ve explored how foraging varies over time via passive acoustic recordings for toothed whales in the Mediterranean Sea. The preprint is now available at Deep Sea Research Part I.
SOEST seeks postdoctoral fellow in Antarctic ecosystem modelling
The Smith and Powell labs in UH Oceanography are seeking a postdoctoral fellow to work on the FjordEco Project - ecosystem modelling in Antarctic ecosystems. Please see description below and contact Dr. Brian Powell for more information.
Postdoctoral Position in EcoSystem Modeling in the FjordEco Project the at University of Hawaii
(c) craigrsmithlab.com
University of Hawaii, School of Ocean and Earth Science Technology (SOEST), Antarctic Oceanography Ecosystem Modeling.
SOEST at the University of Hawai`i in Manoa seeks a Postdoctoral Scholar to collaborate in a significant inter-disciplinary and multi-institutional (Scripps, U. Hawaii, U. Alaska) project (the FjordEco Project see summary below) to observe, simulate, and understand the extreme biological productivity blooms that occur in the fjords of the Western Antarctic Peninsula. Using the Regional Ocean Modeling System (ROMS) coupled with a state-of-the-art ecosystem model, we will examine the processes that sustain a season long bloom in the Antarctic fjord. A significant observational program will be conducted, and the observations will help to validate the model processes. The results will provide new insight into the mechanisms that make the Antarctic fjords among the most biologically productive sites and how these mechanisms may be sensitive to changes in the Earth system. Further research into the influence of these physical processes on the biology of the region will be encouraged. The successful candidate will join a dynamic team of biological oceanographers, physical oceanographers and glaciologists studying fjord ecosystem dynamics along the West Antarctic Peninsula.
The successful candidate will be responsible for development of new ecosystem simulation of Antarctic fjords, comparison with in situ data, scientific research into impacts on the Fjord ecosystem, and understanding the controlling factors of nutrient delivery into the ecosystem. It is expected that the successful candidate will publish scientific articles and contribute to and/or write new funding proposals, etc.
Minimum Qualifications include: Ph.D. or equivalent in biological oceanography, physical oceanography (with ecosystem experience), marine ecosystems, or related field, ability to work well independently as part of a team, and strong communication skills both verbal and written. Preferred candidates will have experience with ecosystem modeling, mathematical and computational skills with background in ecosystem dynamics. Candidates should be motivated to drive new developments in ecosystems simulations.
The appointment is planned for three years, and it will be reviewed annually and renewed based upon performance and funding. Stipend is commensurate with qualifications and experience. Review of applications will begin immediately, and will proceed until the position is filled. Electronic applications containing: (1) curriculum vitae; (2) one-page statement of research interests; (3) one published academic article most indicative of your work; (4) contact information for three references to powellb@hawaii.edu. Email verification will be sent upon receipt of your application, please inquire if receipt is not received. For more information, please contact Dr. Brian Powell <powellb@hawaii.edu>.
The University of Hawaii is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, veteran status, or disability. Applications from women, minorities, and persons with disabilities are encouraged.
Summary of the NSF funded FjordEco Project; PIs Craig Smith, Brian Powell, and Mark Merrifield (University of Hawaii at Manoa), Maria Vernet (Scripps Institution of Oceanography), and Peter Winsor and Martin Truffer (University of Alaska Fairbanks)
Fjord Ecosystem Structure and Function on the West Antarctic Peninsula - Hotspots of Productivity and Biodiversity? (FjordEco)
Marine communities along the western Antarctic Peninsula are highly productive ecosystems which support a diverse assemblage of charismatic animals such as penguins, seals, and whales as well as commercial fisheries such as that on Antarctic krill. Fjords (long, narrow, deep inlets of the sea between high cliffs) along the central coast of the Peninsula appear to be intense, potentially climate sensitive, hotspots of biological production and biodiversity, yet the structure and dynamics of these fjord ecosystems are very poorly understood. Because of this intense biological activity and the charismatic fauna it supports, these fjords are also major destinations for a large Antarctic tourism industry. This project is an integrated field and modeling program to evaluate physical oceanographic processes, glacial inputs, water column community dynamics, and seafloor bottom community structure and function in these important yet little understood fjord systems. These Antarctic fjords have characteristics that are substantially different from well-studied Arctic fjords, likely yielding much different responses to climate warming. This project will provide major new insights into the dynamics and climate sensitivity of Antarctic fjord ecosystems, highlighting contrasts with Arctic sub-polar fjords, and potentially transforming our understanding of the ecological role of fjords in the rapidly warming west Antarctic coastal marine landscape. The project will also further the NSF goal of training new generations of scientists, providing scientific training for undergraduate, graduate and posdoctoroal students. This includes the unique educational opportunity for undergraduates to participate in research cruises in Antarctica and the development of a novel summer graduate course on fjord ecosystems. Internet based outreach activities will be enhanced and extended by the participation of a professional photographer who will produce magazine articles, websites, radio broadcasts, and other forms of public outreach on the fascinating Antarctic ecosystem.
This project will involve a 15-month field program to test mechanistic hypotheses concerning oceanographic and glaciological forcing, and phytoplankton and benthic community response in the Antarctic fjords. Those efforts will be followed by a coupled physical/biological modeling effort study to evaluate the drivers of biogeochemical cycles in the fjords and to explore their potential sensitivity to enhanced meltwater and sediment inputs. Fieldwork over two oceanographic cruises will utilize moorings, weather stations, and glacial, sea-ice and seafloor time-lapse cameras to obtain an integrated view of fjord ecosystem processes. The field team will also make multiple shipboard measurements and will use towed and autonomous underwater vehicles to intensively evaluate fjord ecosystem structure and function during spring/summer and autumn seasons. These integrated field and modeling studies are expected to elucidate fundamental properties of water column and sea bottom ecosystem structure and function in the fjords, and to identify key physical-chemical-glaciological forcing in these rapidly warming ecosystems.