2009 Reef Plate Grant Awards
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| In 2009, the grants program awarded 14 grants worth $410,000 for coral reef research, conservation and outreach programs. These grants are designed in-part to provide initial funding for new research investigations with the idea that the projects will eventually lead to larger and more critical investigations. Since 2003, Mote has administered the funds generated through sales of the Protect Our Reefs specialty license plate to Florida drivers. In addition to providing an extremely important source of financial support for the Center for Coral Reef Research, funds generated through plate sales also support a grants program. |
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| Grant Summaries |
| Title: Marine Ecosystem Event Response and Assessment (MEERA): Community-Based Reporting and Response to Events in the Florida Keys Coral Reef Ecosystem Amount: $22,500 Organization: Mote Marine Laboratory Contact: Erich Bartels, ebartels@mote.org, Staff Scientist, Tropical Research Laboratory, Coral Reef Science and Monitoring Program Summary: Funding will support the Marine Ecosystem Event Response and Assessment Project (MEERA), which Mote administers with support from and coordination with the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. MEERA invites members of the public to report unusual events they witness in the Keys Sanctuary and surrounding areas. Begun in 1997, MEERA helps provide scientists with early notice of potential large-scale problems such as coral disease or bleaching, algal blooms or discolored water, diseased or dead animals and sick or stranded marine mammals and sea turtles. Title: South Florida Marine Environments Ecological Synthesis Book (Year 2) Amount: $31,006 Organization: Florida SeaGrant Contact: Pamela Fletcher, South Florida Marine Ecosystem Outreach Coordinator, Florida SeaGrant Summary: Florida SeaGrant is producing a comprehensive book on the South Florida marine ecosystem focused on conceptual drawings and graphics that clearly illustrate the physical, chemical and biological components of the ecosystem for a broad range of audiences, including resource managers, decision makers and the lay public. The book is designed to be useful as an overall comprehensive resource as well as individual pages illustrating smaller portions of the ecosystem. The coral reef chapter will present a comprehensive summary of how various components of the ecosystem operate and will summarize ways that individuals can help preserve the ecosystem for future generations. Title: Florida Keys BleachWatch: Community-based reporting of coral bleaching and data integration with existing NOAA remote sensing and coral bleaching early warning products Amount: $21,175 Organization: Mote Marine Laboratory Contact: Erich Bartels, ebartels@mote.org, Staff Scientist, Tropical Research Laboratory, Coral Reef Science and Monitoring Program Summary: Funding will support Florida Keys BleachWatch, a program that trains and coordinates volunteers to regularly report coral bleaching and other environmental conditions from reef sites throughout the Florida Keys. These reports are synthesized with data from NOAA to provide scientists and resource managers a summary of current conditions on the reef throughout summer, when corals are likeliest to bleach. BleachWatch helps researchers develop better predictions of coral bleaching events and supports public awareness of coral bleaching, a growing problem in the Keys and worldwide. Title: Continued investigations of the effects of elevated carbon dioxide on early life history stages of reef-building corals Amount: $22,604 Organization: University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine & Atmospheric Science Contact: Chris Langdon, Ph.D., Professor of Marine Biology, University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine & Atmospheric Science, 4600 Rickenbacker Causeway, Miami FL 33149, clangdon@rsmas.miami.edu Summary: The study will explore the effects (both direct and indirect) of carbon dioxide on reef substrate community composition and coral larval settlement and the development of coral/algal symbiosis during ontogeny. The study will also look at gamete fertilization, embryogenesis and planktonic development of coral larvae. Title: Feasibility of using probiotics to control bacterial diseases in corals Amount: $30,493 Organization: University of Florida Contact: Max Teplitski, maxtep@ufl.edu, Soil and Water Science Department, 2169 McCarty Hall A, PO Box 110290, Gainesville, FL 32611-0290 Summary: This proposal seeks to develop sustainable biological control strategies to manage bacterial diseases of corals. Funding will support continuing research on how beneficial bacteria