Identifying stress related physiological changes induced by volcanic activity in resident fauna.
The isolated volcanic activity on the southern edge of Monserrat provides a unique opportunity to study the changes occurring at both the cellular and neuroendocrine level in the resident populations of coastal reef fishes. Like other vertebrates, fish exhibit a generalized stress response characterized by an increase in certain hormones that incite changes at the physiological and organismal levels eventually leading to adjustments in the affected population. The northwest coastline of Montserrat is relatively unaffected by this activity and will provide a reservoir of species for baseline analysis. Until recently there has been little work discerning the correlation between hematological stress hormone concentration and changes at the molecular level

List of Scientific Investigators
(alphabetical order by surname)

COLLABORATING INVESTIGATORS

James Hewlett
Director of Biotechnology
Natural Sciences Coordinator
Department of Science and Technology
Finger Lakes Community College
4355 Lakeshore Drive
Canandaigua, NY 14424
Telephone: (716) 394-3500 ext. 7325
Fax: (716) 394-5005
Email: hewletja@flcc.edu

Molecular indicators of stress in corals and the use of biomarkers for the early detection of symbiotic breakdown.
Coral Bleaching involves the breakdown in the symbiotic relationship between the coral and its algal symbiont. When this relationship weakens, the algae are expelled from the coral tissue and the characteristic “bleached” appearance results. While some evidence exists to suggest that this process has some adaptive value, scientists primarily consider this bleaching to be a result of stress. Repeated bleaching events are known to be damaging to coral, and widespread coral bleaching is considered a very serious environmental issue. Although both thermal and sedimentation stress have been shown to produce bleaching in coral, the exact mechanism of this induction is not well known. Many scientists suggest that if bleaching is observed in coral, the stress that produced that event may have occurred much earlier. In many cases, several stressors may have been integrated over weeks to months to produce the event. Recently, a small number of genetic markers have been identified that relate to the integrity of the symbiotic relationship that occurs in coral. Changes in the expression of these genes have been shown to be an early indicator of environmental stress, and the initiation of the symbiotic breakdown that results in bleaching. This project will involve the use of these genetic markers to explore questions relating to coral stress produced from repeated insults of volcanic ash in the affected areas of Montserrat.

Dr. Duane Johnson
Director of Research
Division of the Natural Sciences and Public Health
2601 Gentilly Blvd.
New Orleans, LA 70122
Telephone: 504-816-4722
FAX: 504-816-4724
Email: DK2415@aol.com

The examination of growth factor levels in plants and vegetation in Montserrat.
The objective of this project is to evaluate the relative levels of growth factors in plants and vegetation on the island of Montserrat. It has been well established that plants receive their hormones and growth factors through root hair absorption. These growth factors travel from the root to the shoot through the phloem system in plants where they are deposited into the sink of the plant leaf. After which these growth factors are translocated to the all areas of the shoot. Our laboratory would like to remove various plants and vegetation from different areas of the island and evaluate them for their relative levels of growth factors by looking at the levels of Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF) in the root hairs vs. various parts of the shoot. The hypothesis is that ground soil is deficient in growth factors after the volcano therefore the growth of plants during the zone of elongation is retarded.

Dr. KiTani Johnson
Division of the Natural Sciences and Public Health
2601 Gentilly Blvd.
New Orleans, LA 70122
Telephone: 504-816-4722
FAX: 504-816-4724
Email: kpark1@lsuhsc.edu

Microarray Analysis of Expression Signatures in Montserrat Coral
Our goal is to understand how the genome-wide regulatory processes of Montserrat coral have been affected by volcanic ash accumulation using microarray analysis. Our first experimental effort in this regard will be to discern the molecular requirements for gene expression in coral and the essential molecular components of coral transcriptional machinery. We will subsequently determine the hierarchy of coral gene expression; genes which expression are regulated by intracellular mediators vs. external signal transduction; and identify the expression signatures of coral genes. We will then compare changes in expression signature of coral to haplotypic changes as determined by the research of our collaborators (see Jackson, above).

Dr. Tamara Ledley
TERC, Inc
2067 Massachusetts Ave.
Cambridge, MA 02160
Telephone: 617-873-9658
Email: Tamara_Ledley@TERC.edu

Dr. Tamara Shapiro Ledley,
a senior scientist at TERC, Inc. of Cambridge, MA. Dr. Ledley received her Ph.D from MIT in 1983. She conducted a research program in Earth system science at Rice University for 15 years and authored over 30 scientific papers in this field. She is involved in Earth system science education activities that include developing museum exhibits that bring near real time images of the Earth to the public, directing teacher training programs in the Earth sciences, developing Earth system science learning activities for the GLOBE program, and developing scientific research programs for the participation of students. Most recently she has been involved in the national digital library efforts. Dr. Ledley received an NSF National Science Digital Library (NSDL, www.nsdl.org) grant to develop the Earth Exploration Toolbook (serc.carleton.edu/eet) which is a digital library resource that provides step-by-step instructions for the use of an Earth science dataset and data analysis tool to facilitate use by teachers in the classroom.

