Mote Marine Laboratory

Dr. Mahadevan joined Mote Marine Laboratory in 1978 as a senior scientist. He became CEO in 1986 when the Laboratory's annual budget was $2 million with 58 staff and 68 volunteers. In May 2013, Dr. Mahadevan officially retired, transitioning to President Emeritus status and assuming a new role as ambassador and advocate for Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium. By the time he stepped down, the Lab included a 10.5-acre campus on City Island, Sarasota, and included the popular Aquarium at Mote Marine Laboratory, which is one of the most-visited attractions in Southwest Florida. The Lab’s annual operating budget was nearly $20 million and there were 192 staff members, including 31 Ph.D.-level scientists who are leaders in their fields. The Lab’s estimated economic impact to the community is in excess of $70 million. Mote also has six additional campuses including a 200-acre Aquaculture Park in eastern Sarasota County, a research field station on Pine Island in Charlotte Harbor, satellite offices in Punta Gorda and Boca Grande, a Tropical Research Laboratory on Summerland Key in the Florida Keys, and a second public outreach exhibit dedicated to coral reefs in the Eco-Discovery Center in Key West. He was the Lab's longest-serving leader since it was created as a one-woman research laboratory in 1955 by Dr. Eugnie Clark.

Dr. Mahadevan is a benthic ecologist by training with specific research interests in the investigation of man-induced ecological disturbances.  His studies world wide have addressed a diverse array of topics, such as:  effects of deep-water munitions dumps in the North Atlantic abyssal plain; effects of power generation facilities in Southwest Florida waters; sewage induced impacts in estuarine biota; baseline investigations of offshore continental shelf benthos in relation to oil drilling operations; studies of woodborers and fisheries in the Bay of Bengal, effects of oil refinery effluents in the Persian Gulf; and physiological studies of arctic (Point Barrow) benthic fauna.

Career Positions
President and CEO, Mote Marine Laboratory, 1986-2013
Senior Scientist, Mote Marine Laboratory, 1978-Present
Senior Marine Scientist, Conservation Consultants, Inc., 1975-1978
Graduate Research Assistant, Oceanography, Florida State University, 1971-1975
Chemistry Instructor, Chinlgeput Medical College, India, 1970-1971
Chemistry Instructor, Lakshman's College, India, 1969-1970

Ph.D. (Biological Oceanography), Florida State University
M.S. (Marine Biology), Annamalai University, India
B.S. (Chemistry), Madras University, India

Honors, Appointments, Memberships (partial list)

• Association of Marine Laboratories of the Caribbean, Member 1985-Present, President 1988
• The Explorers Club, Fellow National 2003-Present
• Florida Governor's Ocean Committee, Member 1998-1999
• Florida Ocean Alliance, Vice Chairman 2001-Present
• Gulf of Mexico Regional Marine Research Program Board, Vice-Chair, 1992-1996
• Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies, Advisory Board, Charter Member 2001-Present
• National Association of Marine Laboratories, Charter Member 1991-Present, President 1994-1995
• National Merit Scholar in Marine Biology, India 1969-1971
• Rotary Club of Sarasota, Florida, Member 1996-present
• Sarasota County Science and Environment Council, Charter Member since 2000, Chairman 2003-2006
• Southern Association of Marine Laboratories, Charter Member since 1985, President 1990, Treasurer 1996-Present
• Member, Board of Directors, Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce, 2005-Present
• Florida Coastal Ocean Observing System (COOS) Consortium, Chairman 1996-Present
• Mote Scientific Foundation, Trustee, 1999-Present

Also Listed in: 

• Who's Who in the World, 11th Edition
• Who's Who in Science and Engineering 1st Edition
• Who's Who in America, 46th Edition
• Who's Who in Technology Today, 4th Edition
• American Men and Women of Science

(Partial list)
1991   Evaluation of long-term studies of the benthic community in the vicinity of Big Bend, Tampa Bay (with J.R. Leverone, J.K. Culter, J.S. Sprinkel and M.R. Milligan). In:  Proceedings:  Tampa BASIS II.  p. 219‑236.

1991   Comparison of Benthic Macroinfauna between natural and planted areas from Tampa Bay (with J.K. Culter, M.R. Milligan and J.R. Leverone).  In:  Proceedings:  Tampa BASIS II.  p. 193‑216.

1989   Heavy Industry of Tampa and Sarasota Bays (with T.D. Phillips, S.B. Tippin and R.D. Garrity).  In:  Tampa and Sarasota Bays:  Issues, Resources, Status, and Management. p. 157-170.  E.D. Estevez (ed.)  Proc. of NOAA Estuary-of-the-Month Seminar Series No. 11, December 10, 1987.

1988   Fine Mesh Screens:  A New Approach to Preventing Entrainment (with D. Bruzek, V. Bruggemeyer and E.P. Taft).  Proceedings of the Southeastern Workshop on Aquatic Ecological Effects of Power Generation.  p. 315-347.  Mahadevan, K., R. Evans, T. Biffar, P. Behrens and L. Olsen (eds.).  Mote Marine Laboratory, Sarasota, FL, December 1986.

1976   Some methodologies and problems associated with assessment and impact of power plant cooling water systems on estuaries.  Envir. Impact News 2:7‑10 (with R.D. Garrity).

1974   The effects of hydrostatic pressure on living aquatic organisms vi.  Size and pressure effects. Int Revue Ges. Hydrobiol., 59(2):213‑218.

