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Consortium for Estuarine Ecoindicator Research for the Gulf of Mexico (CEER-GOM)

EPA Grant Number: R829458
Center: EAGLES - Consortium for Estuarine Ecoindicator Research for the Gulf of Mexico
Center Director: Brouwer, Marius
Title: Consortium for Estuarine Ecoindicator Research for the Gulf of Mexico (CEER-GOM)
Investigators: Brouwer, Marius , Lepo, Joe , Noble, Peter , Rakocinski, Chet , Thomas, Peter , Yang, Xiaojun
Current Investigators: Brouwer, Marius , Cheek, Ann , Denslow, Nancy , Han, Luoheng , Lepo, Joe , Noble, Peter , Rakocinski, Chet , Rose, Kenneth A. , Snyder, Richard , Thomas, Peter , Yang, Xiaojun
Institution: University of Southern Mississippi , Florida State University , Louisiana State University - Baton Rouge , University of Alabama - Tuscaloosa , University of Florida , University of Texas at Austin , University of Washington
EPA Project Officer: Levinson, Barbara
Project Period: December 1, 2001 through November 30, 2005 (Extended to May 20, 2007)
Project Amount: $5,906,323
RFA: Environmental Indicators in the Estuarine Environment Research Program (2000)
Research Category: Ecological Indicators/Assessment/Restoration

Description:

Approach:

In year 1 CEER-GOM teams will conduct laboratory, microcosm and field pilot studies within estuarine systems located close the their respective facilities, to facilitate ecoindicator development and sampling protocols. In years 2-4, the indicators developed and validated in the first year will be applied to studies of the 3 CEER-targeted estuaries. Within each CEER-targeted estuary up to five stations will be selected for sampling across a distinct stress gradient. Selection of actual locations of stations will be based on nutrient, DO and community data provided by Coastal 2000 programs during the annual meetings of the CEER research teams with Coastal 2000 Managers. Sampling schedules will be coordinated so that sampling events for all the component teams occur within the same two-week time frames, and will be integrated to the maximum extent possible. The Field Sampling Coordinator of the Administrative/ Management Core will be responsible for coordination. Differential GPS coordinates of all stations will be determined in the field and provided to the RS/GIS component for GIS data integration.

Expected Results:

The development of indicators of fish reproductive function will be invaluable for assessing the risks of environmental stressors to estuarine fish populations, a critical component of risk management for Gulf of Mexico estuaries. We expect that the molecular indicators of DO stress in crustacea will serve as sensitive early-warning indicators of DO impacts at the individual and population levels, which will allow pro-active rather than re-active remediation strategies. The biofilms indicators, reflecting effects of nutrient loading on the microbial ecology of estuarine waters, will provide criteria for cost-effective establishment of nutrient-loading standards, which are needed to set TMDLs for nutrients in compliance with the Clean Water Act. The multiple ecoindicator responses developed in this project will not all be parallel or have the same reaction thresholds. We expect that simultaneous potentially nonlinear responses by a suite of ecoindicators with respect to gradients in environmental stress will facilitate the detection of various states of ecological impairment once the indicators are integrated within the context of a synthetic model. We will identify complementary ecoindicators that contribute unique information about estuarine ecosystem function, integrity, and resilience and incorporate them into such synthetic models. Uncertainty assessments through evaluations of ecoindicator sensitivity and reliability will guide selection of candidate ecoindicators for inclusion within an integrated multiscale estuarine index. Once an Index of Estuarine Ecosystem Integrity (IEEI) is developed and validated, it will be transferred to regional programs for use in the long-term monitoring of estuarine conditions. Our annual meetings with the EAC will serve to keep Coastal Managers informed about new technologies that we will develop, and allow them to implement the techniques that have been proven successful into their ongoing and planned monitoring programs.


Journal Articles: 44 Displayed | Download in RIS Format

Other center views: All 161 publications 48 publications in selected types All 44 journal articles

