Mote Marine Laboratory

MOTE MARINE LABORATORY WILL BE AWARDED $6,986,687 TO RESTORE CORAL REEFS AT MULTIPLE SITES IN THE FLORIDA KEYS NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY INCLUDING THE REEFS ASSOCIATED WITH THE MISSION: ICONIC REEFS EFFORT AN UNPRECEDENTED, DECADES-LONG APPROACH TO RESTORE ICONIC CORAL REEF SITES IN THE SANCTUARY. OVER FIVE YEARS, MOTE WILL OUTPLANT THOUSANDS OF CORAL FRAGMENTS OF MULTIPLE SPECIES, INCLUDING ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT-LISTED STAGHORN AND ELKHORN CORALS, AS WELL AS MASSIVE REEF-BUILDING CORALS (SUCH AS BRAIN, BOULDER, AND STAR CORALS). THE PROJECT WILL ALSO SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASE THE PRODUCTION AND RELEASE OF CARIBBEAN KING CRABS AND ADDRESS CURRENT BOTTLENECKS IN THE PRODUCTION AND ENHANCEMENT OF ALGAE GRAZERS, WHICH PROVIDE A CRITICAL SERVICE TO CORAL REEF HEALTH. CORAL REEFS ARE INTEGRAL TO SOUTH FLORIDA'S CULTURE AND ECONOMY, AND THE REEF TRACT IS A VALUABLE ASSET IN MITIGATING DAMAGE FROM HURRICANES, SEA LEVEL RISE, AND COASTAL EROSION.

ECOHAB19: LIFE AND DEATH OF KARENIA BREVIS BLOOMS IN THE EASTERN GULF OF MEXICO

SCIENCE CONSORTIUM FOR OCEAN REPLENISHMENT AND ENHANCEMENT (SCORE)

IMPLEMENTING THE FLORIDA KEYS CORAL DISEASE RESPONSE & RESTORATION INITIATIVE

NOVEL COMPOUNDS FROM SHARK AND STINGRAY EPIDERMAL MUCUS WITH ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY AGAINST WOUND INFECTION PATHOGENS

LOUIS STOKES ALLIANCE FOR MINORITY PARTICIPATION: MARINE SCIENCE LABORATORY ALLIANCE CENTER OF EXCELLENCE

SCIENCE CONSORTIUM FOR OCEAN REPLENISHMENT - FY 2010: DEVELOPMENT OF RESPONSIBLE MARINE STOCK ENHANCEMENT TECHNOLOGY

HIGHLY MIGRATORY SHARK FISHERY RESEARCH BY THE NATIONAL SHARK RESEARCH CONSORTIUM (NSRC), 2008-2009

MOTE MARINE LABORATORY'S (MML) CAMPUSES IN SARASOTA, FL (MOTE AQUACULTURE RESEARCH PARK), KEY LARGO, FL, AND SUMMERLAND KEY, FL WILL BE THE GROUNDS OF NOVEL SEAGRASS RESTORATION RESEARCH. THE MOTE SEAGRASS ECOSYSTEM RESEARCH PROGRAM STRIVES TO (A) DEVELOP CUTTING-EDGE PROPAGATION AND OUT-PLANTING TECHNOLOGIES, (B) ESTABLISH THE RESEARCH STRUCTURE FOR ENSURING THAT THERE ARE MULTIPLE GENETICALLY DISTINCT, LOCALLY ADAPTED STRAINS THAT ARE RESISTANT TO COMMON STRESSORS AVAILABLE FOR RESTORATION PROJECTS, AND (C) SERVE AS A HUB FOR INNOVATIVE APPLIED RESTORATION RESEARCH. MML PROPOSES TO ADD TANKS FOR NURSERY AND RESEARCH PURPOSES AT MOTE CAMPUSES IN SARASOTA, FL, KEY LARGO, FL AND SUMMERLAND KEY, FL. THEY WILL ESTABLISH MULTIPLE NURSERIES WITH SEAGRASSES SEPARATED BY LOCATION AND GENOTYPE. TIME PERMITTING, THEY WILL ALSO RESEARCH THE TOLERANCE OF VARIOUS SEAGRASS POPULATIONS TO MULTIPLE DISTURBANCES AND ANALYZE SEAGRASS GENETICS THROUGHOUT FLORIDA. THE ESTABLISHMENT OF SEAGRASS NURSERIES

DESCRIPTION:THIS AGREEMENT PROVIDES FUNDING IN THE AMOUNT OF $746,683 TO MOTE MARINE LABORATORY, FLORIDA TO SUPPORT THEIR EFFORTS WITH IMPROVING THE WATER QUALITY OF THE GULF OF AMERICA. THE PURPOSE OF THIS AWARD IS TO DEVELOP AND DEMONSTRATE A COMPLETE HARMFUL ALGAL BLOOM MITIGATION TECHNOLOGY TARGETED FOR KARENIA BREVIS OR RED TIDE FROM FLORIDA'S WEST COAST. ACTIVITIES:THE ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED INCLUDE DEVELOPING THE OPTIMAL COMBINATION FOR EFFECTIVE REMOVAL OR REDUCTION OF RED TIDE, BREVETOXINS, AND NUTRIENTS, DEMONSTRATING THE EFFICACY OF THE OPTIMIZED TREATMENT AT RELEVANT SCALES, AND DEVELOPING AND TRAINING MACHINE LEARNING MODELS TO PREDICT THE PERFORMANCE OF THE COMPLEX ACROSS DIFFERENT APPLICATION SCALES. SUBRECIPIENT:SUBRECIPIENT ACTIVITIES INCLUDE PREPARING A QUALITY ASSURANCE PROJECT PLAN, CONDUCTING BENCHTOP STUDIES, PERFORMING ANALYSES AND MESOCOSM STUDIES, AND TRAINING AND TESTING MACHINE LEARNING ASSISTED MODELS FOR PREDICTING EFFECTIVENESS.OUTCOMES:THE ANTICIPATED DELIVERABLES AND EXPECTED OUTCOMES ARE THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN ECONOMICALLY VIABLE AND ENVIRONMENTALLY SUSTAINABLE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGY FOR THE REDUCTION AND CONTROL OF HARMFUL ALGAL BLOOMS AND THE REDUCTION OF NUTRIENTS. THE QUANTITATIVE GOALS ARE TO REDUCE ALGAL BLOOM CELLS AND TOXINS BY GT;90%, OR TO LEVELS BELOW THRESHOLDS THAT TRIGGER MANAGEMENT ACTION. AS THE INTENDED BENEFICIARIES, THE RESIDENTS AND VISITORS LOCATED IN FLORIDA'S GULF COAST COMMUNITIES WILL BENEFIT FROM IMPROVED WATER QUALITY.

CAREER: APPLYING PHENOTYPIC VARIABILITY TO IDENTIFY RESILIENT ACROPORA CERVICORNIS GENOTYPES IN THE FLORIDA KEYS

DEVELOPING HATCHERY TECHNOLOGY FOR OFFSHORE AQUACULTURE, LAND-BASED SYSTEMS AND STOCK ENHANCEMENT IN THE GULF OF MEXICO: BUILDING A NEW INDUSTRY IN E

** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** DEVELOPMENT OF CELL LINES IS CRITICAL IN MANY RESEARCH FIELDS SUCH AS DISEASE, REPRODUCTION, GENETICS, AND BIOTECHNOLOGY. CELL LINES ARE VERY USEFUL IN VITRO MODELS FOR TOXICOLOGICAL, PATHOLOGICAL, AND IMMUNOLOGICAL STUDIES. THE RESULTS FROM THE PROPOSED STUDIES WILL INCLUDE ESSENTIAL TOOLS FOR RESEARCHERS TO USE AS A FRAMEWORK AND GUIDE FOR IMPROVING CELL LINE DEVELOPMENT IN AQUATIC MARINE SPECIES. THE RESEARCH WE PROPOSE WILL LEAD TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF CELL LINES FROM ONE FISH (RED DRUM SCIAENOPS OCELLATUS) AND ONE SHRIMP (PACIFIC WHITE SHRIMP, LITOPENAEUS VANNAMEI) SPECIS. OUR APPROACH IS BASED ON ISOLATING EMBRYONIC STEM CELLS (ESCS) FROM FERTILIZED EMBRYOS AT THE BLASTOMERE STAGE. WE HYPOTHESIZE THAT IMPORTANT FEATURES OF ESCS, SUCH AS HIGH PROLIFERATION AND PLURIPOTENCY, WILL FACILITATE DEVELOPMENT OF A CONTINUOUS CELL LINE THAT CAN ULTIMATELY BE USED IN A VARIETY OF RESEARCH APPLICATIONS. WE ALSO PROPOSE A WHOLISTIC AND SPECIES-SPECIFIC TARGETED APPROACH, BASED ON NUTRIENT NEEDS OF ISOLATED EMBRYONIC CELLS (NUTRIENT ANALYSIS OF EGGS) AND CELLS IN CULTURE (SPENT MEDIA ANALYSIS), USING A TARGETED APPROACH TO GROWTH FACTOR IDENTIFICATION WITH A HIGH PROBABILITY OF SUCCESS BASED ON CONSENSUS SEQUENCES THROUGH BLAST, UNDERSTANDING EVENTS AT THE CELLULAR AND GENOMIC LEVEL (TRANSCRIPTOMIC ANALYSIS TO DETERMINE THE TIMELINE OF ACTIVATION FOR PATHWAYS OF CELL PROLIFERATION AND/OR CELL DEATH). THE FRAMEWORK USED TO DEVELOP THESE CELL LINES WILL ALSO BE APPLICABLE TO OTHER SPECIES OF INTEREST, INCREASING THE NUMBER OF CELL LINES AVAILABLE AND NEEDED FOR VARIOUS INTERDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH INTERESTS.A SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION OF THIS PROJECT WILL BE TO INCREASE THE COMPETITIVENESS OF THE US IN THE FIELD OF AQUACULTURE BY MAKING CELL LINES AVAILABLE FOR RESEARCH IN KEY AREAS OF LIKE HEALTH, DISEASE DIAGNOSIS, SAFETY, AND NUTRITIONAL ASPECTS CHALLENGING AQUACULTURE PRODUCTION. INCREASING THE NUMBER OF CELL LINES RESEARCH CAN BE CONDUCTED USING THESE CELL LINES WITHOUT SCARIFYING WHOLE LIVE ANIMALS. THE SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE GENERATED USING FISH CELL LINES WOULD BE IMMENSELY USEFUL FOR QUALITY PRODUCTION IN A SUSTAINABLE MANNER. CELL LINES WOULD FACILITATE IN VITRO RESEARCH FOR DEVELOPING CLIMATE-RESILIENT AND SUSTAINABLE AQUACULTURE SYSTEMS TO MINIMIZE THE KEY CHALLENGES AND PROVIDE NUTRITIONAL SECURITY TO THE BURGEONING WORLD POPULATION.

COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH: DETERMINING THE FIELD METABOLIC RATE OF MARINE PREDATORS: INTEGRATING ACCELEROMETRY AND RESPIROMETRY TO BRIDGE THE GAP BETWEE

SCIENCE CONSORTIUM FOR OCEAN REPLENISHMENT (SCORE) FY 2009 NOAA-FISHERIES, AQUACULTURE PROGRAM NATIONAL OCEANOGRAPHIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION,

DESCRIPTION:THIS ACTION PROVIDES FUNDING IN THE AMOUNT OF $480,822 TO MOTE MARINE LABORATORY INCORPORATED. THE PURPOSE OF THIS PROJECT TO EFFECTIVELY CAPTURE BOTH EPISODIC EVENTS AND SEASONAL CHANGES IN WATER QUALITY AT 11 RESTORATION SITES. ACTIVITIES INCLUDE COLLECT AND ANALYZE WATER QUALITY PARAMETERS SUCH AS NITRATE, NITRITE, AMMONIA, PHOSPHATE, SILICA, TOTAL NITROGEN, DISSOLVED INORGANIC NITROGEN, TOTAL ORGANIC CARBON, DISSOLVED ORGANIC CARBON, TOTAL ORGANIC NITROGEN, TOTAL PHOSPHORUS, CHLOROPHYLL A, TURBIDITY, LIGHT, AND CURRENT DIRECTION AND SPEED AT SURFACE AND BOTTOM AND INTEGRATE THIS DATA INTO ASSESSMENTS OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF RESTORATION SITES AS WELL AS COMPARISONS OF NEAR- TO OFFSHORE SITES TO CAPTURE CROSS-SHELF TRANSECTS OF DOMINANT HABITATS. ANTICIPATED DELIVERABLES INCLUDE PERFORMANCE AND FINAL REPORTS, QUALITY ASSURANCE PROJECT PLAN, AND ANALYZATION OF WATER QUALITY PARAMETERS IN THE FLORIDA KEYS. EXPECTED OUTCOMES INCLUDE MEASURING WATER QUALITY AND CARBONATE CHEMISTRY PARAMETERS AT 6 CORAL RESTORATION SITES IN THE LOWER KEYS AND A PROPOSAL FOR WORK IN THE MIDDLE AND UPPER KEYS. DIRECT BENEFICIARIES INCLUDE STATE OF FLORIDA CITIZENS.ACTIVITIES:-SUBRECIPIENT:NO SUBAWARDS ARE INCLUDED IN THIS ASSISTANCE AGREEMENT.OUTCOMES:-

THE PREVAILING HYPOTHESIS FOR KARENIA BREVIS BLOOM INITIATION AND DEVELOPMENT FOCUSES ON INITIATION IN OFFSHORE OLIGOTROPHIC SHELF WATERS, FOLLOWED BY TRANSPORT SHOREWARD TO NUTRIENTENRICHED, COASTAL WATERS DURING DEVELOPMENT AND MAINTENANCE STAGES, AND ENDING WITH TERMINATION AND/OR DISSIPATION NEARSHORE. HOWEVER, MANY UNRESOLVED QUESTIONS REMAIN AND KEY ASPECTS OF BLOOM DYNAMICS ARE POORLY UNDERSTOOD. ONE OF THE PRIMARY UNRESOLVED ASPECTS OF K. BREVIS BLOOM DYNAMICS IS THE LOCATION AND NATURE OF A SOURCE POPULATION. THE CURRENT PARADIGM OF OFFSHORE INITIATION DOES NOT ADEQUATELY ADDRESS THE ORIGIN/LOCATION OF THE SOURCE POPULATION (INOCULUM) THAT MIGHT FUEL A DEVELOPING BLOOM, THE POTENTIAL ENVIRONMENTAL TRIGGERS THAT ACTIVATE A SOURCE/SEED POPULATION, OR HOW THE POPULATION BECOMES REPLENISHED WHEN BLOOMS TERMINATE IN THE NEARSHORE REGION. FURTHER, THE PRESENCE OF MULTIPLE TYPES OF K. BREVIS SOURCE POPULATIONS AT MULTIPLE LOCATIONS COULD INDICATE MORE THAN ONE INITIATION SCENARIO, POSSIBLY EXPLAINING THE OCCASIONAL DE-COUPLING OF BLOOM EVENTS FROM WFS CIRCULATION PATTERNS. SOURCE POPULATIONS FOR DINOFLAGELLATE BLOOMS CAN TAKE SEVERAL POTENTIAL FORMS, INCLUDING; VEGETATIVE CELLS IN OR NEAR THE BOTTOM SEDIMENT LAYERS, AS DIFFUSE POPULATIONS IN THE WATER COLUMN, OR AS AGGREGATIONS IN THIN LAYERS OF THE WATER COLUMN, OR POPULATIONS COULD CONSIST OF BENTHIC CYSTS. THE OVERALL OBJECTIVE OF THIS PROPOSED ECOHAB PROJECT IS TO IDENTIFY AND CHARACTERIZE THE FORM AND POSSIBLE LOCATIONS OF K. BREVIS SOURCE, OR SEED, POPULATIONS. TO ACHIEVE THIS GOAL, THE PROJECT TEAM WILL UTILIZE MULTIPLE CUTTING EDGE MOLECULAR APPROACHES INCLUDING; FLUORESCENT IN-SITU HYBRIDIZATION (FISH) USING NOVEL MOLECULAR PROBES FOR IDENTIFICATION OF LOW ABUNDANCE POPULATIONS (CYSTS OR VEGETATIVE CELLS), SINGLE CELL POLYMERASE CHAIN REACTION (PCR) TO VALIDATE THE IDENTITY OF INDIVIDUAL ISOLATED CYSTS, AND QUANTITATIVE (QPCR) TO ESTIMATE ABUNDANCES OF K. BREVIS CYSTS OR VEGETATIVE CELLS IN SEDIMENT AND IN WATER COLUMN. TO IDENTIFY POTENTIAL LOCATIONS OF SEED POPULATIONS, HOW EMERGING (AWAKENING) SEED POPULATIONS MIGHT BE TRANSPORTED, AND WHERE DEVELOPING SEED POPULATION DERIVED FROM BLOOM TERMINATION SITES MIGHT BE DEPOSITED, WE WILL USE EXISTING AND MODIFIED WFCOM MODELS DEVELOPED AND OPERATIONALIZED BY THE USF OCEAN CIRCULATION LABORATORY. LABORATORY STUDIES WILL EVALUATE THE TRIGGERS AND CONDITIONS THAT COULD LEAD TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF CYSTS. THE LACK OF KNOWLEDGE CONCERNING K. BREVIS SOURCE POPULATIONS OBFUSCATES OUR THOROUGH UNDERSTANDING OF WHERE AND WHEN BLOOMS MAY OCCUR. IDENTIFYING AND CHARACTERIZING THESE POPULATIONS COULD PROVIDE A PARADIGM SHIFT IN OUR UNDERSTANDING OF BLOOM DYNAMICS OF THIS SPECIES.

THE INCREASING FREQUENCY AND DURATION OF GULF OF MEXICO FARM CLOSURES DUE TO TOXIC RED TIDE BLOOMS HAVE SEVERELY DAMAGED SOUTHWEST FLORIDA'S SHELLFISH INDUSTRY AND REDUCED THE AVAILABILITY OF SAFE SHELLFISH FOR CONSUMERS. SHELLFISH GROWERS HAVE LONG ARGUED THE NEED FOR RAPID, IMPROVED, END-PRODUCT TESTING TECHNOLOGY FOR MEASURING NSPS WHICH CORRELATES WELL WITH ESTABLISHED REGULATORY PROTOCOLS. FASTER, COST-EFFECTIVE BIOTOXIN DETECTION METHODS CAN HELP MITIGATE THE SEVERE CONSEQUENCES OF HARMFUL ALGAL BLOOMS ON THE SHELLFISH INDUSTRY AND REDUCE THE FINANCIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE BURDEN BORNE BY THE STATE AND FEDERAL AGENCIES TASKED WITH MANAGING SHELLFISH HARVESTING AND DISTRIBUTION DURING RED TIDE BLOOMS. THIS PROPOSED PROJECT RESPONDS TO THE PCMBHAB REQUESTS FOR PROPOSALS THAT ADVANCE NEW METHODS FOR HAB TOXIN MEASUREMENT IN SEAFOOD. THE RESEARCHERS INTEND TO DEMONSTRATE THAT A FLUORESCENCE APTAMER ASSAY, AND AN ENZYME-LINKED APTASORBENT ASSAY, THAT CAN DETECT BOTH A-AND B-TYPE BREVETO

NEW AWARD - PROJECT ABSTRACT SUMMARY: PROJECT TITLE: ASSESSING THE STATUS OF THE THREATENED CORAL ACROPORA PALMATA AND MITIGATING DISEASE TRANSMISSION AT BUCK ISLAND REEF NATIONAL MONUMENT (BIRNM)AWARD PURPOSE: THIS STUDY WILL PROVIDE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IDEAL CORAL-RECOVERY LOCATIONS BASED ON CORRELATIONS BETWEEN CORAL GROWTH AND VARIOUS ABIOTIC CONDITIONS ON THE REEF.ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED: GOAL 1. QUANTIFY THE SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION- ABUNDANCE- AND HEALTH STATUS OF ACROPORA PALMATA COLONIES IN THE REEF CREST AND SHALLOW FORE-REEF ZONES OF BIRNM AND OBTAIN SIZE-FREQUENCY DISTRIBUTIONS OF THE CORALS WITHIN EACH ZONE. PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVE: THE OVERARCHING GOAL OF THIS PROJECT IS TO AID MANAGERS IN UNDERSTANDING THE CURRENT STATUS OF THE FEDERALLY THREATENED A.PALMATA AT BIRNM AND ASSESS THE ON-GOING THREAT OF DISEASE TO CORAL RECOVERY.

