The FSUCML is pleased to announce that Meaghan Falletti is the 2013 recipient of the Matt Beard Memorial Award. Meagan worked in the Florida Keys this past summer studying the diet of lionfish, an invasive species from the Indo-Pacific that is now distributed throughout the Atlantic coast, from New Jersey to Florida, throughout Central America and the Caribbean. Congratulations, Meaghan. Understanding the diet provides critical informaiton about the impact of this species on the habitat that it invades and could lead to solutions for irradication. Looking forward to seeing this body of work in print!

Researchers from the FSU Coastal and Marine Lab and the University of North Florida returned to port on October 16th after completing their second research cruise aboard the Research Vessel Apalachee (and 7th overall cruise since 2011) to investigate deepsea fish communities and the effects of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill on these vulnerable and poorly studied species.

Bianca Prohaska, a doctoral student of Dr. Dean Grubbs, was just awarded a 2014 Guy Harvey Scholarship, which is funded by the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation and administered by Florida Sea Grant. There was strong competition this year, with over 50 applicants for the award. Bianca’s application package was outstanding and was rated very highly by a selection committee comprised of faculty from three Florida universities and by the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation.

It’s that time again...time to be a CITIZEN SCIENTIST! Help the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission by reporting sightings of the endangered sawfish.

FSU Scientific Dive Class Dives the “One More Time” Wreck: Story by Diego Mejia Pardo, FSU Literature Major & Scientific Diver, Photos by Nicole Martin.

Researchers from the FSU Coastal and Marine Lab and the University of North Florida returned to port on October 16th after completing their second research cruise aboard the Research Vessel Apalachee (and 7th overall cruise since 2011) to investigate deepsea fish communities and the effects of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill on these vulnerable and poorly studied species.

Welcome Grad Students! On Friday, September 6th FSUCML hosted Grad Night at the lab. New graduate students for the fall semester were invited to the lab for dinner and an overnight stay. On Friday night the students got a chance to meet each other and returning graduate students. The marine lab faculty and staff were also on hand to greet the new students. On Saturday morning, Dr. Dean Grubbs took the new students on a pontoon boat tour and trawl of the coastal area around the lab. Returning graduate student Zach Boudreau and FSUCML Associate Director Mary Balthrop assisted Dr. Grubbs.

Dr. Felicia Coleman and Dr. Christopher Koenig, accompanied by grad student Chris Malinowski, are onboard the RV Walton Smith (the ship after which the R/V Apalachee was modeled) conducting research in Pulley’s Ridge and the Tortugas, 350 miles from Miami, where the cruise set sail. The objectives are to determine the density of red grouper in selected sites, and to determine whether fish living here are related to fish turning up in coastal sites like Florida Bay.

One of the ECSC's main educational tools includes the training and the dissemination of specific Knowledge and skill based competencies for all student participants. From August 4-9th, these students participated and completed their 2013 Center-Wide Core Competency Course at the marine lab.

Researchers from the FSU Coastal and Marine Lab and the University of North Florida returned to port on August 5th after completing the maiden extended day voyage aboard the Research Vessel Apalachee. The purpose of the trip was to study deep sea fish communities of the northern Gulf of Mexcio and examine these organisms for exposure to and metabolism of toxins that may be related to the Deepwater Horizon oil blowout.