Currents Fall 2012 Newsletter - Volume XXVII, Number 2

7 CORAL HISTOLOGY LABORATORY Researcher: D. Abigail Renegar, M.S., Ph.D. candidate “Histology is an important tool in many aspects of marine science, including disease diagnosis, reproduction, and the impacts of environmental change on physiology. Histological research is a key component in the assessment of coral health and resilience, allowing evaluation of the effects of environmental change on coral tissue structure, composition, and function.” Research Focus: Histology is themicroscopic structural study of tissues and cells. This laboratory uses histological and histopathological techniques to study and assess cellular morphology as it relates to function in multiple aspects of coral biology. ICHTHYOLOGY LABORATORY Researcher: Richard Spieler, Ph.D. “Numbers of fish species and fish populations are in decline locally and globally, yet fish are extremely important and are key biologic, ecologic, and economic components of marine ecosystems all over the world. In order to best understand, conserve, and manage fish, it is critical to gain the most complete knowledge of the resources. The work of this laboratory involves the study of many aspects of important fish species, both here in Florida and internationally.” Research Focus: Ichthyology involves the general field of fish biology. Research here covers both basic and applied aspects of the diverse fields of anatomy, physiology, ecology, and natural history of many fish with emphasis on those that depend on coral reefs. Longitudinal section of Montastraea cavernosa Research Activities: • qualitative and quantitative evaluation of coral cells and tissues • assessment of coral health and reproductive status • prediction of coral spawning events • examination of the effects of environmental stress and change on the structure, composition, and function of coral tissues and cells • study of coral diseases and the presence of pathogens or parasites Spawning in Acropora cervicornis Artificial reef construction for deployment in the Republic of Palau in the western Pacific to compare settlement and growth on introduced substrates Researchers monitoring fish populations on “reef balls” Research Activities: • vascular anatomy of fishes • field assessment of fish diversity and abundance • neurobiology and behavior of fishes • yellow stingray biology • artificial reef structure and function • coral reef ecosystem restoration Nassau grouper (Epinephelus striatus)