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Sea Art, Talk Trash Probiotics: Not Just for People
You Can Report Red Tide Dolphins’ Dangerous Diet Coral Comeback Mote Milestones Marvel Comic Star Be A Coral Champ MOTE MAGAZINE | FALL 2017
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Mote Magazine (ISSN 1553-1104) is published by Mote Marine Laboratory, a world-class nonprofit organization devoted to the ocean and its future. Through marine science stories, Mote hopes to enhance ocean literacy among the public and encourage conservation and sustainable use of marine resources. PRESIDENT & CEO
Michael P. Crosby, Ph.D. ASSISTANT VP, COMMUNITY RELATIONS & COMMUNICATIONS
Stacy Alexander EDITOR
Hayley Rutger GRAPHIC DESIGNER
Alexis Balinski CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Mary Alice Blackstock, Kaitlyn Fusco, Shelby Isaacson, Hayley Rutger CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
leekris/Adobe Stock, wavebreak3/Adobe Stock, Conor Goulding, Chip Litherland/ New College of Florida, Wayne Lynch, Dan Mele, Osprey Biotechnics, Art Popper, Sarasota Dolphin Research Program/CZS
MOTE FALL 2017 EVENTS CALENDAR
SEPTEMBER All Month n COLUMBIA RESTAURANT COMMUNITY HARVEST. Dine at Columbia and a portion of proceeds will support Mote or another nonprofit of your choice. Sept. 2, 9, 16, 23 & 30 n $6 SATURDAYS. Admission special each Saturday in September for Florida residents visiting Mote Aquarium, open 10 a.m.–5 p.m. daily. Sept. 9 n ELECTRIFY THE ISLAND, a free celebration of electric vehicles and sustainability outside Mote Aquarium in Sarasota. 10 a.m.–2 p.m. mote.org/electrify. Sept. 16 n INTERNATIONAL OCEAN FILM TOUR SCREENING. 6:30 p.m. Mote Aquarium in Sarasota. Tickets $5. Check mote.org/events for details.
OCTOBER Oct. 6 & 7 n WILLIAM R. MOTE MEMORIAL SNOOK SHINDIG, a catch, sample and release tournament. Fishing in Sarasota Bay from Venice to Cortez. Details, registration and cost available online at: mote.org/snookshindig. Oct. 20 n NIGHT OF FISH, FUN & FRIGHT, a safe and fun Halloween event in our spook-tacular Aquarium. Mote Aquarium in Sarasota. Details, registration and cost available online at mote.org/halloween. Oct. 28 n OCEANIC EVENING, the annual black-tie fundraising gala supporting the world-class research, conservation and education efforts of Mote. 6:30 p.m. The Ritz-Carlton Sarasota. Details at mote.org/oceanic.
NOVEMBER All Month n MEMBER APPRECIATION MONTH. Stay tuned for information about member-only events: mote.org/membership. Nov. 2 n MANATEE LECTURE & BOOK SIGNING with Mote Senior Scientist Dr. John Reynolds at Mote in Sarasota. Details online at mote.org/events. Nov. 10 n MEMBER APPRECIATION MOVIE NIGHT featuring “Chasing Coral.” 6 p.m. Mote Aquarium in Sarasota. Check mote.org/events for details.
Mote Magazine is proud to recognize Sarasota Magazine as its publishing partner. For information on sponsorship, please contact Sarasota Magazine at 941-478-1109.
Nov. 18 n MOTE’S OCEAN FEST IN ISLAMORADA features food, shopping, family fun and environmental education while raising support for coral reef restoration. 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. The Islander Resort, A Guy Harvey Outpost. moteoceanfest.org.
FALL 2017 • VOLUME 75
Nov. 25 n SANTA JAWS. Visit Santa’s helper shark — Mote mascot Gilly the Shark dressed up for the holidays — from noon–2 p.m. at Mote Aquarium.
INFO: 941-388-4441 • M O T E . O R G COVER PHOTO
Mote event photos now available online at:
motemarinelab.photoshelter.com
A whale rib cage sculpture made from sea debris will be part of Mote’s new temporary exhibit.
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The Art of a
Cleaner Ocean
Above: Greta the Great White Shark. Below: Natasha the Turtle.
BY SHELBY ISAACSON
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reta the Great White Shark, Natasha the Turtle and their oceanic friends — huge and beautiful artworks made of marine debris — will arrive Dec. 9 at Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium as our newest exhibit, “Sea Debris: Awareness through Art,” featuring “Washed Ashore.” We have all heard the three “R” words — reduce, re-use, recycle — and many have even adopted a fourth — refuse — in an effort to decrease waste. Despite such “go green” initiatives, Americans still generate 4.4 pounds of trash per person daily, on average. That’s pretty shocking, especially considering where much of this debris ends up: in the ocean. Mote scientists consistently see marine debris impacts on local sea life, which has brought this issue to the forefront of Mote Aquarium’s outreach efforts. Mote visitors can view the “Sea Debris” art exhibit Dec. 9 through June 15, 2018. It features larger-than-life, marine-inspired sculptures made entirely of plastic and other debris gathered from the Oregon coastline. These handmade pieces range from 15 feet long and 10 feet wide to 7 feet long and 8 feet high. More than seven of these realistic but whimsical sculptures at Mote will fascinate and educate children, the young at heart and all those who seek creative solutions to environmental challenges. “As a leader for enhancing ocean literacy, Mote is always seeking to display exhibits that not only entertain our guests, but also teach them how they can be good stewards of the ocean,” said Evan Barniskis, Assistant Vice President of Mote Aquarium. “’Sea Debris’ is a fun and creative way to start the conversation regarding an issue that is affecting all of the world’s oceans on a macro- and
microscopic scale. It is our hope that this exhibit opens guests’ eyes, not just to the problem, but to solutions regarding sea pollution.” During the exhibit’s stay, guests can enjoy exhibit-related events such as scavenger hunts, science cafés, film festivals and much more. Dates will be announced later this fall. mote.org/seadebris
About “Washed Ashore”: “Washed Ashore” is a nonprofit community art project founded by artist and educator Angela Haseltine Pozzi in 2010. The project is based in Bandon, Oregon, where Angela first recognized the amount of plastic washing up on the beaches she loved and decided to take action. Over the past six years, “Washed Ashore” has processed tons of plastic pollution from Pacific beaches to create monumental art that is awakening the hearts and minds of viewers to the global marine debris crisis. MOTE MAGAZINE | FALL 2017
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‘Activia’ for healthy fish? BY HAYLEY RUTGER
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f you’ve tried Activia® yogurt, sipped kombucha tea or taken digestive supplements such as Align®, you’ve tried probiotics — health-promoting microscopic life forms used in many products (some proven beneficial, some not) and touted by many wellness enthusiasts. Long before probiotic supplements, humans and beneficial bacteria were natural bosom buddies. According to the Human Microbiome Project, “Bacteria in an average human body number ten times more than human cells,” and they “carry out a number of metabolic reactions that are not encoded in the human genome and are necessary for human health.” Now research on the microbiome — a specific group of bacteria and other microbes, usually associated with a certain host like humans, pigs or cows — is booming among agricultural professionals seeking new ways to raise healthy livestock. However, microbiologists have much left to learn about one of the planet’s fastest-growing food sources: farmed fish. Fish farming, or aquaculture, supplies half the planet’s seafood and is expected to supply about two thirds by 2030. That growth requires a better understanding of fish health and survival — including a new wave of microbe research.
