Mote Marine Laboratory

Mrs. Scolardi began working at Mote Marine Laboratory (MML) in 1999 as a technician for the Marine Mammal Stranding Program and transferred to the Manatee Research Department in 2000.  While at MML, she has engaged in numerous research projects involving aerial and boat-based surveys of manatee distribution, manatee photo-identification, telemetry and behavioral studies with manatees, sea turtle abundance and distribution, and aerial and boat-based surveys of vessel traffic patterns. In addition, she has performed more than 300 hours of low-level marine mammal aerial surveys and has assisted in marine mammal and sea turtle watch events for numerous high-speed powerboat races and marine construction (blasting) events.  She has also assisted with data acquisition and analysis for several technical reports, including the Sarasota County Manatee Protection Plan (2003).  Currently, Mrs. Scolardi is the aerial survey coordinator and GIS database manager for the Manatee Research Program.

Semeyn, D.J., C.C. Cush, K.M. Scolardi, J. Hebert, J.D. McBride, D. Grealish, J.E. Reynolds, III.  2011.  Aerial surveys of manatees (Trichechus manatus) in Lee County, Florida, provide insights regarding manatee abundance and real time information for managers and enforcement officers.  Journal of Coastal Conservation 15(4): 573-583.

Scolardi, K.M., L.H. Schwacke, J.K. Koelsch, J.E. Reynolds, III, T.J. Kessenich, J.M. Sprinkel, Janet G. Gannon. 2009.  Trends in counts of manatees Trichechus manatus latirostris from 1987 to 2006 in waters of Sarasota County, Florida, USA. Endangered Species Research 9:1-11.

Carney, S.L., E.E. Bolen, S.L. Barton, K.M. Scolardi, C.C. Englund, M.D. Tringali, and J.E. Reynolds, III. 2007. A minimally invasive method of field sampling for genetic analyses of the Florida manatee, Trichechus manatus latirostris. Marine Mammal Science 23(4): 967-975.

Gannon, J.G., K.M. Scolardi, J.E. Reynolds III, J.K. Koelsch, and T.J. Kessenich. 2007.  Habitat selection by manatees in Sarasota Bay, Florida. Marine Mammal Science 23:133-143.

Scolardi, K.M., K.L. Daly, E.A. Pakhomov, J.J. Torres. 2006.  Feeding ecology and metabolism of the Antarctic cydippid ctenophore, Callianira antarctica. Marine Ecology Progress Series 317: 111-126.

Ju, S-J., K.M. Scolardi, K.L. Daly, H.R. Harvey. 2004.  Understanding the trophic role of the Antarctic ctenophore, Callianira antarctica, using lipid biomarkers. Polar Biology 27: 782–792, DOI: 10.1007/s00300-004-0652-y

Department: Directorate of Marine Biology & Conservation