July 2025

       

New Research: Spying on Stingrays   Researchers from Florida Atlantic University’s Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute are the first to successfully develop and field-test a multi-sensor biologging tag on the elusive whitespotted eagle ray, a species found in tropical and subtropical coastal waters. The study findings, published in the journal Animal Biotelemetry, mark a turning point in how scientists study pelagic rays.   Read more.

   

New Grant: $1M to Study Gulf Coast Reefs   FAU Harbor Branch has received a nearly $1 million grant from the Florida RESTORE Act Centers of Excellence Program for a three-year project to study mesophotic coral ecosystems (MCE) on the West Florida Shelf. The FAU project seeks to understand how ocean currents and nutrients from land influence the health and productivity of the Gulf's largest MCE. The data collected from the study will fill important knowledge gaps and give managers the tools they need to make informed decisions.   Read more.

     

Partnership at St. Lucie County Aquarium   Mangrove trees are one of the most productive ecosystems in the ocean and an important part of the Indian River Lagoon ecosystem. Mangroves are responsible for moving large amounts of carbon dioxide (CO₂), organic matter and nutrients through the water, sand, and mud, and play an important role in how energy and chemicals move between coastlines and ocean. Researchers at FAU Harbor Branch’s Geochemistry and Geochemical Sensing Lab and Indian River State College, in partnership with the Smithsonian’s Marine Ecosystems Exhibit at the St. Lucie County Aquarium (SMEE), are studying how elements like sulfur and iron move through the sand and mud in these mangrove environments.   Iron is an important ingredient for aquatic life and is basically what makes mud brown, while sulfur, known for its rotten egg smell, is important to the decay and recycling of organic matter. Interactions between these two elements regulate whether hydrogen sulfide, which can be toxic in high concentrations, is released to the lagoon or sequestered in sediments as safer forms. By using special electrodes to detect subtle differences in chemistry, these tiny sensors allow a controlled and detailed look at what’s happening beneath the surface without disturbing the sediments. By comparing the extent that the aquarium exhibit mimics natural mangrove environments, this work can enable SMEE to make necessary adjustments to ensure a thriving artificial ecosystem.

   

Blue Action Lab   Blue Action Lab, in partnership with FAU Harbor Branch's Queen Conch Lab, recently announced the launch of the first on-land queen conch breeding and egg farm in The Bahamas on Grand Bahama. This project is part of a four-year initiative funded by Builders Vision and combines cutting-edge research with local engagement to pilot test queen conch aquaculture for restoration and sustainable seafood production.   Read more. Photo Credit: Rewild Brands Bahamas

   

Fin of the Month: Patrick (PTRK)   Meet PTRK, also known as Patrick, who was first identified by the FAU Harbor Branch Marine Mammal Stranding and Population Assessment team (MMSPA) in January 2021.

   

The image on the right was submitted by one of our citizen scientists, a registered Dolphin Spotter, and the land-based photo was successfully matched to the MMSPA team's photo-identification catalog (NOAA NMFS LOC No. 23069-01). Patrick has been seen by the MMSPA team at least 16 times since! Patrick has been spotted between the Sebastian inlet and the Harbor Branch campus. This Dolphin Spotter sighted both Patrick and Spoiler (SPLR), another known dolphin, in the Grand Harbor marina.     Can you spot the similarities in these photos? The team uses the unique markings on their dorsal fins to identify individual dolphins, much like how we use our fingerprints. These sightings help the MMSPA team better understand movement patterns of bottlenose dolphins in the Indian River Lagoon.   Registered Spotters can view all 540 sightings ranging from New Smyrna to Stuart on the mobile app WatchSpotter. Becoming a citizen scientist is a great way to support our ongoing marine mammal research. Visit our website to get started.   The photo on the left was taken by the FAU HBOI MMSPA program (NOAA NMFS LOC No. 23069-01). All citizen scientist land-based photos have been submitted through the FAU Harbor Branch Dolphin Spotter project in accordance with the program’s guidelines and the Marine Mammal Protection Act.  If you see dolphins while out on the water, please remember to stay 50 yards away. If you see a marine mammal in distress, please call the FWC hotline (888) 404-3922.

 

Marine Mammal Team Feature   The Marine Mammal Stranding and Population Assessment Team was recently featured in an article in Vero Beach Magazine.   Read now. Photo by Steven Martine

   

Marine Energy Survey   Did you know the Gulf Stream - one of the world's strongest currents - can flow up to 5.6 miles per hour and move nearly 4 billion cubic feet of water every second from Florida to Europe? At FAU's Southeast National Marine Renewable Energy Center, researchers are harnessing this powerful force of nature into energy solutions for Florida's coastal communities.   Help shape the future of marine energy in Florida by taking a quick, 10-question survey.     Take the survey.