Not a moment too soon. “Aquaculture is the next big thing,” said Dr. Chris Reuter, Vice President of Science at Osprey Biotechnics, a southwest
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At Mote Aquaculture Research Park (MAP) in eastern Sarasota County, Mote scientists investigate how to farm high-value fishes, while protecting the natural environment. MAP scientists breed and raise redfish and pompano — promising candidates for fish farming — and common snook for fisheries enhancement research, in environmentally-friendly recirculating aquaculture systems that clean and recycle 100 percent of their water. These saltwater, or marine, fish produce larvae (babies) so small that they resemble spices sprinkled into soup. In the wild and in aquaculture, thousands hatch but few survive. “For marine fish, early larval mortality is a big bottleneck that we need to alleviate to raise these fish on a commercial scale,” said Mote Staff Scientist Dr. Nicole Rhody. The most delicate fish larvae at MAP are common snook; in some batches of eggs, only 2 percent of larvae
Above: Student Marzie Wafapoor measures a snook larva, which is just millimeters long, at Mote Aquaculture Research Park. Below: Bacterial colonies growing on agar. Photo by: Osprey Biotechnics
“In the 1960s, microbe studies in aquaculture were often focused on trying to understand the microbiology of fishes, using methods that couldn’t necessarily identify every type of bacteria present,” said Dr. Andrea Tarnecki, a Mote Postdoctoral Research Fellow studying bacteria associated with marine fishes. “Since then, gene sequencing technology has taken off and helped us to better identify microbes, including bacteria that are difficult to culture in the lab, and we’ve seen a resurgence and diversification in microbial studies with farmed fish.”
Florida-based company that has partnered with Mote for about five years of research testing probiotics for fish. “As aquaculture production increases, we are seeing probiotics used more, especially in species like shrimp, catfish and tilapia. Marine fish aquaculture isn’t on the same scale yet, so it’s been great collaborating with Mote scientists who are pioneers in this field.”
have survived. Other labs have reported similar challenges in larval culture of grouper, yellowtail and other marine species. Rhody continued: “When these guys hatch out, they’re still developing their digestive tract and mouth parts and eyes. To keep them alive, we need the right balance of food, water quality and environment. We need to keep the microbes in balance too.” Balance could mean preventing the growth of harmful bacteria in the water, supplying beneficial bacteria that help larvae develop and grow, and maybe more. Scientists have studied probiotics in water-dwelling animals for decades, and finicky saltwater larvae started gaining attention in the late 1980s. In a research setting, larvae of saltwater species such as the turbot, Atlantic halibut, European pollock and gilt-head bream have benefited in at least some way from probiotic treatments. In general, however, this field of research remains a frontier.
Mixing up a ProFin shake Rhody and Tarnecki pour precise quantities of powder into round, black fish tanks in a neatly organized experimental setup at MAP. The powder resembles a protein shake mix, but it’s actually ProFin, a probiotic supplement formulated for fish and crustaceans by Osprey Biotechnics. The powder is a proprietary formulation containing spores of Bacillus bacteria isolated from their natural environment. Choosing a trial probiotic wasn’t simple — there’s no guidebook for this sort of thing. “Any consumer can go online and buy commercial probiotics for your home aquarium or pond, but you don’t always know what’s in them,” said Reuter at Osprey Biotechnics, “Many of these products aren’t closely regulated, and some even contain harmful bacteria you don’t want in your system. Our goal is to find the appropriate combination of highly active, pure microbial cultures for each unique application.” Rhody has known that uncertainty first hand. “Early on, we had some independent companies test what was in commercially available probiotics. We found, well, a lot of variability.” Before the efforts with ProFin, one other commercial probiotic seemed a worthy candidate for fish at MAP. A study published in 2014 by Mote doctoral student Marion Hauville found that it promoted growth of pompano and snook larvae by helping their digestive systems mature more quickly. However, it didn’t significantly enhance their survival rates. In 2013, Osprey Biotechnics — a southwest Florida producer of bacterial cultures for agriculture, environmental remediation, water treatment and other uses — approached Mote to work together on testing and tweaking the ProFin probiotic. In 2014 the team added ProFin to the food source and water for MAP’s toughest customers: snook larvae. “Our initial trials with snook, and the resulting data that we recently published, allowed us to better design and implement the use of probiotics in our current studies,” Tarnecki said.
In 2015, the results were promising, and in 2017, with funding from Florida Sea Grant, the team tried something new: adding ProFin to the snook larvae tanks six weeks before the experiment. Also, Osprey created a new formulation of ProFin specifically designed for the marine environment in which the delicate larvae are raised. In both recent studies, Tarnecki said, “Our snook larvae showed double the survival rate with probiotics, compared with those that didn’t receive probiotics.”
Tiny bacteria could have big impacts With breakthrough results from their snook larvae studies, Tarnecki and Rhody are processing and working to publish their extensive data to inform the scientific and biotech communities. To collect data, Rhody, Tarnecki and their interns got out the mini scoop nets, tweezers and microscopes to count, handle, examine and measure thousands of snook larvae. Tarnecki collected bacteria associated with the larvae for DNA analyses, focusing on bacteria in the digestive tract. Rhody is curious how probiotic bacteria might have changed the water quality in the snook larvae study. “The best results we’ve had occurred when we were adding the probiotic in advance to the water. If the probiotic controls something in the environment, we could see beneficial results with other marine species, too.” Now, Mote scientists are seeking competitive grants to support new bacterial studies with fish species targeted for seafood production. “The pompano and the red drum are really the way forward for our saltwater aquaculture species to be developed as food fish,” Rhody said. “People consider them to be high-value fish, which is great from the standpoint of marketing and economic viability. They both have a good growth rate, and I think a lot can be done to improve commercial production.” Of course, Rhody says, probiotic treatments are not one-sizefits-all solutions, and they may need to be tweaked or varied for testing with a diversity of fish. The challenges are complex, but the potential rewards seem near-universal. A 2016 report from the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization emphasized a challenge that many farms — including fish farms — work to avoid today: Drug resistant bacterial diseases that trump existing antibiotic treatments. Scientists are investigating probiotics as one tool in a growing toolbox of alternatives to traditional antibiotic substances. “There’s a lot of push from the aquaculture community to provide the best management practices to produce high-quality seafood; probiotics and vaccines are important tools to help farmers achieve that goal,” Rhody said. She continued: “For us, it’s about doing everything we can to keep the fish healthy — supporting development, reducing stress, improving survival and reproduction. When it comes to probiotics, sometimes it might sound like an Activia® commercial for fish — but we really do need to keep things in balance.” MOTE MAGAZINE | FALL 2017
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Red tide updates brought to you by… you! Photo by: wavebreak3/Adobe Stock
BY HAYLEY RUTGER & MARY ALICE BLACKSTOCK
Calling all citizen scientists: Mote’s newest smartphone app allows YOU to report Florida red tide impacts. The free app, Citizen Science Information Collaboration (CSIC), allows users to report when and where they experience respiratory irritation or see discolored water or dead fish — all potential indications of Florida red tide algae (Karenia brevis). In the future, Mote scientists plan to add multiple other reportable environmental conditions beyond red tide impacts. “We’re doing this to obtain new data streams while empowering the public and putting the reporting in their hands,” said Dr. Tracy Fanara, manager of Mote’s Environmental Health Program. “We care about public health and enjoyment of Florida’s ecosystems.”
for the public, including FWC-FWRI’s statewide red tide tools and status updates, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s respiratory irritation forecasts, Mote’s Beach Conditions Reporting System’s twice-daily updates at 31 Gulf Coast beaches, and the University of South Florida’s three-day forecasts of bloom trajectories and processed chlorophyll imagery (indicating marine algae) with red tide concentrations overlaid. Users can report water discoloration by choosing among several sample pictures and will be guided by brief captions when reporting dead fish and respiratory irritation. Reports will display for eight hours on CSIC’s map. Users can choose to view one, two or all three possible indicators. Over time, Mote scientists hope to enhance the app with a system to validate the data and reward reliable users.
Fanara worked with Dr. Vincent Lovko, manager of Mote’s Phytoplankton Ecology Program, and web development contractors at Function on Phones to create the app. The concept for the app was informed by a project completed by a former Mote intern and through discussion with collaborators from the Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) group at the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation CommissionFish and Wildlife Research Institute (FWC-FWRI).
This early-stage CSIC app was betatested as part of routine sampling conducted by scientists from FWC-FWRI’s HAB group, which collaborates with Mote in a longstanding cooperative, statefunded red tide program.
The CSIC app — available for iOS and Android phones — is designed to enhance and complement existing red tide resources
Mote scientists encourage Gulf beachgoers to download the app from the App Store or Google Play and begin reporting today.
concerns, troubleshooting or other feedback about the early-stage CSIC app, FALL 2017 6 MOTE MAGAZINEFor| questions, please email info@mote.org with “App feedback” in the subject line.
HOOKED on a dangerous diet
BY HAYLEY RUTGER
Vespa, a long-term resident bottlenose dolphin of Sarasota Bay, swims near a crab pot buoy. This is an indirect way that dolphins may seek humanrelated food sources. Dolphins may also try to take bait from fishing lines or discarded catch. At times humans have intentionally fed wild dolphins, which is illegal. Photo by: Sarasota Dolphin Research Program/CZS. Photo taken under NMFS Permit No. 15543.
"Vespa,” a wild bottlenose dolphin, occasionally looks for food in all the wrong places. Many of Vespa’s calves and grandcalves have picked up the habit, too. Patrolling near boats, scavenging human-caught fish and other unnatural feeding behaviors have put these resident dolphins of Sarasota Bay, Florida, at risk. One calf was rescued from a serious entanglement in fishing line, while others died from human interaction. It’s illegal to feed wild dolphins in the U.S., but many people do it unknowingly. Extra bait tossed overboard, hooked fish or bait left in the water, or catches released as dolphins approach can all encourage dangerous feeding behaviors that are hard for dolphins to unlearn. Sarasota locals might remember bottlenose dolphin “Beggar,” who repeatedly sought handouts from boaters in a specific area. After his death in 2012, possibly related to a stingray barb, his
Below: A wild dolphin “patrols” near a fishing boat in Sarasota Bay, likely hoping for an easy meal. Photo by: Sarasota Dolphin Research Program/ CZS. Photo taken under NMFS Permit No. 15543.
necropsy revealed ill health, fish hooks in his stomach, broken bones and signs of old wounds. Other Sarasota Bay dolphins show fewer or subtler unnatural feeding behaviors. However, subtle doesn’t mean safe. A recent peer-reviewed study published in Royal Society Open Science revealed that wild dolphins in Sarasota Bay, Florida, are more likely to be injured if humans feed them — even through unintentional means like discarding bait. “This is the first study that directly links human-related feeding of wild dolphins — intentional or not — with increased risks of injury from human interactions such as boat strikes, entanglement in or hooking by fishing gear, or ingestion of hooks and line,” said Dr. Katie McHugh, staff scientist of the Chicago Zoological Society’s (CZS) Sarasota Dolphin Research Program (SDRP), a program of CZS in collaboration with Mote Marine Laboratory. The paper’s lead author from Murdoch University in Western Australia and researchers from the University of Aberdeen in Scotland analyzed data collected from 1993-2014 by the SDRP and Mote’s Stranding Investigations Program, working with the Sarasota researchers to understand the results. “Animals can die from human interactions — for instance, we examined a dolphin known as FB93 who was recovered dead with a fish hook embedded in her head leading to fishing line around her larynx (windpipe), strangling her,” said Gretchen
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Above: Vespa has taught her descendants, including her calf, C797 (right), how to seek human-related food sources. The diagram by the Sarasota Dolphin Research Program on the left shows which of Vespa’s calves and grand calves have shown unnatural feeding behavior with human-related sources. A couple of Vespa’s descendants, including C797, died from confirmed or suspected human interaction, such as entanglement in fishing gear. Credit: Sarasota Dolphin Research Program/CZS. Photo taken under NMFS Permit No. 15543.