REU SITE: MOTE MARINE LABORATORY RESEARCH EXPERIENCES FOR UNDERGRADUATES IN ESTUARINE AND COASTAL SCIENCES

REU SITE: MOTE MARINE LABORATORY RESEARCH EXPERIENCES FOR UNDERGRADUATES IN ESTUARINE AND COASTAL SCIENCES -MOTE MARINE LABORATORY (MML) WILL HOST A RESEARCH EXPERIENCE FOR UNDERGRADUATES (REU) PROGRAM FOR UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS INTERESTED IN OCEAN SCIENCES. THE PROGRAM WILL TAKE PLACE AT MML?S MAIN CAMPUS IN SARASOTA, FL AND WILL PROVIDE A 10-WEEK SUMMER RESEARCH EXPERIENCE TO 10 UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS EACH SUMMER. REU PARTICIPANTS WILL BE HOUSED NEARBY AND WILL CONDUCT INDEPENDENT RESEARCH PROJECTS UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF A MENTOR. RESEARCH PROJECTS FOCUS ON MANY AREAS WITHIN MARINE SCIENCE, WITH AN EMPHASIS ON RESTORING OCEAN HEALTH FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS. DURING THIS INTERNSHIP, STUDENTS WILL GAIN VALUABLE EXPERIENCE IN DEVELOPING RESEARCH SKILLSETS AND IN SCIENTIFIC COMMUNICATION. STUDENTS WILL PREPARE A RESEARCH PROPOSAL, CONDUCT A RESEARCH PROJECT, AND REPORT THEIR FINDINGS IN A SCIENTIFIC POSTER PRESENTATION. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT IS PROVIDED IN THE AREAS OF WRITING GRANTS, PREPARING ORAL AND POSTER PRESENTATIONS, UNDERSTANDING REGULATIONS AND PROTOCOLS RELATED TO USING VERTEBRATE ANIMALS IN RESEARCH, USING EXCEL SPREADSHEETS, RESUME BUILDING, AND PREPARING TO PURSUE GRADUATE STUDIES. THE MML REU PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO ADVANCE DISCOVERY IN ESTUARINE AND COASTAL SCIENCES WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY PROMOTING EDUCATION AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT OF FUTURE OCEAN SCIENCE PROFESSIONALS. THIS IS ACCOMPLISHED BY PROVIDING STUDENTS WITH DIRECT, ?HANDS-ON? RESEARCH EXPERIENCES IN DIVERSE OCEAN SCIENCE TOPICS AND DEVELOPING MEANINGFUL RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN STUDENTS AND OCEAN SCIENCE PROFESSIONALS. MOTE MARINE LABORATORY REU STUDENTS ARE PAIRED WITH MML RESEARCHERS FROM TWENTY-FIVE PROGRAMS AND CONDUCT MENTORED RESEARCH PROJECTS ON ONE OF SEVERAL MAJOR THREATS TO COASTAL HABITATS: AQUATIC POLLUTION, OCEAN ACIDIFICATION, NATURAL TOXINS, HABITAT ALTERATION, CORAL REEF DECLINE, NEW AND EMERGING MARINE DISEASES, DETERIORATING WATER QUALITY, AND IMPACTS OF OVERFISHING ON FISHERIES ECOLOGY. THEY ALSO CONDUCT RESEARCH PROJECTS RELATED TO SEA TURTLE AND MARINE MAMMAL BIOLOGY, AND NOVEL PRODUCTS DERIVED FROM THE SEA. STUDENTS ARE EXPOSED TO A BROADER RANGE OF TOPICS IN COASTAL AND ESTUARINE SCIENCES BY ATTENDING RESEARCH SEMINARS PRESENTED BY MOTE SCIENTIFIC STAFF, VISITING SCIENTISTS, AND MOTE NSF REU PROGRAM ALUMNI. PARTICIPANTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO PRESENT RESEARCH FINDINGS IN PEER-REVIEWED LITERATURE AND/OR AT PROFESSIONAL CONFERENCES AS APPROPRIATE. THIS AWARD REFLECTS NSF'S STATUTORY MISSION AND HAS BEEN DEEMED WORTHY OF SUPPORT THROUGH EVALUATION USING THE FOUNDATION'S INTELLECTUAL MERIT AND BROADER IMPACTS REVIEW CRITERIA.- SUBAWARDS ARE NOT PLANNED FOR THIS AWARD.

DECISION MAKING AT THE CUTTING EDGE OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH: RED TIDES

DESCRIPTION:THIS ACTION APPROVES AN AWARD IN AN AMOUNT OF $399,998 TO MOTE MARINE LABORATORY. THE PURPOSE OF THIS GRANT IS TO IMPLEMENT FLORIDA KEYS WATER QUALITY AND CLIMATE MONITORING TO INFORM LOWER KEYS REEF RESTORATION. THIS PROPOSED WORK WILL ADDRESS THE PRIORITY ACTION ITEM OF FLORIDA REEF TRACT CORAL HEALTH TO DEVELOP A WATER QUALITY MONITORING PROGRAM AT CORAL REEF RESTORATION SITES AND TO EFFECTIVELY CAPTURE BOTH EPISODIC EVENTS AND SEASONAL CHANGES IN WATER QUALITY AT THESE RESTORATION SITES. ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED INCLUDE TO DEVELOP INNOVATIVE TECHNIQUES TO TREAT OR MITIGATE THE EFFECTS OF CORAL DISEASES IMPACTING THE CORAL SPECIES ON FLORIDA'S CORAL REEF, MAY INCLUDE IDENTIFYING AND PROPAGATING CORAL SPECIES THAT HAVE DEMONSTRATED RESISTANCE TO CORAL DISEASE, AND DEVELOPING INTERVENTION TECHNIQUES AND GROUND CORAL RESTORATION TECHNIQUES. ANTICIPATED DELIVERABLES INCLUDE A QUALITY ASSURANCE PROJECT PLAN, MONTHLY DATA REPORTS, DATA UPLOADED TO EPA WATER QUALITY EXCHANGE AND THE FLORIDA WATERSHED INFORMATION NETWORK, SEMI-ANNUAL PERFORMANCE REPORTS AND A FINAL REPORT. THE INTENDED BENEFICIARIES ARE THE CITIZENS OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA. SUBAWARDS INCLUDEACTIVITIES:.SUBRECIPIENT:FL INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY FOR DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSISOUTCOMES:.

PREPARING UNDERGRADUATES FOR MARINE SCIENCE RESEARCH EXPERIENCES -THIS PROJECT AIMS TO SERVE THE NATIONAL INTEREST BY DEVELOPING A PRE-RESEARCH EXPERIENCE FOR UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS IN MARINE SCIENCE TO HELP PREPARE THEM TO APPLY FOR AND BE SUCCESSFUL IN FUTURE UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH EXPERIENCES. UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH EXPERIENCES ARE A HIGH-IMPACT PRACTICE FOR STEM STUDENTS, IMPACTING THEIR PERSISTENCE IN STEM, THE KINDS OF CAREER OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE TO THEM, THEIR PROFESSIONAL SKILLS, AND SELF-EFFICACY. HOWEVER, NOT ALL STUDENTS HAVE ACCESS TO UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH EXPERIENCES, OR TO THE PREPARATION NECESSARY TO FIND AND SUCCESSFULLY APPLY TO THEM. PARTICULARLY IN MARINE SCIENCES, STUDENTS' INSTITUTIONAL CHARACTERISTICS AND PERSONAL DEMOGRAPHICS CAN CONTRIBUTE TO LACK OF ACCESS TO THESE EXPERIENCES. THIS PROJECT WILL DEVELOP A PREPARATORY PROGRAM FOR UNDERGRADUATES INTERESTED IN MARINE SCIENCES WHO ENCOUNTER BARRIERS TO FULLY ACCESS UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH EXPERIENCES. THROUGH MENTORED PROJECTS WITH PRACTICING MARINE SCIENTISTS AND COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES, PARTICIPANTS WILL DEVELOP SKILLS, CONFIDENCE, AND NETWORKING TO OVERCOME BARRIERS TO THEIR PARTICIPATION IN RESEARCH EXPERIENCES IN MARINE SCIENCE. THE GOALS OF THIS PROJECT ARE TO SERVE THREE COHORTS OF STUDENTS WITH HISTORICALLY EXCLUDED IDENTITIES IN MARINE SCIENCE IN AN INTENSIVE WEEK-LONG RESIDENTIAL EXPERIENCE TO PREPARE THEM FOR FUTURE RESEARCH EXPERIENCES IN MARINE SCIENCE. THIS PROJECT BUILDS ON THE INSTITUTIONAL CAPABILITIES OF MOTE MARINE LABORATORY TO CONNECT STUDENTS WITH MENTORS AND PROJECTS IN MARINE SCIENCE, AND TO LEVERAGE EXPERTISE IN COMMUNITY BUILDING AND MENTORSHIP TO SUPPORT THE STUDENTS IN DEVELOPING SELF-EFFICACY AND NETWORKING SKILLS TO INCREASE THEIR ABILITY TO FIND AND APPLY FOR UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH EXPERIENCES. THE PROJECT WILL COLLECT RICH QUALITATIVE DATA TO DISCOVER THE IMPACT OF PROJECT ACTIVITIES ON PARTICIPANTS AND STAKEHOLDERS, AND DEVELOP BEST PRACTICES IN SUPPORTING MINORITIZED STUDENTS IN MARINE SCIENCE. THE NSF IUSE: EDU PROGRAM SUPPORTS RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS TO IMPROVE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF STEM EDUCATION FOR ALL STUDENTS. THROUGH THE ENGAGED STUDENT LEARNING TRACK, THE PROGRAM SUPPORTS THE CREATION, EXPLORATION, AND IMPLEMENTATION OF PROMISING PRACTICES AND TOOLS. THIS AWARD REFLECTS NSF'S STATUTORY MISSION AND HAS BEEN DEEMED WORTHY OF SUPPORT THROUGH EVALUATION USING THE FOUNDATION'S INTELLECTUAL MERIT AND BROADER IMPACTS REVIEW CRITERIA.

