The EISF production team returns to Florida for more in-depth investigation into the researchers studying the Gulf of Mexico's red tide. EISF goes into the field with scientists and engineers from the University of Southern Florida (USF) - College of Marine Science (CMS) and Center for Ocean Technology (COT), Mote Marine Laboratory, along with Florida’s Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, documenting their collaborative efforts to develop and employ state-of-the-art oceanographic technology to unlock secrets of the red tide's harmful algal bloom.
Dan Powell, EISF's Director of Marine Operations, reports on the Behind-the-Scenes production of this High Definition Documentary Project; voyaging offshore on research cruises, diving into sea grass habitats, and flying over the Tampa Bay area in a helicopter for aerial footage.
Right: Aerial photo of the University of South Florida - College of Marine Science facility and dock with research vessels.
After working overtime performing ocean engineering on Navy projects for the last few months, I was so ready for a break. Timing was ripe when Susan Sember, EISF President, called me up and offered tasking to work on an high definition documentary production covering oceanographers researching the red tide, along with another HD documentary production later in the week, on critical sea grass studies. I jumped at the chance to travel back to Florida; it had been years since I took a boat cruise along tropical shorelines or been immersed in the warm Gulf waters.
On Sunday July 20th, the EISF production crew assembled in Saint Petersburg, flying in from all over America, several of us traveling out from California. Our meeting covered the upcoming week’s assignments, with challenging logistics to cover research cruises and concurrently conduct interviews at various research facilities. My tasking was to perform as field production support and capture “Behind-the-Scenes” media, and then generate some Blog dispatches.
As I came to discover, “Guardians of the Gulf” was a most appropriate title for this documentary since the scientists and engineers that we interviewed expressed such a genuine passion to unlock secrets behind recent threats to the Gulf’s vital marine ecosystem.
Bud Cross, EISF Science Advisor, met us Monday morning to brief the crew on what to expect during the day’s events. Six of us were scheduled to cover a Mote Marine Laboratory cruise on the research vessel R/V Eugenie Clark. Dr. Gary Kirkpatrick was deploying a BreveBuster module on an autonomous unmanned vehicle glider platform called SLOCUM. Also joining the cruise were research engineers and scientists from University of South Florida (USF) - College of Marine Science (CMS) and the Center for Ocean Technology (COT). They would be demonstrating the capabilities of a microbial genosensor that was developed through the research of USF/CMS faculty member, Dr. John Paul.
The EISF production crew quickly prepared equipment for underwater filming after a short transit out to just offshore of Sarasota. Our underwater cameramen strapped on SCUBA tanks and dove off the stern with a Sony F-900 packaged in an Amphibico underwater housing. The topside crew covered Mote Lab personnel launching SLOCUM. EISF divers then filmed the glider as it dove and surfaced several times before it went off on its programmed survey route.
Next up Brian Gregson and Bob Ulrich from USF assembled the Autonomous Microbial Genosensor (AMG) for deployment, while explaining this complex system to an EISF camera. USF team member, Jim Wilson, was also there to assist. The AMG is an oceanographic instrument that free floats in the ocean collecting water samples to analyze and determine if the red tide organism, Karenia brevis, is present. AMG performs K. brevis cell recognition by filtering sea water, mixing with solution to extract RNA, partially purifying and then utilizes fluorescence detection using molecular beacons. Data is then transmitted at intervals to shore-based monitoring stations. Brian and Bob then reenacted receiving AMG data on a computer, presenting a chart showing Karenia brevis detection.
EISF interviewed Dr. Kirkpatrick who explained the Mote Marine Lab program for real-time monitoring of the ocean off Sarasota in order to provide red tide early detection, quantifying the extent of harmful algal bloom coverage and movement. The SLOCUM glider performs extensive surveys autonomously much more cost effectively than done previously with research boats collecting data. Mote’s BreveBuster sensor can also work continuously 24/7, where operators on shore can reprogram the survey route remotely via satellite transmission.