Lovewell, manager of Mote’s Stranding Investigations Program. “Even if an animal survives with a wound or entanglement, it might be less able to survive the next challenge. And there can be additional costs, too – FB93’s calf was orphaned and consequently died.”
Investigations Program responds 24/7 to sick and injured marine
FB93’s mom, “Squiggy,” also died due to fishing gear ingestion, with several meters of line and hooks in her stomach.
counties and periodic blooms of Florida red tide that sometimes
The study analyzed data from 1,142 bottlenose dolphins identified by SDRP in Sarasota Bay, including 190 (16.5 percent) “conditioned” by accepting human handouts, targeting bait, catch or crab pots, or “patrolling” back and forth within 20 meters of boats, lines or fishing piers. Of those, 84 (7.5 percent) had human-related injuries by the study’s 2014 end.
completely explain, the dolphins’ unnatural feeding behavior.
In a well-documented subset — 366 individuals observed in multiple seasons — 43.7 percent were conditioned to seek human-sourced food and 20 percent had human-related injuries.
but eventually, dolphin-to-dolphin learning snowballed.
On average, these conditioned dolphins had approximately double the injury risk of those not conditioned, as found through analyses led by Murdoch postdoctoral research fellow Dr. Fredrik Christiansen. Independently, injury risks also increased with age.
Mammals, which showed that Savannah, Georgia, dolphins who
“I think the results of this study are alarming, because it shows that food provisioning has the potential to negatively affect survival in a long-lived marine top predator,” Christiansen said. “Top predators are important in the marine ecosystems, and reduced dolphin populations can have cascading effects on lower trophic levels — fish and other prey species that dolphins feed on.”
feeding habits.
How did dolphins learn these “bad habits”? To investigate, researchers from Murdoch University and the University of Aberdeen applied mathematical modeling and mapping analyses to the unique SDRP data set, which conducts the world’s longest-running study of a wild dolphin population, focusing on five concurrent generations of long-term resident Sarasota Bay dolphins. Complementing these efforts, Mote’s Stranding
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animals in Sarasota and Manatee counties, collecting multiple kinds of data. Results suggest that two challenges to dolphins — a quadrupling of registered boats since 1970 in Sarasota and Manatee caused major reductions in prey fish — may relate to, but don’t More data may be needed to understand these influences fully. However, dolphins had a higher probability of human interaction if their close associates during the past two years engaged in those behaviors. McHugh suggests that, initially, some dolphins might have turned to human food sources when natural prey declined, These behaviors tend to stick around, reports Mote staff biologist Rebeccah Hazelkorn in a peer-reviewed study in Aquatic beg for human-sourced food can show persistent changes in feeding strategy, seeking natural prey less often. The bottom line: If you see wild dolphins, don’t encourage bad McHugh said: “Dolphins will eventually leave if you don’t feed them at all — not even one shrimp.” Report feeding or harassment of wild dolphins to NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Southeast Enforcement Division: 1-800-853-1964. Report stranded marine mammals and sea turtles using phone numbers at: mote.org/environmentalupdates. Get dolphin-friendly tips and more from www.sarasotadolphin.org/ sources-of-information/videos. Funding for this study was provided by NMFS through a partnership with Mississippi-Alabama SeaGrant Consortium. Awarded funds for this study were administered by CZS.
IC2R3 BY THE NUMBERS 19,000 square feet 30.1 kilowatt solar panels The application process is under way to designate IC2R3 as the first LEED Gold facility in Monroe County.
CORAL COMEBACK: Mote opens new coral research facility in the Florida Keys BY KAITLYN FUSCO
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ome say it’s too late to save threatened coral reefs, but Mote Marine Laboratory scientists say innovation can drive a coral comeback. In May, Mote officially opened its new research facility on Summerland Key, Florida, named the Elizabeth Moore International Center for Coral Reef Research & Restoration (IC2R3). The new building more than doubles Mote’s previous space for coral research and restoration efforts and provides an enhanced base of operations for collaborating scientists from around the world.
Eight residential rooms, five offices, three wet lab rooms, five dry lab rooms, two electric car stations, two indoor classrooms and one outdoor classroom for visiting scientists and students
Above: George Mazzarantani (Board member of The Gardener Foundation), Elizabeth Moore (Mote Trustee), Dr. Michael P. Crosby (Mote President & CEO), Lowe Morrison (Chair of Mote’s Board of Trustees) and Peter Rosasco (Chair of the Mote Keys Advisory Council) cutting the ribbon at Mote’s new Elizabeth Moore International Center for Coral Reef Research & Restoration.
the Alfred and Ann Goldstein Foundation, which supports the building’s infrastructure and research on climate change impacts to coral reef ecosystems and restoration. Florida Representative Holly Raschein (District 120) attended the building’s grand opening. “Mote Marine Laboratory is the epitome of where our state and nation needs to be going in terms of coral reef restoration,”
“This marks the beginning of a new era, a time when not only Mote scientists, but international and national visiting scientists, can come to this building and continue to revolutionize the way we restore coral reefs, here and around the world, in our lifetime,” said Dr. Michael P. Crosby, Mote President & CEO.
Raschein said. “We are here in the Florida Keys in South Florida,
Elizabeth Moore and other generous donors (listed below) have covered a majority of costs for the facility’s $7 million construction and initial installations of scientific infrastructure, and Mote continues to welcome support for the facility’s planned growth.
is going to allow for these scientists to have the foundation to
“Coral reefs are a source of wonder, prosperity and thriving biodiversity — I know it, my family knows it, Mote scientists know it, and together we aim to keep it that way,” Moore said. “Mote scientists are working to restore reefs, using science-based strategies that take into account global challenges such as climate change, and they are forging international partnerships so their innovations can benefit reefs far and wide. It is an honor to support Mote’s work that is creating positive impacts around the world, and I hope others will be motivated to get involved.”
