Mote Marine Laboratory

Kate Kohler joined the Environmental Health Program in May 2006 as a senior biologist. Her primary research interest is human health impacts from harmful algal bloom toxins in marine and fresh water. Kate is the coordinator for an ongoing epidemiologic study regarding exposure to Florida red tide aerosols. Results from those studies have demonstrated a need for an ocean observing system to inform people about highly impacted beaches. In September 2006, she also became the sentinel trainer and coordinator for Mote's Beach Conditions Report™, a beach condition reporting system in Florida. This system started as a pilot project of just six beaches in Sarasota County. Kate has organized and trained new volunteers, growing this system to 33 beaches in nine counties.

Kate has also helped coordinate CDC epidemiology studies on recreational use of freshwater lakes with harmful algae blooms in both Michigan and California. She is responsible for the supervision of volunteers and high school and college interns in the Environmental Health Program. Additionally, as part of the public outreach and education mission outlined in the state of Florida's red tide research plan, Kate creates and deliver PowerPoint and poster presentations during meetings with the general public, state health officials, national associations and for internal audiences.

Argosy University, Doctorate of Education in Organizational Leadership, 2013
MS in Marine Biology, 1996, University of Charleston, Charleston, SC
BS in Biology, 1990, Union College, Schenectady, NY
School for Field Studies, 1989, Northeastern University, Boston, MA

Nierenberg K, Kirner K, Hoagland P, Ullmann S, LeBlanc W, Kirkpatrick G, Fleming L, and B Kirkpatrick. 2010. Changes in Work Habits of Lifeguards in Relation to Florida Red Tide.  Harmful Algae, in press. doi:10.1016/j.hal.2010.02.005

Nierenberg K, Riech A, Currier R, Kirkpatrick B, Backer LC, Stumpf R, Fleming L, and G Kirkpatrick. 2009.  Beaches and HABS:  Successful Expansion of the Florida Red Tide Reporting System for Protection of Public Health through Community Education and Outreach.  Florida Journal of Environmental Health 203: 18-24.

Kirkpatrick B, Pierce R, Henry MS, Blum P, Osborn S, Nierenberg K, Pederson BA, Fleming LE, Cheng YS, Reich A, Naar J, Baden D, and LC Backer. 2010.  Inland Transport of Aerosolized Florida Red Tides. Harmful Algae 9(2):186-189. doi:10.1016/j.hal.2009.09.003.

Backer LC, McNeel SV, Barber T, Kirkpatrick B, Williams C, Irvin M, Johnson TB, Nierenberg K, Aubel M, LePrell R, Chapman A, Foss A, Corum S, Hill VR, Kieszak SM, and YS Cheng. 2010. Recreational Exposure to Microcystins During Algal Blooms in Two California Lakes. Toxicon 55: 909-921. doi:10.1016/j.toxicon.2009.07.006.

Kirkpatrick B, Bean JA, Fleming LE, Kirkpatrick G, Grief L, Nierenberg K, Reich A, Watkins S, and J Naar.  2009.  Gastrointestinal Emergency Room Admissions and Florida Red Tide Blooms.  Harmful Algae 9:82-86. doi:10.1016/j.hal.2009.08.005.

Fleming LE, Bean JA, Kirkpatrick B, Cheng YS, Pierce R, Naar J, Nierenberg K, Backer LC, Wanner A, Reich A, Zhou Y, Watkins S, Henry M, Zaias J, Abraham WM, Bensen J, Cassedy A, Hollenbeck J, Kirkpatrick G, Clarke T, and DG Baden. 2009. Exposure and Effect Assessment of Aerosolized Red Tide Toxins (Brevetoxins) and Asthma.  Environmental Health Perspectives 117(7):1095-1100.

Kuhar S, Nierenberg K, Kirkpatrick B, and GA Tobin.  2009. Public Perceptions of Florida Red Tide Risks.  Risk Analysis 29(7):963-969.

Stumpf R, Tomlinson M, Calkins J, Kirkpatrick B, Fisher K, Nierenberg K, Currier R, and T Wynne. 2009.  Skill Assessment for an Operational Algal Bloom Forecast System. Journal of Marine Systems 76:  151-161.

Kirkpatrick B, Currier R, Nierenberg K, Reich A, Backer L, Stumpf R, Fleming L, and G Kirkpatrick. 2008.  Florida Red Tides and Human Health: A Pilot Beach Conditions Reporting System to Minimize Human Exposure. Science of the Total Environment 402:1-8. doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2008.03.032.

Backer LC, Carmichael W, Kirkpatrick B, Williams C, Irvin M, Zhou Y, Johnson TB, Nierenberg K, Hill VR, Kieszak SM, and YS Cheng. 2008.  Recreational Exposure to Low Concentrations of Microcystins During an Algal Bloom in a Small Lake.  Marine Drugs 6: 389-406.

Fleming LE, Jerez E, Blair Stephan W, Cassedy A, Bean JA, Reich A, Kirkpatrick B, Backer L, Nierenberg K, Watkins S, Hollenbeck J, and R Weisman. 2007. Evaluation of Harmful Algal Bloom Outreach Activities. Marine Drugs 5:208-219.

Milian A, Nierenberg K, Fleming LE, Bean JA, Wanner A, Reich A, Backer LC, Jayroe D, and B Kirkpatrick. 2007. Reported Respiratory Symptom Intensity in Asthmatics During Exposure to Aerosolized Florida Red Tide Toxins. Journal of Asthma 44:583-587.

Kirkpatrick B, Bean J, Fleming LE, Backer LC, Akers R, Wanner A, Dalpra D, Nierenberg K, Reich A, and D Baden. 2008. Aerosolized Red Tide Toxins (Brevetoxins) and Asthma: A 10 day follow up after 1 hour acute beach exposure. In: Proceedings of the 12th International Conference on Harmful Algae. Moestrup, et al (eds). International Society for Harmful Algae and Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO, Copenhagen, 297-299.

Department: Directorate of Environmental Health & Ocean Technology