Dr. Tim Mousseau
Department of Biological Sciences
Coker Life Science Building
University of South Carolina
Columbia, SC 29208
Telephone: 803-777-
FAX: 803-777-
Email: mousseau@sc.edu

The Effects of Ash “Snowfall” on Insect Distribution, Abundance and Diversity.
Students will test the hypothesis that insect ecology and biodiversity are negatively impacted by volcanic ash. Insect communities will be sampled using a combination of sweep nets and pitfall traps at a number of locations on the island that vary with respect to frequency and intensity of ashfall. The ecological impact of ashfall on insect communities has rarely been studied and the proposed research will provide novel insight to the impact of the abrasive and chemical effects of volcanic ash on community structure. This study will also be used to track patterns of recolonization following periods of volcanic quiescence. Research Mentor: Dr. Timothy Mousseau, University of South Carolina.

Dr. Vladimir Muronetz
Chair, Department of Biochemistry
Moscow State University
Belozersky Institute of Physical-Chemical Biology
Moscow State University, Lenin’s Hills
Moscow 119992, Russia
Telephone: 7 (095) 939-1456
FAX: 7 (095) 939-3181
Email: vimuronets@belozersky.msu.ru

Enzymatic Adaptation in Montserrat Extremophiles.
High Temperature samples of Montserrat hot springs showed the presence of a Ferro plasma-like organism that was distinct from the recently discovered acidophilus, iron-oxidizing members of Euryarchaeota (Burton and Norris, 2000). To better understand adaptive plasticity under conditions of environmental stress we will conduct a comparative genosystematics study of these organisms.

The Evaluation of Changes in Energetic Metabolism
This project could elucidate adaptive metabolic mechanisms, such as glycolytic uncoupling, that occur in response to extreme environmental conditions. From this information we may better understand the evolutionary processes that may have occurred in the Earth’s earliest organisms. In addition, a sufficient body of data from this project may allow us to predict the impact of catastrophic environmental events on any ecosystem at the molecular level.

Dr. Richard Nemeth
Department of Marine Science
University of the Virgin Islands
St. Thomas, USVI 00802
Phone: 340-693-1062
Email: mailto:rnemeth@uvi.edu

Marine Fish Community Structure on Montserrat.
Two potential sources of impact of volcanic eruption include death of coral communities due to suffocation from volcanic ash and death of coral communities due to lava flow. These different impacts will affect the benthic communities by changes in topographic complexity (lava flow), and changes in substrate type (i.e. increase in soft sediments from ash versus increase in hard bottom from lava). An increase in hard bottom will facilitate the growth of algal turf that, in turn, will provide forage for herbivorous fishes (i.e. Acanthuida, Scaridae, Pomacentriade). An increase in soft sediments from volcanic ash would facilitate an overall increase in micro-invertebrates and in fauna that would favor invertebrate feeders. A general decline of obligate coralivores and spongivores would result from the decline of corals and sponges on impacted reefs. This information may be of relevance to other coral reef systems undergoing similar environmental stress.

Fish Re-colonization on Fresh Water Bodies of Montserrat.
How volcanic activity has affected fresh water fish community structure on Montserrat’s is not known. Information from this project would be important to a variety of areas involving the restoration and of fresh water bodies. We will examine the re-colonization processes of the freshwater fish community structure in rivers, streams or seasonal ravines that were damaged by volcanic activity.

Biogeochemical Indicators of Montserrat Island Volcanic Ecosystems
The rates of biogeochemical cycling of C, N, and P in volcanic ecosystems can be used to indicate the ecological integrity of volcanic soils. In addition, the concentrations of certain forms of these elements can accurately predict rates of ecologically important changes. The major objective of our research is to study the biogeochemical changes that will directly affect volcanic ecosystems mainly, the impact of volcanic eruption on microbial ecology and enzymatic activities, carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus fluxes, as well as heavy metals (Pb, Cd, Cr, Fe, Cu etc.) in soils inundated with volcanic ash. We proposed to identify (a) the key biogeochemical changes impacted by volcanic eruptions, (b) develop relationships between a “change” and its related easily measurable “indicator(s)” and nutrient stress, (c) determine the spatial and temporal distribution of easily measurable indicators for the test volcanic ecosystem, (d) determine the spatial variations in biogeochemical changes, and develop spatial maps for various changes to determine the extent of impact and risk assessment in Montserrat’s affected Northern Zone. The microbial indicators we propose should have wide applicability in many aquatic habitats and are based on ecosystem components with very rapid responses to environmental changes

Bruce Schwoegler
M.S., Chairman
MySky Communications, Inc.
99 Lake Road Terrace
Wayland, MA 01778
Telephone: 508-653-7256
Mobile: 508-276-1981
Email1: bruce@mysky.com
Email 2: samdog@attbi.com

Measuring Volcanic Plume Impacts On Weather And The Health Of Exposed Vegetation, Animals And Humans.
Venting at and near Montserrat’s Soufriere Hills volcano releases quantities of gaseous and particulate pollutants. This investigation seeks to identify and quantify such releases and track their trajectories. If available, a small doppler radar will be utilized. Data will then be applied to studies of related weather and health issues. Special attention will be directed to air and water pollutants that may adversely affect residents and dome rainfall volumes that impact volcanic activity.