Now, scientists at IC2R3 and its Goldstein Institute are advancing
The new building also includes the Alfred Goldstein Institute for Climate Change Studies, thanks to a generous donation from
ocean acidification research; and much more.
home to the third largest coral reef tract in the world and being a boater and scuba diver in this community, I know we are seeing first hand the effects of coral die off, and Mote is just an amazing global leader in efforts for restore coral reefs. This new facility keep these research efforts going and will allow other scientists from around the world to come and share their findings and to collaborate and to hone in on solutions to rebuild our reefs.” coral reef research using: new seawater systems, raceways and experimental tanks for studying multiple reef species facing climate change impacts such as rising ocean temperatures and ocean acidification; molecular equipment to process and prepare samples for next generation sequencing and genomic analyses — for example, to find the best genetic strains of corals for reef restoration; microbial supplies for studying microscopic life forms that can help or harm coral reefs; a carbonate chemistry lab for With this major boost, several critical projects are expanding.
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THE FACES OF A CORAL COMEBACK CORAL HEALTH & DISEASE RESEARCH PROGRAM
Above: One of the wet labs inside the new facility.
To date, Mote scientists have: restored more than 20,000 corals to Florida’s reefs; pioneered the use of a special restoration process to speed the recovery of slow-growing coral species; assessed multiple threats to corals and their interactions, including warming temperatures expected with climate change, ocean acidification and coral disease; and studied the impacts of potentially concerning organic compounds found in pesticides, plastics and other human-contributed sources. Now Mote scientists plan to restore about 25,000 corals over one year, from Bahia Honda to Key West. Beyond Florida waters, Mote is also working with The Nature Conservancy in a major international initiative expected to last more than a decade and ultimately enable restoration of more than one million corals at unprecedented scales in the Caribbean region, while developing coral gene banks and disseminating innovative restoration techniques. Meanwhile, Mote scientists are studying corals’ susceptibility and resilience to environmental stress — critical research for selecting and restoring corals most likely to survive global environmental challenges. Mote’s Coral Health & Disease Research Program is studying Mote’s nursery-grown staghorn corals to identify genetic varieties that might be more resilient — for example, more able to maintain a steady growth rate under heat stress, or more able to resist or fight off pathogens like harmful bacteria. To date, all support for Mote’s construction of IC2R3 has come from philanthropic giving — particularly the leadership support of: • The Gardener Foundation, the Founding Donor • Elizabeth Moore • The Rick and Nancy Moskovitz Foundation • An anonymous donor • Alfred and Ann Goldstein Foundation • Charles and Margery Barancik Foundation. • Jane’s Trust Foundation
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Dr. Erinn Muller Coral Health & Disease Program Manager Hometown: Bath, New York Years at Mote: 5.5 Area of Study: Coral health and disease research Favorite part of this job: Making a difference in the world by saving an ecosystem on the brink of extinction CORAL REEF MONITORING & ASSESSMENT RESEARCH PROGRAM Erich Bartels Coral Reef Monitoring & Assessment Research Program Manager Hometown: Long Beach Island, New Jersey Years at Mote: 18. One of three original staff who built Mote’s early Keys lab in 1999. Area of study: Coral reef monitoring and assessment, mainly focused on coral restoration and research Favorite part of this job: Providing overall dive/boat support for IC2R3, averaging about 500 hours underwater every year Cory Walter Staff Biologist Hometown: Geigertown, Pennsylvania Years at Mote: 13 Area of Study: Coral reef monitoring and assessment, and coastal ecosystem citizen science Favorite part of this job: Everything! Most important, conducting coral reef monitoring while on scuba as well as engaging the community in monitoring efforts Shelby Hammett Staff Biologist Hometown: Memphis, Tennessee Years at Mote: 2.5 Area of study: Coral reef monitoring and assessment, staghorn coral restoration project Favorite part of this job: Having the ability to scuba dive on a regular basis while studying and restoring coral reefs in the Florida Keys
CORAL REEF RESTORATION RESEARCH PROGRAM Dr. David Vaughan Executive Director of Mote’s Summerland Key Campus Hometown: Rutherford, New Jersey Years at Mote: 15
(Joey Mandara) Area of study: Environmental biology, restoration and outplanting boulder corals. Favorite part of this job: I enjoy educating the general public and watching their eyes light up because they had no idea anything like this was happening in the world. I also enjoy fragmenting and producing the corals, knowing that in only a few months they will be back out, reviving the reef in our community.
Area of study: Coral reef restoration Favorite part of this job: Being part of the solution through aquaculture production of corals for restoration Christopher Page Staff Biologist Hometown: Buffalo, New York Years at Mote: 6.5 Area of Study: Coral restoration and propagation research, working with species such as Orbicella faveolata (mountainous star coral), Acropora palmata (elkhorn coral), and Dendrogyra cylindrus (pillar coral) Favorite part of this job: Everything. I’ve wanted to do what I do since I was a little kid. As a kid, I used to draw coral reef scenery: fish, corals and all. I knew I wanted to be a marine biologist. Today I grow coral for restoration, and before that, I was growing coral because it was fun, back in Buffalo, New York. The fact that I get to implement what I’m good at for a greater cause is very fulfilling. In the project we’re doing now at Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park, we’re planting about 250 corals per day.
