South Florida Student Shark Program

Graduate student Neil Hammerschlag, under the guidance of David Die, University of Miami-RSMAS, recently brought a group of students to KML for their June shark tagging in The Everglades National Park. The South Florida Student Shark Program is a partnership between the University of Miami, NOAA Living Marine Resources Cooperative Science Center, The Exlorers Club, and the Herbert W. Hoover Foundation. The research objectives focus on
1) determining the relative abundance, growth rates, and sex ratios of coastal shark species;
2) determining the presence and concentrations of mercury toxicity in coastal sharks;
3) characterizing sites important to the life history and ecology of sharks;
4) developing geographic information systems maps that incorportate data on shark population dynamics, genetics, eco-toxicity, and habitat use;
5) delineating areas of important for shark congregation, foraging, migration, and parturition as well as areas where sharks are susceptibale to bio-accumulation of mercury toxicity.

Bullshark being brought alongside the boat for measuring and taggingAnother important aspect of the project is to foster marine sciences, environmental stewardship mentoring, and public awareness through a network of interaction among high school, undergraduate and graduate students.















Magnificent 11' Great Hammerhead



















14' Small-toothed Sawfish: Sawfish are an endangered species and require special permits to handle and tag. This fish was released unharmed, as quickly and safely as possible.


A very successful day in the field!
(photos by M. McCallister)

Vandenberg Down!

Keys Marine Lab offered the use of their 25' Parker, the R/V Mola Mola, and a team of divers to assist with the Vandenberg Project May 27-28th off of Key West.


The 525' navy vessel, the USS Hoyt Vandenberg, built in 1943 and used as a troop transport ship during WW II, then as a missile tracking ship, was decommissioned in 1986. After 16 years of fund-raising and planning, the "Vandy" was towed to Key West in May 2009 for final preparations for sinking. The Vandenberg is now the 2nd largest artificial reef in the world and is expected to attract many eager divers.














Marine mammal and turtle watch within the Zone of Impact (within 0.3 nm of the hull)

















First blast detonated at 10:22am....


























...last view of the stern...



...totally below the surface in less than 2 minutes!














The bomb squad checked the hull for unexploded ordinances (glad to let them go first!) FKNMS personnel did the final safety check and rigging for the 6 mooring balls and then....

KML & FWRI staff were the first research divers to view the Vandy and record depths of the structures above the main deck. (photos by K. Mille)

first view of the stern at 92'


one of the radar satellite towers (64' depth)

divers exploring the upper decks



















The Conch Republic...even under the sea!














Bow of the USS Hoyt Vandenberg (at 97' depth)
















Assent back to the real world but the memories of a once-in-a-lifetime dive!

How important is structure?

Studying the effects of habitat complexity on coral community diversity and abundance

Brittany Huntington,

PhD candidate

University of Miami

This study will use the Long Key Bridge Rubble, an existing artificial reef structure in the Florida Keys, to explore the role of habitat complexity and spatial configuration in structuring coral communities.
Coral reefs are valued as unique ecosystems with high levels of biodiversity; however, little is known about which features of reef structure are crucial in supporting the diverse coral assemblages found on these reefs. While studies have linked greater reef complexity to greater fish diversity and abundance, the role of structural habitat complexity on the stony coral community remains unclear. By utilizing an existing artificial patch reef array with varying physical structure and a distinct spatial arrangement among patches, we will test the hypotheses that greater habitat complexity (‘habitat heterogeneity hypotheses’) and great proximity to neighboring patches supports greater coral diversity and abundance. This approach capitalizes on the unique structural variations within an existing artificial reef complex to test predictions of habitat complexity that would be difficult, if not impossible, to manipulate on natural reefs. In addition, we will be able to test the impacts of patch spatial arrangement on recruitment rates and coral abundance by monitoring both ‘edge’ and ‘middle’ patches within the artificial reef complex.
Field sampling will consist of extensive surveys of existing coral reef communities across similarly sized artificial patches of varying substrate complexity and spatial configuration. Percent cover of benthic organisms and coral species richness will be determined for each patch. Lastly, rates of coral recruitment will be measured using coral settlement tiles attached to each study reef.
Initial mapping of artificial patches was completed in March 2009, and complexity of each patch was recorded. In mid-March, a 6-member dive team conducted the initial sampling of the 16 study patches. Fish counts, benthic cover, coral demography and patch complexity data was taken for each patch. Recruitment tiles could not be hammered into the concrete of the artificial reefs, hence the tiles were not deployed. We are currently testing and building alternative rigs to hold recruitment tiles for deployment at our study reefs and hope to install the tiles in early May 2009.

Given the current degradation of reefs from bioerosion, coral disease and habitat fragmentation, there is a pressing need to elucidate the importance patch quality and spatial configuration to coral community dynamics. Results from this study will enhance our ability to manage reefs for abiotic features that contribute to robust coral communities, shaping future restoration efforts and design of coral reef reserves.

Studying Kin Conflict in the Elongate Twig Ant (Pseudomyrmex gracilis)

Volker Schmid, PhD student

University of Regensburg, Germany

My research topic is the social behaviour of ants, especially conflicts among members of the same colony. Because all ants within a colony are related to each other to a more or less high degree, each colony can be regarded as a kind of family. As in human families, conflicts may arise between individuals within a colony over certain matters: e.g. how many resources should be invested in the production of either female or male sexuals (those ants which spread out and reproduce, the females eventually founding new colonies); or who produces the male offspring, which is not necessarily only the queen. In the absence of a queen, evolutionary theory predicts that worker ants begin laying eggs which develop into males (workers usually cannot produce female offspring).

