Progress 04/01/08 to 09/30/13

Outputs
Target Audience: The project reached a diverse range of target audiences including fishermen, scientists, teachers, government resource managers, and the general public through a combination of public presentations, presentations at conferences, educational presentations, and scientific and layman publications. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Graduate students, undergraduate students, and postdocs were integral to this project and their cross-discipline training a true strength of our program. We had many students from several institutions (Old Dominion University, University of Florida, University of Miami, Virginia Institute of Marine Science, Goshen College) working together on this project with different faculty who each brought their own unique expertise and perspective to the project. The faculty too gained much from the breadth of skills that our large research team encompassed. We specifically engaged 6 - 8 undergrads from very large (University of Florida), medium-sized (Old Dominion University), and small (Goshen College) academic institutions as summer interns each summer in our project; a situation in which all lived and worked together for months at our field station in the Florida Keys. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Our results have been communicated to the scientific community in the normal ways: presentations at scientific meetings and academic institutions, website development, and peer-reviewed publications. However, we have also reached out to the public in two significant ways so as to inform them of our results, which are of particular interest given the commercial and recreational value of lobsters. Every other year (including this past year during this reporting period), we have hosted a 1 day open workshop on lobster biology and research for the public and for fishermen in the Florida Keys. Besides ourselves, we also invite other researchers who study lobsters in the region. At the workshop, we present and discuss our findings with a very interested public and to local fishery managers. In addition, we have been active in giving presentations to managers, the public, and school groups wherever we travel in the Caribbean – where lobsters are a very important part of peoples lives. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? 1. The Caribbean spiny lobster supports one of the most economically valuable fisheries in Florida, and is the most valuable fishery in the Caribbean. Thus, the sustainability of this fishery is important to recreational fishermen, but critical to the livelihoods of commercial fishermen in Florida and Caribbean-wide. "Casitas" (small structures up to 1 m x 3m placed on the seafloor) are used legally in many Caribbean fisheries to concentrate lobsters for harvest. Although they are currently illegal in the USA, fishery managers are under increasing pressure to legalize their use. Therefore, it is imperative that we gain a better understanding of the effects of casitas on lobster populations so that resource managers can make informed decisions regarding their use. We gathered information on how casitas affect lobster survival, condition, disease, and population structure relative to natural structures and traps. Casitas attract lobster predators in addition to lobsters and small lobsters are preyed upon around casitas more than large lobsters. Surprisingly, lobsters residing in casitas are in better nutritional condition than those in natural structures, regardless of lobster size. Disease (Panulirus argus Virus 1) prevalence within casitas is not markedly higher than prevalence among lobsters found in traps or natural shelters. Early results also show that lobsters do not maintain a long fidelity to casitas, but wander long distances. In summary, casitas do not appear to have an adverse impact on large lobsters either through nutritional condition, predation risk, or disease risk. However, small lobsters suffer greater predation around casitas compared to natural shelters that are better matched to their body size. Our results provide the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) with new information to help them make informed management decisions regarding casitas. Many fisheries in the Caribbean also look to the USA for leadership in fishery management and will likely consider measures taken by FWC. Furthermore, the Spiny Lobster Workshop that we put on brought together two disparate factions in the lobster fishing community - trap fishermen and diving fishermen - to discuss the scientific and management implications of legalizing casitas. An informed and sustainably managed lobster fishery will benefit all stakeholder groups in Florida, including commercial and recreational fishermen, by insuring the health and abundance of the lobster population. 