OCEAN ACIDIFICATION RESEARCH PROGRAM Dr. Emily Hall Ocean Acidification Research Program Manager Hometown: Sarasota, Florida Years at Mote: 12 You Area of Study: Ocean acidification research Favorite part of this job: Getting to be in and on the water and working hands-on with something I love! I also really love being able to talk to students and the community about the work I do and why it’s so important! Lindsay Arick Staff Chemist Hometown: Naples, Florida Years at Mote: 1.5 (initially as an intern, then four months as staff) Area of study: Ocean acidification research
Dan Mele Biologist Lab Technician Hometown: Olney, Maryland Years at Mote: 1.2 (initially five months as an intern, then 11 months as staff) Area of study: Coral reef restoration, with a focus on coral ecology and restoration efforts Favorite part of this job: Being able to think creatively to solve tasks, refining methods when it comes to outplanting corals, and the day-to-day maintenance of the coral raceways
Joey Mandara Aquarium Biologist Technician Hometown: West Hempstead, New York Years at Mote: 3.6 (initially eight months as an intern, then three years as staff)
Favorite part of this job: I love the science and handson nature of my job, but I especially love giving tours and talking to community members about our work. Once they see our raceways full of coral, understand our techniques and hear about our success, their eyes light up with the same passion we all experience here, because it suddenly seems possible that we can actually restore our coral reefs, and we’re here to do it. SHARKS & RAYS CONSERVATION RESEARCH PROGRAM Dr. Rob Nowicki Postdoctoral Research Fellow Hometown: Kernersville, North Carolina Years at Mote: nearly 1 Area of study: Marine ecology: how plants, animals and their environment interact to shape the natural world we see today Favorite part of this job: Getting to work as part of a team that is actively working to bring coral reef ecosystems back from the brink MOTE MAGAZINE | FALL 2017
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MOTE M I L ESTO N ES Photo by: Wayne Lynch
Reef restoration gains support financially, scientifically
Manatees’ big change, beautiful book
The State of Florida appropriated $500,000 for Mote Marine Laboratory’s Coral Reef Restoration Initiative in July 2017 — critical financial support for Mote scientists working to find and selectively restore the corals likeliest to survive in our future oceans.
With manatees’ reclassification from “endangered” to “threatened” under the U.S. Endangered Species Act this year, people of all ages have expressed renewed curiosity about the future of these gentle giants.
Mote’s initiative, in coordination with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and Department of Environmental Protection, will restore approximately 25,000 corals in Florida Keys locations from Bahia Honda to Key West, starting in late summer 2017 and continuing for about a year. “Florida Keys coral reefs are the basis of an $6.3 billion annual economy and 71,000 jobs in Florida,” said Dr. Michael P. Crosby, President & CEO of Mote. “The Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary’s Coral Reef Ecosystem Restoration Working Group, and many others, have recommended the need for intensive coral reef restoration in the Florida Keys to address decades of coral loss. We will meet this need through successful, innovative sciencebased restoration strategies.” For years, Mote scientists have restored nursery-raised corals of multiple species to depleted reef areas, pioneering the application of microfragmentation and re-skinning — breaking corals into tiny pieces to significantly speed their growth to re-skin dead coral skeletons. Significantly advancing this work, Mote scientists are employing research infrastructure funded by the National Science Foundation to identify and selectively restore various genetic strains of corals that are more resilient and resistant to disease, ocean warming and acidification. The new state appropriation will allow scientists at Mote’s Elizabeth Moore International Center for Coral Reef Research & Restoration to employ this research to outplant multiple coral species. Dr. Erinn Muller, Manager of Mote’s Coral Health & Disease Research Program, and her colleagues are studying corals’ susceptibility and resilience to environmental stress. “This information may help us better identify which species of coral are resilient and why, which will aid in more informed management decisions, especially regarding which corals are best suited for reef restoration projects,” Muller said.
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The new book “Florida Manatees: Biology, Behavior, and Conservation” by Dr. John Reynolds of Mote Marine Laboratory provides an updated look into the lives of these iconic marine mammals and the conservation challenges they face, illustrated with color photographs by Wayne Lynch. Having survived for eons, today’s manatees are now under constant threat due to the rapidly swelling human population. Their habitats are often devastated by development and pollution and frequented by fast-moving boats with sharp propellers — a new form of predator from which they have no protection. Some threats to manatees are not fully understood and require much more research. With some conservation successes in their history but many challenges ahead, manatees will benefit from efforts to understand, conserve and educate the public about their species. Reynolds, Senior Scientist and Manager of Mote’s Manatee Research Program and former Chair of the U.S. Marine Mammal Commission, shares what scientists know about manatees — knowledge that can help Floridians coexist with and continue to enjoy these unique animals. Order the book from Johns Hopkins University Press: Visit www. press.jhu.edu, click “books” and search for “Florida Manatees.” Join Reynolds for a manatee talk and book signing on Nov. 2, 2017 at Mote. mote.org/events
Photo by: Art Popper
M OTE M I LESTON ES
Bioacoustics pioneer Tavolga will be missed
Smooth sailing at sea-friendly regatta
Dr. William Tavolga (1922-2017), Mote Senior Scientist Emeritus, passed away on April 28 after an exceptional, international career focusing on the sensory biology of marine organisms and a life of wonderful relationships — including decades of involvement with Mote Marine Laboratory and friendship with its founding “Shark Lady,” Dr. Eugenie Clark (both pictured above).
In the spirit of sustainable sportsmanship, 74 boats raced in the Sarasota Bay Cup: The Mote Marine Laboratory Regatta, on April 22.
Born in New York City, Tavolga lived a life rich in science and music. This excerpt from his obituary, by his partner Paula John, shows his scientific acumen: Bill’s science interests at Townsend Harris High School led him to earn a B.S. in Biology at the City College of New York and a doctorate in Biology at New York University. There he met his wife Margaret. He was professor of biology at City College of New York and on the research staff in the Department of Animal Behavior at the American Museum of Natural History. Bill is viewed as the founder of the field of marine bioacoustics, and did important studies of the mechanisms of fish sound production and acoustic communication. Bill and Margaret, who taught biology at Fairleigh Dickinson University, took early retirement to Sarasota where he became a Senior Scientist at Mote Marine Laboratory. He and Margaret, a dolphin researcher, had been spending summers at Mote since its founding by their fellow graduate student Eugenie Clark as Cape Haze Marine Laboratory. Bill finished his career at age 90, retiring from Mote as director of the division of research in sensory biology and behavior, and Mote dedicated its sensory biology laboratory in his name.