GEOPATHS: INFORMAL NETWORKS VOCATIONAL EXPERIENCES AND RESEARCH TRAINING IN MARINE SCIENCE (GP-IN:VERT) -GEOPATHS INFORMAL NETWORK VOCATIONAL EXPERIENCES AND RESEARCH TRAINING IN MARINE SCIENCE (GP-IN:VERT) IS A PROJECT DESIGNED TO INCREASE PRE-COLLEGE STUDENT EXPOSURE TO AND PARTICIPATION IN MARINE STEM ACTIVITIES IN AN EFFORT TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS PURSUING A DEGREE IN MARINE STEM. MARINE STEM REMAINS ONE OF THE LEAST RACIALLY AND ETHNICALLY DIVERSE FIELDS DESPITE INCREASED EMPHASIS AND EFFORTS TO INCREASE PARTICIPATION FROM GROUPS WHO HAVE BEEN STRUCTURALLY EXCLUDED IN STEM. GP-IN:VERT AIMS TO INCREASE THE PURSUIT OF MARINE STEM DEGREES BY: ENGAGING STUDENTS PRIMARILY FROM STRUCTURALLY EXCLUDED AND MARGINALIZED GROUPS IN AUTHENTIC, MARINE GEOSCIENCE CAREER-RELEVANT EXPERIENCES; PROVIDING ACCESS TO STUDENTS THAT MIGHT OTHERWISE NOT ENCOUNTER GEOSCIENCE BEFORE DECIDING ON A MAJOR; AND CREATING MECHANISMS TO ENGAGE LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN EXPERIENCES THAT DEMONSTRATE THE GEOSCIENCES AS A VIABLE CAREER PATH. THIS WILL BE DONE THROUGH A SCHOOL-YEAR AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAM FOLLOWED BY A TWO-WEEK IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE OVER THE SUMMER. PARTICIPATING STUDENTS WILL ENGAGE WITH MARINE STEM CONTENT, HANDS-ON EXPERIENCES AND HIGHER EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES AS WELL AS VARIOUS MARINE STEM PROFESSIONALS TO GAIN A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE BROAD LANDSCAPE OF THE FIELD AS WELL AS PATHWAYS INTO CAREERS. GP-IN:VERT AIMS TO ENGAGE STUDENTS FROM STRUCTURALLY EXCLUDED AND MARGINALIZED POPULATIONS IN MEANINGFUL MARINE STEM ACTIVITIES IN AN EFFORT TO INCREASE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT: AWARENESS OF MARINE STEM CAREER OPPORTUNITIES; UNDERSTANDING OF MARINE STEM CAREER PATHWAYS; SELF-EFFICACY, SENSE OF BELONGING, AND SCIENCE IDENTITY IN MARINE STEM SETTINGS, FEELINGS OF SOCIAL SUPPORT THROUGH PARTICIPATION IN A LEARNING ECOSYSTEM-BASED PROGRAM; AND CONFIDENCE IN PURSUING UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMS AND CAREERS IN MARINE STEM. A SOCIAL COGNITIVE CAREER THEORY APPROACH WILL BE UTILIZED IN WHICH LEARNING EXPERIENCES OF STUDENT PARTICIPANTS ARE INFLUENCED BY THEIR PRIOR EXPERIENCES, PREDISPOSITIONS, AND/OR CULTURAL BACKGROUNDS AND IDENTITIES, WHICH ALL IMPACT THE COMPLEX DECISION-MAKING PROCESS OF CAREER CHOICE. UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF TRAINED STAFF MENTORS AND RETURNING STUDENT PEER MENTORS, STUDENTS WILL BE PROVIDED A SCAFFOLDED LEARNING FRAMEWORK TO BUILD THEIR KNOWLEDGE BASE OF MARINE STEM CONCEPTS AND TOPICS AS WELL AS CAREER RELEVANT INFORMATION LIKE CAREERS AVAILABLE AND PATHWAYS INTO THOSE CAREERS. THIS PROGRAM HAS THE POTENTIAL TO SERVE AS A MODEL FOR OTHER INSTITUTIONS LOOKING TO CREATE A CAREER EXPOSURE AND EXPLORATION PROGRAM, BOTH IN MARINE STEM AND IN OTHER STEM FIELDS. ULTIMATELY THIS PROJECT SEEKS TO DIVERSIFY THE MARINE STEM LANDSCAPE IN ORDER TO PRODUCE PRODUCTIVE AND CREATIVE PROBLEM SOLVING IN GEOSCIENCE RESEARCH. THIS AWARD REFLECTS NSF'S STATUTORY MISSION AND HAS BEEN DEEMED WORTHY OF SUPPORT THROUGH EVALUATION USING THE FOUNDATION'S INTELLECTUAL MERIT AND BROADER IMPACTS REVIEW CRITERIA.- SUBAWARDS ARE NOT PLANNED FOR THIS AWARD.

DESCRIPTION:THIS ACTION APPROVES AN AWARD IN THE AMOUNT OF $388,777 TO SUPPORT MOTE MARINE LABORATORY'S PROJECT TO USE NATURAL-BASED PRODUCTS TO TREAT COMMON ENDEMIC CORAL DISEASES IN FLORIDA'S CORAL REEF. THE PROJECT ALSO INCLUDES DETERMINING WHETHER THE CURRENT FORMULATIONS CAN EFFECTIVELY STOP THE PROGRESSION OF BLACK BAND DISEASE ON CORALS WITHIN FLORIDA CORAL REEF (FCR). THE ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED INCLUDE DEPLOYING THERAPIES AGAINST BLACK BAND DISEASE (BBD) AND STONEY CORAL TISSUE LOSE DISEASE (SCTLD) WITH METHODS SHARED OPEN SOURCE. ONCE DEPLOYED, SUCCESSFUL THERAPIES WILL IDEALLY SAVE TREATED CORALS AND PREVENT ADDITIONAL TRANSMISSION TO NEIGHBORING CORALS AND REEFS, THUS REDUCING THE IMPACTS OF A MAJOR THREAT TO REEFS OF THE WORLD. USING THE DOCUMENTED DISEASE ETIOLOGY (WHEN AND WHERE DISEASE OCCURS), MANAGERS CAN TARGET TREATMENT ACTIONS SEASONALLY TO REDUCE THE PROGRESSION OF DISEASE, WITHIN AND AMONG COLONIES, DURING VULNERABLE TIMES OF YEAR. THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT OF EFFECTIVE INTERVENTION TECHNIQUES CAN ALSO BE USED IN RESTORATION EFFORTS TO MITIGATE DISEASE IMPACTS ON KEY REEFS BEING ACTIVELY RESTORED. FOR BOTH DISEASES, INITIAL RECONNAISSANCE SURVEYS WILL BE COMPLETED TO LOCATE BBD OR SCTLD IN THE LOWER FLORIDA KEYS AND DETERMINE TARGET SPECIES. THE ANTICIPATED DELIVERABLES INCLUDE OBTAINING PERMITS, APPLYING OINTMENTS, AND SEMI-ANNUAL AND FINAL REPORTS. THE EXPECTED OUTCOMES INCLUDE CREATION OF TOPICAL OINTMENTS THAT CAN REDUCE THE SPREAD OF BBD AND SCTLD. A PROTOCOL ON APPLICATION METHODS WILL BE DEVELOPED AND SHARED VIA OPEN ACCESS OPTIONS. PROJECT OUTCOMES WILL BE SHARED VIA THE DISEASE ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND ONE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE. THE EXPECTED OUTPUTS INCLUDE REDUCE OR ELIMINATE CORAL DISEASE IN THE FL CORAL REEFS. THE INTENDED BENEFICIARIES ARE CITIZENS IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA.ACTIVITIES:.SUBRECIPIENT:NO SUBAWARDS ARE INCLUDED IN THIS ASSISTANCE AGREEMENT.OUTCOMES:.

RESEARCH EXPERIENCES IN ESTUARINE AND COASTAL SCIENCE FOR UNDERGRADUATES AT MOTE MARINE LABORATORY: DEVELOPING A NEW GENERATION OF LEADERS IN OCEAN S

COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH: TRACKING THE INTERACTING ROLES OF THE ENVIRONMENT, HOST GENOTYPE, AND A NOVEL RICKETTSIALES IN CORAL DISEASE SUSCEPTIBILITY

FOOD SECURITY IS THE ABILITY FOR PEOPLE AT ALL TIMES TO HAVE ACCESS TO SUFFICIENT, SAFE AND NUTRITIOUS FOODS THAT MEET THEIR DIETARY NEEDS AND THEIR PREFERENCES. SHELLFISH CONTRIBUTES TO NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL FOOD SELF-SUFFICIENCY THROUGH DIRECT CONSUMPTION, TRADE AND EXPORTS. THREATS TO FISH/SHELLFISH PRODUCTION, A MAJOR SOURCE OF DIETARY PROTEIN, COME FROM HARMFUL ALGAL BLOOMS. RED TIDE IS A HARMFUL ALGAE, THAT PRODUCES BREVETOXINS WHICH ACCUMULATE IN SHELLFISH POSING RISK TO CONSUMER HEALTH. TOXINS IN SHELLFISH TISSUE CAN REMAIN LONG AFTER THE BLOOM HAS DECLINED. SOCIO-ECONOMIC HARDSHIPS OF RED TIDE BLOOMS ARE CRIPPLING SHELLFISH FARMERS, PROCESSING, DISTRIBUTION, AND RETAILING, MAKING THE U.S. LESS COMPETITIVE ON A DOMESTIC AND GLOBAL SCALE, LIMITING PRODUCT AVAILABILITY. WITH ECONOMIC AND FOOD SAFETY RISKS, THERE IS A PROFOUND NEED TO DEVELOP MORE ANALYTICAL TOOLS, LOWERING THE HUMAN HEALTH RISK AND IMPROVING THE BOTTOM LINE OF FARMERS. IN CONSULTATION AND COLLABORATION WITHFLORIDA SHELLFISH GROWERS, THE FLORIDA SHELLFISH AQUACULTURE ASSOCIATION, AND THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND CONSUMER SERVICES, THIS PROPOSED PROJECT ADDRESSES A CRITICAL INDUSTRY NEED WHICH IS THE GENERATION OF A RELIABLE RAPID RED TIDE TOXIN BIOSENSOR FOR MONITORING SHELLFISH FOR POTENTIAL CLOSURES AND SUBSEQUENT RE-OPENINGS DURING AND AFTER RED TIDE BLOOMS,THERE IS A DEMONSTRATED DIRECT NEED FOR NEW TECHNOLOGIES FOR PROVIDING RAPID AND ACCURATE IN-SITU RED TIDE TOXIN TESTING THAT CAN BE USED BY SHELLFISH COMMUNITIES, CONNECTING ALL SEGMENTS OF THE INDUSTRY, FROM GROWING AND HARVESTING TO PROCESSING AND MARKETING.THIS STUDY EXPLORES TECHNOLOGY THAT PROMOTES SUSTAINABLE U.S. SEAFOOD PRODUCTION AND HARVESTING, THEREBY STRENGTHENING EXISTING MARKETS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR SHELLFISH COMMUNITIES. BY DEVELOPING CREATIVE TECHNOLOGY THAT RESPONDS TO THE NEEDS OF THE SHELLFISH FARMERS IN RED TIDE IMPACTED REGIONS, THESE ECONOMICALLY VALUABLE COMMUNITIES HAVE THE CHANCE TO REGAIN, AND POTENTIALLY EXCEED, THEIR PREVIOUS PROMINENCE IN SHELLFISH PRODUCTION.