might be used to fight disease-causing bacteria on corals. The researchers have already found that beneficial bacteria living in the mucous on corals’ surfaces make chemical compounds that help keep harmful bacteria from growing on corals. The helpful bacteria also make compounds that disrupt communications between harmful bacteria. Protecting against bacterial diseases is increasingly important as climate change and other environmental shifts stress corals, lowering their defenses against infection. Title: The role of bacterial-zooxanthellae symbiosis and gene transfer in coral reef resilience Amount: $56,556 Organization: Mote Marine Laboratory Contact: Dr. Kim Ritchie, ritchie@mote.org, Manager, Marine Microbiology Program, Center for Coral Reef Research, Mote Marine Laboratory, 1600 Ken Thompson Parkway, Sarasota, Fla., 34236 Summary: Study seeks to further define bacterial-zooxanthellae-coral symbiosis and determine the benefits microbes provide, including the potential to genetically transfer beneficial properties between symbionts. The study will also address differences in these microbial gene indicators between resilient and less resilient coral reefs in the Florida Keys. The study seeks to identify what mutualistic relationships exist between zooxanthellae and associated bacteria; what benefits microbes provide; whether gene transfer occurs between the symbiotic partners; and whether results be used to characterize areas of greater coral resilience. Title: Expanded production of hard corals for field stock enhancement trials Amount: $45,983 Organization: Mote Marine Laboratory Contact: Dr. Kevan L. Main, kmain@mote.org, Director, Center for Aquaculture Research and Development, 1600 Ken Thompson Parkway, Sarasota, FL 34236 Summary: This study seeks to evaluate the importance of live food and microdiets to improving growth of key scleractinian (stony) coral species; expand production of key scleractinian coral species in land-based systems; evaluate coral health in land-based systems and prior to field trial; initiate field trials to evaluate acclimation strategies and survival of field transplants of key scleractinian coral species; maintain and monitor survival of captive broodstock colonies in the coral seed bank; and disseminate project results. Title: Coral connectivity between deep and shallow sites in the Upper Florida Keys: Identifying deep water refugia and assessing their importance as sources of coral replenishment following bleaching Amount: $19,844 Organization: Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science Contact: Andrew C. Baker, Ph.D., abaker@rsmas.miami.edu, Assistant Professor, Division of Marine Biology and Fisheries, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, University of Miami, 4600 Rickenbacker Causeway, Miami, FL 33149. Summary: This multi-year proposal seeks to investigate the connectivity of coral populations at deep and shallow sites in the Upper Florida Keys. It is intended to use established and new population genetic markers (DNA microsatellites) in six important species of scleractinian reef coral with diverse life-history reproductive strategies found over a wide depth range in this area (Montastraea faveolata, M. cavernosa, Porites astreoides, Agaricia agaricites, Siderastrea siderea and Stephanocoenia intercepta), to estimate gene flow within these species between different depths. Title: Coral Reef Classroom Amount: $23,000 Organization: Sanctuary Friends Foundation of the Florida Keys Contact: Mary Tagliareni, mary.tagliareni@noaa.gov, Education Coordinator, Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Summary: The project will continue an established, replicable, standards-based educational program that has become part of the middle and high school itinerary for hundreds of Monroe County students each year. It will advance understanding of sea science for teachers, students and the local community and will result in first-hand knowledge of the coral reef ecosystem and environmental stewardship. Title: Temperature and light effects on coral pathogenesis Amount: $28,975 Organization: Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute Contact: Joshua Voss, Ph.D., jvoss2@hboi.fau.edu, Assistant Research Professor, Robertson Coral Reef Program, Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute, 5600 US 1 North Fort Pierce, FL 34946 Summary: This project seeks to show the relative contributions of temperature and light to the progression and microbial composition of black band diseases in corals; determine the effects of temperature and light on both coral mucus microbial composition and coral/ zooxanthellae gene expression; and determine if the mechanisms of increased black band disease progression are a function of compromised coral health, increased