2. Previous attempts to conduct the vertical transmission experiments met with limited success due to poor water quality conditions for larval rearing at our primary field research site. Therefore, for the experiments conducted in May – July 2013 we: captured gravid female lobsters or those bearing only spermatophores from the Florida Keys, drew blood and tested them for PaV1 with a pcr assay, then transported them a few hundred km north to the University of Florida’s Whitney Marine Laboratory in St. Augustine, FL where we had set up a larval rearing laboratory. The Whitney Lab has excellent seawater quality. Our experiments were successful in that we were able to rear hundreds of larvae and maintained them for 60 days to compare their growth, swimming speeds, and mortality for a standard length of time. Samples of larvae from PaV1 infected and non-infected female lobsters were periodically subjected to pcr analysis to determine their infection status. Those experiments indicate that the PaV1 virus is not transmitted vertically as we hypothesized. These laboratory results are consistent with a field study that we also completed in which we compared the PaV1-infection status of postlarval lobsters collected from offshore (10km offshore) versus inshore (a few hundred meters from shore) sites. The hypothesis being that if larvae were infected prior to onshore recruitment, then the levels of PaV1 infection would be similar at both locations. Instead, the only infections that we found were in the inshore location. These results and those from studies that we conducted earlier in the project, and reported in earlier annual reports, indicate that the PaV1 virus resides in coastal waters. Despite what appears to be a limited period of infectiousness in seawater while outside its host, the virus is exceptionally virulent to postlarval and early benthic juvenile lobsters that can be infected within just days of arriving onshore. The extraordinary genetic diversity of the virus in the Caribbean and the existence of multiple strains in the same regions (e.g., countries), suggests that virus-host dynamics are local-scale phenomena. Indeed, our field studies demonstrate how patchy infectivity can be. The virus is constrained to hard-bottom areas. We have observed no infections in early benthic juvenile lobsters caged in seagrass habitat. PaV1 infections are spatially patchy among early benthic stage juvenile lobsters caged in hard-bottom areas, but where infections occur the prevalences are very high. Again, an indication of the virus’s virulence. Our previous studies show that healthy lobsters avoid diseased conspecifics, but those studies we conducted with larger, crevice-dwelling juveniles. We’ve now pin pointed olfaction as the mechanism by which this avoidance operates. However, healthy early benthic juveniles and adult lobsters are incapable of detecting PaV1 infected conspecifics of the same life stage. The consequences of this vary among life stages: there is no transmission among adults, but rampant transmission among early benthic juveniles. Our most recent biophysical modeling simulations exploring how waterborne pathogen characteristics and oceanographic conditions impact the spread of disease in the Caribbean are detailed in the final report submitted by co-PI Dr. Claire Paris. As originally proposed, this is a more general exploration of pathogen transmission in the sea and not necessarily tied to PaV1 transmission via larval infection, which again, our latest results suggest is not a viable mode of viral dispersal. In general, those results suggest that infections by waterborne pathogens vary markedly in how fast they spread depending on the starting location of the outbreak. This has implications for emergent disease and how the hydrology of the region affects susceptibility. On average, transmission of disease to the southern Caribbean takes longer, as is also the case for the Turks and Caicos. If a waterborne disease begins in the northern Caribbean it takes longer for transmission to occur along the Mesoamerican coast and the Windward Islands. Jamaica is susceptible to disease regardless of starting location, whereas Venezuela and Colombia are among the least susceptible to pathogen dispersal from elsewhere in the Caribbean. Time to infection tends to follow a “downstream” pattern as we would expect in the complex Caribbean flows. Thus, Florida and the Northern Bahamas are sinks with respect to disease regardless of the location of its initial outbreak. This implies that if disease has multiple strains, the most diverse regions should be Florida, Cuba, and the Cay Sal Banks. Places where the disease should be the least diverse are the South American coast and the Lesser Antilles. Which generally corresponds to our viral genetic mapping of PaV1, for example. Although the project has ended, with the data now in hand and the modeling tools well developed, we plan to continue to explore with modeling the spread of disease in the Caribbean using a greater variety of pathogen characteristics.

