Representing the conventional 'top predators', Mitch Rider from the UM Shark Lab joins the #NF1802 blog

One of our graduate students, Mitch Rider, joins us for another post #ontheblog!

Mitch, John and Chief Survey Tech deploy the CTD  rosette

"My name is Mitchell Rider and I am currently a Master’s Student at the Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science in Miami, FL. I work as a Laboratory Technician in the FORCES Lab tracking eddies using satellite imagery supporting the MBON₁ project, while my graduate research investigates shark movement ecology in relation to urbanization. I was very fortunate to have the opportunity to join the lab on this cruise.

Mitch discovers plankton!

My goals were to gain experience working in the open sea (since shark tagging trips last up to six hours) and to participate in the process of taking plankton samples. One of the most significant things I experienced was sorting through plankton samples collected from bongo and neuston nets. I was fascinated to find a plethora of organisms I have never seen before in addition to the larval forms of fish that I am very familiar with such as mahi-mahi, pufferfish, and lionfish. I was most excited in my newfound ability to identify larval bluefin tuna since that was one of the target species of this cruise. I would like to thank the FORCES Lab and the crew of the Nancy Foster for this opportunity to participate in the RESTORE NF1802 Cruise. This experience opened my eyes to a different field of study that is both fascinating and worth looking into for a future career as a marine scientist.

Zooplankton typically encountered in the Gulf of Mexico in May! Magnification is 10x

Sarah, Raul and Mitch with the plankton net

Survey track for leg 2 aboard NOAA Ship Nancy Foster #NF1802

Mitch in his Shark-Life. Image by M. Bernanke

"As I mentioned before, my work as a lab technician for the FORCES Lab consists of tracking and measuring the sizes of mesoscale and submesoscale eddies along the Florida Channel. This entails running through daily chlorophyll and sea surface temperature satellite imagery and identifying potential eddies. In addition, I am also pursuing my Master of Science degree at RSMAS where my research is investigating the relationship between shark movement and boat traffic. This is achieved
through analyzing the residency patterns of sharks detected on our acoustic receiver array in relation to boat passages that are recorded using passive acoustic hydrophones or ‘underwater listening stations'".

If you are interested in more shark-y research, check out the UM Shark Lab on FB!


₁"The National Marine Sanctuaries serve as sentinel sites for monitoring marine biodiversity of the nation’s coastal, shelf and deep-sea ecosystems. The Sanctuaries MBON project includes Monterey Bay, Flower Garden Banks and Florida Keys ecosystems to assess: 1) the deep sea (pelagic realm and seabed); 2) continental shelves; 3) estuaries and nearshore regions; and 4) coral reefs." (source: MBON website)

Mapping the Unknown

During leg one we took a break from our normal operations to collect some data for our friends and colleagues at the NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries. NOAA is responsible for the conservation and management of over 170,000 square miles of America's most iconic natural and cultural marine resources designated as National Marine Sanctuaries. Sanctuaries seek to preserve the extraordinary scenic beauty, biodiversity, historical connections and economic productivity of our most precious underwater treasures.

Like the United States, every country in the Caribbean has it's own special Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) that they work to conserve for future generations. Cuba is a shining example with 126 Marine Protected Areas and boasting some of the most pristine and healthy coral reefs in the Caribbean.

Map of the newly designated Sister Sanctuaries - Guanahacabibes and Banco de San Antonio in Cuba, and Florida Keys and Flower Garden Banks national marine sanctuaries in the United States.

As you know from previous posts, the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico are connected by ocean currents. In an effort to conserve our interrelated marine ecosystems, NOAA, the US National Park Service, and Cuba’s Ministry of Science, Technology and Environments signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on November 18, 2015 that aims to facilitate cooperation on the science, stewardship and management related to Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). This was a historical agreement between two neighboring countries only recently resuming diplomatic relations. The MOU included a Sister MPA program that recognizes the important connections among the newly designated Sister Sanctuaries - Guanahacabibes and Banco de San Antonio in Cuba, and Florida Keys and Flower Garden Banks national marine sanctuaries in the United States. And the sharing of scientific research and outreach information promoted by this program will hopefully lead to increased protection of our delicate marine ecosystems.

Evolution of bathymetric mapping technology. 

While in the vicinity of Banco de San Antonio, we temporarily pulled in our plankton nets and switched on the multibeam echo sounder to make a bathymetric map of Banco de San Antonio. Bathymetry is essentially "underwater topography" and these maps illustrate the three-dimensional features (relief) of the sea floor. Although this type of work is out of our range of expertise, the crew of the Nancy Foster are experts. Survey Technicians Nick and Samantha have conducted hundreds of miles of mapping and specialize in turning the data collected into beautiful topographic maps. In fact, this type of bottom mapping is the sole mission of many NOAA ships who tirelessly survey the ocean bottom and provide this information to to the general public in the form of nautical charts that allow safe passage to all U.S. ports for both commercial and recreational boaters.

Bathymetric map of  Banco de San Antonio created from Nancy Foster survey data overlaid on a nautical chart, color corresponds to depth (warm=shallow). Charted depths in meters.

Three dimensional closeup of the southeastern portion of Banco de San Antonio. Red bumps likely correspond to coral formations.

The images produced through the Nancy Foster's work will provide information about the habitat and terrain on this very interesting feature that contains high biodiversity, including many species of fish, sponges, and corals. The bathymetric map will direct future research that will use methods such as underwater cameras, SCUBA divers, and possibly ROVs (remotely operated underwater vehicles) to explore in more detail the habitats on Banco de San Antonio.

Mowing the lawn: The Nancy Foster's track can be seen in orange as progress is made during mapping. The speed, direction and spacing of every pass over the bank is crucial to getting the highest quality data and requires an experienced bridge team.

Senior Survey Technician Samantha Martin monitors progress of the Nancy Foster's effort to map Banco de San Antonio.