REU SITE: MOTE MARINE LABORATORY RESEARCH EXPERIENCES FOR UNDERGRADUATES IN ESTUARINE AND COASTAL SCIENCES

CNH: COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH: MODELING THE DYNAMICS OF HARMFUL ALGAL BLOOMS HUMAN COMMUNITIES AND POLICY CHOICES ALONG THE FLORIDA GULF COAST

INTEGRATION OF ACOUSTIC METHODS FOR MONITORING FISH SPAWNING AGGREGATIONS USING GOLIATH GROUPER AS A MODEL SPECIES.

NOVEL TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT TO CREATE IN SITU POINT OF USE FIELD-TESTER FOR RED TIDE TOXINS IN SHELLFISH

**AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** STURGEON CAVIAR IS THE MOST EXPENSIVE AQUACULTURE PRODUCT IN THE WORLD. ABOUT 25% OF ADULT FEMALE STURGEON'S WEIGHT IS FROM EGGS AT HARVEST. A LARGE SPECIES MAY PRODUCE 22KG OF CAVIAR WITH A VALUE OF BETWEEN $70K-$175K, SUGGESTING THAT RELATIVELY SMALL FARMS CAN BE HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL. SO WHY IS CAVIAR PRODUCTION NOT A MORE SIGNIFICANT PART OF THE AMERICAN AQUACULTURE ECONOMY? EACH YEAR, THE AMOUNT OF CAVIAR PRODUCED IN THE US FAILS TO MEET THE TOTAL CONSUMER DEMAND; THUS, OUR ECONOMY IS A NET IMPORTER OF CAVIAR. US STURGEON AQUACULTURE SUFFERS FROM INEFFICIENCIES ACROSS THE VALUE CHAIN. THERE ARE MANY OPPORTUNITIES FOR VALUE CHAIN R&D TO HAVE A TREMENDOUS IMPACT ON GROWING THE AMERICAN CAVIAR INDUSTRY RESULTING IN SIGNIFICANT PROFIT YIELDS. THE BARRIER TO FARMERS GETTING INVOLVED IN THIS HIGHLY PROFITABLE FISHERY, WHERE DEMAND EXCEEDS SUPPLY, IS THE LONG-TERM INVESTMENT NEEDED BEFORE STURGEON ON THE FARM MATURE ENOUGH TO BE PROFITABLE. FEMALES TAKE A DECADE OR MORE TO REACH SEXUAL MATURITY AND PRODUCE VALUABLE EGGS. HOWEVER, JUVENILE STURGEON CAN TAKE 5-6 YEARS TO BE SEXUALLY DIFFERENTIABLE. SO, PRODUCERS PAY TO FEED AND HOUSE THE NON-PRODUCTIVE MALES, 50% OF EACH COHORT, FOR 5-6 YEARS WITHOUT ANY FINANCIAL REWARD. WHO WOULD INVEST IN SUCH A VENTURE OR TRUST SOMEONE WITH THEIR PASSIONS AND PROMISES TO TURN PROFITS?1 THE EARLIER THE MALES CAN BE REMOVED FROM THE PRODUCTION PROCESS, THE GREATER THE PROFITS FOR THIS INDUSTRY. URGENTLY NEEDED BY THIS ARTISAN FISHERY IS A RAPID SEX IDENTIFICATION TOOL, RESULTING IN DOUBLING CAVIAR CAPACITY, DRAMATICALLY IMPROVING PRODUCTION EFFICIENCIES, INCREASING PROFITABILITY, AND STIMULATING GROWTH. WHEN THE START-UP COSTS CAN BE DRASTICALLY REDUCED BECAUSE THE REARING POPULATION WILL COMPRISE ONLY VALUABLE FEMALES, THE DOOR WILL OPEN FOR NEW ENTREPRENEURS TO VENTURE INTO THE CAVIAR PRODUCTION MARKET. A FIELD-BASED SEX DETERMINATION BIOSENSOR FOR STURGEON AQUACULTURE, WITH POTENTIAL APPLICATIONS FOR OTHER COMMERCIAL FISH FARMS AND STURGEON CONSERVATION RESEARCH, CAN BE A GAME-CHANGER.

DEVELOPMENT OF INNOVATIVE TECHNIQUES FOR EXPLORING NOVEL SUBMARINE SPRINGS ON THE GULF OF MEXICO OUTER CONTINENTAL SHELF

ACHIEVING SUSTAINABILITY AND BUILDING CAPACITY FOR PUERTO RICO'S HMS FISHERIES: A FISHERIES-DEPENDENT AND FISHERIES-INDEPENDENT RESEARCH, EDUCATION AND OUTREACH PROGRAM

DEVELOPMENT OF AN OCEAN ACIDIFICATION TESTING FACILITY IN THE FLORIDA KEYS

BRINGING LARGE SAMPLE SIZES TO THE STUDY OF POST-RELEASE MORTALITY IN HIGHLY MIGRATORY SPECIES

REU SITE: UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH EXPERIENCES IN ESTUARINE AND COASTAL SCIENCES AT MOTE MARINE LABORATORY

NOVEL TECHNOLOGY TO ASSESS MORTALITY FROM BYCATCH IN LARGE COASTAL SHARKS.

DISCARD MORTALITY OF CARCHARHINID SHARKS IN THE FLORIDA COMMERCIAL SHARK FISHERY

THIS PROJECT PROPOSES TO ENGAGE THE SHARK FISHING COMMUNITY OF PUERTO RICO TO: (1) OBTAIN POST-REGULATION SPECIES- AND SIZE COMPOSITION SHARK CATCH DATA THAT CAN BE USED TO ASSESS THIS FISHERY AND DETERMINE COMPLIANCE WITH NEW REGULATIONS, (2) MAP COASTAL SHARK HABITATS AND DETERMINE SPECIES-SPECIFIC OVERLAP WITH FISHERS, AND (3) CONDUCT WORKSHOPS TO FURTHER IMPROVE SPECIES IDENTIFICATION, SOCIALIZE THE NEW REGULATIONS, FACILITATE FISHERS GETTING HMS CCSB PERMITS, AND IDENTIFY PRACTICAL WAYS FOR THEM TO AVOID AREAS FREQUENTED BY PROHIBITED SPECIES, ESPECIALLY SCALLOPED HAMMERHEADS.

COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH: ORCC: THE ROLE OF ADAPTIVE PLASTICITY IN CORAL RESPONSE TO CLIMATE CHANGE -CLIMATE CHANGE THREATENS POPULATIONS BECAUSE AN ORGANISM?S PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS, OR PHENOTYPE, MAY BE ILL-SUITED TO NEW CONDITIONS. ULTIMATELY, WHETHER ORGANISMS PERSIST OR GO EXTINCT WILL DEPEND ON THEIR ABILITY TO SHIFT THEIR PHENOTYPES IN AN ADAPTIVE DIRECTION. FOR LONG-LIVED, BROADLY DISPERSING ORGANISMS THAT EXPERIENCE PREDICTABLE ENVIRONMENTAL FLUCTUATIONS, LIKE CORAL, PLASTICITY, OR PHENOTYPIC CHANGES PRODUCED WITHIN AN INDIVIDUAL?S LIFETIME, IS PREDICTED TO PLAY A SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN THE RESPONSE TO CLIMATE CHANGE. THIS PROJECT AIMS TO ADDRESS KEY QUESTIONS ON THE CAUSES AND CONSEQUENCES OF PHENOTYPIC PLASTICITY IN A FOUNDATIONAL CARIBBEAN CORAL SPECIES, ACROPORA CERVICORNIS. KNOWLEDGE OF THE ROLE OF PHENOTYPIC PLASTICITY IN DRIVING THE SUCCESS OF CORAL TRANSPLANTS IS ALSO ESSENTIAL INFORMATION FOR REEF PRACTITIONERS AND MANAGERS WORKING TO CONSERVE AND RESTORE REEFS. THIS IS BECAUSE THE RESTORATION OF REEF ECOSYSTEMS IN US JURISDICTIONAL WATERS AND THE BROADER CARIBBEAN RELIES HEAVILY ON CLONAL OR ?VEGETATIVE? PROPAGATION OF SELECT CORAL GENOTYPES, OR GENETICALLY UNIQUE INDIVIDUALS, WHICH ARE THEN TRANSPLANTED TO NEW ENVIRONMENTS. THROUGH DIRECT COLLABORATION WITH ONE OF THE LEADING REEF RESTORATION ORGANIZATIONS IN THE WORLD, MOTE MARINE LABORATORY, RESULTS OF THIS WORK WILL BE APPLIED TO ONGOING RESTORATION OF REEFS IN THE FLORIDA KEYS, USA. FINDINGS WILL ALSO BE COMMUNICATED TO THE BROADER STAKEHOLDER COMMUNITY THROUGH THE PIS' ROLES IN VARIOUS ADVISORY GROUPS. FINALLY, THE PROJECT WILL DIRECTLY INVOLVE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, UNDERGRADUATES AND GRADUATE STUDENTS IN PRIMARY DATA COLLECTION AND TRANSLATION OF THIS WORK, PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR EDUCATION, TRAINING AND BROADER COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT WITH CORAL SCIENCE AND CONSERVATION. THIS PROJECT AIMS TO GENERATE QUANTITATIVE EMPIRICAL DATA ON THE ROLE OF MORPHOLOGICAL PLASTICITY IN THE ECO-EVOLUTIONARY DYNAMICS OF A FOUNDATION SPECIES IN NATURE. CLONAL REPLICATES OF A. CERVICORNIS GENOTYPES THAT ARE KNOWN TO EXHIBIT VARIATION IN THEIR CAPACITY FOR PLASTICITY WILL BE USED TO: (1) INVESTIGATE THE MECHANISTIC BASIS OF ADAPTIVE MORPHOLOGICAL PLASTICITY THROUGH A LAB-BASED WATER FLOW MANIPULATION EXPERIMENT TO TEST THE HYPOTHESIS THAT VARIATION IN MORPHOLOGICAL PLASTICITY IS DRIVEN BY UNDERLYING CHANGES IN CALCIFICATION AND FINE-SCALE STRUCTURAL VARIATION IN SKELETAL DEPOSITION; (2) QUANTIFY COSTS AND/OR TRADE-OFFS THAT MAY LIMIT THE EVOLUTION OF MORPHOLOGICAL PLASTICITY THROUGH A COMBINATION OF FIELD AND LAB-BASED EXPERIMENTS TESTING FOR CONTEXT-DEPENDENT TRADE-OFFS IN THE RESPONSE TO CLIMATE STRESSORS (TEMPERATURE AND ACIDIFICATION) AND REPRODUCTIVE INVESTMENT; AND (3) EVALUATE THE ECOLOGICAL CONSEQUENCES OF PLASTICITY AT THE COMMUNITY AND ECOSYSTEM LEVELS BY CREATING A. CERVICORNIS REEFS THAT DIFFER IN THEIR CAPACITY FOR MORPHOLOGICAL PLASTICITY AND QUANTIFYING CHANGES IN THE RESULTING COMPOSITION AND DIVERSITY OF FISH AND INVERTEBRATE COMMUNITIES, AS WELL AS THE FUNCTION OF THE REEFS IN TERMS OF THEIR PRODUCTION AND CALCIFICATION. TAKEN TOGETHER, THIS WORK WILL FILL AN EMPIRICAL GAP IN OUR UNDERSTANDING OF PLASTICITY AND ITS ROLE IN CLIMATE ADAPTATION THROUGH INVESTIGATING THE EFFECTS ON ENVIRONMENTAL ADAPTATION ACROSS LEVELS OF BIOLOGICAL ORGANIZATION. THIS AWARD REFLECTS NSF'S STATUTORY MISSION AND HAS BEEN DEEMED WORTHY OF SUPPORT THROUGH EVALUATION USING THE FOUNDATION'S INTELLECTUAL MERIT AND BROADER IMPACTS REVIEW CRITERIA.