Publications

• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Anderson, J.R., Spadaro, A.J., Baeza, J.A., and D.C. Behringer. 2013. Ontogenetic resource allocation shifts in defensive structures of the Caribbean spiny lobster, Panulirus argus (Latreille, 1804). Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 108: 87-98.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Anderson, J.R. and D.C. Behringer. 2013. Spatial dynamics in the social lobster Panulirus argus in response to diseased conspecifics. Marine Ecology Progress Series 474: 191-200.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Moss, J., Behringer, D.C., Shields, J.D., Baeza, J.A., Aguilar-Perera, A., Bush, P.G., Dromer, C., Herrera-Moreno, A., Gittens, L.g, Matthews, T.R., McCord, M.R., Sch�rer, M.T., Reynal, L., Truelove, Ng, Butler IV, M.J. 2013. Distribution, prevalence, and genetic analysis of Panulirus argus Virus I from the Caribbean Sea. Diseases of Aquatic Organisms 104: 129-140.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Under Review Year Published: 2013 Citation: Truelove, N., Preziosi, R., Behringer, D.C., and M.J. Butler IV. In review. Characterization of two microsatellite PCR multiplexes for high throughput genotyping of the Caribbean spiny lobster, Panulirus argus. Submitted to PeerJ.

Progress 10/01/11 to 09/30/12

Outputs
OUTPUTS: Continued work on NSF-funded project is aimed at determining the mechanism driving Caribbean spiny lobster disease prevalence, occurrence, and connectivity throughout the Caribbean. We worked with cooperators from local governments, universities, and the fishing industry to sample post-larval lobsters for PaV1. We also returned research results to the participating nations to keep them apprised of the status of the disease in their resource. Began work on a new project funded by Florida Sea Grant aimed at determining the effect that "casitas" have on disease dynamics in juvenile lobsters populations. "Casitas" are artificial structures used throughout the Caribbean to concentrate spiny lobsters for ease of harvest. Although concentrating lobsters may increase disease transmission, unlike traps, they do not confine lobsters, which may allow normal avoidance of diseased individuals. Hosted the 2012 UF Marine Biology Symposium in St. Augustive, FL. The meeting brought together >150 faculty, students, government agency scientists, and members of the local community from around north Florida for 2 days of sharing and learning about new discoveries. Scientific conferences: 1)Behringer, D.C., Moss, J., Shields, J.D., and M.J. Butler IV. 2012. Disease through the ages (or stages): the effects of PaV1 infection on Caribbean spiny lobsters through ontogeny. 41st Annual Marine Benthic Ecology Meeting. Norfolk, VA. 2)Anderson, J.A. and D.C. Behringer. 2011. PaV1 disease detection by the Caribbean spiny lobster and its population structuring dynamics. 64th Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute Meeting. Puerto Morelos, Mexico, November. 3)Baeza, J.A., Behringer, D.C., Moss, J., Shields, J.D., and M.J. Butler IV. 2012. Exploring exogenous and endogenous factors driving spatio-temporal variability of PaV1 viral infections in Caribbean spiny lobster. 41st Annual Marine Benthic Ecology Meeting, Norfolk, VA, March. 4)Moss, J., Butler IV, M.J., Behringer, D.C., and J.D. Shields, Jeffrey D. 2012. Prevalence and genetic diversity of Panulirus argus virus I throughout the Caribbean Sea. 41st Annual Marine Benthic Ecology Meeting, Norfolk, VA, March. 5)Anderson, J.A. and D.C. Behringer. 2011. PaV1 disease detection by the Caribbean spiny lobster and its population structuring dynamics. 64th Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute Meeting. Puerto Morelos, Mexico, November. 6)Hart, J.E., Cleveland, D.R., Anderson, J.R., and D.C. Behringer. 2012. Partners and competitors: chemical cues from each affect the sheltering habits of Caribbean spiny lobsters. 41st Annual Marine Benthic Ecology Meeting, Norfolk, VA, March. Academic/non-academic seminars: 1)Behringer, D.C. 2012. The remarkable effect of disease on the ecology of lobsters. Invited seminar at the University of Maryland - Institute of Marine and Environmental Science. 2)Behringer, D.C. 2012. The importance of ecology in the study of disease - insights from a lobster. Invited seminar at the University of Florida - School of Natural Resources and the Environment. 3)Behringer, D.C. 2012. Lobster presentation to elementary school children during "Amazing Arthropods Week" at the Florida Museum of Natural History. PARTICIPANTS: The co-principal investigator (D. Behringer) is co-leading the NSF-funded project and is the lead PI on the Florida Sea Grant project. He is responsible for all outputs except those for which he is not listed as the 1st author. In these cases, collaborators A. Baeza (Old Dominion U.), J. Moss (VA Institute of Marine Science), or students J. Anderson, E. Hart, N. Truelove (Behringer - advisor) led these outputs. Other collaborators responsible for data collection and analysis included J. Shields (VIMS), Claire Paris (University of Miami), T. Dolan (Old Dominion University). Other partner organizations included Florida Sea Grant, and the Florida Agriculture Experimental Station. TARGET AUDIENCES: The project reached a diverse range of target audiences including fishermen, scientists, teachers, government resource managers, and the general public through a combination of public presentations, presentations at conferences, educational presentations, and scientific and layman publications. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.

Impacts
Fishery: This Caribbean spiny lobster fishery often tops the list in Florida as the most valuable fishery and is the most valuable fishery species in the Caribbean. Education regarding the impact of this lethal disease is leading to changes in fishery practices and management that may stem the impact of the disease and ensure the sustainability of the resource. Fishermen and managers are keenly aware of the impact of PaV1 following presentations and look to change practices that may facilitate disease transmission. Resource manager are now taking action to reduce the impact of disease by encouraging fishermen to cull diseased lobsters from the fishery. Stock assessment scientists are beginning to recognize the importance of including disease in estimates of mortality used in stock models. Public: Presentations on marine and disease ecology to the general public at forums such as the Whitney Lab for Marine Bioscience in St. Augustine, the UF Marine Biology Symposium, and the Florida Museum of Natural History is fostering an awareness in the public about the importance of marine resources, especially to the state of Florida. Moreover, children are encouraged to enter the scientific field to pursue their curiosity about the natural world.

