Center for Fisheries Enhancement
 Common snook (Centropomus undecimalis) |
| • Overview • Research Interests • Research Projects Outreach • Publications |
| Aaron Adams, Ph.D. Senior Scientist, Program Manager |
| The Fisheries Habitat Ecology program focuses on how fishes interact with their habitats and how disturbances influence these interactions. By understanding how fish use habitats, we can develop a better understanding of how disturbances impact these fish-habitat interactions and ultimately how disturbances affect fish populations. Natural and anthropogenic (man-made) disturbances do not generally have similar impacts on coastal habitats and fishes, so one of our research goals is to determine how natural (e.g., hurricanes) and anthropogenic (e.g., coastal development) interact and what the resulting ecological impacts are. The Fisheries Habitat Ecology Program focuses on coastal fishes, ranging from coral reef fishes to economically important sport fish. In all cases, the focal species are tools to learn about coastal ecological processes. Most recently, the focus has been on recreationally important species, including common snook, bonefish, tarpon and permit. All of these are economically important sport fish throughout the Caribbean. The overall goal of the program is to use theoretical ecology to help frame applied research, and to then use the research findings to improve the way coastal fisheries resources are managed and conserved. By necessity, this means that we make extra effort to conduct extensive outreach and education intended to educate user groups, local communities, resource managers and political leaders about coastal ecosystems. One way in which we do this is to involve recreational anglers in our research so that they learn about how science is conducted, become better educated about the resource and become better stewards of coastal resources. As part of Dr. Aaron Adams' position at Mote as a Senior Scientist, he is also Director of Operations for Bonefish & Tarpon Trust. Bonefish & Tarpon Trust is a science-based conservation organization dedicated to conserving and enhancing global bonefish, tarpon and permit fisheries and their environments through stewardship, research, education and advocacy. The group funds, directs and oversees research with direct conservation applications. |
Research Interests
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Research Projects
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| Outreach We believe that a key component of applied research is to disseminate research findings through many avenues. Peer review It is essential that research findings are published in scientific journals to ensure that the research passes the test of peer review and is also shared with scientific colleagues so it can contribute to an overall better understanding of coastal ecology. General audiences The Fisheries Habitat Ecology Program also strives to translate research findings for a non-scientific audience so that it can be shared with various user groups and coastal communities. A major outlet for recent research has been topical articles in fishing magazines. The Program also regularly contributes information to television fishing shows, newspapers, television news shows, online magazines, blogs and news sites. |
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Peer-Reviewed Publications Adams, A.J., J.E. Hill and C. Samoray. 2011. Characteristics of spawning ground fidelity by a diadromous fish: a multi-year perspective. Environmental Biology of Fishes. 92:403-411. |
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.