Before leaving Mote Marine Lab, the EISF crew visited the Sarasota Operations - Coastal Ocean Observation Laboratories (SO-COOL). From this state-of-the-art control room, an audience can view the red tide monitoring efforts, with data graphically displayed in color codes geospatially for easier comprehension of red tide tracking. Barb Kirkpatrick explained the shore detection efforts, where beach lifeguards have been outfitted with Blackberry devices to report current conditions. This information is available online at www.mote.org/beaches.
Our entire EISF crew was impressed with the extent of research being conducted on Florida's red tide. Not only are researchers utilizing a variety of high technology oceanographic instruments to unlock the secrets of harmful algal blooms, they are also developing computer models for predictive analysis similar to hurricane tracking methods. The mutual respect between these scientists was evident in their interactions. We witnessed a good example of their collaborative efforts when listening to discussions of using Mote’s SLOCUM/BreveBuster to search out K. brevis blooms, then relay locations for USF/CMS to strategically deploy their AMG monitoring units.
The second day of production started very early for some of the crew, needing to board the R/V Suncoaster for a midnight departure from the USF/CMS dock. Bunking four to a room, they tried to get some shut-eye on the transit out of Tampa Bay in order to get offshore and arrive on station to service buoys starting at dawn. Their morning started with a quick breakfast and then attended a meeting on the operational procedures. One of the cameramen commented that it sure was a “manly boat” after hearing the potential hazards to avoid during a safety briefing.
Meanwhile I joined another EISF crew mobilizing at dawn to transfer camera gear and dive equipment onto the R/V Fish Hawk. The vessel master, Andy Farmer, efficiently directed load-out. While informing us on safety procedures, he indicated we would have the honor of being on the 2nd cruise of this newly acquired USF/CMS research vessel. Chad Lembke, mechanical engineer from the USF Center of Ocean Technology, was loading two Bottomed Stationed Ocean Profiler (BSOP) units he developed.
The R/V Fish Hawk transited out to USF/CMS’s instrumented Buoy C15, which is located offshore of Sarasota. Dr. Robert Weisberg, USF/CMS Physical Oceanography Staff, is in charge of a series of these buoys outfitted with sensors for determining ocean circulation in the Gulf. We found a Mote Marine Lab boat moored with divers in process of switching out a BreveBuster sensor. EISF’s underwater cameraman immediately dove in to capture the procedure before they finished. After anchoring, Chad Lembke deployed the BSOP off the stern while explaining its programmed operation.
EISF cameraman took underwater video of the BSOP diving and surfacing in the clear blue water. We lucked out on weather that morning, with calm seas and good visibility. One diver reported there was a school of colorful fish below the buoy, so we towed the BSOP over to that area for good background scenery when it touched down on the seafloor. Chad told us about one of their more interesting retrievals, where an octopus jumped out of the top dome right at face level when getting the BSOP back on deck.
That afternoon the R/V Suncoaster rendezvoused with us so that EISF could film the Buoy C15 replacement. It was quite a show, watching Rick Cole direct the complicated sequence of events occurring on the aft deck. First they launched an instrumented subsea platform close to Buoy C15, then backed up in reverse to retrieve the buoy with the A-frame. Waves slapped over the flat stern as seas picked up with an approaching storm.
Several brave crewmen, including Rick Cole, jumped onto the bucking buoy to attach lines, and then install some sensors when the new one was deployed. The two captains decided to try a live boat transfer of an EISF cameraman, which was risky with the vessels moving differently in the waves. All hands were on deck watching the line handling and applauded the smooth transfer. As Andy skillfully maneuvered the Fish Hawk away, we had a laugh as he shouted out his disappointment when finding out the Suncoaster forgot to pass over some ice cream they promised.
Unfortunately with a thunderstorm approaching, the R/V Fish Hawk needed to depart before the divers from both vessels got a chance to film each other in action underwater for some behind-the-scenes video. The new vessel was fast, but the storm front was moving quickly in the same direction towards Tampa Bay. Luckily we won the race and were welcomed with a full rainbow arching right between the spans of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge as we entered the bay. The Suncoaster crew got to witness a waterspout spawned by the storm.
The University of South Florida’s College of Marine Science campus was still lit up with the setting sun’s rays prior to the storm darkening the sky. While we made it to dock in time for dinner, the R/V Suncoaster did not make it back until 11:00 that night.
Editor's Note: EISF would like to extend special thanks to Rick Cole, Jay Law, John Ogden, Randy Maxson, Chris Schwint, Andy Farmer, Jim Patten, Bill Dent, and Ben Meister for their efforts in committing the time and resources in coordinating the vessel logistics for this production and getting EISF cameramen cleared to dive from the USF/CMS research vessels.
Submitted by Dan Powell, EISF Director of Marine Operations
On Wednesday July 23rd, an EISF team joined another R/V Fish Hawk cruise, this time lead by Dr. David Mann with graduate student Peter Simard. An Eckerd College survey team was invited along to photograph and record any sightings of dolphins during the voyage for their ongoing cetacean photo-identification project.
The cruise objective was to deploy passive acoustic sensor systems, devised by Mann and Simard, as well as retrieval of acoustic data loggers that had been recording underwater sound data from existing sensor locations. These sensors are part of a large acoustic array system spread across the West Florida Shelf, developed with the goal of researching the role of oceanographic processes on cetacean distributions.
An EISF cameraman dove with Dr. Mann in order to film the retrieval and replacement of underwater data loggers. Later, topside interviews were conducted with Dr. David Mann and Peter Simard. Dr. Mann is an expert on marine bioacoustics, whose studies focus on sound production and hearing of organisms ranging from lobsters and fishes to sea turtles, manatees, and dolphins.
Film audiences will be surprised as to how "vocal" marine inhabitants can be and that the sounds they make are remarkable indicators of environmental conditions they live in. Correlations are being discovered between certain sounds that marine animals make dependent on being in various ocean conditions, healthy or otherwise.
Peter Simrad is working on Dolphin Ecological Variation and Oceanography, collaborating with other researchers in dolphin tracking and identification. The Eckerd College dolphin survey team assisted him in lowering hydrophones over the stern to listen and record dolphin vocalizations, stopping at different locations on the cruise.
Meanwhile that day, I was supporting another EISF team boating around the Tampa Bay area filming various underwater habitats near Fort De Soto, Egmont Key, Longboat Key Pass, Mullet Key, Jewfish Key, and Sister Keys. We found some wonderful sea grass areas lively with many varieties of fish, crabs, and scallops. When the sun came out we filmed some picturesque shorelines.
Back on shore, EISF’s Dr. Bud Cross was accompanied by Kent Fanning, USF/CMS Associate Dean, to scout campus locations for filming interviews and various “B”-roll (background) shots over the next two days. The University of South Florida’s College of Marine Science is teaming with activity, where the labs are busy with faculty and students conducting cutting-edge research.
Submitted by Dan Powell, EISF Director of Marine Operations
On Thursday July 24th, the marine forecast did not look good for being out on the water. A busy production schedule could not afford delays, so we decided to head to a nearby island shoreline across the inlet from our boat launch at Fort De Soto. Dr. Ernst Peebles, USF/CMS faculty teaching Biological Oceanography, came to demonstrate and discuss plankton collection. USF/CMS student James Locascio came along to assist.
We also filmed a fish survey performed by Kerry Flaherty and her crew from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Research Institute (FWRI). The FWRI team started by setting up a purse seine net around a sea grass area in shallow water, then drawing it close before bringing onboard to record a count of the juvenile fish.
There was a serene calm before the approaching storm when birds on the island started sounding off … unfortunately it was at the same time we were conducting an interview with Flaherty. She had to start the same sentence multiple times because of the loud squawks, but Kerry took it in stride, gestured at the scenic tropical setting and smiled as she told us “This is my office”. Flaherty explained that performing surveys of juvenile fish in various natural nurseries around Florida enables FWRI to determine forecasts for future years’ sport fish abundance. The FWRI long term monitoring program has also provided insight into the effects that red tide has on fisheries.
