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MAY 2017 | SCENE 47 “If we lose coral reefs, we lose the biodiversity of our ocean environment. Reefs protect shorelines and are a great source of new ������������������������������������������������ antibiotic resistant bacteria, and they impact our economy as well. Reefs are worth $6 billion to Florida’s economy and support 70,000 jobs,” Muller says. “We need to take bold steps in research and restoration to be sure we have coral reefs 10 years from now.” STUDYING COMPLEX RELATIONSHIPS Postdoctoral scientist ������������������������������������������������ the intricate relationships at play between the living creatures and the environment within an ecosystem. “My focus is what happens when you lose it all, and my research is on what makes a system resilient when bad things ���������������������������������������������� �������������������������������������������������������� on restoring coral because we want to make sure the biological interactions of healthy reefs are there.” ������������������������������������ is setting up a study to determine the impact of “halos” of bare sand separating reefs from seagrass beds where many ������������������������������������������������ to discover whether these barren stretches present barriers to returning to the reef where many ������������������������������������������ important functions such as eating algae that can ���������������������������������������������������� ���������������������������������������������������� seagrass corridors across bare patches to determine whether – by offering them shelter from predators – �������������������������������������������������������� reef. “The big picture goal is to get reefs back to how they looked in the 1960s before everything started to ������������������������������������������������������������ connectivity is important, it means maybe we should choose reefs that are already connected to restore. It adds a restoration tool �������������������������������������������������� says. “Even if not, it’s still important because we’ll know it’s not a factor in deciding where to restore corals.” One thing is clear. With dedication, devotion and enthusiasm for their work, these young marine scientists are already making �������������������������������������������������������� �������������������������������������������������������������� and to the world. TOP: A female stone crab, Menippe mercenaria, with an mid-stage egg mass. Photo by Malcom Denemark Florida Today Staff. MIDDLE: A juvenile snook. Photo by Mote Marine Laboratory. BOTTOM: Dr. Ryan Schloesser transports common juvenile snook from the transport vehicle to water-filled buckets before they are released into Phillippi creek.


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