mote magazine – annual 2015-2016

A N N U A L 2 0 1 5 - 2 0 1 6

EXPEDITION CUBAREMEMBERING GENIE

A DIAMOND ANNIVERSARY

2 MOTE MAGAZINE | ANNUAL 2015-2016

Cancer therapies. Hunger solutions. Coral reef restoration.

Your contributions will support them all and more. As a 60-year-old

independent, non-profit marine research institute with 25 diverse

research programs, the depth of our commitment to the ocean and

our planet can only be measured in leagues. We believe the answers

are in the oceans. And by contributing to the Oceans of Opportunity

comprehensive campaign, you can help ensure our conservation and

sustainability efforts thrive for years to come. Please join us.

MOTEOCEANS.ORG

Greatness awaits just beneath the surface.

MOTE MAGAZINE | ANNUAL 2015-2016 3

Mote Magazine (ISSN 1553-1104) is published by Mote Marine Laboratory, a world-class nonprofit organization devoted to the ocean and its future. By telling the stories of sea science, Mote hopes to enhance public understanding of marine research and conservation.

PRESIDENT & CEOMichael P. Crosby, Ph.D.

ASSISTANT VP, COMMUNITY RELATIONS & COMMUNICATIONSStacy Alexander

EDITORNadine Slimak, Vetted Communications LLC

GRAPHIC DESIGNERAlexis Balinski

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Kaitlyn Fusco, Hayley Rutger

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERSAlexis Balinski, Joe Berg/Way Down Video, David Doubilet, Marc Ellis/H2Opictures.com, Chris Fitzgibbons, FWC

Mote Magazine is proud to recognize Sarasota Magazine as its publishing partner. For information on sponsorship, please contact Sarasota Magazine at 941-487-1109.

ANNUAL 2015-2016 • VOLUME 70INFO: 941-388-4441 • MOTE.ORG

Special EventsMOTE 2015 EVENTS CALENDAR

Mote Marine Laboratory scientists and Cuban colleagues fit silky sharks with scientific tags in the Jardines de la Reina (Gardens of the Queen) National Marine Park off Cuba’s south coast.

COVER PHOTO

MOTEM A G A Z I N E

Remembering GenieMote founder Dr. Eugenie Clark, 1922-2015

InvasionLionfish Derby takes on invasive predator

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED:A team effort makes coral restoration possible in the Florida Keys.

IntroducingOtters & Their Waters

InspiringOceans of Opportunity making world-class research possible

Issues & ImpactsTaking on ocean acidification

Generation NextMeet Jordon Beckler

Expedition CubaNew shark & coral research on island nation

5

10

12

822 Survival of the Snookiest

23 Seeding Scallops

25 Rehabbed, Released & Reproducing

26 Mote Milestones

29 Upcoming Events

30 Diamond Anniversary Gala

6

14

16

20

Greatness awaits just beneath the surface.

PHOTO BY: Joe Berg/Way Down Video


Letter From The PresidentDr. Michael P. CrosbyIn 2015, we celebrated the incredible history of Mote as an independent world-class marine science institution. We treasure our vibrant and impactful history of accomplishments in partnership with our community, however, we also recognize that Mote Marine Laboratory is at a critical juncture in our history as we look to the future. As we mark this milestone anniversary we are also looking to the future of our organization.

The challenges facing our oceans are enormous and the investment needed to understand, restore and protect them is no less significant. Mote’s independence allows us the freedom to pursue transformative, high-risk research that has the potential to create the greatest impact and provide unbiased information. Maintaining Mote’s independence is essential to realizing our vision for the future and the only way it will be possible is through the generosity of our supporters.

Through the decades, Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium has been a unique organization dedicated to science-based conservation supporting the sustainable use of our marine resources and to public outreach and education to help build a more ocean-literate society.

When Dr. Eugenie Clark opened the Lab in 1955 with the philanthropic support of the Vanderbilt family and the partnership of the community, she had no idea that Mote would evolve into an international powerhouse of scientific progress or that the organization would educate millions about the marine world.

Dr. Clark — Genie — didn’t seek to create a legacy, but she nonetheless did. With passion and enthusiasm, she paved the way for Mote to grow and develop into an internationally recognized institution that today continues to nurture the best and brightest minds in marine science.

At the beginning of 2015 — the year of our 60th anniversary — we embarked on one of our biggest initiatives ever: Oceans of Opportunity, an ambitious $50-million campaign designed to secure Mote’s future and allow it to continue to benefit the world’s oceans for generations to come.

Sadly, we lost Genie this year after a long illness and before she was able to see her vision for Mote fully realized through the success of Oceans of Opportunity. But she knew how close we are to reaching our goal and was confident that our supporters would continue to give generously to fund the research needed to address threats to our oceans, expand the frontiers of science, provide the intellectual fuel that drives the region’s economy and improve the quality of life for us all.

The Oceans of Opportunity campaign is really about the future — of Mote and of our oceans. What lies before us now is the crossroads of a transformational opportunity to secure a future that will last for generations to come — a foundation for the continued independence of Mote, enhanced impact of quality education programs and innovative research for the conservation and sustainable use of the marine environment. If you share our passion for protecting the future, we ask you to join with us today as we roll up our sleeves and get to work protecting our oceans for the next 60 years.

BOARD OF TRUSTEESG. Lowe Morrison

CHAIRMAN Robert Essner

VICE CHAIRMAN Lt. Gen. Howard G. Crowell (USA Ret.)

TREASURER Mickey Callanen

SECRETARY Dr. Michael P. Crosby, PRESIDENT & CEO

Arthur L. Armitage, Chairman Emeritus Eugene Beckstein, Immediate Past Chairman

Paul Carreiro Robert E. Carter, Chairman Emeritus

Ronald D. Ciaravella Scott Collins

Maurice Cunniffe John Dart

Frederick M. Derr, P.E., Chairman Emeritus Richard O. Donegan

Dean H. Eisner James D. Ericson Susan C. Gilmore

Judy Graham, Chairman Emeritus Edward H. Jennings Mary Lou Johnson

Kirk Malcolm Penelope Kingman

Trudo Letschert Nigel Mould

Rande Ridenour Alan Rose

Howard Seider, Jr., M.D. Jeanie Stevenson

HONORARY TRUSTEESRichard Angelotti, Chairman Emeritus

Charles R. Baumann, CPA Pauline Becker

Bob Cameron (President, Volunteer Board) Howard C. Cobin

David Dickson (Chairman, Advisory Council) Sylvia Earle, Ph.D.

William S. Galvano, Esq. Alfred Goldstein, DCS DHL, Chairman Emeritus

The Hon. Andy Ireland Elaine M. Keating

J. Robert Long Peter Hull (Mote Scientific Foundation)

Kumar Mahadevan, Ph.D. (Mote Scientific Foundation)

Jean Martin The Hon. Dan Miller

Myra Monfort Runyan, Chairman Emeritus Ronald R. Morris

Helen L. Pratt (Mote Scientific Foundation) William Ritchie (Mote Scientific Foundation)

Peter Rosasco, CPA (Chairman, Keys Advisory Council)

Beth G. Waskom

William R. Mote • 1906-2000Perry W. Gilbert • 1912-2000

Founder, Dr. Eugenie Clark • 1922-2015

Michael P. Crosby, Ph.D., FLS

President & CEO


INTRODUCING:

In early 2016, Mote Aquarium will open a brand new exhibit featuring very adorable watershed ambassadors: North American river otters.

The otters will help visitors explore what happens in a watershed — the area that drains toward a waterway such as a wetland, lake, stream, river, estuary or even the sea. In the continental U.S., there are 2,110 watersheds. The biggest? The one that feeds the Mississippi River, which captures runoff from 41 percent of the land in the continental U.S. and flows into the Gulf of Mexico.

While the word watershed might bring to mind Florida’s natural beauty, watersheds also have houses, businesses, farms, roads and other human-made structures that alter landscapes and water flow. Hard surfaces can prevent rainwater from fully soaking into the ground and being filtered by plants, instead allowing it to become runoff that can carry pollution and bacteria into waterways and out to sea.

Visit Otters & Their Waters to meet the otters and learn how changes in watersheds affect otters and other species on land, in freshwater bodies, in estuaries and in our oceans — where Mote Marine Laboratory scientists work to help marine life.

Coming for a Visit? You Otter Know These Facts

Visiting Otters & Their Waters in Mote Aquarium is FREE with regular admission.

Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. 365 days a year.

Address: 1600 Ken Thompson Parkway, Sarasota, Fla., 34236

Tickets: $19.75 for adults ages 13 and older; $18.75 for seniors 65 and older; $14.75 for children ages 4-12. Mote Members and kids age 3 and younger always get in free.

UPDATE:

Oh Baby! Life Cycles of the Seas

Our temporary exhibit Oh Baby! Life Cycles of the Seas, was originally scheduled to close Sept. 27. But the exhibit was so popular, we decided to make it part of our permanent collection. This family-friendly, educational exhibit invites visitors to discover ocean animal “romance” and reproduction, babies of many species and the survival challenges facing new generations of marine life. These topics are central to marine research around the globe, including the world-class science of Mote Marine Laboratory.

Free with regular admission.

Open Daily

10am - 5pm

Otters & Their Waters

PHOTO BY: Anatoliy Lukich/Adobe Stock


At Mote Marine Laboratory, it would be obvious if we said the ocean is in our blood.