Elongate twig ant sucking honey placed on a leaf in the field (Curry Hammock State Park)

I will be testing this evolutionary theory on the Elongate Twig Ant (Pseudomyrmex gracilis). Native to Mexico, this species invaded Florida during the second half of the 20^th century and can be found today at many locations in disturbed habitats or habitat edges (e.g. along roadsides). Using the Keys Marine Lab as my base of operations, I have collected colonies from various locations throughout the Florida Keys (Long Key State Park, Curry Hammock State Park, and Fort Zachery Taylor State Park). Captured colonies will be taken to Germany where I will continue observations of the social interactions and kin conflict of these ants.

The rest of the KML fleet

R/V MolaMola

25' Parker, center console, modified-V hull
powered by 225hp Yamaha 4-stroke engine
large dive platform and sturdy dive ladder
capacity: 2200 lb or 11 passengers plus a captain

R/V NariNari
18' Parker center console,
powered by 175hp Yamaha 4-stroke engine
capacity: 1800 lb. or 5 passengers plus staff captain
Also available for use by KML scientists without staff captain on board. Inquire about requirements for our boat rental policy

13' Boston Whaler
capacity: 300 lbs or 2 people
powered by an electric start 25hp 4-stroke Mercury
For use near the lab (Long Key and nearshore waters) by KML scientists without staff captain on board

R/V Tiburo is back on the water

KML's R/V Tiburo has a new look these days. This grand old 24' T-Craft has been renovated, reconditioned, and is ready for trips back into Florida Bay. Powered by a 175hp Yahmaha engine, she has 1200 lb maximum capacity or 8 passengers plus a captain. "Tib" offers plenty of open deck space for portable live-wells and gear.

KML's Sea Water Tanks

KML's newly-renovated seawater tank farm is once again ready for education groups and researchers! Coarsely filtered seawater is drawn from the lagoon in front of the wetlab seawall... ...into a holding pond (formerly Shallows 4). Seawater is pulled from the holding pond to fill our various tanks. Over-flow from the holding pond runs directly to the large 220,000 gallon capacity Shallows (formerly Shallows 5) which has an average depth of 32".

We monitor water quality (temp, DO, salinity) daily from 4 locations around the lab: our marina basin, near-shore Florida Bay off our outer seawall, the lagoon near our intake point, and the Shallows. Dissolved oxygen readings in the Shallows have been consistently between 60% and 85% throughout the winter, in spite of dense mats of rack along the seawall.

Phase I of KML's seawater system offers a variety of tanks and wet tables with water flow rates ranging from 300 gal. per hr. to 600 gal. per hr. Water levels in the tanks and tables can be adjusted by variable stand-pipes.

Tanks and tables under lattice shade structure:

A total of 6 wet tables (23"W x 6'L) - 3 outside and 3 under the Wet Lab Pavilion, maximum water depth 8", approx. 60 gal. capacity; ideal for smaller specimens and student group observations

A total of 6 fiberglass tanks (foreground, 26"W x 4'L), maximum water depth 12"; approx. 75 gal. capacity
Two 6' diam. round fiberglass tanks (upper left), maximum water depth 24"; approx. 350 gal capacity
One 8' diam. round fiberglass tank (upper right), maximum water depth 36"; approx. 1100 gal. capacity


4 black livestock tanks (3'W x 5'L), maximum water depth 18"; approx. 1300 gal. capacity
Two 8' diam round tanks, maximum water depth 18", approx. 530 gal. capacity

Tanks exposed to full sunlight:

1 fiberglass raceway (8' long x 21" wide), maximum water depth 12", approx. 120 gal. capacity

4 fiberglass raceways (12' long x 21" wide), maximum water depth 12"; approx. 160 gal. capacity

We anticipate continuing to expand our seawater system to meet the needs of our visitors.

KML's Wet Lab Pavilion is ready to go!

KML staff have continued to work hard throughout the winter on our seawater system and open-air wet lab. We have 2 banks of acrylic aquariums set up inside the wetlab pavilion and plumbed for seawater.
One bank of twelve 15-gal. aquariums (12"W x 24"L x 12" deep) are individually plumbed. These aquariums have the option of using an in-line filtration system which passes through a series of two 20" filter housings. Filter cartridges are available from 50 microns down to 0.35 microns. The second bank of acrylic aquariums are plumbed as 3 flow-through unfiltered seawater systems. The top tier has eleven 2-gal tanks (8" x 8" x 8") and eight 10-gal. tanks (12"W x 15"L x 12" deep). The bottom tier consists of eight 15-gal. (12"W x 24"L x 12" deep) tanks. We have three 75-gal. seawater tables (23"W x 6'3"L x 12" deep) under the wet lab pavilion. Water levels in the tables can be controlled by stand-pipes. Work benches will be set up along the walls to accommodate a variety of separate aquariums and any other necessary equipment. Plenty of open floor space around the tables will accommodate students. Fresh-water sinks (no chemicals down the drains please!) and wash-down hoses are conveniently located around the wetlab.
And if that's not enough, you just can't beat the view from the wet lab and our new sea wall! Sunsets here are spectacular looking out over Florida Bay and the Gulf of Mexico.