This year, Mote and Bird Key Yacht Club joined forces to present the regatta, which started in the 1920s, ceased during World War II and was resurrected by the Yacht Club in 2008. While the Yacht Club’s marine base was renovated in 2015, the regatta was held at the Sarasota Sailing Squadron. This year, the Yacht Club returned as host with Mote as its charitable partner. “We didn’t see a better way to celebrate the Cup’s return than bringing Mote on board as the charitable partner, the first-ever charitable partner of the cup,” said Bill Jacobs, Chairman of the event. This year’s race classes included a Performance Handicap Racing Fleet (PHRF), which allows dissimilar classes of sailboats to race one another, along with one-design races for Flying Scots and E-Scows, youth sailing and model sailboat races. Overall winners: Sarasota Bay Cup – PHRF: Paul Echel; Sarasota Bay Cup – One Design: John Gallick; Ed Price Trophy: Paul Echel (First boat from Bird Key Yacht Club to finish). “It’s been incredible to watch our community make the most of our beautiful Sarasota Bay, where Mote scientists conduct worldclass marine research every day,” said Dr. Michael P. Crosby, Mote President & CEO. “Mote is thankful to Bird Key Yacht Club for their partnership and philanthropic investment in support of our mission through the historical Sarasota Bay Cup.”
Contributions in his name may be made to Tidewell Hospice, the Sarasota Music Archive, and the William Tavolga Endowment Fund at Mote Marine Laboratory.
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Photos by: Chip Litherland /New College of Florida
MOTE M I L ESTO N ES
Left: Mote Senior Scientist Dr. Robert Hueter holds up a satellite tag during April’s multi-partner shark research cruise aboard the R/V Bellows. Right: Dr. Jayne Gardiner, Assistant Professor of Biology at New College of Florida (long-sleeved blue shirt) works with a tiger shark, accompanied by students and colleagues during April’s Shark Research Cruise, including New College, Eckerd College, Mote Marine Laboratory and The Nature Conservancy.
Shark research, tag-team style In April, 34 sharks were tagged along Florida’s Gulf Coast during a research cruise conducted by five scientists, two graduate and 40 undergraduate students from Mote Marine Laboratory, New College of Florida, Eckerd College and The Nature Conservancy (TNC). The team attached identification tags to 21 blacktip, six bull, three blacknose and four tiger sharks. Of those, one blacktip and five bull sharks received acoustic tags that will ping when the sharks pass underwater receivers in bay passes, inside estuaries and along the Gulf and Atlantic coasts. One bull and one tiger shark were tagged by TNC scientists with satellite transmitters to track their migratory movements. “It’s amazing how many studies we supported in a five-day trip, while also giving two groups of college students an exciting, hands-on learning experience,” said Dr. Jayne Gardiner, Assistant Professor of Biology at New College of Florida, whose students spent part of the week aboard, followed by a class of Eckerd College students mentored by Associate Professor of Marine Science and Biology Dr. William Szelistowski. Cruise data are relevant to: Mote’s 25-year database of shark species’ relative abundance, along with migration research by Mote Senior Scientist and National Center for Shark Research Director Dr. Robert Hueter and Mote Senior Biologist Jack Morris; research on shark habitat use and homing by Gardiner at New College; research on shark migration and migratory corridors for marine life by Dr. Jorge Brenner, Marine Scientist with TNC; shark-dolphin interaction studies by Krystan Wilkinson, a Sarasota Dolphin Research Program scientist conducting doctoral research with the University of Florida, and studies of shark pregnancy by colleagues at University of North Florida. Tagging studies help scientists better understand shark populations in the Gulf of Mexico and investigate changes
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over time. Multiple shark species are valuable to Gulf fisheries and ecosystems, serving as top predators that help maintain a healthy community. Mote participant Dr. Robert Hueter said: “Healthy shark populations are good for a healthy ocean, and all of us, whether we live on the coast or not, need a healthy ocean to keep our planet flourishing.” Track two sharks satellite tagged during this cruise, tiger shark “The Judge” and bull shark “Miss Lillie,” thanks to Mote’s partner, OCEARCH. www.ocearch.org
Above: (from left) Carolyn Donnelly, Mary Lou Johnson, Ellen Zimmerman, Joanne Forch, Clemmie Cash, Kimberley Carreiro (Event Chair), Betsy Winder, Beatrice Uzielli and Lucy Harris.
Women in science and philanthropy find uni-tea More than 130 women united for philanthropy in pursuit of science during Mote’s Tea for the Sea on April 27 at Sarasota Yacht Club. See a photo gallery from the elegant afternoon: www.mote.org/tea The event featured talks by Dr. Kevan Main, Mote Senior Scientist and Program Manager for Marine & Freshwater Aquaculture Research, and Dr. Erinn Muller, Mote Staff Scientist and Program Manager for Coral Health & Disease. Kimberley Carreiro served as event chair and presenting sponsor.
Marvelous message for science-y girls INTRO BY MARY ALICE BLACKSTOCK Guhhhh! Bad feelings! Bad feelings! Shake it off! Okay, Mother is just horrible, but let’s forget about her. Hi, everybody, it’s Nadia again! We have a special treat for our readers this month: not only are these G.I.R.L. recruits science ladies, but they’re celebrities! Guys, I’m gonna freak out. Have you heard of MythBusters: The Search? Well, Dr. Tracy Fanara (@inspectorplanet) and Tamara Robertson, EIT (@tlynnr85) were on it, teaching people all over the world about science, technology, engineering and math ON TV! I’m gonna go sit in a corner and take deep breaths. Tamara and Tracy, take it away!
TRACY
TAMARA
scientists, leaders, and warriors helped me to feel like I could do anything! I think that’s why the role of toys is so important in inspiring kids to pursue STEAM because it helps to make science and tech fun and introduces kids to these concepts at a young age--much like comics and sci-fi did with science and me. DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE EXAMPLE OF NONSENSICAL SCIENCE IN POPULAR CULTURE?
