Big Fisherman Research Articles

Autochthonous carbon loading of macroalgae stimulates benthic biological nitrogen fixation rates in shallow coastal marine sediments.

Macroalgae, commonly known as seaweed, are foundational species in coastal ecosystems and contribute significantly to coastal primary production globally. However, the impact of macroalgal decomposition on benthic biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) after deposition to the seafloor remains largely unexplored. In this study, we measure BNF rates at three different sites at the Big Fisherman's Cove on Santa Catalina Island, CA, USA, which is representative of globally distributed rocky bottom macroalgal habitats. Unamended BNF rates varied among sites (0.001-0.05 nmol N g-1 h -1) and were generally within the lower end of previously reported ranges. We hypothesized that the differences in BNF between sites were linked to the availability of organic matter. Indeed, additions of glucose, a labile carbon source, resulted in 2-3 orders of magnitude stimulation of BNF rates in bottle incubations of sediment from all sites. To assess the impact of complex, autochthonous organic matter, we simulated macroalgal deposition and remineralization with additions of brown (i.e., Macrocystis pyrifera and Dictyopteris), green (i.e., Codium fragile), and red (i.e., Asparagopsis taxiformis) macroalgae. While brown and green macroalgal amendments resulted in 53- to 520-fold stimulation of BNF rates-comparable to the labile carbon addition-red alga was found to significantly inhibit BNF rates. Finally, we employed nifH sequencing to characterize the diazotrophic community associated with macroalgal decomposition. We observed a distinct community shift in potential diazotrophs from primarily Gammaproteobacteria in the early stages of remineralization to a community dominated by Deltaproteobacteria (e.g., sulfate reducers), Bacteroidia, and Spirochaeta toward the latter phase of decomposition of brown, green, and red macroalgae. Notably, the nifH-containing community associated with red macroalgal detritus was distinct from that of brown and green macroalgae. Our study suggests coastal benthic diazotrophs are limited by organic carbon and demonstrates a significant and phylum-specific effect of macroalgal loading on benthic microbial communities.

Evaluating the Newly Established Largemouth Blenny (Labrisomus xanti) Population off Santa Catalina Island, CA: Determining Densities, Habitat Preference, Size Ranges, and Year Classes

In 2015 the Pacific Ocean experienced a strong El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO). With this change in water temperature, marine species were able to expand outside their previous ranges and settle in new habitats. The first sighting of the species Labrisomus xanti, or largemouth blenny, on Santa Catalina Island was October 2015 and since then the species has been seen regularly around the island. In October and November of 2018, we surveyed three sites along the leeward side of Catalina Island. Largemouth blennies were counted, measured, and sex determined along diver transects at multiple depth strata. Substrate type was also recorded. We observed multiple sizes of largemouth blennies among sites, depths and between sexes. Among the three sampled locations, Empire Landing had significantly more individuals than Big Fisherman Cove and Yellowtail Point. These differences were likely due to the greater abundance of small and medium-sized boulders and lack of sand patches within the rocky reef at Empire Landing. Male largemouth blennies were significantly larger than females. The largest largemouth blennies were found at a depth of 4.5 m with the smallest individuals found in the shallow (1.5 m) depths. Individuals were significantly larger at Empire Landing and Yellowtail Point than at Big Fisherman Cove. Finally, length frequency analysis identified at least four putative age classes corresponding to the years 2014–2017 supporting a well-established population. However, further study is necessary before we can determine whether the population at Catalina Island is a self-sustaining population.

Development of environmental niche models for use in underwater vehicle navigation

This paper presents a review of Environmental Niche Modeling and a methodology for isolating the environmental niche of an aquatic species, given that prior information is available for characterising the physical tolerances for that species. To test and demonstrate our methodology, the environmental niche of the kelp bass has been isolated within Big Fisherman's Cove, Santa Catalina Island, CA, at specific confidence intervals. The motivation for this examination is to demonstrate the utility of ecological analysis in Robotics. Specifically, the utilisation of physical water properties to provide relative navigation and localisation for an aquatic robot. The environmental niches act as navigational landmarks in the seemingly featureless underwater environment. As water patches tend to stick together, this provides persistent landmarks for use in aquatic navigation problems. We provide the background and development of Environmental Niche Models, and present results from field trials for solving the navigation and localisation problem for underwater vehicles. Specifically, we provide results from a technique developed by the authors that utilises physical water parameters, e.g., temperature, salinity, chlorophyll, etc., to localise an underwater vehicle in a given region. The presented method leverages the concept of Environmental Niche Models to provide accurate position estimation that rivals GPS accuracy.

Constructing Protestant and Catholic Peters: A comparative study in the literary use of the New Testament and ecclesiastical tradition

Just as literary authors have long taken liberties with the biblical accounts of Jesus Christ and shaped Him to fit their own agendas, they have also appropriated considerable artistic licence in enhancing the meagre information about Peter in the New Testament when constructing fictional narratives about him. A comparison of The Big Fisherman by the theologically liberal American Congregationalist Lloyd C Douglas and Simon Peter the Fisherman by the Austrian Catholic Kurt Frieberger illustrates how two accomplished novelists, drawing in part on similar sources, created markedly different and to some extent predictable images of this apostle. Neither novel is fully faithful to the New Testament evidence; both evince the influence of extrabiblical sources.