Publications

• Behringer, D.C., Butler IV, M.J., and J.D. Shields. 2012. Juvenile Caribbean spiny lobsters are plagued by the lethal viral pathogen PaV1. Pages 387-388 in Kruczynski, W.L. and P.J. Fletcher (eds), Tropical Connections: South Floridas Marine Environment. IAN Press, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, Cambridge, Maryland.
• Behringer, D.C., Butler, M.J. IV, and G.D. Stentiford. 2012. Disease effects on lobster fisheries, ecology, and culture: overview of DAO Special 6. Diseases of Aquatic Organisms 100: 89-93.
• Stentiford, G.D., Neil, D.M., Peeler, E., Shields, J.D., Small, H.J., Flegel, T.W., Vlak, J., Jones, B., Morado, F., Moss, S., Lotz, J., Bartholomay, L., Reantaso, M., Behringer, D.C., Hauton, C., and D.V. Lightner. 2012. Disease will limit future food supply from the global crustacean fishery and aquaculture sectors. Journal of Invertebrate Pathology 110: 141-157.
• Behringer, D.C. 2012. Diseases of wild and cultured juvenile crustaceans: insights from below the minimum landing size. Journal of Invertebrate Pathology 110: 225-233.
• Moss, J., Butler, M.J. IV, Behringer, D.C., and J.D. Shields. 2012. Genetic diversity of the Caribbean spiny lobster virus, Panulirus argus virus 1, and the discovery of PaV1 in lobster post-larvae. Aquatic Biology 14: 223-232.
• Behringer, D.C., Butler, M.J. IV, Shields, J.D., and J. Moss. 2012. PaV1 infection in the Florida Spiny Lobster Fishery and its Effects on Trap Function and Disease Transmission. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 69: 136-144.
• Anderson, J.R., and D.C. Behringer. 2012. PaV1 Detection by the Caribbean spiny lobster and its effect on population spatial structure. Proceedings of the Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute 64: 427-428.
• Truelove, N.K., Burdfield-Steel, E., Griffiths, S., Ley-Cooper, K., Preziosi, R., Butler IV, M.J., Behringer, D.C., Box, S., and S. Canty. 2012. Genetic Connectivity of Caribbean Spiny Lobster (Panulirus argus) in Belize. Proceedings of the Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute 64: 463-467.

Progress 10/01/10 to 09/30/11

Outputs
OUTPUTS: Funding was acquired from the National Science Foundation for 2009 - 2012. This project is aimed at determining the mechanism driving Caribbean spiny lobster disease prevalence, occurrence, and connectivity throughout the Caribbean. Lobsters are the most valuable fishery species in the Caribbean, so there is much interest from resource managers in determining the impact that PaV1 is having. We are working with cooperators from local governments, universities, and the fishing industry to sample lobsters for PaV1. We also return research results to the participating nations to keep them apprised of the status of the disease in their resource. Continued funding was acquired in August 2011 from Florida Sea Grant for 2012 - 2014. This project is aimed at determining the effect that "casitas" have on disease dynamics in juvenile lobsters populations. "Casitas" are artificial structures used throughout the Caribbean to concentrate spiny lobsters for ease of harvest. Although concentrating lobsters may increase disease transmission, unlike traps, they do not confine lobsters, which may allow normal avoidance of diseased individuals. Scientific conferences: 1) Behringer, D.C. 2011. The PaV1 virus in Caribbean spiny lobsters: effects above and below the minimum landing size. Annual Society for Invertebrate Pathology Meeting special session - Disease in aquatic crustaceans: problems and solutions for global food security. August. 2) Behringer, D.C., Butler, M.J., Dolan, T.W., Shields, J.D., and J. Moss. 2011. Behavior influences viral disease dynamics in the Caribbean spiny lobster. Annual Society for Invertebrate Pathology Meeting. August. 3) Behringer, D.C., M.J. Butler IV, and J.D. Shields. 2011. Ecological Effects of Panulirus argus Virus 1 (PaV1) on Caribbean Spiny Lobster Condition, Behavior, and Survival. 9th International Conference and Workshop on Lobster Biology and Management. Bergen, Norway. June. 4) Behringer, D.C., Moss, J., Shields, J.D., and M.J. Butler IV. 2011. PaV1 infection in the Florida Spiny Lobster Fishery and its Effects on Trap Function and Disease Transmission. 9th International Conference and Workshop on Lobster Biology and Management. Bergen, Norway. June. 5) Anderson, J.A.a and D.C. Behringer. 2011. PaV1 disease detection by the Caribbean spiny lobster and its population structuring dynamics. 64th Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute Meeting. Puerto Morelos, Mexico, November. 6) Butler, M.J. IV, Behringer, D.C., Shields, J.S., Paris, C., Dolan, T.W., Moss, J., and R. Cowen. 2011. Marine Diseases: Ecologically Relevant and Consequential to Lobsters. 9th International Conference and Workshop on Lobster Biology and Management. Bergen, Norway. June. 7) Moss, J., Behringer, D.C., Butler, M.J. IV, and J.D. Shields. 2011. Insight into the molecular diversity of the Caribbean spiny lobster virus, Panulirus argus virus 1. 9th International Conference and Workshop on Lobster Biology and Management. Bergen, Norway. June. Academic seminars: 1) Behringer, D.C. 2011. Marine disease and ecology in a changing ocean. Invited seminar at the University of Manchester, UK. PARTICIPANTS: The co-principal investigator (D.C. Behringer) is co-leading the NSF-funded project and is the lead PI on the new Florida Sea Grant project. He is responsible for all outputs except those for which he is not listed as the 1st author. In these cases, collaborators M.J. Butler (old Dominion U.), J. Moss (VA Institute of Marine Science), or student J. Anderson (Behringer - advisor) led these outputs. Other collaborators responsible for data collection and analysis included J. Shields (VIMS), Claire Paris and Robert Cowan (University of Miami), T. Dolan (Old Dominion University). Other partner organizations included Florida Sea Grant, and the Florida Agriculture Experimental Station. TARGET AUDIENCES: The project reached a diverse range of target audiences including fishermen, scientists, teachers, government resource managers, and the general public through a combination of public presentations, presentations at conferences, educational presentations, and scientific and layman publications. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.