FUNCTIONAL ELECTRONIC MONITORING OF THE GULF OF MEXICO REEF FISH FISHERY, PHASE II:TACTICAL ASSESSMENT OF BYCATCH, DISCARDS, AND COMMUNITY STRUCTURE INCLUDING HIGHLY MIGRATORY AND DATA LIMITED SPECIES

TESTING CORAL DISEASE TREATMENTS ACROSS MULTIPLE SPECIES AT SEVERAL HIGHLY- INFECTED VIRGIN ISLAND CORAL REEF NATIONAL PARKS

THIS PROJECT PROPOSES TO EVALUATE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF ZINC/GRAPHITE HOOK TREATMENT ON CATCH RATES AND SHARK DEPREDATION IN THE GULF OF AMERICA COMMERCIAL REEF FISH BOTTOM LONGLINE FISHERY (BLL). BY TESTING THIS TECHNOLOGY IN REAL-WORLD CONDITIONS, IT AIMS TO MITIGATE SHARK INTERACTIONS, REDUCING INCIDENTAL CAPTURES AND ALLEVIATING FINANCIAL AND OPERATIONAL BURDENS ON COMMERCIAL FISHERS. AT LEAST TWO PRIMARY STUDY VESSELS WOULD FACILITATE THE COMPARISON OF SHARK BYCATCH RATES USING DETERRENT DEVICES. HOOKS WITH ZINC/GRAPHITE DETERRENTS, DUMMY DETERRENTS, AND UNTREATED HOOKS WOULD BE RANDOMLY DEPLOYED IN EQUAL PROPORTIONS. CAPTAINS WOULD SELECT BAIT TYPE, HOOK SIZE, AND LEADER STRENGTH, WITH BAIT TYPES AND HOOK SIZES RECORDED AT THE TRIP LEVEL THROUGH DETAILED ELECTRONIC MONITORING REVIEW. RESEARCHERS WOULD ANALYZE ELECTRONIC MONITORING VIDEO FOOTAGE, DETAILED CATCH DATA, AND FISHING ACTIVITY LOCATIONS TO ASSESS THE EFFECTIVENESS OF SHARK DETERRENTS IN THE COMMERCIAL REEF FISH BLL FISHERY. COLOR-MARKED LONGLINE CLIPS WOULD ENABLE VIDEO REVIEWERS TO DISTINGUISH BETWEEN DIFFERENT HOOK TREATMENTS, A METHOD SUCCESSFULLY EMPLOYED DURING A 2022 NOAA BREP PROJECT TO ASSESS THE IMPACT OF HOOK SIZE ON BYCATCH.

LEVERAGING ELECTRONIC MONITORING IN THE GULF OF MEXICO REEF FISH FISHERY FOR AN INNOVATIVE MINIMAL HUMAN-CONTACT COLLECTION OF BIOLOGICAL SAMPLES FROM DATA-POOR SPECIES

FINE-SCALE BEHAVIOR AND MORTALITY IN POST-RELEASE CARCHARHINID SHARKS IN THE FLORIDA RECREATIONAL SHARK FISHERY

DISCARD MORTALITY OF CARCHARHINID SHARKS IN THE FLORIDA COMMERCIAL SHARK FISHERY

FIE EARMARK GRANT AWARDS

PROJECT GOAL IS TO ASSIST THE MANUFACTURER IN OPTIMIZING AN ELECTRICAL PULSE DEVICE, EPD, WHICH COULD MEANINGFULLY MITIGATE SHARK BYCATCH AND DEPREDATION AND ENSURE THAT U.S. STAKEHOLDERS ARE POISED TO ENGAGE IT. OUR OBJECTIVES ARE TO (1) VALIDATE THAT EPDS REPEL A RANGE OF SHARK SPECIES OF INTEREST, (2) VALIDATE THAT THEY DO NOT REPEL TARGETED FISH SUCH AS TUNA, SNAPPERS, AND GROUPER, AND (3) PROVIDE PRACTICAL INFORMATION THAT WILL HELP THE MANUFACTURER ACHIEVE MAXIMUM PRODUCT EFFECTIVENESS.

RESEARCHERS WILL COMPARE CATCH RATES AND THE PROPORTION OF REGULATORY DISCARDS FOR RED GROUPER AND RED SNAPPER BETWEEN 13/0 AND 15/0 HOOK SIZES, INCORPORATE HOOK COUNT AND HOOK LOCATION INFORMATION INTO THE ELECTRONIC MONITORING REVIEW PROCESS AND QUANTIFY HOOK LOCATION AMONG SPECIES, AND CONTINUE THE APPLICATION OF EM SYSTEM INTEGRATED STERN MOUNTED CAMERAS TO RECORD AND ASSESS SHORT-TERM RELEASE SURVIVAL STATUS. THE PROPOSED PROJECT WILL DEMONSTRATE THE IMPACT OF HOOK SIZE ON TARGET SPECIES CATCH IN THE GOM BLL REEF FISH FISHERY. IF THESE EXPECTED IMPACTS ARE CONFIRMED, OUTREACH EFFORTS WILL PROMOTE GEAR MODIFICATIONS THROUGHOUT THE GOM BLL FISHERY.

RESEARCH EXPERIENCES IN EESTUARINE SCIENCE FOR UNDERGRADUATES AT MOTE MARINE LABORATORY: DEVELOPING A NEW GENERATION OF LEADERS IN OCEAN SCIENCES.

REDUCING POST-RELEASE MORTALITY FROM COMMERCIAL FISHERIES BYCATCH IN LARGE COASTAL SHARKS.

COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH: MULTISENSORY GUIDANCE OF MARINE ANIMAL NAVIGATION AND PREY CAPTURE

THIS ACTION APPROVES AN AWARD IN THE AMOUNT OF $176,924 TO MOTE MARINE LABORATORY, INC. TO SUPPORT A SOUTH FLORIDA GEOGRAPHIC INITIATIVES PROGRAM THAT FOCUSES ON TAGGING AND SAMPLING 12 HEALTHY CORALS AT EACH OF FOUR SITES (TWO IN THE LOWER KEYS, TWO IN DRY TORTUGAS) AND MONITORING FOR DISEASE DEVELOPMENT.

BEST FISHING PRACTICES FOR BYCATCH REDUCTION IN THE GULF OF MEXICO REEF FISH FISHERY: EMPLOYING INNOVATIVE UNDERWATER CAMERAS AND REFINED MODELING TO FURTHER THE USE OF ELECTRONIC MONITORING

APPLICATION AND ADVANCEMENT OF INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIES FOR ELECTRONIC MONITORING (EM) IN SUPPORT OF BEST FISHING PRACTICES FOR THE COMMERCIAL GULF OF MEXICO (GOM) SNAPPER-GROUPER FISHERY-PHASE II

REU SITE: RESEARCH EXPERIENCES IN ESTUARINE SCIENCE FOR UNDERGRADUATES AT MOTE MARINE LABORATORY: DEVELOPING A NEW GENERATION OF LEADERS IN OCEAN SCI

YELLOW BAND DISEASE

THE GOAL OF THIS PROJECT IS TO INCREASE EFFICIENCY AND LESSEN THE BURDEN ON OUR PARTNERS BY PROVIDING ANOTHER MANATEE TRANSPORT TRUCK TO THE FLEET IN FLORIDA. WE AIM TO REACH THIS GOAL THROUGH THE FOLLOWING OBJECTIVES: PROVIDE AN ADDITIONAL OPTION FOR TRANSPORTING LARGE MANATEES TO AND FROM THE FIELD AND BETWEEN REHABILITATION PARTNERS IN FLORIDA AND EXPAND MMLS ROLE IN THE MANATEE RESCUE AND REHABILITATION PARTNERSHIP (MRP) BY OFFERING AN ADDITIONAL TRANSPORT OPTION FOR MANATEES IN FLORIDA. THE TRANSPORT TRUCK IS BEING MODELED AFTER THE CUSTOM BUILDS MADE FOR THE FLORIDA FISH AND WILDLIFE COMMISSION S MANATEE TRANSPORT TRUCKS CURRENTLY USED IN THEIR FLEET.

THROUGH THIS 12-MONTH PILOT PROJECT, THE CFEMM WILL ENGAGE TWO COMMERCIAL VERTICAL LINE (VL) REEF FISH VESSELS TARGETING THE SNAPPER-GROUPER COMPLEX IN THE SOUTH ATLANTIC. THE VESSEL CAPTAINS, INVOLVED AS CITIZEN SCIENTISTS, WILL APPLY VESSEL ELECTRONIC MONITORING (EM) SYSTEMS TO GENERATE SUITABLE IMAGERY. THE RESULTING EM FOOTAGE WILL PROVIDE CRITICAL DATA ON CATCH COMPOSITION, EFFORT METRICS, CATCH CONDITION, AND RELEASE ATTRIBUTES. THIS INFORMATION WILL ENHANCE THE UNDERSTANDING OF FISHING PRACTICES, SUPPORT ACCURATE STOCK ASSESSMENTS, AND AID IN BYCATCH MANAGEMENT. TO IMPROVE THE CONTINUED SUCCESS AND SCALABILITY OF EM IN THIS FISHERY, ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI) ALGORITHMS GENERATED FROM THE GULF LONGLINE FISHERY WILL BE TESTED. THESE AI TOOLS HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO AUTOMATE DATA ANALYSIS, STREAMLINING THE REVIEW PROCESS AND REDUCING TIME AND COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH MANUAL REVIEW.