Type Citation Sub Project Document Sources
Journal Article Breitburg DL, Adamack A, Rose KA, Kolesar SE, Decker MB, Purcell JE, Keister JE, Cowan JH. The pattern and influence of low dissolved oxygen in the Patuxent River, a seasonally hypoxic estuary. Estuaries 2003;26(2A):280-297. R829458C009 (2003)
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Journal Article Brouwer M, Larkin P, Brown-Peterson N, King C, et al. Effects of hypoxia on gene and protein expression in the blue crab, Callinectes sapidus. Marine Environmental Research 2004;58(2-5):787-792. R829458C003 (2003)
R829458C003 (2004)
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Journal Article Brouwer M, Brown-Peterson NJ, Larkin P, Patel V, Denslow N, Manning S, Brouwer TH. Molecular and whole animal responses of grass shrimp, Palaemonetes pugio, exposed to chronic hypoxia. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 2007;341(1):16-31. R829458C003 (2005)
  • Full-text: Science Direct Full Text
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  • Abstract: Science Direct Abstract
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  • Journal Article Brown-Peterson NJ, Larkin P, Denslow N, King C, Manning S, Brouwer M. Molecular indicators of hypoxia in the blue crab Callinectes sapidus. Marine Ecology Progress Series 2005;286:203-215. R829458C003 (2004)
    R829458C003 (2005)
  • Abstract: Marine Ecology Progress Series
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  • Journal Article Popular article featuring Cheek & Thomas projects: Janet Raloff. Choked Up: How dead zones affect fish reproduction. Science News 2004;166(20):309. R829458C005 (2004)
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    Journal Article El Fantroussi S, Urakawa H, Bernhard AE, Kelly JJ, Smidt H, Yershov GM, Noble PA, Stahl DA. Direct profiling of environmental microbial populations by thermal dissociation analysis of native ribosomal RNAs hybridized to oligonucleotide microarrays. Applied and Environmental Microbiology 2003;69(4):2377-2382. R829458C004 (2003)
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    Journal Article Fuiman LA, Rose KA, Cowan JH, Smith EP. Survival skills required for predator evasion by fish larvae and their relationship to laboratory measures of performance. Animal Behaviour 1993;45(6):1101-1116. R829458C009 (2004)
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    Journal Article Fuiman LA, Rose KA, Cowan Jr. JH, Smith EP. Survival skills required for predator evasion by fish larvae and their relation to laboratory measures of performance. Animal Behaviour 2006;71(6):1389-1399. R829458C009 (2005)
  • Abstract: Science Direct Abstract
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  • Journal Article Gough HL, Dahl AL, Tribou E, Noble PA, Gaillard J-F, Stahl DA. High sulfate reduction rates indicate stimulation of activity in metal-contaminated sediments. Science. R829458C004 (2003)
    R829458C004 (2004)
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    Journal Article Han LH, Jordan KJ. Estimating and mapping chlorophyll-a concentration in Pensacola Bay, Florida using Landsat ETM+ data. International Journal of Remote Sensing 2005;26(23):5245-5254. R829458C001 (2004)
    R829458C001 (2005)
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    Journal Article Han LH. Estimating chlorophyll-a concentration using first-derivative spectra in coastal water. International Journal of Remote Sensing 2005;26(23):5235-5244 R829458C001 (2004)
    R829458C001 (2005)
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    Journal Article Kelly JJ, Siripong S, McCormack J, Janus LR, Urakawa H, El Fantroussi S, Noble PA, Sappelsa L, Rittmann BE, Stahl DA. DNA microarray detection of nitrifying bacterial 16S rRNA in wastewater treatment plant samples. Water Research 2005;39(14):3229-3238. R829458C004 (2005)
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  • Journal Article Lewitus AJ, White DL, Tymowski RG, Geesey ME, et al. Adapting the CHEMTAX method for assessing phytoplankton community composition in southeastern U.S. estuaries. Estuaries 2005;28(1):160-172. R829458C004 (2004)
    R829458C004 (2005)
  • Abstract: Estuarine Research Federation Abstract
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  • Journal Article Martinez ML, Landry C, Boehm R, Manning S, Cheek AO, Rees BB. Effects of long-term hypoxia on enzymes of carbohydrate metabolism in the Gulf killifish, Fundulus grandis. Journal of Experimental Biology 2006;209(19):3851-3861. R829458C005 (2005)
  • Abstract from PubMed
  • Journal Article Morris JT, Porter D, Neet M, Noble PA, Schmidt L, Lapine LA, Jensen JR. Integrating LIDAR elevation data, multi-spectral imagery and neural network modelling for marsh characterization. International Journal of Remote Sensing 2005;26(23):5221-5234. R829458C004 (2005)
    R828677C003 (2004)
    R828677C003 (Final)
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  • Journal Article Morris J, Porter D, Neet M, Noble P, Jensen J. LIDAR-derived elevational distributions of salt and brackish marshes at North Inlet, SC and land-use classification by artificial neural network. International Journal of Remote Sensing 2005;26(23):5221-5234. R829458C004 (2003)
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    Journal Article Moss JA, Nocker A, Lepo JE, Snyder RA. Stability and change in estuarine biofilm bacterial community diversity. Applied and Environmental Microbiology 2006;72(9):5679-5688. R829458C002 (2005)
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  • Full-text: Applied and Environmental Microbiology Full Text
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  • Journal Article Moss JA, Lepo JE, Snyder RA. Fluorescein diacetate as a surrogate for estuarine biofilm microbial activity. Journal of Microbial Methods. R829458C002 (2004)
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    Journal Article Moss JA, Nocker A, Lepo JE, Snyder RA. Incorporating DNA sequence comparisons in measures of prokaryotic community diversity using the taxonomic distinctness concept. Applied and Environmental Microbiology. R829458C002 (2004)
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    Journal Article Murphy CA, Rose KA, Thomas P. Modeling vitellogenesis in female fish exposed to environmental stressors: predicting the effects of endocrine disturbance due to exposure to a PCB mixture and cadmium. Reproductive Toxicology 2005;19(3):395-409. R829458C005 (2003)
    R829458C009 (2003)
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    Journal Article Niemi G, Wardrop D, Brooks R, Anderson S, Brady V, Paerl H , Rakocinski C, Brouwer M, Levinson B, McDonald M. Rationale for a new generation of ecological indicators for coastal waters. Environmental Health Perspectives 2004;112(9):979-986. R829458C003 (2003)
    R829458C008 (2003)
    R829458C008 (2004)
    R828675 (2004)
    R828675 (Final)
    R828677C001 (Final)
    R828684 (Final)
