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April 2025

Toxic Blooms in Motion

A recent study has shed more light on the factors that make the toxic algae Microcystis aeruginosa flourish in Lake Okeechobee. Using a new physical-biogeochemical model that combines water movement and biological activity, researchers from FAU Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute and partners tracked the phytoplankton's daily vertical migration. A clear pattern emerged, based on sunlight, temperature and wind, and most importantly, the daily migration of Microcystis from the lake's bottom to the surface and back.

Photo credit: Brian Lapointe

Fin of the Month: Rough (RUFF)

Meet “RUFF”, also known as Rough, who was first identified by the FAU Harbor Branch Marine Mammal Stranding and Population Assessment team (MMSPA) in December 2020.

The image on the right was submitted by one of our citizen scientists, a registered Dolphin Spotter, and the land-based photo was successfully matched to the MMSPA team's photo-identification catalog (NOAA NMFS LOC No. 23069-01). Rough has been sighted near the Sebastian and Fort Pierce inlets and is often seen with another dolphin named Phoebe. This dolphin has also been seen during a tram tour at FAU Harbor Branch!

Can you spot the similarities in these photos? The team uses the unique markings on their dorsal fins to identify individual dolphins, much like how we use our fingerprints. These sightings help the MMSPA team better understand movement patterns of bottlenose dolphins in the Indian River Lagoon.

Registered Spotters can view all 515 sightings ranging from New Smyrna to Stuart on the mobile app WatchSpotter. Becoming a citizen scientist is a great way to support our ongoing marine mammal research. Visit our website to get started.

The photo on the left was taken by the FAU HBOI MMSPA program (NOAA NMFS LOC No. 23069-01). All citizen scientist land-based photos have been submitted through the FAU Harbor Branch Dolphin Spotter project in accordance with the program’s guidelines and the Marine Mammal Protection Act.

If you see dolphins while out on the water, please remember to stay 50 yards away. If you see a marine mammal in distress, please call the FWC hotline (888) 404-3922.

Around Campus

2025 Northern Campuses Awards

Florida Atlantic's Jupiter and Harbor Branch campuses join forces each spring for the Northern Campuses Awards. The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute in Jupiter provides scholarships to undergraduate and graduate students who have exhibited academic or leadership excellence. The awards also recognize outstanding work and accomplishments of students, staff and faculty on the two campuses.

Congratulations to the 2025 honorees from FAU Harbor Branch!

Faculty of the Year: Mike McCoy, Ph.D., associate professor of quantitative ecology
Staff of the Year: Gabby Barbarite McHenry, Ph.D., director of outreach and engagement
Outstanding Graduate Student Researcher: Ryan Eckert (not pictured), Ph.D. candidate, Coral Reef Health and Ecology Lab (Voss Lab)
Rising Star: Paige Aldred, master's degree student, FAU Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) Lab (Lapointe Lab) and research assistant at the HBOI seagrass nursery

Calling All Semester By The Sea Alumni!

Semester By The Sea (SBTS) was started at Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute in 2001 by the late Dr. Dennis Hanisak. Since then, it has been one of the nation's leading marine science education programs, providing immersive, hands-on learning to over 500 undergraduate students.

Due to budgetary concerns, SBTS is currently funded by philanthropy. We are seeking feedback from SBTS alumni to provide to donors, showcasing the impact of the program. If you are willing to help support the future of the program, we ask you to complete a short survey with your feedback about the program.

Take the survey.

Outreach and Education

Ocean Discovery Experience

The outreach and education team's partner program with the Boys & Girls Clubs of St. Lucie County - the Ocean Discovery Experience - featured hands-on lessons about marine animals, techniques to study harmful algal blooms and an introduction to water quality analysis. The free program will culminate with a field research experience on the Indian River Lagoon aboard the Discovery pontoon.

Program Update: Marine & Oceanographic Academy

Students in the Marine & Oceanographic Academy's environmental management class had the unique opportunity to go out in the field with scientists from Nova Southeastern University's Guy Harvey Research Institute. Their day on the water including catching, measuring and tagging three sharks!

Sharing Marine Science Across the Florida

FAU Harbor Branch's education and outreach team was out in full force this spring. From local areas of Fort Pierce and Vero Beach to Fort Lauderdale and even Tallahassee, they connected with over 2,700 people at a dozen community events covering more than 450 miles of the Florida peninsula.

Highlights include: