SEPTEMBER - John R. Lewis Florida Department of Environmental protection
The Incredible Horseshoe Crab
The incredible horseshoe crab
Did you know that horseshoe crabs existed well before dinosaurs? Did you know that horseshoe crab have blue blood? This is just a few of the fascinating facts of horseshoe crabs. Join us for an in-depth story of how important these crabs to our own medicine and health.
Horseshoe crabs mating.
John Lewis, from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, will be joining our September meeting from Zoom to tell us more about this creature’s ancestry, behavior, and how we are dependent it.
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.
June speaker - Gabriel Jensen, SOUTH FLORIDA'S SEASONAL SEAS
From the surface, the ocean looks the same to us humans year round, but beneath the waves, the changing seasons bring forth epic underwater migrations and behaviors all under our noses. Utilizing international award-winning images taken during thousands of hours underwater, SFDI club member Gabriel Jensen will use anecdotes of adventure paired with population data to tell the story of South Florida's underwater seasons and why it matters above the waves. It's kinda like a divers almanac of what to look for year round!
ABOUT GABRIEL JENSEN
SFDI club member Gabriel Jensen is an internationally published underwater photographer, biochemist, and photonaturalist, and winner of the 2025 Close Up Photographer of the Year (CUPOTY.com) competition in the Underwater category. His award-winning images highlighting the exotic underwater microfauna of Florida’s urban waterways have been featured by Forbes, NOAA, REEF, BBC Wildlife, Smithsonian Magazine, and National Geographic Wild. As a board member of the South Florida Underwater Photography Society, he works to connect local underwater image makers and empower them to be ambassadors for our oceans.