Since Dr. Eugenie Clark first opened the Lab’s doors as a young

researcher supported by philanthropists Anne and William H.

Vanderbilt and the local community, we’ve been dedicated to

ocean research that protects and saves endangered species

and their habitats, solves emerging ocean-related problems and

educates millions of children, adults and policy makers about

conserving and sustainably using our precious marine resources.

But considering that oceans provide more than 50 percent of the oxygen that we all breathe, we think the oceans should be in your blood, too.

In 2015, Mote Marine Laboratory embarked on its most

important initiative ever: Oceans of Opportunity: The Campaign

for Mote Marine Laboratory. This is our first-ever, multi-year,

comprehensive fundraising campaign and is designed to help

secure Mote’s future and allow the organization to benefit the

world’s oceans for generations to come.

The $50-million campaign will bolster Mote’s research team and

allow it to continue to expand the frontiers of marine science to

address the imminent threats facing our oceans, support a new

generation of ocean scientists and expand our positive impact

on our oceans locally, nationally and across the globe.

The grand challenges facing our oceans are enormous. But we

can make a difference here and around the world — today —

with your help. Through Oceans of Opportunity, we have the

ability to transform our future. Won’t you please join us?

Oceans of OpportunityInspiring the brightest minds in marine science to transform our world


Mote Marine Laboratory offers a special thank you to all of our donors, supporters,

friends and members and this special note of recognition to the members of the

Mote Leadership Circle, including two donors who wish to remain anonymous:

Carol & Barney Barnett | Maurice & Carolyn Cunniffe | Bob & Anne Essner

James & Pati Ericson | Elizabeth Moore | Anonymous (2)

When we embarked on Oceans of Opportunity: The Campaign for Mote Marine Laboratory, we were pleased to learn that the spirit of community philanthropy that helped found the Lab is alive and well some 60 years after our doors first opened.

Today, we’re proud to introduce the Mote Leadership Circle, a special group of supporters who understand the urgent threats facing our oceans. Led by Campaign Chairman Bob Essner, these philanthropists are each providing critical financial support of $1 million or more to help us address these problems.

Now, when we’re so close to realizing our campaign goals, these Leadership givers have offered their support to help us sustain the legacy created by Dr. Eugenie Clark, by Anne and William H. Vanderbilt and by William R. Mote.

Leaders like Elizabeth Moore, an avid diver, community leader and local philanthropist, are making an incredible difference for Mote. Her gift will help elevate all of Mote’s research endeavors. “We are all connected to the ocean and I am a firm believer that we must be good stewards of our Earth and our oceans, one of our most precious resources. Seeing the work being done at Mote reminds me that it is our responsibility to share the world and protect its many species and resources, especially one that we all depend on for every other breath we take. I’m fortunate to be able to take action that will make an impact for future generations.”

Introducing the Mote Leadership Circle

For more information on how you can help, contact Erin Knievel, Campaign Director, at 941.388.4441, ext. 415, or [email protected].


In July, Mote joined forces with members of the Combat Wounded Veteran Challenge and SCUBAnauts International in an underwater mission to restore Florida’s reef. In all, more than 50 divers planted some 250 fragments of staghorn coral in Mote’s special restoration site near Looe Key.

This year marked the fourth year the groups have worked together to plant coral fragments that were grown in Mote’s underwater coral nursery in the restoration area. Mote established the nursery more than eight years ago to grow colonies of the threatened staghorn coral (Acropora cervicornis) for replanting on decimated or damaged sections of reef within the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.

When the colonies reach a suitable size, small fragments nearly 2 inches long (about 5 cm) are snipped off and used to create a new colony — similar to the way new plants are grown from cuttings of existing plants. Then these cuttings are then mounted on the reef so they can grow and develop into new colonies.

“I can’t think of a better way for Mote to celebrate its 60th anniversary year than working with volunteer citizen scientists — these SCUBAnaut youths and combat wounded veterans — to conduct the science necessary to restore coral reefs that have been damaged over the last several decades,” said Mote President & CEO Dr. Michael P. Crosby. “The reefs are so damaged and stressed that they cannot repair themselves without our help, so it is important that we undertake this mission to restore them. This mission also helps us raise awareness in the community about the importance of coral reefs, which in Florida are home to 6,000 species, support 72,000 jobs and contribute to healthy oceans

that provide more than 50 percent of the oxygen we breathe — keeping us all alive.”

Mote has about 10,000 coral colonies — some 150,000 fragments — growing in our underwater nursery representing nearly 60 different genotypes. “Since Mote began this work, we have planted more than 7,700 coral fragments to help restore Florida’s reef, and the annual mission with the CWVC and SCUBAnauts has been a major part of accomplishing that work,” said Erich Bartels, Manager of Mote’s Coral Reef Monitoring and Assessment Program, who oversees the staghorn coral nursery project.