Impacts
Presentations given to scientists, teachers, resource managers, and the general public have generated awareness regarding the need to protect and conserve our valuable natural resources, specifically the important spiny lobster fishery. This fishery often tops the list in Florida as the most valuable fishery and is the most valuable fishery species in the Caribbean. Education regarding the impact of this lethal disease is leading to changes in fishery practices and management that may stem the impact of the disease and ensure the sustainability of the resource. Fishermen and managers are keenly aware of the impact of PaV1 following presentations and look to change practices that may facilitate disease transmission.

Publications

• 1)Behringer, D.C., Butler, M.J. IV, Shields, J.D., and J. Moss. 2011. Review of Panulirus argus Virus 1 (PaV1)-a decade after its discovery. Diseases of Aquatic Organisms 94: 153-160. 2)Behringer, D.C. and M.J. Butler IV. 2010. Disease avoidance and its role in shelter competition and predation in Caribbean spiny lobster. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 64: 747-756.

Progress 10/01/09 to 09/30/10

Outputs
OUTPUTS: Funding for this project was acquired from Florida Sea Grant for 2008 - 2010. Surveys were conducted from onboard commercial fishing vessels in the Florida Keys. During survey trips with volunteer fisherman we had the opportunity to educate them on the current state of knowledge regarding the PaV1 virus infecting Caribbean spiny lobsters. Three graduate students Adamson, Kintzing, and Stall), and three undergraduates (Dickson, Smukall, and Baker) were trained on the project. Continued funding was acquired from the National Science Foundation for 2009 - 2012. This project is aimed at determining the mechanism driving lobster disease prevalence, occurrence, and connectivity throughout the Caribbean. Lobsters are the most valuable fishery species in the Caribbean, so there is much interest from resource managers in determining the impact that PaV1 is having. We are working with cooperators from local governments, universities, and the fishing industry to sample lobsters for PaV1. We also return research results to the participating nations to keep them apprised of the status of the disease in their resource. Scientific conferences: 1)Behringer D.C., Moss J, Shields J.D., and M.J. Butler IV. 2010. PaV1 infection in the Florida spiny lobster fishery and its effects on trap function and disease transmission. 63rd Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute Meeting. San Juan, Puerto Rico, November. 2)Behringer, D.C., Butler M.J. IV, Shields, J.D., Paris, C., Moss, J., and R. Cowen. 2010. Connectivity, environmental degradation, and behavioral influences on disease in lobster. Conference and Workshop on the Florida Keys Marine Ecosystem. Duck Key, FL, October. 3)Behringer, D.C., Moss, J., Shields, J.D., and M.J. Butler IV. 2010. The Florida Keys spiny lobster fishery, environmental change, and their interaction with lethal lobster virus PaV1. Conference and Workshop on the Florida Keys Marine Ecosystem. Duck Key, FL, October. 4)Behringer, D.C., Moss, J., Shields, J.D., and M.J. Butler IV. 2010. Reciprocal effects between the lethal spiny lobster virus PaV1 and the Florida lobster fishery. 6th International Symposium on Aquatic Animal Health. Tampa, FL, September. 5)Behringer, D.C. and M.J. Butler IV. 2010. The ecological effects of PaV1 infection on the Caribbean spiny lobster. 2010 UF Marine Biology Symposium, February. 6)Behringer, D.C. and M.J. Butler IV. 2010. The ecological effects of PaV1 infection on the Caribbean spiny lobster. UF Emerging Pathogens Institute 2010 Research Day. EPI, January. Academic seminars: 1)Behringer, D.C. 2010. Marine ecology, disease ecology, restoration ecology, and fishery ecology. Program overview for Florida Sea Grant extension agents. University of Florida. 2)Behringer, D.C. 2010. Conservation in Marine Ecosystems. Presented in Contemporary Issues in Natural Resources and Conservation. University of Florida. Informal audiences: 1)Behringer, D.C., M.J. Butler IV, J.D. Shields, and J. Moss. 2010. The lethal spiny lobster virus PaV1: how they get it, how it affects them, and its potential role in the Florida lobster fishery. 2010 Spiny Lobster Workshop - Bringing Together Fishermen, Scientists, and Managers. PARTICIPANTS: The principal investigator (D.C. Behringer) led the Florida Sea Grant funded project and is a co-principle investigator on the NSF-funded project. He was responsible for all outputs except those for which he is not listed as the 1st author. In these cases, collaborator M.J. Butler, at Old Dominion University led many of these outputs. Other collaborators responsible for data collection and analysis included J. Shields and J. Moss (Virginia Institute of Marine Science), Claire Paris and Robert Cowan (University of Miami), T. Dolan (Old Dominion University). Other partner organizations included Florida Sea Grant, and the Florida Agriculture Experimental Station. TARGET AUDIENCES: The project reached a diverse range of target audiences including fishermen, scientists, teachers, government resource managers, and the general public through a combination of public presentations, presentations at conferences, educational presentations, and scientific and layman publications. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.