pathogen virulence or a combination of both factors. Results will not only increase understanding of the drivers and mechanisms of coral disease and aid in the development of strategies to mitigate the impacts of disease of reefs in Florida and throughout the globe. Title: Spatial variability in coral-associated bacteria: Implications for coral restoration Amount: $30,827 Organization: University of South Florida Contact: Mya Breitbart, mya@marine.usf.edu, Assistant Professor in the College of Marine Science, USF, College of Marine Science, 140 7th Ave., St. Petersburg, Fla., 33701. Summary: This study will examine the variability of coral-associated bacteria in mucus sampled across the surface of individual coral colonies of Montastrea faveolata in the Florida Keys.Using a combination of culture-based and culture-independent methods, this project will determine if all fragments originating from a single coral colony contain identical bacterial communities. Preliminary results show significant spatial variability in coral-associated bacteria, suggesting that on a microbiologic level, not all coral fragments are created equal. Further exploration of this topic will enable us to determine the extent of this variability and whether there are components of the coral microbiota that can be used for assessing health and future fragment success after transplantation. In addition, this project will significantly add to our understanding of bacteria associated with the reef-building coral Montastrea faveolata in the Florida Keys. Title: Challenge investigations with the white pox disease pathogen, Serratia marcescens isolated from reef and sewage environments in the Florida Keys Amount: $22,052 Organization: Rollins College Contact: Kathryn Patterson Sutherland, Ph.D., kpsutherland@rollins.edu, Assistant Professor, Department of Biology, Rollins College, 1000 Holt Avenue – 2743, Winter Park, Fla., 32789 Summary: We have identified a strain of the coral pathogen, Serratia marcescens (strain RS1), from multiple reef (Siderastrea siderea, Solenastrea bournoni, and C. abbreviata) and sewage sources in the Florida Keys, establishing a link between coral reefs and human sewage. This study will seek to determine the infectivity of S. marcescens strain RS1 against A. palmata and will identify probable vectors, reservoirs and sources of the acroporid serratiosis pathogen. Title: Determining coral reef impacts with boat anchoring and user activity Amount: $40,892 Organization: University of Florida Contact: Donald C. Behringer, Ph.D., behringer@ufl.edu, UF, Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, 79223 NW 71 St., Gainesville, Fla., 32653. Summary: This study seeks to determine whether coral reef use intensity by boat operators correlates with impact levels measured on the reef, determine if the impact level and type can be predicted from user activity type and determine whether the frequency of coral reef injuries or extent of damage exceeds recovery rates. Results will mean a clearer understanding of the levels and types of pressures that affect reefs in the Florida Keys and allow resource managers to more effectively target conservation efforts. Title: Are carbonate cement abundances and coral growth characteristics inshore versus offshore on the Florida reef tract related to subtle variations in ambient carbonate chemistry of seawater? Amount: $14,093 Organization: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Contact: Derek P. Manzello, Ph.D., Derek.manzello@noaa.gov, NOAA, 4301 Rickenbacker Causeway, Miami, Fla., 33149. Summary: By comparing carbonate cement abundances and coral growth characteristics within environments of naturally different seawater chemistry, we can gain insight into the future structure and function of corals and reef communities. However, the ambient variability of carbonate seawater chemistry across both spatial (e.g., inshore/offshore) and temporal (e.g., seasonal) gradients must first be determined. This study will characterize the ambient seasonal variability in carbonate chemistry of seawater across an inshore/offshore gradient and determine correlation of seawater carbonate chemistry with carbonate cement abundances within reef framework components, the breaking strengths of differently cemented reef framework components and coral growth patterns. The study will also build species-specific models of coral growth based upon these environmental variables. |
About Us
Mote Marine Laboratory has been a leader in marine research since it was founded in 1955. Today, we incorporate public outreach as a key part of our mission. Mote is an independent nonprofit organization and has seven centers for marine research, the public Mote Aquarium and an Education Division specializing in public programs for all ages.
