KML Science Seminar Wed pm Feb 1st

How Low Can You Go: Restoration and coral holobiont composition across depths on Conch Reef

Postdoc Dr. Anthony Bellantuono & PhD candidates Dan Merselis & Katherine Dougan, members of the IMaGeS Lab at Florida International University (FIU) headed by Dr. Mauricio Rodriguez-Lanetty, have been collaborating since 2015 with NASA NEEMO astronauts to explore coral symbiont diversity in the vicinity of FIU Medina Aquarius, the world’s only undersea research lab. 

A diver outside of the Aquarius underwater habitat

Last summer’s work involved establishing experimental coral restoration nurseries at deep and shallow reefs accessible from the habitat. This team of FIU scientists worked closely with NASA NEEMO astronauts on coral identification and sampling to simulate protocols for future a Mars mission, while testing hypotheses designed to better understand the coral symbiosis for restoration. Come join us at KML to learn about this exciting project.

Come join us at KML to learn about this exciting project.

KML Classroom

Wed Feb 1st 

6:00-7:00pm

For more on the IMaGeS Lab website: IMaGeS Lab 

(Laboratory of Integrative Marine Genomics and Symbiosis) 

or follow them at:

 IMaGeS Lab on Facebook

Welcome Josh Farmer to KML

The Keys Marine Lab is excited to announce the arrival of our newest staff biologist, Joshua Farmer. Josh has his Bachelors of Science in Marine Biology from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. After graduation he worked as Research Assistant for Dr. Alina Szmant and Dr. Robert Whitehead from UNCW, on their Coral In-Situ Metabolism and Energetics (CISME) Project.  Josh is also a PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer and worked as Dive Instructor on the East Coast and in the Caribbean.

Please help us welcome Josh to the KML team.

Science Seminar at KML

“Coral Restoration in the Florida Keys”

Ken Nedimyer – president of Coral Restoration Foundation

Progress and updates on CRF's efforts to restore corals, especially the endangered Staghorn and Elkhorn corals, to reefs in the Florida Keys 

 Come join us Jan 4

Wed. 6:00-7:00pm

KML Classroom

~Future Topics ~

Feb 1: NASA NEEMO Mission at FIU Aquarius underwater habitat

March 1: Dave Vaughn - Mote Marine Lab

April 5: Maria Cooksey (FWC/FWRI) FKNMS boater distribution

New microscope camera for KML

Thanks to proceeds from the sale of KML t-shirts, hats, and Tervis tumblers, we now have a new microscope camera! Moticam X2 with wifi capabilities. Here are some photographs taken recently of our purple sea plume babies (Antillegoria bipinnata) - 39 days old