Impacts
Presentations and workshops given to scientists, teachers, resource managers, and the general public have generated awareness regarding the need to protect and conserve our valuable natural resources, specifically the important spiny lobster fishery. This fishery often tops the list in Florida as the most valuable fishery and is the most valuable fishery species in the Caribbean. Education regarding the impact of this lethal disease is leading to changes in fishery practices and management that may stem the impact of the disease and ensure the sustainability of the resource. Fishermen and managers are keenly aware of the impact of PaV1 following presentations and look to change practices that may facilitate disease transmission.

Publications

• 1) Butler IV, M.J., Mojica, A., Sosa-Cordero, E., Millet, M., Sanchez-Navarro, P., Maldonado, M., Posada, J., Rodriquez, B., Rivas, C.M., Oviedo, A., Arrone, M., Prada, M., Bach, N., Jimenez, N., Garcia-Rivas, M., Forman, K., Behringer, D.C., Matthews, T., Paris, C. and R. Cowen. 2010. Patterns of Spiny Lobster (Panulirus argus) Postlarval Recruitment in the Caribbean: a CRTR Project. Proceedings of the Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute 62.
• 2) Behringer, D.C., Butler IV, M.J., and J.D. Shields. 2010. A review of the lethal spiny lobster virus PaV1 - ten years after its discovery. Proceedings of the Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute 62.

Progress 10/01/08 to 09/30/09

Outputs
OUTPUTS: Initial funding for this project was acquired from Florida Sea Grant for 2008 - 2010. Surveys were conducted from onboard commercial fishing vessels in the lower and middle Florida Keys. In the process of coordinating survey trips with volunteer fisherman we had the opportunity to educate them on the current state of knowledge regarding the PaV1 virus infecting Caribbean spiny lobsters and the goals of this project. Three graduate students (A. Adamson, M. Kintzing, and C. Stall), and three undergraduate students (M. Dickson, M. Smukall, and J. Baker) were trained while working on the project. Continued funding for this project was recently acquired from the National Science Foundation for 2009 - 2012. This project is aimed at determining the mechanism driving lobster disease prevalence, occurrence, and connectivity throughout the Caribbean-wide distribution of the Caribbean spiny lobster. Lobsters are the most valuable fishery species in the Caribbean, so there is much interest from Caribbean resource managers in determining the impact that PaV1 is having on their fisheries. We are working with cooperators from local governments, universities, and the fishing industry to sample lobsters and survey habitat for PaV1. At the same time, we educate them on our current state of knowledge regarding the disease. We also return research results to the participating nations to keep them apprised of the status of the disease in their resource. Output from this project has been presented to scientific, educational, and general public audiences at the following events: Scientific conferences: 1)Behringer, D.C., M.J. Butler IV, and J.D. Shields. 2009. The epidemiological status of PaV1, and the effects of infection on Caribbean spiny lobster (Panulirus argus) condition, olfaction, and predation risk. 101st Annual National Shellfisheries Association Meeting, Savannah, GA, March. 2)Behringer, D.C. and M.J. Butler IV. 2009. Effects of catastrophic cyanobacteria blooms on spiny lobster population dynamics in Florida Bay. 101st Annual National Shellfisheries Association Meeting, Savannah, GA, March. Resource management meetings: 1)Behringer, D.C., M.J. Butler IV, and M. Kintzing. 2009. Investigating the role of the spotted spiny lobster (Panulirus guttatus) in the recovery of the long-spined sea urchin (Diadema antillarum) on the coral reefs of the Florida Keys. Mote Marine Laboratory Protect Our Reefs grant advisory panel meeting, NOAA Eco-Discovery Center, Key West, Florida, April. Academic seminars: 1)Behringer, D.C. 2009. Conservation and restoration in aquatic ecosystems. University of Florida Veterinary Medical School, Gainesville, FL, September. Informal audiences: 1)Behringer, D.C. 2009. The epidemiology and ecological relevancy of a novel disease in the Caribbean spiny lobster. University of Florida Veterinary Medical School, Gainesville, FL, March. 2)Behringer, D.C. 2009. The epidemiology and ecological relevancy of a novel disease in the Caribbean spiny lobster. Bigelow Marine Laboratory for Ocean Sciences, Booth Bay Harbor, Maine, May. PARTICIPANTS: The principal investigator (D.C. Behringer) led the Florida Sea Grant funded project and is a co-principle investigator on the NSF-funded project. He was responsible for all outputs except those for which he is not listed as the 1st author. In these cases, collaborator M.J. Butler, at Old Dominion University led many of these outputs. Other collaborators responsible for data collection and analysis included J. Shields and J. Moss (Virginia Institute of Marine Science), Claire Paris and Robert Cowan (University of Miami), T. Dolan (Old Dominion University), William Herrnkind (Florida State University), W. Sharp (Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission -FWC), J. Hunt (FWC), Y. Kiryu (FWC), J. Landsberg (FWC), D. Petty (University of Florida), and C. Acosta (Northern Kentucky University). Other partner organizations included the Center for Ocean Science Education Excellence, Florida Sea Grant, the Florida Agriculture Experimental Station, Bigelow Marine Laboratory for Ocean Sciences, the University of Florida Veterinary Medical School. TARGET AUDIENCES: The project reached a diverse range of target audiences including fishermen, scientists, teachers, government resource managers, and the general public through a combination of public presentations, presentations at conferences, educational presentations, and scientific and layman publications. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.