WHAT KIND OF WORK DO YOU DO AND WHY? Tracy: I am an environmental engineer PhD and manage the environmental health program at Mote Marine Laboratory. My expertise is in water and stormwater treatment, sustainable development, and hydrologic restoration of watersheds. In my current role, I research how natural and manmade toxins affect the environment and then develop sustainable designs to protect human and ecosystem health. I grew up in Buffalo, NY, and learned about the Love Canal catastrophe--this began my passion for science and the environment. I saw how everything in the world is connected and that each one of us makes an impact, and I wanted mine to be a positive one. I believe that science education has the power to spark change and sustainable behaviors, which is why outreach and education are focuses of my research program. Tamara: My specialty is chemical and biomolecular engineering, which, when combined with my knack for tinkering and fabrication, has led me to a career in process/product designs and builds. I’ve worked in a varied range of fields including biofuels, vaccines, additive technologies, and consumer packaging. What I love about my degree is that it’s given me the flexibility to really pursue my passions within engineering! The latest passion it let me pursue was getting onto MythBusters: The Search as a finalist--I got to build some really amazing things, including a vacuum pack that I scaled a seven-story building with! WHAT EXCITES YOU ABOUT YOUR WORK? Tracy: What most excites me about my work is that I have the opportunity to help people and wildlife on a global scale for generations to come; that I can be creative and propose research and designs that have never been attempted while inspiring people to fall in love with science by showing them how it impacts their lives. In short, what excites me most is the power to make the world better place. Tamara: The exciting thing about my work is that, every day, I know that I am working to help people. Whether I’m retrofitting a biodiesel plant to provide my alma mater, NC State, with biofuel for their farm, or helping to design and build a vaccine facility, there is never a doubt that what I’m doing is enriching the areas and people around me. Working in these fields as an engineer is even more exciting because I get to focus on efficient designs and help alleviate the cost burden to consumers while still meeting their needs. In a world
where we all are working to make ends meet and provide for our families, I think it’s important to help keep costs down for necessities. WHY ARE YOU PASSIONATE ABOUT YOUNG WOMEN GETTING INTO SCIENCE? Tracy: I am passionate about inspiring young women to pursue science not only because of the exciting opportunities it presents and the need for great scientists as well as unique ideas, but because I want to show them that they can, that there is no stereotype to science, and STEM is for anyone with a passion for knowledge, curiosity about how the world works, and willingness to work hard. Tamara: As a woman in science, I feel that it’s vital to connect with young women and let them know that they can be anything they want to be, regardless of whether it seems like a “boy” or “girl” job. Growing up, I was really good at math and science. I struggled a lot with the realization that I wasn’t really drawn to any of the “women” jobs, and was labeled a tomboy because I chose to pursue sports and building. At the time, I didn’t know any engineers (let alone female ones) so I never even considered it as a potential path. It wasn’t until my second year in college that I met a female mathematics professor that helped me find my way in life, and I am grateful for that. Now I want to pay that forward and teach little girls they can hold their own among the men. As the only female finalist on MythBusters: The Search, I think I accomplished that. :) WHAT FEMALE SCIENTISTS (REAL AND/ OR FICTIONAL) HAVE INSPIRED YOU? Tracy: When I was younger, I was not aware of actual female scientists--pop culture didn’t do a great job of presenting them. Penny was the brains behind Inspector Gadget--a blonde, young genius who didn’t need credit for her work in saving the world. Dr. Brennan from Bones, Dr. Jo Harding from Twister, and “Murph” from Interstellar are inspiring characters --I loved to see their passion for their work drive them to success. As an adult, I see that there are many real, inspiring female scientists, one being Dr. Eugene Clark, who followed her passion for research, philanthropy, and outreach, shaping the institution that I work for now. Tamara: I didn’t know any female scientists growing up--I don’t think I could name any aside from Marie Curie, who was inspiring to me as the mother of physics. I got most of my female science role models from comics and sci-fi shows instead! I was a huge fan of X-MEN and Star Trek growing up, and getting to see women as
Tracy: Time travel--not only do you go through time, but space as well in Back to the Future! I have thought long and hard about possible ways to make this a reality...let’s just say I haven’t completely abandoned it. Time travel is number one. However, X-Men super-powers (telepathy, strength, speed) and shape-shifting (as presented in True Blood, although Supernatural is my preferred show) would come in quite handy. Tamara: I always loved the idea of Peter Parker becoming Spider-Man--that a bite from a radioactive spider could give you super-powers. To me, it’s quite neat to think of the alterations to the genome that would have to occur to give him all the amazing traits he has. I remember becoming super interested in bugs after learning about Spider-Man when I was little and thinking that perhaps they could give me super-powers too. Most of them were friendly and didn’t bite, so I didn’t quite get to test my hypothesis--but I did learn a lot about entomology, so that was a plus. :)
When Dr. Tracy Fanara was growing up, top female scientists were rare in mainstream media. Now a staff scientist at Mote Marine Laboratory and a recent competitor on nationwide TV show “Mythbusters: The Search,” Fanara fights to change that for future generations. She was featured in Marvel Comics’ “The Unstoppable Wasp” #5. In the comic’s special Q&A section, Agents of G.I.R.L (Genius In Action Research Labs), Fanara shares her passion for research to show young women that there is “no stereotype to science.”
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN READING COMICS AND WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST COMIC BOOK? Tracy: I have been reading comics for as long as I could read, started with Transformers, but X-MEN and Captain Planet were my favorites (I always felt that I was different from my peers, so unique characters with good intentions drew me in). Tamara: I started reading comics when I was a kid--I hung out mainly with the boys I knew, since they always had cooler toys and games, so I got to learn about the comic book world. X-MEN was always my favorite--there were so many strong women characters to connect with and see do amazing things! Storm was my favorite, though--I loved how she could control the weather and fly! I grew up in Hurricane Alley, so I always thought that she was out there flying around when we would have storms. I think too, as a redhead who knew that my hair color was a genetic anomaly, that the life of a “mutant” made sense to me. I got made fun of a lot for my hair, but now I wear it like a badge of honor-the X-Men made me realize it’s my own super-power (and comes with a temper like She-Hulk’s!). Now, tell me that wasn’t cool! Go look online for videos of Tamara climbing a wall like Spider-Man using a vacuum! *HEART EYES EMOJI.* Anyway, see you again next month so you guys can see how we save Ying (I hope!). Do svidaniya, Nadia
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1600 Ken Thompson Parkway Sarasota, FL 34236-1004
NON PROFIT ORG. U.S. Postage PAID Lebanon Junction, KY Permit #698
(941) 388-4441 www.mote.org
You re Invited! Underwater and outdoor enthusiasts, ecotravelers and families are encouraged to join us for a day of fun, crafts, games, music, food and shopping as we showcase our treasured marine environment while raising money for coral reef research and restoration. Learn more at moteoceanfest.org.
Photo by: leekris/Adobe Stock
Saturday, November 18 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Islander Resort, A Guy Harvey Outpost 82100 Overseas Hwy | Islamorada, FL 33036
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Purchase a Protect Our Reefs license plate today and support Florida’s underwater treasure. Each plate sold in the state of Florida provides a $25 donation and also helps support Mote’s coral reef restoration and research programs. Learn more at motereefplate.org.