BREVETOXIN METABOLISM AND PHYSIOLOGY - A FRESHWATER MODEL OF MORBIDITY IN ENDANGERED SEA TURTLES

INFLUENCE OF COMMERCIAL DIETS & FEEDING REGIMEN OF FLORIDA POMPANO AQUACULTURED IN INLAND RECIRCULATING SYSTEMS

IMPROVING COST-EFFICIENCY AND MONITORING DURATION IN THE STUDY OF POST-RELEASE MORTALITY IN HIGHLY MIGRATORY SPECIES.

BIOMARKERS TO ASSESS POSSIBLE BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS ON REPRODUCTIVE POTENTIAL, IMMUNE FUNCTION, AND ENERGETIC FITNESS OF BOTTLENOSE DOLPHINS EXPOSED TO

THIS ACTION APPROVES AN AWARD IN THE AMOUNT OF $112,830 TO MOTE MARINE LABORATORY TO ADDRESS ENDOCRINE DISRUPTING COMPOUNDS IN WATER QUALITY AND CORA

RAPID: COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH: UNPRECEDENTED HURRICANE IAN NUTRIENT AND ORGANIC MATTER INPUTS TO SOUTHWEST FLORIDA COASTAL WATERS -MANY COASTAL SYSTEMS ARE FACING THE THREATS OF CONTINUING DEVELOPMENT AND CLIMATE CHANGE, INCLUDING AN INCREASED INTENSITY OF EXTREME WEATHER EVENTS SUCH AS HURRICANES. SUCH STORMS ARE NOW WETTER THAN IN PRIOR YEARS BECAUSE WARMER ATMOSPHERES HOLD MORE MOISTURE. THUS, THEY RELEASE MORE RAINFALL AND DELIVER MORE NUTRIENTS AND ORGANIC MATTER TO COASTAL AREAS. THIS, IN TURN, LEADS TO PHYTOPLANKTON BLOOMS WITH POTENTIAL FOR REGIONAL ?DEAD ZONES? OR AREAS WITH LITTLE OR NO DISSOLVED OXYGEN. HURRICANE IAN, A CATEGORY 4 HURRICANE WHICH HIT SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IN LATE SEPTEMBER 2022, RESULTED IN IMMENSE NUTRIENT AND ORGANIC CARBON INPUTS TO THE COASTAL ESTUARIES AND SOUTHWEST FLORIDA SHELF WATERS AND PRESENTS AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXAMINE THE EFFECTS OF A MAJOR STORM DISTURBANCE ON A COASTAL SYSTEM THAT IS UNDER INCREASING COASTAL NUTRIENT STRESS. THE OBJECTIVE OF THIS RAPID PROJECT IS TO EXAMINE CARBON AND NUTRIENT CYCLING ALONG A GRADIENT OF STATIONS FROM THE ESTUARY TO LOW-NUTRIENT SHELF WATERS TO DETERMINE THE RATE OF CHANGE AND RECOVERY IN THIS SYSTEM AND THE RELATIONSHIP OF LARGE HURRICANE INPUTS TO HYPOXIA, ANOXIA, AND OCEAN ACIDIFICATION. THESE DATA ARE BEING USED TO DEVELOP A REGIONAL MODEL TO PREDICT THE IMPACT OF FUTURE HURRICANES ON OCEAN ACIDIFICATION, PHYTOPLANKTON BLOOMS, AND LOCAL HYPOXIA AND ANOXIA. THIS STUDY LEVERAGES ONGOING MONITORING PROGRAMS FUNDED BY STATE AND FEDERAL MANAGEMENT AGENCIES, AS WELL AS NSF-SUPPORTED PROGRAMS FOR UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS. IT PROVIDES PARTIAL SUPPORT FOR TRAINING OF POSTDOCTORAL INVESTIGATORS AND A GRADUATE STUDENT. OUTREACH WILL INCLUDE PRESENTATIONS TO ELEMENTARY AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS. IN SEPTEMBER 2022, SOUTHWEST FLORIDA EXPERIENCED A DIRECT HIT FROM CATEGORY-4 HURRICANE IAN, RESULTING IN EXTENSIVE WATERSHED FLOODING AND NUTRIENT- AND DISSOLVED-ORGANIC-MATTER-LADEN ESTUARINE PLUMES EXTENDING MORE THAN 50 MILES ONTO THE SHALLOW OLIGOTROPHIC WEST FLORIDA SHELF (WFS). THE MASSIVE TERRESTRIAL ORGANIC CARBON AND NUTRIENT INPUTS TO THE SOUTHWEST FLORIDA COASTAL AND SHELF REGION MAY BE PRIMING THIS OLIGOTROPHIC SYSTEM FOR EXTENSIVE PHYTOPLANKTON BLOOMS, AS WELL AS SIGNIFICANT CHANGES IN CARBON CHEMISTRY AND NUTRIENT CYCLING THAT COULD LEAD TO LONGER-TERM REGIONAL HYPOXIA AND ANOXIA. IN THIS RAPID PROJECT, THE INVESTIGATORS ARE MEASURING A SUITE OF CARBON AND NUTRIENT PARAMETERS, AS WELL AS CARBON AND NUTRIENT CYCLING, AT STATIONS IN CHARLOTTE HARBOR AND THE ADJACENT INNER WFS SYSTEM IN DECEMBER 2022, FEBRUARY 2023, AND SEPTEMBER 2023. THE OBJECTIVES ARE TO ASSESS: 1) A TIMESCALE OF SYSTEM RESPONSES FROM SHORTER (WEEKS TO MONTHS) TO 1-YEAR IMPACTS POST-HURRICANE; 2) HOW NUTRIENT AVAILABILITY AND FORMS INFLUENCE HYPOXIA; AND 3) HOW HURRICANE-DRIVEN INPUTS INFLUENCE CARBONATE CHEMISTRY IN THIS SYSTEM, SPECIFICALLY THE CONNECTION BETWEEN ACIDIFICATION AND HYPOXIA. THE INVESTIGATORS ARE USING NEW DATA COLLECTED IN THIS STUDY AND MONITORING DATA FROM REGIONAL STATE AND FEDERAL PROGRAMS IN A COUPLED HYDRODYNAMIC-BIOGEOCHEMICAL MODEL TO UNDERSTAND CONDITIONS ON THE WFS. HINDCAST SIMULATIONS AND MODELING EXPERIMENTS ARE ASSESSING HOW LARGE INPUTS OF NUTRIENTS AND ORGANIC MATTER AFFECT PHYTOPLANKTON, OXYGEN CONDITIONS, AND CARBON CHEMISTRY. MODELING EXPERIMENTS ARE EXPLORING HOW STORMS OF VARYING WIND AND PRECIPITATION INTENSITY AFFECT THE WFS AND ESTUARIES, IDENTIFYING THE TIPPING POINT AT WHICH THE WFS SWITCHES FROM EPISODIC TO PERSISTENT HYPOXIA. THIS AWARD REFLECTS NSF'S STATUTORY MISSION AND HAS BEEN DEEMED WORTHY OF SUPPORT THROUGH EVALUATION USING THE FOUNDATION'S INTELLECTUAL MERIT AND BROADER IMPACTS REVIEW CRITERIA.

DEVELOPMENT OF A MULTI-USER MOLECULAR FACILITY AT MOTE MARINE LABORATORY'S TROPICAL RESEARCH LABORATORY

ACQUISITION OF A BIO-PLEX 3D SYSTEM TO HELP ASSESS EFFECTS OF SUBLETHAL OIL EXPOSURE ON CRITICAL BIOLOGICAL FUNCTIONS OF MARINE MAMMALS AND SEA TURTL

MONITORING NATURAL AND HUMAN-RELATED MORTALITY OF CETACEANS ALONG THE CENTRAL WEST COAST OF FLORIDA AND POST-RELEASE TRACKING OF REHABILITATED ANIMAL

FACILITY AND EQUIPMENT ENHANCEMENT AT THE DOLPHIN AND WHALE HOSPITAL

RAPID DETECTION, RESPONSE, UPGRADED RADIOGRAPH CAPABILITIES, AND DISENTANGLEMENT EFFORTS FOR STRANDED CETACEANS IN CENTRAL WEST FLORIDA

RAPID DETECTION AND RESPONSE TO CETACEAN STRANDINGS AND SMALL CETACEAN DISENTANGLEMENTS IN CENTRAL WESTERN FLORIDA AND CAPACITY BUILDING FOR LARGE WHALE RECOVERY, NECROPSY AND DISPOSAL FOR GREATER FL.