Impacts
Presentations and workshops given to scientists, teachers, resource managers, and the general public have generated awareness regarding the need to protect and conserve our valuable natural resources, specifically the important spiny lobster fishery. This fishery often tops the list in Florida as the most valuable fishery and is the most valuable fishery species in the Caribbean. Education regarding the impact of this lethal disease is leading to changes in fishery practices and management that may stem the impact of the disease and ensure the sustainability of the resource. Fishermen and managers throughout the Caribbean and Florida are keenly aware of the impact of PaV1 following presentations and look to change practices that may facilitate disease transmission.

Publications

• Behringer, D.C., Butler IV, M.J., Herrnkind, W.F., Hunt, J.H., Acosta, C.A., and W.C. Sharp. 2009. Is seagrass an important nursery habitat for the Caribbean spiny lobster, Panulirus argus, in Florida New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research 43: 327-337.
• Behringer, D.C. and M.J. Butler IV. 2009. Disease avoidance and its role in shelter competition and predation in Caribbean spiny lobster. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology DOI 10.1007/s00265-009-0892-5.
• Kiryu, Y., Behringer, D.C., Landsberg, J.H., and D.B. Petty. 2009. Microsporidiosis in the Caribbean spiny lobster Panulirus argus from southeast Florida, USA. Diseases of Aquatic Organisms 84: 237-242.

