Grubbs Laboratory in the News

Disney Conservation Fund Supports Smalltooth Sawfish Research


In September, The Disney Conservation Fund (DCF) granted more than $5 million in conservation grants to nonprofit organizations as part of its commitment to save wildlife, inspire action and protect the planet. FSUCML’s Dr. Dean Grubbs smalltooth sawfish research was one of more than 75 projects selected through a rigorous review process focused on supporting conservation organizations to study wildlife, protect habitats and develop community conservation and education programs in critical ecosystems around the world.

New Sixgill Shark Research Video with Dr. Grubbs


Since 2005 FSUCML’ S Dr. Dean Grubbs has been doing research on sixgill sharks. These sharks live in the deep sea some 700 to 3,200 feet below the surface. On a recent research trip to Eleuthera, Bahamas, Dr. Dean Grubbs was able for the first time to view these sharks in the area where they live - about 630 meters or approximately 2,000 feet below the surface. Using a sub aboard the R/V Alucia provided by the deep sea exploration organization OceanX, Dr. Grubbs tried a new idea of attempting to tag them with a GPS dart from the sub. Click the title above to learn more about this effort and see amazing video of the sharks. Also follow this link for an article about one of Dr. Grubbs' former graduate students Brendan Talwar who was on the same cruise. https://news.mongabay.com/wildtech/2018/08/underwater-tech-unlocks-the-secrets-of-the-bahamas-exuma-sound/

FSU Alumna Publishes Paper on New Shark Species


Former FSU undergraduate and marine certificate student Mariah Pfleger recently published a paper on a newly discovered shark species. The discovery and research on the new species, named Squalus clarkae, also known as Genie's Dogfish, was identified from the Gulf of Mexico and western FSUCML’s Atlantic Ocean. This research work was the basis for Mariah's Master’s thesis at the University of West Florida. FSUCML co-authors include Dr. Dean Grubbs and Dr. Chip Cotton.

Lifeboats For Sawfish?


Research into the smalltooth sawfish in Florida and The Bahamas is gradually revealing important information about this mysterious species. Perhaps the biggest question of all is whether marine national parks can provide sanctuaries in which its population can recover.