Former Graduate Student Research Projects

Aquaculture

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Red swamp crayfish (Procambarus carkii), and white river crayfish (Procambarus acutus acutus) will be stocked separately (intraspecific-treatment) or in combination (interspecific-treatment) in tanks to determine the growth and survival in a competitive setting with rice. Initial total length of newly hatched third instar crayfish of P. a. acutus (10 mm TL) and P. clarki (8 mm TL) will be used these experiments. The experiment with a stand of green rice will run from October 2000 to March 2001 to simulate over winter culture conditions. Water level in plastic tank (0.09m2) will be maintained with a stand pipe. Commercial crayfish feed will be added ad libitum daily to supplement the rice forage and associated periphyton. Florescent lights will be set on 12 L: 12 D cycle. Each tank will be contained 12 crayfish, either 12 individuals of the same species (interspecific-treatment) or 6 individuals of each species (intraspecific-treatment). Crayfish will be count and measured at the end of experimental period because of problem of samples small crayfish in rice stands.

In a separate experiment, crayfish competition will be tested without rice (natural cover) in 15-L aquarium. Water temperature will be controlled. Temperature will be stand at 26 oC and after 5-d period, temperatures will be lowered at 2 oC intervals each 5-d until temperatures reach 10 oC. Water temperatures will be held for 5 d at 10 oC and then raised again at 5-d intervals by 2 oC to 26 oC. Each aquarium will be contained 6 crayfish, either 6 individuals of the same species (interspecific-treatment) or 3 individuals of each species (intraspecific-treatment). During the experiment supplemental feed ad libitum will be provided to crayfish 5 d/wk. Feces and waste feed will be siphoned daily before feeding. Each month crayfish will be counted and measured for total length over the 90-d experimental period. Growth and survival will be compared between intraspecific and interspecific treatments.

Winthrop Taylor, MS in AFW

Sponsors/Cooperators: South Carolina Agricultural Experiment Station and South Carolina Sea Grant Consortium

Advisor: Joseph R. Tomasso, Jr.

Two studies were conducted to examine the influence of salinity on low temperature tolerance of southern flounder, Paralichthys lethostigma. Juveniles were acclimated to 20 C at salinities of 1, 5, 10, 20 and 30 ppt in study one and 1, 10, and 30 ppt in study two. Temperatures were decreased approximately 1 C per day to a nominal 4 C and 2 C, in studies one and two respectively. Fish were subjected to the low temperatures for 10 days and then returned to the initial temperature (20 C) at a rate of approximately 1 C per day. Mortality ranged from 0 to 10 % in study one and from 30 to 100 % in study two and was significantly affected by salinity. Results of this research indicate that the chronic low-level tolerance limit is between 2 and 4 C and that increased salinity offers some mitigating effect.

The water quality characteristics of the Partitioned Aquaculture System (PAS) for the intensive culture of catfish and co-culture of tilapia has been researching since 1988 in Clemson University.

Algal reach pond water is recirculated between intensive culture raceways and waste treatment channels. 4 0.01 ha experimental PAS units are dedicated to the quantification of the algal uptake kinetics of filter- feeders (tilapia and mussel). Uptake rate is observed in flow-through tanks as mgC/kg wet tissue weight/hr. This provides the uptake rate vs algal cell concentration performance of the filter-feeders.

In this system, dissolved and particulate organic matter are largely assimilated by algae (bluegreen and green) which are then ingested and mineralized by filter-feeders.

Harvesting algae by Tilapia from the system has two important functions (Brune et al. 1995):

Nitrogen lost by the target species (about 60% of feed N) can be recovered in the flesh of the non-target species.
Control the algal population in the pond such that a net high rate of algal production is possible.

For latest updates: http://people.clemson.edu/~hturker/abstrct2.htm

Characterization of the External and Internal Isolated Strains of Flovbacterim columnare on Channel Catfish

and its Secretroy Immunity on Skin Mucus Against Columnaris Infection

Praparsiri Srisopaporn, PhD in AFW

Advisor: Tom Schwedler

A skin lesion and brain strain of F. columnare isolated from channel catfish are compared the growth in different media
and biochemical & physiological identification. The related antigenicity of proteins of both strains is characterized by electrohoresis analysis. In an attempt to produce monoclonal antibody (MAb) from mice, hybridoma cells are prepared by fusing mice splenocyte cells and myeloma cells, using ELISA and Western Immunoblotting technique to examine the antibody recognizing the specific protein of bacteria. The challenge columnaris infection is conducted and used MAbs to detect secretory immunoglobulin on skin channel catfish mucus.

Fisheries

Wildlife

MaeLee A. Hafer
Degree Program: Ph. D. in Fisheries and Wildlife Science
Dissertation Title: An examination of landscape-scale ecosystem management efforts and their implications for forestry.
Past Degrees: B. S. Wildlife & Fisheries Biology, 1986, Frostburg State University
M. S. Aquaculture, Fisheries and Wildlife Biology, 1992, Clemson University

John R. Cummings
Degree Program: Ph. D. in Fisheries and Wildlife Science
Dissertation Title: Environmental factors affecting productivity and population dynamics of barn owls.
Past Degrees: B.S. Biology, 1983, Bowling Green State University
M. S. Biology, 1988, Bowling Green State University

Asynchronous hatching in RCWs is being examined on a large longleaf pine landscape in the coastal plain of South Carolina. A modified insert was placed in the cavity tree or a nearby tree of many of the male RCWs in 20 experimental groups. The modified inserts have a removable plug above and below the cavity entrance. The lower plug allows access to the eggs and nestling for examination and marking. Although in the first year of the study only four nests were in modified inserts, useful data was obtained in these sites. Frequent monitoring of the nest allowed us to mark each egg with a number that indicated the order in which it was laid. Nestlings were also uniquely marked so we could continue to follow an individual's development and survival. Results will suggest which nestling survives with respect to order in laying sequence and vigor of the individual. To learn more about the bird's behavior that leads to asynchronous hatching, video recordings of the nesting activities in modified inserts were obtained by placing a camera in the upper hole. In experimental groups that did not nest in inserts, a camera on an extension pole, a Apeeper,@ was used daily to monitor nest contents. To test for detrimental effects of our frequent and intensive examination of the bird's nesting activities, fledging success rates of the 20 experimental groups were compared with 20 control groups.

Jay Cantrell, MS in AFW

Sponsors/Cooperators: SCDNR, Westvaco, International Paper, Back Woods Quail Club

Faculty Advisor: Dr. Tim Fendley

 

This project involved trapping deer / equipping them with radio-transmitter collars and tracking deer daily for location and mortality. The results of telemetry will be used to determine home range size & emigration rates and distances. Non-hunting and hunting mortalities will be compared. Biological data from harvested deer along with population census will determine the
relative condition of the deer herd.

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Avian Community Response to a Golf Course Landscape Unit Gradient
Stephen Jones, MS - AFW
Sponsors/Cooperators: USGA (US Golf Association) & NFWF (Nat. Fish and Wildlife Foundation)
Advisor: Dr. Dave Gordon

This project will assess the value of coastal SC and NC golf course landscape units to avain communities, provide a set of specific recommendations for managing and enhancing habitat for avian species and produce a set of outreach products targeted at golf course stakeholder groups. The methodological approach will use the principles, concepts and analytical methods of landscape ecology to identify and classify landscape elements within the sample golf course landscape units. This will be accomplished using GIS technology integrated with remote sensing and image analysis technology to analyze color infra-red aerial photography supported by ground-truthing in the field. The classified imagery will then be used to develop a sampling design to determine composition and species richness of the avian communtiy.

South Carolina Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Unit completed projects