Mating System and Reproductive Biology of a Temperate Wrasse, Halichoeres semicinctus

The reproductive behavior and mating system of the Rock Wrasse (Halichoeres semicinctus) was recorded and monitored around Big Fisherman Cove, Santa Catalina Island, CA from April 2001 to September 2002. Four sites with different relative densities were visited daily throughout the summer spawning season and once a month throughout the spring and fall. Group spawning was the dominant mating system among smaller individuals (<200 mm) with 8–12 individuals in the spawning aggregations. Large (>200 mm) terminal phase males held territories which were 4–5 m2 and were observed courting on multiple occasions in an attempt to pair spawn, but only three pair spawns were witnessed during the study. Elaborate courtship displays, including vertical rushes and lateral displays by the males within their territory, preceded pair spawning attempts. Spawning occurred primarily in the morning, but aggressive behavior by the territorial males continued throughout the day. The highest level of both group and pair spawning activity occurred at the highest density site, and only group spawning was seen at other sites. Density transect data showed that ratios of initial phase: terminal phase individuals were skewed toward initial phase in late spring and early fall and were skewed toward terminal phase individuals during peak spawning months (July and August) when many aggregations were present. The overall sex ratio in Rock Wrasse from Santa Catalina Island was nearly 1∶1, and histological data suggest that sex-changed individuals made up 38% of studied males. These data suggest that Rock Wrasse utilize a context-dependent, dualistic mating system that may act to increase opportunities for mating and thus, their overall reproductive output.

Elevated body temperatures of adult female leopard sharks, Triakis semifasciata, while aggregating in shallow nearshore embayments: Evidence for behavioral thermoregulation?

The leopard shark, Triakis semifasciata, is an abundant nearshore elasmobranch, ranging from Baja California, Mexico to Oregon, USA. Mature female leopard sharks have been observed aggregating in shallow embayments throughout California; however, it is unclear why only females aggregate in these shallow areas. The goal of this study was to determine if mature female leopard sharks selectively occupy the warmest areas of a shallow embayment, if free-ranging leopard sharks' body temperatures are significantly warmer during the day than at night, and to quantify temporal use of these shallow habitats. Visual observations of sharks' fine-scale movements within the shallows of Big Fisherman's Cove Marine Life Refuge (Santa Catalina Island) aggregation site indicated that sharks preferred the warmest areas of the embayment and moved to warmer locations over the course of the day ( p < 0.05). Active and passive acoustic tracking, along with archival transponder technology (Vemco: V13, V13-R256, VX32TP-CHAT tags respectively) of 16 sharks caught and tagged within this aggregation were used to monitor core body temperature, swimming depth, and movements. Sharks had significantly higher core body temperatures in the late afternoon (1700 h–2000 h) during the summer, showed increased fidelity to thermal refuges during the day and increased movement away from these refuges at night ( χ 2, p < 0.05). Seasonal variations in warm, shallow water usage were also observed. Elevated core body temperature of mature female leopard sharks using warm shallow embayments will likely augment metabolic and physiological functions such as digestion, somatic growth, and possibly reproduction.

The Eleven Principles of Economics

In 1948, Americans in great numbers were reading Dwight D. Eisenhower's Crusade in Europe and Dale Carnegie's How to Stop Worrying and Start Living. Atop the best-seller list in fiction were two totally different reading experiences: The Big Fisherman by Lloyd Douglas and Norman Mailer's The Naked and the Dead. That year as well Kinsey's Sexual Behavior of the Human Male approached the top of the best-seller list. Also in 1948, unmentioned by Publishers Weekly, a textbook authored by a young economist at MIT was published at a suggested retail price of $4.50. The book, entitled Economics, came to outsell Eisenhower and Mailer on war, Carnegie on worrying, Douglas on the Apostle Peter, and even Kinsey on sex. The eleven principles of economics textbooks by Paul A. Samuelson encompass over three publishing decades, 9000 pages of printed text, and a combined weight of 35 pounds for a complete set.' The book has been translated into over 30 foreign languages. Samuelson's eleven principles are an imposing publishing accomplishment, all the more so against the backdrop of the author's other contributions to the discipline.2 It is as if someone won Wimbledon and also was the game's most popular sportswriter-and then kept on winning Wimbledon and writing about tennis for over forty years.