Dr. Zachary Senwo
Department of Plant and Soil Science
Alabama A&M University,
P.O. BOX 1208, Normal, Alabama
Telephone: (256) 858-4225
Email: mailto:zsenwo@aamu.edu

Biogeochemical Indicators of Montserrat Island Volcanic Ecosystems
The rates of biogeochemical cycling of C, N, and P in volcanic ecosystems can be used to indicate the ecological integrity of volcanic soils. In addition, the concentrations of certain forms of these elements can accurately predict rates of ecologically important changes. The major objective of our research is to study the biogeochemical changes that will directly affect volcanic ecosystems mainly, the impact of volcanic eruption on microbial ecology and enzymatic activities, carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus fluxes, as well as heavy metals (Pb, Cd, Cr, Fe, Cu etc.) in soils inundated with volcanic ash. We proposed to identify (a) the key biogeochemical changes impacted by volcanic eruptions, (b) develop relationships between a “change” and its related easily measurable “indicator(s)” and nutrient stress, (c) determine the spatial and temporal distribution of easily measurable indicators for the test volcanic ecosystem, (d) determine the spatial variations in biogeochemical changes, and develop spatial maps for various changes to determine the extent of impact and risk assessment in Montserrat’s affected Northern Zone. The microbial indicators we propose should have wide applicability in many aquatic habitats and are based on ecosystem components with very rapid responses to environmental changes

Dr. Lena V. Shmalgauzen
Senior Researcher
Chair, Department of Biochemistry
Moscow State University
Belozersky Institute of Physical-Chemical Biology
Moscow State University, Lenin’s Hills
Moscow 119992, Russia
Telephone: 7 (095) 939-1456
FAX: 7 (095) 939-3181
Email: shmal@belozersky.msu.ru

Thermal Unfolding of Glycolytic Enzymes by Differential Scanning Calorimeters.
Experiments will be conducted to determine and compare the physiochemical properties of glycolytic enzymes. The goal of this project is to unveil the role of domain/domain interactions that occur in conformational changes upon apo/holo transition. Montserrat is ideal for such research. It has been shown that the binding of NAD to GADPH leads to marked thermo stabilization and increased thermo denaturaion transitions in thermophilic bacteria (Ivinova et al, 2001; Levashov et al, 1999; Muronetz et al, 2001). This project will entail the identification of thermophilic organisms in the Red Zone of Montserrat. Selected thermophilic organisms will be used to develop cellular models in which to study the molecular mechanisms of thermo stabilization. Information from this project could be useful in protein engineering and industrial enzymology.

Dr. Robert Taylor
Department of Plant and Soil Science
Alabama A&M University,
P.O. BOX 1208, Normal, Alabama
Telephone: (256) 858-4225
Email: zsenwo@aamu.edu

Biogeochemical Indicators of Montserrat Island Volcanic Ecosystems.
The main hypothesis of this proposed research is that rates of biogeochemical cycling of C, N, and P in volcanic ecosystems can be used to indicate the ecological integrity of volcanic soils, and that the concentrations of certain forms of these elements can accurately predict the rates of ecologically important changes. The major objective of our research is to study the biogeochemical changes that will directly affect volcanic ecosystems mainly, the impact of volcanic eruption on microbial ecology and enzymatic activities, carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus fluxes, as well as heavy metals (Pb, Cd, Cr, Fe, Cu etc.) in soils inundated with volcanic ash. We proposed to identify (a) the key biogeochemical changes impacted by volcanic eruptions, (b) develop relationships between a "change" and its related easily measurable "indicator(s)" and nutrient stress, (c) determine the spatial and temporal distribution of easily measurable indicators for the test volcanic ecosystem, (d) determine the spatial variations in biogeochemical changes, and develop spatial maps for various changes to determine the extent of impact and risk assessment in Montserrat Island, Northern Zone (Figure 1), considered as significantly lower risk for residential and commercial occupation. Volcanic eruptions may result in producing significant quantities of chemical elements that can affect the biogeochemical processes in the environment (Lambert et al., 1988; Hobbs et al 1981; Buat-Menard et al., 1978). Research Mentors: Dr. Zachary Senwo, Dr. Thilini Ranatunga, and Dr. Robert W. Taylor, Alabama A&M University, Normal, Alabama. Potential Importance of Project: This project could be useful in assessing the effect of emissions from volcanic eruption on biogeochemical changes associated with volcanic ecosystems. We hope to demonstrate that the proposed indicators sensitively reveal seasonal shifts in nutrient limitations and regional differences in nutrient stress and loading. The microbial indicators we propose should have wide applicability in nearly all aquatic habitats, and are based on ecosystem components with very rapid responses to environmental changes. These indicators are short-term, and thus feasible to repeat at larger temporal and spatial scales.

Dr. Gary A. Toranzos
Edificio Julio Garcia Diaz
Labatorio # 102
University of Puerto Rico
Ponce de Leon Avenue
Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico 009-3360
Telephone: 787-764-0000, Ext. 2404
Email: gtoranzo@upracd.upr.clu.edu