Research Projects
Team Osprey
Research project: Living Shoreline
Captain: Kelsey Bolling
Caitlyn Cameron
Callie Freyhofer
Harrison Garcia
Kelly Cameron
Team Osprey is heading up the 7th year of the living shoreline project. We will be working with the Florida Department of Environment Protection (FLDEP) propagating shoreline grasses in our wildcat garden. Installation of these shoreline grasses is planned for the spring. The purpose of this project is to strengthen and protect our shorelines by preventing erosion, promoting nutrient uptake and providing a home for juvenile species.
Team Glaucus Atlanticus
Research project: Aquaponics
Captain: Makayla Quibodeaux
Piper Dunn
Andrew Manley
Dawson Tate
Jackson Travis
This year, Team Glaucus´s team research project is Aquaponics. Our objective is to assess if utilizing fish waste instead of ordinary soil improves the flavor, growth rate, and overall appearance of the plants we produce; strawberries, kale, and mint leaves will be planted. Koi Fish waste shall provide nutrients for the plants and there will be a constant exchange of water and nutrients between the plants and the fish.
Team Shark Fin
Research project: Lionfish
Captain: Lindsey Wilbur
Emma Wilmoth
Micah Eckard
Matthew Quadrini
Hayden Lett
Team Shark Fin´s research project is “Lionfish Feeding Preference”. Lionfish are native to coral reefs in the tropical waters of the South Pacific and Indian Oceans, but are an invasive species to the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic coast as far north as North Carolina. This multi-year project seeks to determine the niche of the invasive lionfish. We would like to ascertain the feeding preference of the lionfish. To accomplish that we are going to investigate the gut contents and perform DNA analysis on the stomach contents to see what these fish are eating out in the wild!
Team Wave
Research project: Microplatics
Captain: Collin Andrew
Leah King
Tobi White
Logan Haymon
Team Wave is taking over a multi year microplastics project. Microplastics are the result of broken down plastic waste. Plastics never degrade fully in the environment. Species can ingest microplastics causing a negative impact on them. The main goal of this project is ascertain the amount of microplastics through seasonal changes in Perdido Bay.
