Florida Atlantic Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute

The seals living in the freshwater of Alaska’s Lake Iliamna could be a unique endemic subspecies of harbor seal. This discovery was revealed in a recent study led by FAU Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute. Understanding the behavior and ecology of this small, isolated population is critical, as interest in mineral exploration and development grows for the region surrounding Lake Iliamna. Read more: https://bit.ly/4ftZyon

?? Our educators and students from the Boys & Girls Clubs of St. Lucie County and St. Lucie Public Schools have been exploring various habitats in the Indian River Lagoon. Over the last several weeks, we noticed something interesting: The water has taken on a golden-brown color and looks quite murky! ?? The students wanted to investigate! We enlisted the help of our harmful algal bloom expert, Dr. Malcolm McFarland. After examining our water sample, he discovered a dense bloom of a diatom called Trieres regia! Fun fact: these tiny organisms, known as phytoplankton, have cell walls made of silica – yep, you guessed it, glass! ?? While it isn’t toxic, when they bloom in high concentrations, they can overshadow important plants like seagrass. Students aboard our floating field lab, the Discovery, conduct plankton tows and capture underwater footage with our remotely operated vehicle to see these changes up close! ?? Students learn about the dynamic processes happening in the lagoon in real time! Want to get in on the action? Join us for a field trip or tour and discover the wonders of the lagoon firsthand!

Vote for your Favorite Art of Science photograph ???? The judges have voted – now it's your turn! Visit woobox.com/reicg9 to vote once per day for your favorite Art of Science photograph. Submit your vote by midnight on Tuesday, Nov. 19 to help determine the People's Choice Award winner. Please reshare this post to encourage your friend and colleagues to vote for their favorite photos and after voting download the I Voted sticker to post on social media or place it in your email signature! #vote #photographycontest #photocontest

?? Call for Student Travel Award Submissions for Aquaculture 2025 New Orleans! If your student aquaculture research has been accepted to be presented during the 6th Annual U.S. Marine Finfish Aquaculture Session at Aquaculture 2025, you could qualify to win a $1,000 travel award! Applications are due Nov. 15 ?? https://bit.ly/4h53yN2 Applicants must be students at the time of submission (NOT required to be a student of Florida Atlantic).

A recent study from FAU Harbor Branch found that deeper corals may help shallow reefs recover in the Florida Keys. Published in the journal Heredity and featured on the cover, the study investigated how blushing star coral populations at different depths and locations may be related or “connected” to each other. “The blushing star coral has a wide range both in depth and geography, which makes it a great species for studying how populations at various depths and locations are linked,” said Ryan Eckert, first author and a Ph.D. candidate working in the Coral Reef Health & Molecular Ecology Lab (the Voss Lab). Read more to learn why the study's findings offer promising opportunities for coral restoration efforts in the Lower and Upper Keys. NOAA Centers for Coastal Ocean Science NOAA Ocean Exploration https://bit.ly/3N2mIpk

We welcomed 18 Indian River County high school students to our Junior Scientist Program. Over the coming months, these fellows will work with scientists, educators and resource managers to conduct critical research at the Coastal Oaks Preserve, with a goal of conserving local environments for generations to come. Congratulations to all of our fellows and thank you to our partners at the Indian River Land Trust. #indianriverlagoon #stemeducation #handsonlearning #conservation #juniorscientists

Today is #FloridaAtlantic Giving Day! For 24 hours, our University community, alumni and friends are encouraged to make donations directly to support specific colleges and programs. For FAU Harbor Branch, you can support four important initiatives: ?? Ocean Discovery Experience - a free after school program for children at the Boys & Girls Club of St. Lucie County ?? Coral Reef Research and Conservation ?? Shark Research and Conservation ?? Dr. M. Dennis Hanisak Semester By The Sea Memorial Fund Donate today at https://bit.ly/4e4BnvV ????

Florida Atlantic, here is your big break! Have your work published – research, scholarship and creative activity photographs and videos submitted by the early-bird deadline of Friday, Sept. 20 to the Art of Science contest will be published in the upcoming Art of Science coffee-table book. View contest details, prizes and more at woobox.com/reicg9 Official deadline for the contest is Friday, Oct. 4.

What's really 'fueling' harmful algae in Florida's Lake Okeechobee? New research led by research professor Brian LaPointe, Ph.D., marks a groundbreaking step in understanding the key elements that fuel the toxic blue-green algae (Microcystis) blooms that choke the lake and connected coastal estuaries during warm, excessively rainy periods. https://bit.ly/4ej0VVY

NOAA Centers for Coastal Ocean Science published news about our research collaboration studying genetic connectivity of great star coral populations?? Read about the recent findings and the implications they have on protecting this important coral species. https://bit.ly/4e2PjGY