   

Around Campus

     

51st Annual Summer Intern Symposium   FAU Harbor Branch hosted its 51st annual Summer Intern Symposium, where 17 student researchers presented their projects. The undergraduate and graduate students came from across the United States to work for 10 weeks in labs throughout Harbor Branch spanning disciplines including marine engineering and technology, aquaculture, ocean health, human health and community outreach.   For instance, Skye Flegg, a student from Florida Atlantic, worked in the Queen Conch Lab under the mentorship of Megan Davis, Ph.D., and Robinson Bazuto, Ph.D., on a project to optimize growing nutrient-rich microalgae to feed tiny queen conch veligers, or larvae. Madelyn DeBest, from the University of Maine, worked with the Fisheries Ecology and Conservation lab under the mentorship of Matt Ajemian, Ph.D., on a study to investigate if shell-crushing predators could be identified using only the sounds they emit during their "crunchy" feeding sessions. And Jennifer Sharr, from Indian River State College, evaluated sea sponge samples recently extracted from a deep-sea expedition off Puerto Rico for presence of marine natural products with antibiotic effects.   The summer internship program is supported by the Link Foundation, the Gertrude E. Skully Charitable Foundation and Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute Foundation.   Learn more about Marine Science and Engineering Summer Internships at FAU Harbor Branch.

   

Summer Intern Update

   

Ellen Gortz was a summer intern working in the lab of Marty Riche, Ph.D., a research professor at FAU Harbor Branch specialized in fish nutrition for aquaculture. Gortz's project focuses on the nutrient tryptophan and how it's retained in rotifers - tiny but essential organisms in larval fish diets.   By experimenting with different enrichment strategies, Gortz hopes to improve how hatcheries deliver this important amino acid. Rotifers might be microscopic, but their role in aquaculture is massive. Every trial, data point and pipette tip has taught her something new about the science behind sustainable fish farming.   "I'm grateful to be a part of a team pushing for smarter and more efficient aquaculture practices," Gortz said. "I can't wait to see here this research leads next."

Callie Post was a high school summer intern at FAU Harbor Branch working with the education and outreach team. Through a new partnership with St. Lucie Public Schools, the Economic Development Council of St. Lucie County, the Boys & Girls Clubs of St. Lucie County, and the Treasure Coast Center for Economic & Educational Development, high-achieving students like Post gained real-world career experience this summer.   Post is passionate about marine science, and she shared her excitement by supporting K-12 field trips, community presentations and public tours. She said her favorite part was sharing her love for marine mammals and connecting with people who are just as excited about the ocean as she is.   Learn more about Post and the Future Force internship program in recent news coverage: ·     WPBF25 News ·     WQCS

   

WLW-ECOS Student Success Scholarship   Apply for the new WLW Environment and Student Success Scholarship! Undergraduate students with a demonstrated interest in environmental science can apply for up to $7,500 in support for the Fall 2025 semester.   Fall deadline to apply: Aug. 22, 2025.    Learn more and apply.

   

Outreach and Education

     

Summer 2025 Field Trips   The Education and Outreach team at FAU Harbor Branch logged another great year of field trips for summer campers from across the Treasure Coast. More than 350 teens took a journey of discovery on the Indian River Lagoon. Through hands-on activities like water-quality testing, plankton tows, benthic surveys using a remotely operated vehicle and listening to underwater sounds in real time using a hydrophone, these young explorers got a front-row seat to the lagoon's diverse habitats and wildlife. Along the way, they learned about Florida's natural resources, stewardship practices and cutting-edge marine science research. Visiting groups included the Gifford Youth Achievement Center, Boys & Girls Clubs of St. Lucie County, Boys & Girls Clubs of Indian River County and Santa Fe College. The field trip program is funded by a grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

     

Explore the Indian River Lagoon on the Discovery pontoon!   VOTED BEST ECO-ADVENTURE IN INDIAN RIVER MAGAZINE'S BEST OF THE TREASURE COAST 2025

 

Book a tour.

     

In the Community

   

FAU Harbor Branch's outreach team travels to events throughout Florida with hands-on marine science educational exhibits and activities. In addition, FAU Harbor Branch scientists share their expertise through public lectures and workshops.   Lectures at the Lagoon Seagrass with Rachel Brewton, Ph.D. Sunday, Sept. 14, 2 p.m. Manatee Lagoon, West Palm Beach

   

Supporting Science