DISCOVERY OF A FERTILE PELAGOPHYCUS×MACROCYSTIS(PHAEOPHYTA) PUTATIVE HYBRID AND SUBSEQUENT PRODUCTION OF F2 SPOROPHYTES IN THE LABORATORY1

ABSTRACTA fertile putative hybrid of Pelagophycus porra (Lem.)Setch. × Macrocystis pyrifera (L.) was discovered in Big Fisherman Cove, Santa Catalina Island, California, in March 1986. The plant possessed a single, solid primary stipe that bifurcated into two secondary stipes, each with a hooked‐shaped pneumatocyst. A total of 15 blades, 14 with sori, were produced on two to three dichotomies above and below each pneumatocyst. Gametophyte development of spores released from sori and the resulting early sporophtes (2–3 mm) were typical of Laminariales. Gametophytes appeared within a day of spore germination, 500‐cell stage sporophytts within 3–4 weeks, and 2–3 mm sporophytes within 5–6 weeks. The cultures expired before branching patterns could be determined.

Histocompatibility in the Cheilostome Bryozoan "Thalamoporella californica"

Histocompatibility in the Cheilostome Bryozoan "Thalamoporella californica"

Histocompatibility in the Cheilostome Bryozoan Thalamoporella californica

Histocompatibility in the Cheilostome Bryozoan Thalamoporella californica

Juvenile nematodes (Echinocephalus pseudouncinatus) in the gonads of sea urchins (Centrostephanus coronatus) and their effect on host gametogenesis.

1. The juvenile phase of the nematode Echinocephalus pseudouncinatus occurs commonly in the gonads of the sea urchin Centrostephanus coronatus off Southern California. The gonads of about 78% of the urchins in Big Fisherman's Cove, Santa Catalina Island, were heavily infected with the juveniles. About 40% of the urchins at Pin Rock in Catalina Harbor, Santa Catalina Island, and at Whistler's Reef off Corona del Mar on the mainland coast of California were infected, although the infection was usually not as severe as in Big Fisherman's Cove. A juvenile, probably of E. psuedouncinatus, also was found in gonads of C. coronatus collected from Bahia Tortola off west-central Baja California. Although juveniles of E. pseudouncinatus also occur commonly in the foot of pink abalones, they only rarely infect other species of sea urchins in Southern California.2. The California horned shark Heterodontus francisci seems a likely host of the adult phase of E. pseudouncinatus. However, when specimens of the horned shar...

Novels on the Life of Jesus

M ANY people gain information-or misinformation--on the life of Jesus from novels. The popularity of these books is shown in the publication within the last ten years of more than a dozen, some of which have become best sellers. At the present writing The Robe appears in its fifty-fifth impression, and The Big Fisherman has sold over 400,000 copies. The books listed at the end of this article vary in literary merit and in accuracy in their portrayal of the characters, the scenes, and the background of the gospel. Some, notably The Nazarene, present a wealth of information on Jewish thought and custom in New Testament times. Others, such as The Emperor's Physician, reflect the problems and the customs of twentieth-century America. Properly used, and frequently checked against the gospel records, these books may be very helpful in individual or class study. The technique in writing a novel on the life of Jesus is to create a story that might be true, to describe historical events and add imaginary events, but not to create situations contrary to history. An exception to this rule is seen in The Big Fisherman, where Herod Antipas is assassinated shortly after the crucifixion,' although as a matter of history Herod lived several years longer and died in banishment. A critical reader will find himself asking often: Is this situation in harmony with the gospels? Could this incident have happened within the framework of the gospel story? An early acquaintance between the boy Jesus and James and John, who may have been his cousins,2 is probable. A visit to the home in Nazareth, when the disciples had opportunity to talk with Mary3 is possible, for somehow somebody heard her story of the early years. It is quite possible that Jesus spent winter months in Capernaum, quietly working at his trade.4 A retreat in the wilderness shortly before the end is not forbidden by the gospel chronology, but the Maccabean fortress with its secret entrance and secluded valley described in The Emperor's Physician must be attributed to the author's imagination. These stories remind us of how little, actually, we know of the activity of Jesus and his associates. We are not at all sure of the order in which events happened, and there are great gaps in chronology between the beginning and the end of the ministry. Characters for the novels are created by building up the lesser known characters of the gospels. How the same character is differently conceived in different stories may be illustrated by Barabbas. The record states that he was a prisoner, condemned for insurrection and murder.6 In the stories he becomes a revolutionist, plotting to overthrow Herod and the Roman government-a foil to Jesus. He is pictured as a patriotic Jew, who robs the rich and gives to the poor, and in some stories he believes himself to be Messiah. The end result for him and his movement is the same whether he is described as driven by evil motives6 or as using evil means for good ends.' One story makes him a handsome, dashing young man,8 while another traces his anti-social tendencies to the disfigurement of an ugly birthmark.' Two disciples-Judas and Simon the Zealotare variously used to tie his movement to that of Jesus. Others who are scarcely more than names in the gospels and are blown up into characters in the novels are Joseph of Arimathea, Nicodemus, Jairus, Chuza and his wife Joanna, Malchus, and Rufus. Figures that appear in * WILLIAM R. LOCKE has served pastorates in the Methodist Church in New Hampshire and Ohio and has taught in Allegheny College, Mount Union College, Lake Erie College, and, as of this fall, High Point College, High Point, N. C. The material in this article was delivered in a series of lectures at the Community School of Religion in Willoughby, Ohio.