Progress 10/01/07 to 09/30/08

Outputs
OUTPUTS: Funding for this project has been acquired from Florida Sea Grant for 2008 - 2010 through a competitive request for proposals. We are in the process of conducting surveys of PaV1 disease prevalence among lobsters within the fishery. Surveys are conducted from onboard commercial fishing vessels in the lower, middle, and upper Florida Keys. In the process of coordinating survey trips with volunteer fisherman we have had the opportunity to educate them on the current state of knowledge regarding PaV1 and the goals of this project. Two graduate students, Alecia Adamson and Meredith Kintzing, are being mentored and trained while working on the project. Output from this project has been presented to scientific, educational, and general public audiences at the following events: Scientific conferences: 1) Behringer, D.C. and M.J. Butler IV. 2008. The Effects of Fishing and Harmful Algal Blooms on Sponge Ecology in the Florida Keys USA. 11th International Coral Reef Symposium, Fort Lauderdale, FL, July. 2) Behringer, D.C. and M.J. Butler IV. 2008. Chemical detection of disease in Caribbean spiny lobsters and the effect of disease avoidance behavior in a shelter limited system. 37th Annual Marine Benthic Ecology Meeting, Providence, RI, April. 3) Behringer, D.C., M.J. Butler IV, and J.D. Shields. 2007. Dynamics and impact of a viral pathogen infecting Caribbean spiny lobsters in the Florida Keys. Emerging Pathogens Institute Fall Research Retreat, Gainesville, FL, December. 4) Behringer, D.C., M.J. Butler IV, and J.D. Shields. 2007. The function of behavior in reducing PaV1 infection risk among Caribbean spiny lobsters, potential modes of transmission, and geographic "hot spots". 8th International Conference and Workshop on Lobster Biology and Management, Prince Edward Island, Canada, September - October. 5) Behringer, D.C., Butler IV, M.J., and W.F. Herrnkind. 2007. Is seagrass an important nursery habitat for Caribbean spiny lobsters, Panulirus argus 8th International Conference on Lobster Biology and Management, Prince Edward Island, Canada, September - October. Resource management meetings: 1) Butler IV, M.J., D.C. Behringer, J.H. Hunt, and T. Matthews. 2008. Algae bloom workshop: re-evaluation of management needs in Florida Bay. Homestead, FL, March. Educational workshops: 1) Behringer, D.C., Butler IV, M.J., and J.D. Shields. 2008. The evolution of a discovery: the ecology and pathology of a newly discovered disease in Caribbean spiny lobsters. Center for Ocean Science Education Excellence Teacher Workshop, Cedar Key, FL, June. Informal audiences: 1) Behringer, D.C. 2008. From the Everglades to the Florida Keys - ecology in impacted ecosystems. Florida Museum of Natural History Docents Seminar, Gainesville, FL, September. 2) Behringer, D.C., Butler IV, M.J., and J.D. Shields. 2008. The ecology and impacts of a lethal virus plaguing spiny lobsters in Florida. Lighthouse Point Saltwater Sportsman's Association, Lighthouse Point, FL, July. 3) Behringer, D.C., Butler IV, M.J., and J.D. Shields. 2008. The ecology and impacts of a lethal virus plaguing spiny lobsters in Florida. Pompano Beach Spearfishing Club, Pompano Beach, FL, April. PARTICIPANTS: The principal investigator (D.C. Behringer) led all projects and was responsible for all outputs except those for which he is not listed as the 1st author. In these cases, collaborator M.J. Butler, at Old Dominion University led these outputs. Other collaborators responsible for data collection and analysis included J. Shields (Virginia Institute of Marine Science), T. Dolan and R. Ratzlaf (Old Dominion University), William Herrnkind (Florida State University), William Sharp and John Hunt (Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission), Brian Keller and Fiona Wilmot (Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary), and C. Acosta (Northern Kentucky University). Other partner organizations included the Center for Ocean Science Education Excellence, Florida Sea Grant, Pompano Beach Spearfishing Club, the Florida Museum of Natural History, and the Lighthouse Point Saltwater Sportsman's Association. TARGET AUDIENCES: The project reached a diverse range of target audiences including fishermen, scientists, teachers, government resource managers, and the general public through a combination of public presentations, presentations at conferences, educational workshops, and scientific and layman publications. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.

Impacts
Presentations and workshops given to scientists, teachers, resource managers, and the general public have generated awareness regarding the need to protect and conserve our valuable natural resources, specifically the important spiny lobster fishery. This fishery often tops the list in Florida as the most valuable fishery and education regarding the impact of this lethal disease is leading to changes in fishery practices and management that may stem the impact of the disease and ensure the sustainability of the resource. Fishermen and managers are keenly aware of the impact of PaV1 following presentations and look to change practices that may facilitate disease transmission.

Publications

• Behringer, D.C., Butler IV, M.J., and J.D. Shields. 2009. Juvenile Caribbean spiny lobsters are plagued by the lethal viral pathogen PaV1. In: A summary of our knowledge of the south Florida ecosystem. W.L. Kruczynski and P.J. Fletcher, editors. University of Maryland Press. Accepted.
• Behringer, D.C., Butler IV, M.J., Herrnkind, W.F., Hunt, J.H., Acosta, C.A., and W.C. Sharp. 2009. Is seagrass an important nursery habitat for the Caribbean spiny lobster, Panulirus argus, in Florida Proceedings of the 8th International Conference and Workshop on Lobster Biology and Management. New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research. In press.
• Behringer, D.C., Butler IV, M.J., and J.D. Shields. 2008. Ecological and physiological effects of PaV1 Infection on the Caribbean Spiny Lobster (Panulirus argus Latreille). Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 359: 26-33.
• Butler, M.J., Behringer, D.C., and J.D. Shields. 2008. Transmission of Panulirus argus virus1 (PaV1) and its effect on the survival of juvenile Caribbean spiny lobster. Disease of Aquatic Organisms 79: 173-182.
• Butler IV, M.J., Behringer, D.C. and J.D. Shields. 2007. Resource conditions: lobster disease and sponge fishery impacts. Pp. 139-142 in: Keller, B.D., and F.C. Wilmot, eds. Connectivity: science, people and policy in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Colloquium proceedings, 19-21 August 2004, Key West, FL. Marine Sanctuaries Conservation Series NMSP-07. U.S. Department of Commerce, NOAA, National Marine Sanctuary Program, Silver Spring, MD. 272 pp.