RAPID DETECTION AND RESPONSE TO CETACEAN MORTALITIES IN WEST CENTRAL FLORIDA AND COLLABORATIVE LIFE HISTORY SAMPLE ANALYSES

RAPID DETECTION AND RESPONSE TO CETACEAN MORTALITIES, CAPACITY BUILDING FOR LARGE WHALE RESPONSE, AND POST-RELEASE MONITORING FOR REHABILITATED ANIMA

ENHANCED CAPACITY FOR LIVE ANIMAL RESPONSE AND TRANSPORT, AND CONTINUED HIGH-LEVEL RESPONSE, RECOVERY, AND ANALYSES OF STRANDED CETACEANS IN SOUTHWES

PROJECT TITLE INCREASING SECONDARY HOLDING CAPACITY FOR MANATEES IN FLORIDAPROJECT DURATION ONE YEAR, 1 JULY 2022 30 JUNE 2023MOTE MARINE LABORATORY AND AQUARIUMPRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR EVAN BARNISKIS MOTE MARINE LABORATORY, 1600 KEN THOMPSON PARKWAY, SARASOTA, FL 34236 TELEPHONE 941 388 4441, EMAIL EVAN MOTE ORGCO INVESTIGATOR RANDY GRAMS, MOTE MARINE LABORATORY, 1600 KEN THOMPSON PARKWAY, SARASOTA, FL 34236 TELEPHONE 941 388 4441, EMAIL RANDYGRAMS MOTE ORGCO INVESTIGATOR LYNNE BYRD, MOTE MARINE LABORATORY, 1600 KEN THOMPSON PARKWAY, SARASOTA, FL 34236 TELEPHONE 941 388 4441, EMAIL BYRD MOTE ORGCO INVESTIGATOR GRETCHEN LOVEWELL, MOTE MARINE LABORATORY, 1600 KEN THOMPSON PARKWAY, SARASOTA, FL 34236 TELEPHONE 941 388 4441, EMAIL BYRD MOTE ORGPRESCOTT GRANT PROGRAM CATEGORY B SPECIES FLORIDA SUB SPECIES OF WEST INDIAN MANATEESFUNDING PRIORITIES FOR WEST INDIAN MANATEES FLORIDA SUB SPECIES IN THE SOUTHEAST UPGRADE EXISTING FACILITIES FOR MEDICAL TREATMENT, REHABILITATION AND OR NECROPSIES INCLUDING BUILD OUTS, ALTERATIONS, AND RENOVATIONS THAT DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR MANATEES RESCUED OR RECOVERED FROM THE ATLANTIC COAST THIS PROPOSAL IS FOR CRITICAL EQUIPMENT NECESSARY FOR THE LIFE SUPPORT SYSTEM OF A NEW SECONDARY HOLDING POOL FOR STRANDED MANATEES THROUGHOUT FLORIDA ONCE OPERATIONAL, MML EXPECTS TO ROUTINELY TAKE TWO NON CRITICAL MANATEES FOR SECONDARY HOLDING PRIOR TO RELEASE

RAPID DETECTION AND RESPONSE TO CETACEAN MORTALITIES AND ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING IN WEST CENTRAL FLORIDA

RAPID DETECTION AND RESPONSE TO CETACEAN MORTALITIES IN WEST CENTRAL FLORIDA AND POST-RELEASE TRACKING OF REHABILITATED CETACEANS

PROJECT OBJECTIVES: 1. TO SUSTAIN MOTE MARINE LABORATORYS HIGH LEVEL OF RESPONSE TO LIVE AND DEAD STRANDINGS THROUGH PARTIAL SUPPORT OF STAFF, SUPPLIES, AND LOGISTICAL SUPPORT. 2. TO RESPOND EFFICIENTLY AND EFFECTIVELY TO ENTANGLED SMALL CETACEANS IN CENTRAL WEST FLORIDA THROUGH PARTNERSHIP WITH THE SARASOTA DOLPHIN RESEARCH PROGRAM.

MASS STRANDING CAPACITY BUILDING FOR EQUIPMENT AND TRAINING, AND RAPID DETECTION, RESPONSE AND RECOVERY OF STRANDED CETACEANS IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA

CETACEAN STRANDING RESPONSE, AND INTERVENTION TRAINING AND TOOL DEVELOPMENT ALONG FLORIDA'S CENTRAL WEST COAST

COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH: EXPERIMENTAL STUDIES TO REVEAL THE BOUNDARY LAYER CONTROL MECHANISMS OF SHARK SKIN

MOTE MARINE LABORATORY WILL BE AWARDED $70,552 OVER 3 YEARS TO MONITOR THE BIOLOGICAL EFFECTIVENESS OF THE ALLIGATOR CREEK URBAN STREAM RESTORATION PROJECT. THIS EFFORT WILL COLLECT VALUABLE DATA ON USE OF HABITATS BY MANAGED SPECIES AND THEIR PREY, AND WILL BE USED TO INFORM, AND MAXIMIZE BENEFITS OF, FUTURE HABITAT RESTORATION EFFORTS IN THIS AREA. THIS WORK IS BEING FUNDED BY THE COMMUNITY-BASED RESTORATION PROGRAM.

MUSEUMS FOR AMERICA

ENHANCED CAPACITY FOR ULTRASOUND IMAGING AND CONTINUED HIGH-LEVEL RESPONSE, RECOVERY, AND ANALYSES OF STRANDED CETACEANS IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA

OBJECTIVE: THIS PROPOSAL HAS TWO OBJECTIVES: 1. TO SUSTAIN MOTE MARINE LABORATORY'S HIGH LEVEL OF RESPONSE TO LIVE AND DEAD STRANDINGS THROUGH PARTIAL SUPPORT OF STAFF AND SUPPLIES. 2. ENHANCE THE ABILITY TO EVALUATE STRANDED CETACEANS FOR INJURIES THROUGH THE USE OF ALTERNATIVE LIGHT IMAGERY (ALI).

COLLABORATIVE TRAINING, SMALL CETACEAN DISENTANGLEMENT, AND CONTINUED HIGH-LEVEL RESPONSE, RECOVERY, AND ANALYSES OF STRANDED CETACEANS IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA

RAPID: COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH: PREDICTING THE SPREAD OF MULTI-SPECIES CORAL DISEASE USING SPECIES IMMUNE TRAITS

THIS PROPOSAL IS TO ADD ADDITIONAL STAFF TIME FOR THE STRANDING INVESTIGATIONS PROGRAM (SIP) AND TRAVEL SUPPORT FOR THE COMBINED EFFORTS OF SIP AND REHABILITATION STAFF IN ASSISTING WITH RESCUES, RECOVERIES, AND TRANSPORTS OF STRANDED MANATEES AND TRAINING AT PARTNER FACILITIES. CURRENTLY, THE AVAILABLE STAFF FOR MANATEE RESPONSE IS MOST LIMITED ON THE WEEKENDS, WHEN MML AND FWCS SOUTHWEST FIELD LABORATORY (SWFL) AND MARINE MAMMAL PATHOBIOLOGY LABORATORY (MMPL) STATIONS HAVE THE FEWEST AND OFTEN MOST INEXPERIENCED STAFF. BY ADDING A SECOND DEDICATED STAFF MEMBER TO THE MML TEAM ON THE WEEKENDS, WE WILL BE BETTER SUITED TO FLEX OUT OF OUR TYPICAL RESPONSE REGION TO ASSIST, ESPECIALLY IN CASES WHEN THE CURRENT DEDICATED FWC AND OR MML STAFF MEMBERS ARE ALREADY WORKING WITH OTHER STRANDING CALLS. ADDITIONAL STAFF WILL ALLOW OTHER PARTNERS TO LIMIT THE NUMBER OF OFF-DUTY STAFF THAT WOULD NEED TO BE CALLED IN FOR WEEKEND RESCUES OR RECOVERIES. THE SUPPORT FOR TRANSPORTATION COSTS WILL ALLOW US TO BE BETTER SUITED TO TRANSPORT ANIMALS THROUGHOUT THE STATE AND NOT JUST OUR PRIMARY RESPONSE AREA. BY PROVIDING THE SUPPORT FOR TRAVEL, MML WILL ALSO BE BETTER SUITED TO SEND STAFF FOR TRAINING WITH OTHER NETWORK PARTNERS, OR ASSIST OTHER FACILITIES WHEN NEEDED WITH CARE OR TRANSPORT OR MANATEES RECEIVING CARE.

EAGER: ACCELEROMETRY AS A TOOL FOR QUANTIFYING CRYPTIC BEHAVIOR AND ACTIVITY-SPECIFIC ENERGY EXPENDITURE IN LARGE MARINE ANIMALS

CHARACTERIZING THE MICROBIOME OF CORALS RESILIENT TO CLIMATE CHANGE AND OCEAN ACIDIFICATION IN ST. JOHN, US VIRGIN ISLANDS

IMMUNITY TO COMMUNITY: CAN QUANTIFYING IMMUNE TRAITS INFORM REEF COMMUNITY STRUCTURE?

RAPID DETECTION AND RESPONSE TO CETACEAN STRANDINGS IN CENTRAL WEST FLORIDA AND ENHANCEMENT OF THE TOOLS FOR SMALL CETACEAN INTERVENTIONS AND FORENSICS

THIS PROPOSAL HAS THREE OBJECTIVES: 1. TO SUSTAIN MOTE MARINE LABORATORY'S HIGH LEVEL OF RESPONSE TO LIVE AND DEAD STRANDINGS THROUGH PARTIAL SUPPORT OF STAFF AND SUPPLIES. 2. TO RESPOND EFFECTIVELY AND EFFICIENTLY TO DISENTANGLE SMALL CETACEANS IN OUR RESPONSE AREA THROUGH COLLABORATION WITH CHICAGO ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY'S SARASOTA DOLPHIN RESEARCH PROGRAM. 3. PROVIDE FUNDING FOR TOWING AND TRANSPORTING CARCASSES TO NECROPSY SITE FOR NETWORK PARTNERS THROUGHOUT FLORIDA.

CAPACITY BUILDING FOR SHARK CONSERVATION IN THE GULF OF MEXICO

WORKING GROUP ON THE EFFECTS OF SOUND ON FISH AND TURTLES

BUSSE ET AL. PROPOSE INCREASING OCEAN LITERACY THROUGH A TWO-YEAR PROJECT TO DESIGN, DEVELOP, EVALUATE AND PROVIDE VIRTUAL HIGH SCHOOL CLASSROOM OCEAN ACIDIFICATION TOOLKITS TARGETING NON-COASTAL TITLE I HIGH SCHOOLS IN FLORIDA. THE TOOLKITS WILL INCLUDE VIRTUAL EDUCATION RESOURCES SUCH AS LESSON PLANS, DATASETS, VIDEOS, TEACHER GUIDES, BACKGROUND GUIDES, EXTENSION ACTIVITIES AND HANDS-ON SIMULATIONS FOR REACHING UP TO 1000 HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS DURING THE GRANT PERIOD. THE GOAL OF THIS PROJECT IS TO INCREASE STUDENTS UNDERSTANDING OF NATURAL AND ANTHROPOGENIC IMPACTS THAT CHANGE SEAWATER PH AND THE SUBLETHAL EFFECTS OF OCEAN ACIDIFICATION AND ELEVATED TEMPERATURE ON THE BEHAVIOR AND PHYSIOLOGY OF CORALS AND STONE CRAB AS TWO MODEL SPECIES. STUDENTS ALSO PRACTICE STEWARDSHIP SKILLS AS THEY WORK THROUGH THE LESSONS ON STONE CRABS AND CORAL POPULATIONS AND REPLICATE THE PROCESSES SCIENTISTS USE TO GATHER DATA.

ASSESSING FERTILITY STATUS OF ENDANGERED HAWAIIAN MONK SEALS (MONACHUS SCHAUINSLANDI)

SUPPORT FOR THE 7TH SYMPOSIUM ON HARMFUL ALGAE IN THE US

NO-COST EXTENSION (PRIOR APPROVAL WAIVED - RESEARCH)