1974   The effects of hydrostatic pressure use on living aquatic organisms vi. organic complexity and pressure sensitivity. Int. Revue Ges. Hydrobiol. 59(2):206‑212.

1974   The effects of hydrostatic pressure on living aquatic organisms v.  Eurybiotic environmental capacity as a factor in high pressure tolerance.  Int. Revue Ges. Hydrobiol., 59(2):199‑205 (with R.J. Menzies).

Reports/Abstracts/Presentations (partial list)
1987   Southwest Florida Coastal Research Center:  A cooperative effort in solving estuarine management issues.  (with R. Evans).  9th Biennial International Estuarine Research Conference.  Estuarine Res. Federation.  New Orleans, LA.  October 25-30.

1987   Fine mesh screen (FMS) optimization final report, to Tampa Electric Co.  (with J. Gorzelany)  December.

1987   Analysis for foam potential in cooling tower water, to Fla. Power Corp. (with J. Gorzelany)

1985   Southwest Florida Shelf Benthic Studies, Year 02.  Final report submitted to Continental Shelf Associates, Jupiter, Florida.

1985   Baseline Benthic Infaunal Studies at Big Bend, Tampa Bay (1981‑1984).  A technical report submitted to Tampa Electric Company, Tampa, Florida.  54 p. + Appendices.

1985   Aquatic Ecological Studies at Crystal river.  Chapters 6‑9, In:  Crystal River Units 1, 2 and 3, 316 Demonstration, Final Report.  Florida Power Corporation, St. Petersburg, Florida.

1984   A Dye Dispersion and Movement Study off Northern Pinellas County, Florida.  U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Report #EPA 904/6‑84‑120; Region 4, Atlanta, Georgia.  16 p. + 3 Appendices.

1984   A Review and Annotated Bibliography of Benthic Studies in the Coastal and Estuarine Areas of Florida.  Sea Grant Report No. SGR‑66.  576 p.

1983   Long‑Term Benthic Infaunal Study at Big Bend, Tampa Bay.  Second Annual Report.  A technical report submitted to Tampa Electric Company, Tampa, Florida.  47 p.

1983   Proposed revisions to plan of study, Crystal River Units 1, 2, and 3 NPDES 316 and an evaluation of benthic infaunal communities and sediment distribution in the estuary.  A technical report submitted to Florida Power Corporation, St. Petersburg, Florida. 18 p.; Al‑l58 and Bl‑B26.

1982   Benthic Studies of the Lower Manatee River.  A technical report submitted to Manatee County Utilities Department.  54 p.

1982   Chapter 10.  Southwest Florida Shelf Ecosystem Study Soft Bottom Biology.  A report submitted to Continental Shelf Associates, Jupiter, Florida.  181 p.

1982   Aquatic Ecological Studies in Lower Tampa Bay.  A technical report submitted to Tampa Electric Company, Tampa, Florida.

1982   Surface Water Quality Studies in Lower Tampa Bay.  A technical report submitted to Tampa Electric Company, Tampa, Florida.

1982   Long Term Benthic Infaunal Study at Big Bend, Tampa Bay.  First Annual Report.  A technical report submitted to Tampa Electric Company, Tampa, Florida. 45 p.

1982   A Study of Benthic Fauna of Sandy Beaches and Nearshore Areas of Panama City, Florida.  A report submitted to the Coastal Engineering Research Center, U.S. Army Corps, Virginia.  Report No. 82‑2.  94 p.

1981   A preliminary survey of meteorological, hydrographical and water quality conditions in Clearwater Harbor  - St. Josephs Sound, Florida.  A report submitted to U.S. EPA. 42 p.

1981   Marine Sampling and Measurement Program, Northern Pinellas County (Florida), Final Report.  Submitted to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 4, Atlanta, Georgia.  511 p. EPA Rpt. No. 904/9‑82‑102.

1981   A preliminary assessment of the effects of treated sewer discharge on benthic infaunal communities of Whitaker Bayou and adjoining Sarasota Bay (Sarasota, Florida).  68 p.  A technical report submitted to the County of Sarasota.

1980   A Study of Thermal Effects on Benthic Communities at Big Bend, Tampa Bay (Florida).  A final report submitted to Tampa Electric Company.  154 p.

1980   Prototype Fine Mesh Screen Evaluation, Biological and Water Quality Studies - Facilities and Procedures.  A final report submitted to Tampa Electric Company.  25 p.

1980   A Biological and Water Quality Evaluation of a Proposed Organism Return Canal at Big Bend, Tampa Bay, Florida.  A final report submitted to Tampa Electric Company.  81 p.

1980   Ecological Effects of Power Plants in Hillsborough Bay.  National Urban Runoff Program Technical Conference Proceedings.

1981   Marine Sampling and Measurement Program, Northern Pinellas County (Florida), Final Report.  Submitted to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 4, Atlanta, Georgia.  511 p. EPA Rept. No. 904/9‑82‑102.

1981   A preliminary assessment of the effects of treated sewer discharge on benthic infaunal communities of Whitaker Bayou and adjoining Sarasota Bay (Sarasota, Florida).  68 p.  A technical report submitted to the County of Sarasota.

1980   A Study of Thermal Effects on Benthic Communities at Big Bend, Tampa Bay (Florida).  A final report submitted to Tampa Electric Company.  154 p.

1980   Prototype Fine Mesh Screen Evaluation, Biological and Water Quality Studies - Facilities and Procedures.  A final report submitted to Tampa Electric Company.  25 p.

Department: President