SEPTEMBER - John R. Lewis, Florida Department of Environmental protection
The Incredible Horseshoe Crab
The incredible horseshoe crab
Join SFDI on September 3 for a fascinating exploration of the wonderful “Prehistoric Superstars” known as Horseshoe Crabs. Dive into the history, significance, and contribution that Horseshoe Crabs have given to human health and sciences. Learn how to collect valuable surveys for scientific data and contribute to a citizen science campaign. Horseshoe Crabs have been here for millions of years and play a vital role in our ecosystem. Explore the life cycle and challenges these marvelous creatures face on their journey of life.
John Lewis will be joining our September meeting from Zoom to tell us more about this creature’s ancestry, behavior, and how we are dependent it.
ABOUT JOHN LEWIS
John Lewis was born and raised in Clinton County, Ohio. The day after graduating high school John started his career in Ohio State Parks while attending college. After graduating college with a degree in Political Science and Public Administration and attending graduate school, John completed his six-year term with Ohio Department of Natural Resources in October of 2022. In November of 2022 John Lewis started as a Park Ranger for Long Key State Park and now serves as the Park Service Specialist leading the effort of imperiled species management, volunteer coordination, and natural resource management. He has now served as the Horseshoe Crab Watch Tagging coordinator for almost 3 years. John is also our interpretive specialist educating the public about our park’s wildlife species and the importance of protecting the habitat they thrive in.
AUGUST - Dr. Matt Ajemian, FAU Harbor Oceanographic Institute, The Return of Florida's Great Goliath Grouper – New Opportunities and Challenges
As Florida’s largest reef fish (weighing up to 800 pounds), the goliath grouper (Epinephelus itajara) is certainly great. Once fished to the brink of extinction, this species is once again common along many of Florida’s reefs, thanks to decades of protection. However, some argue that goliath grouper have become “overabundant,” making it difficult for fishermen to land smaller snappers and groupers when fishing their reefs and wrecks as these larger fish sometimes steal their catch. Here we discuss previous and ongoing research on this species, which lies at the center of an ongoing fishery management controversy, including some of the latest technology that is being used to study the behavior of these mysterious fish in fine detail. Lastly, we discuss a recently completed study between University of Florida IFAS Extension/Florida Sea Grant and FAU Harbor Branch to develop best catch-and-release practices to ensure the growing recreational fishery for goliath grouper is sustainable.
Dr. Matt Ajemian is an Associate Research Professor with Florida Atlantic University's Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute. Dr. Ajemian earned his PhD in Marine Science at University of South Alabama and Dauphin Island Sea Lab in 2011 and spent four years as a post-doc and research scientist with the Center for Sportfish Science and Conservation at the Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. Over the course of his career Ajemian has developed expertise in ichthyology, ecology, and fisheries science and has covered topics such as feeding ecology, habitat use, movement behavior, fisheries impacts, and bycatch. He now leads the Fish Ecology and Conservation Lab at FAU-HBOI, and as lead PI develops, conducts, and directs research.
JULY - Dr. Harrison Albert, A closer look at some of the smaller animals that inhabit the coral reef
Dr. Harrison M. Albert
Science & Education Officer
The Coastal Stewards
Harrison@thecoastalstewards.org
Dr. Albert will be talking about the common defining characteristics and fun facts about marine invertebrates typically found on the coral reefs of the Tropical Western Atlantic and the Caribbean regions. Five different phyla, or a large taxonomic group of organisms (e.g., Echinodermata, Arthropoda, Porifera, Cnidaria, and Mollusca), will be discussed. Additionally, specific examples of species that make up those groups will be highlighted and talked about. Lastly, binomial scientific naming will also be explained. Come out and learn all about the critters that call the reef home!
Dr. Harrison M. Albert is The Coastal Stewards (TCS) Science & Education Officer. In this role, Dr. Albert oversees all of the education, research, and science initiatives of the TCS. Through his decade of professional experience, Dr. Albert has led education and conservation programs ranging from marine mammal science, coral reef restoration, and various other engaging citizen science programs. Today, Dr. Albert is a coral reef scientist, trained marine mammal standing responder, and assists with sea turtle transport and releases. Academically, Dr. Albert holds a Ph.D., Master’s, and Bachelor’s degrees, and is also currently pursuing a second Ph.D. degree in Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences from the University of Florida. Professionally, Dr. Albert is also a Master Scuba Diver Trainer, AAUS Scientific Diver, 4x aquanaut, and deep-sea submersible diver (to 1,000ft). Dr. Albert’s current research interests include anything under the sea and he is working on several different projects like evaluating environmental impacts from human activities, marine debris removal, marine mammal anatomy and physiology, and novel and emerging coral reef restoration techniques.