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    Journal Article Noble PA, Tymowski RG, Morris JT, Fletcher M, Lewitus AJ. Comparing phytoplankton community pigment composition in two U.S. Southeastern salt marsh estuaries differing in freshwater drainage. Applied and Environmental Microbiology 2003;69(7):4129-4143. R829458C004 (2003)
    R829458C004 (2005)
  • Abstract from PubMed
  • Full-text: Applied and Environmental Microbiology Full Text
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  • Journal Article Noble PA, Tribou E. Neuroet: an easy-to-use artificial neural network for ecological and biological modeling. Ecological Modelling. R829458C004 (2004)
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    Journal Article Nocker A, Lepo JE, Proctor LM, Huggins T, et al. Comparison of nascent bacterial biofilm communities in an estuarine seagrass and a sandflat habitat. Aquatic Microbial Ecology. R829458C002 (2004)
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    Journal Article Nocker A, Lepo JE, Snyder RA. Diversity of microbial biofilm communities associated with an oyster reef and an adjacent muddy-sand bottom habitat. Applied and Environmental Microbiology 2004;70(11):6834-6845. R829458C002 (2003)
    R829458C002 (2004)
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    Journal Article Nocker A, Lepo JE, Martin LL, Snyder RA. Effect of dissolved oxygen on the development of the microbial heterotrophic community of an estuarine biofilm with particular regard to sulfate reducing prokaryotes. Applied and Environmental Microbiology. R829458C002 (2004)
    not available
    Journal Article Nocker A, Lepo JE, Proctor LM, Snyder RA. Molecular characterization of the bacterial biofilm community in an estuarine bay comprising a seagrass and a sandflat habitat. Microbial Ecology. R829458C002 (2003)
    R829458C002 (2004)
    not available
    Journal Article Nocker A, Lepo JE, Snyder RA. Influence of an oyster reef on development of the microbial heterotrophic community of an estuarine biofilm. Applied and Environmental Microbiology 2004;70(11):6834-6845 R829458C002 (2004)
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    Journal Article Pozhitkov A, Chernov B, Yershov G, Noble PA. Evaluation of gel-pad oligonucleotide microarray technology by using artificial neural networks. Applied and Environmental Microbiology 2005;71(12):8663-8676. R829458C004 (2004)
    R829458C004 (2005)
  • Abstract from PubMed
  • Full-text: Applied and Environmental Microbiology Full Text
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  • Journal Article Pozhitkov A, Noble PA, Domazet-Lošo T, Nolte AW, Sonnenberg R, Staehler P, Beier M, Tautz D. Tests of rRNA hybridization to microarrays suggest that hybridization characteristics of oligonucleotide probes for species discrimination cannot be predicted. Nucleic Acids Research 2006;34(9):e66. R829458C004 (2005)
  • Abstract from PubMed
  • Full-text: Oxford Journals Full Text
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  • Journal Article Richmond CE, Breitburg DL, Rose KA. The effect of stress tolerance on the relationship between species richness and system function. Ecological Modelling. R829458C009 (2004)
    not available
    Journal Article Rose KA, Murphy CA, Diamond SL, Fuiman LA, Thomas P. Using nested models and laboratory data for predicting population effects of contaminants on fish: a step towards a bottom-up approach for establishing causality in field studies. Human and Ecological Risk Assessment 2003;9(1):231-257. R829458C009 (2003)
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    Journal Article Rose KA. Lack of relationship between simulated fish population responses and their life history traits: inadequate models, incorrect analysis, or site-specific factors?. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 2005;62(4):886-902 R829458C009 (2003)
    R829458C009 (2004)
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    Journal Article Thomas P, Rahman MS, Kummer JA, Lawson S. Reproductive endocrine dysfunction in Atlantic croaker exposed to hypoxia. Marine Environmental Research 2006;62(Suppl 1):S249-252. R829458C005 (2005)
  • Abstract from PubMed
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  • Journal Article Tribou E, Lewitus AJ, Tymowski RG, Stahl DA, Noble PA. Application of neural computing approaches for determining the relationship between estuarine phytoplankton communities and environmental variables. Applied and Environmental Microbiology. R829458C004 (2003)
    not available
    Journal Article Urakawa H, El Fantroussi S, Noble PA, Kelly JJ, Stahl DA. Optimization of single-base-pair mismatch discrimination in oligonucleotide microarrays. Applied and Environmental Microbiology 2003;69(5):2848-2856. R829458C004 (2003)
    R829458C004 (2005)
  • Abstract from PubMed
  • Full-text: Applied and Environmental Microbiology Full Text
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  • Journal Article Yang X, Liu Z. Quantifying landscape pattern and its change in an estuarine watershed using satellite imagery and landscape metrics. International Journal of Remote Sensing 2005;26(23):5297-5323. R829458C007 (2004)
    R829458C007 (2005)
  • Abstract: Informa World Abstract
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  • Journal Article Yang XJ. Remote sensing and GIS applications for estuarine ecosystem analysis:an overview. International Journal of Remote Sensing 2005;26(23):5347-5356. R829458C007 (2004)
    R829458C007 (2005)
  • Abstract: Ingenta Connect Abstract
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  • Journal Article Yang X. Estimating landscape imperviousness with remotely sensed imagery. IEEE Geoscience and Remote Sensing Letters 2006;3(1):6-9. R829458C007 (2004)
    R829458C007 (2005)
  • Abstract: IEEE Abstract
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  • Journal Article Yang X, Lo CP. Using a time series of satellite imagery to detect land use and land cover changes in the Atlanta, Georgia metropolitan area. International Journal of Remote Sensing 2002;23(9):1775-1798 R829458C007 (2003)
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    Journal Article Yang X. Geospatial technologies for coastal and estuarine ecosystem analysis: status and research priorities. Journal of Coastal Research R829458C007 (2004)
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    Journal Article Yang X, Liu Z. Use of satellite-derived landscape imperviousness index to characterize urban spatial growth. Computers, Environment and Urban Systems 2005; 29(5):524-540. R829458C007 (2003)
    R829458C007 (2004)
    R829458C007 (2005)
  • Abstract: Science Direct Abstract
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  • Journal Article Yang X, Liu Z. Using satellite imagery and GIS for land-use and land-cover change mapping in an estuarine watershed. International Journal of Remote Sensing 2005;26(23):5275-5296. R829458C007 (2005)
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  • Journal Article Yang X, Liu Z. Use of remote sensing and landscape metrics to analyze estuarine landscape changing dynamics. International Journal of Remote Sensing . R829458C007 (2003)
    R829458C007 (2004)
    not available
    Supplemental Keywords:

    Population, Community, Ecosystem, Watersheds, Estuary, Gulf of Mexico, Nutrients, Hypoxia, Innovative Technology, Ecoindicators, Biomarkers, Water Quality, Remote Sensing, GIS, Integrated Assessment, Risk Assessment, Fisheries, Conservation, Restoration. , Ecosystem Protection/Environmental Exposure & Risk, Geographic Area, Scientific Discipline, RFA, Ecosystem/Assessment/Indicators, Biology, Gulf of Mexico, Aquatic Ecosystems & Estuarine Research, Ecological Risk Assessment, Aquatic Ecosystem, Ecological Indicators, Monitoring/Modeling, Ecology and Ecosystems, Environmental Monitoring, water quality, benthic indicators, environmental indicators, ecoindicator, monitoring, Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program, estuarine integrity, estuarine ecoindicator, ecological exposure, environmental stress, Galveston Bay, estuaries, ecosystem monitoring, Apalachicola Bay

    Progress and Final Reports:
    2002 Progress Report
    2003 Progress Report
    2004 Progress Report
    2005 Progress Report

    Subprojects under this Center: (EPA does not fund or establish subprojects; EPA awards and manages the overall grant for this center).
    R829458C001 Remote Sensing of Water Quality
    R829458C002 Microbial Biofilms as Indicators of Estuarine Ecosystem Condition
    R829458C003 Individual Level Indicators: Molecular Indicators of Dissolved Oxygen Stress in Crustaceans
    R829458C004 Data Management and Analysis
    R829458C005 Individual Level Indicators: Reproductive Function in Estuarine Fishes
    R829458C006 Collaborative Efforts Between CEER-GOM and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-Gulf Ecology Division (GED)
    R829458C007 GIS and Terrestrial Remote Sensing
    R829458C008 Macrobenthic Process Indicators of Estuarine Condition for the Northern Gulf of Mexico
    R829458C009 Modeling and Integration

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    The perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.


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