As lighting started streaking through the dark cloud front looming towards us, we all realized there was very little time remaining to perform the plankton collection. Fortunately Dr. Ernst Peebles’ demonstration only took ten minutes to accomplish. Ernst‘s principle research focus has been on spatial-temporal interactions between coastal fishes and their prey, especially as they are affected by physical processes.
We barely made it back to shore and safely packed the expensive HD video camera into our van before the rain and high winds reached us. While driving back to St. Petersburg in a torrential downpour, we worried about how another EISF team member was doing offshore on a private dive charter. We heard later that he faired well, finding several secret spots after the storm that revealed amazing underwater life in the Gulf, capturing on film a variety of charismatic megafauna.
Another EISF crew spent the day at USF Knight Oceanographic Research Center conducting interviews with Dr. Bill Hogarth, USF/CMS Dean, along with faculty member Dr. Chaunmin Hu. Dr. Hogarth discussed the unique educational opportunities provided to students that attend USF/CMS. He then explained how CMS faculty was pioneering oceanographic research into topic areas such as red tide, ocean acidification, coral reef studies, fisheries' issues and more. To conduct this research, they employ state-of-the-art instrumentation with remote sensing capability. USF/CMS is also a committed partner and collaborator with other marine research organizations, including Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s FWRI and Mote Marine Laboratory.
Dr. Chaunmin Hu described the satellite-derived data and real time monitoring system utilized by the Institute for Marine Remote Sensing (IMaRS). Research activities focus on analysis of digital data obtained by satellite and airborne sensors, as well as development of applications of these data at local, regional, and global scales. The main objective is to provide a better understanding of the world oceans on a large spatial and temporal scale. One of the projects is red tide research.
Susan Sember demonstrated her producer expertise by quickly rearranging the schedule to perform indoor interviews during that rainy afternoon, switching them with outdoor productions that could be performed the next day. Luckily the USF/CMS staff was flexible enough to accommodate us.
My first assignment at USF/CMS was to interview Chad Lembke in the Bottomed Stationed Ocean Profiler (BSOP) lab. Chad explained how the Center for Ocean Technology supports CMS researchers by engineering sensor platforms with capabilities that meet unique requirements for deployment in the harsh marine environment. Many times they have to invent new systems to meet project needs.
The BSOP is a good example of this, where researchers needed a system that could dive to the seafloor as deep as 200 meters (656’), collect physical oceanography data, hover at specific depths, return to the surface to transmit the data, and then repeat the process autonomously for about 50 cycles over extended periods of time. This system had to be developed from scratch, since no commercial system existed. Once a prototype had undergone successful testing, they needed to produce multiple units for deploying in sufficient locations of the Gulf with the goal of scientists being able to generate comprehensive ocean circulation models.
Next we went to the Autonomous Microbial Genosensor (AMG) lab, meeting up with Dr. John Paul, Brian Gregston, Bob Ulrich, Jim Wilson, and David Fries. When they took the AMG system out of the pressure housing, our cameraman was quite impressed, exclaiming: “Wow- it looks like something a Hollywood prop-master would make for a science fiction film”. Bob Ulrich jokingly asked if they win the award for most complex sensor. The AMG is definitely a very complicated system, where we needed to film several different versions of Brian Gregston’s interview; one with the scientifically correct terminology and another in layman terms that a general audience may be able to understand. (See Dispatch 1 for explanation of AMG’s function)
The final interview that day was with Gino Gonzalez who presented the Shadowed Image Particle Profiling Evaluation Recorder (SIPPER). Gino explained he was developing the third generation system in a more compact form to fit on a relatively small tow sled platform. SIPPER3 utilizes a new high-speed camera that images ~1.5 million pixels per second to capture continuous images of everything that passes through a sampling tube.
The SIPPER allows scientists to view zooplankton in their ocean environment without physically capturing them. SIPPER can record images of zooplankton in their natural shape, without damaging these fragile organisms; unlike the traditional method of capture with a towed net that breaks them into pieces, losing their soft matter. This has enabled new discoveries of previously unrecorded organisms.
Submitted by Dan Powell, EISF Director of Marine Operations