The Combat Wounded Veteran Challenge (CWVC) improves the lives of wounded and injured veterans through rehabilitative, high-adventure and therapeutic outdoor challenges while furthering the physiological, biomedical and pathological sciences associated with their injuries. The veterans who participate in the outdoor challenges have suffered from traumatic brain injuries, PTSD or have lost limbs. Military medical personnel and prosthetic experts from Florida State University and Florida International University participated in this trip to help evaluate the veterans’ recovery from injuries and develop next-generation prosthetics suitable for extreme aquatic activities.

SCUBAnauts International’s mission is to guide young men and women ages 12 through 18 along an exciting pathway for personal development by involving them in the marine sciences through underwater marine research activities, such as special environmental and undersea conservation projects, that build character, promote active citizenship and develop effective leadership skills.

Mission Possible, MISSION ACCOMPLISHED

BY NADINE SLIMAK



During this mission, the youths and veterans had the opportunity

to work together in a cross-mentorship adventure with the

SCUBAnauts sharing their knowledge of the underwater world

and the veterans showing the teens how to move forward and be

successful in the face of adversity.

Retired Staff Sgt. Bobby Dove, originally from Gloucester, Va., and

now of Destin, Fla., served as a Green Beret in the U.S. Army

Special Forces. He was injured on

June 9, 2012, by an IED that blew

up while he was driving a dirt bike

on combat patrol in Afghanistan.

His dominant hand and leg were

amputated. He made his first

coral restoration dive during the

July event.

“It was great!” he said. “After

you’re injured, it’s hard to know

what’s next. But it’s great to know

that we are doing something

important for the reef and diving

on this trip was especially good

because I had a mission and a job

and it meant that for this dive I

was focused only on that task and

could forget about any pain from

my injuries and not worry about

my prosthetics for 30 minutes.”

“Seeing the drive and

determination of our veterans

puts every day struggles into

perspective,” said Jim Cassick, President & CEO of SCUBAnauts

International, which is based Palm Harbor, Fla. “This unique

partnership fits perfectly with our primary purpose to inspire our

‘nauts to develop effective leadership skills, make better decisions

and build character. As much as our veteran mentors influence

our youth, we find that our ‘naut’s skill, knowledge and passion

inspires our veterans about the future. These two seemingly

different groups come together to inspire each other and make a

positive, lasting difference for our environment.”

Diver Jessica Silk, 18, participated in her last coral restoration

mission as a SCUBAnaut. After four years, she’s a high school

graduate and has moved on to the University of Florida to study

applied physiology and kinesiology — in-part because of her

experiences with the combat-wounded veterans. “This program

has been so amazing — from seeing the corals that we’ve planted

in past years surviving and growing, to working with the vets. It’s

really been great to be a part of this project.”

“Our wounded servicemen and

women make a powerful impact

and example on youth and those

who face similar circumstances,”

said Capt. David Olson, USN (Ret.),

who founded SCUBAnauts and

the Combat Wounded Veteran

Challenge, which is based in

Tarpon Springs, Fla. “Through

these Challenge experiences,

they demonstrate to others that

despite their injuries, they too can

overcome seemingly insurmountable

personal challenges, while advancing

rehabilitative research.

‘Challenge–Research–Inspire’

are the principals that govern

our program.”

Mote’s Dr. Crosby sums up the

mission this way: “Not only do

these combat veterans and youth

volunteers provide important support

to Mote that helps accelerate the coral reef restoration work the

organization has undertaken since 2006, they also inspire and

challenge us all to do more in our shared mission of science-

based conservation. Mote is built on a foundation of passion

for science, partnerships with groups like the Combat Wounded

Veteran Challenge and the SCUBAnauts, and philanthropic support

for our research and education work. What we are all engaged in

today is an exemplar of these foundational pillars and should give

us all hope and inspiration for the future.”

Honorary Mote Trustee Howard and Nancy Cobin · Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation · Islander Resort, A Guy Harvey Outpost

Winn Dixie · Protect Our Reefs License Plate · Harbor Graphics & Custom Apparel · Looe Key Dive Center

Strike Zone Charters · Underseas Inc. · Rock Bottom Divers · Derby Lane · Oceanic · Jon Hazelbaker

Support for this coral restoration mission was provided by:

Well Done: (far left) Billy Costello, retired Sgt. 1st Class, U.S. Army, shakes hands with Mote President & CEO Dr. Michael P. Crosby after accomplishing the coral mission. Mission Accomplished: (above) The restoration team heads back to the boats.



A n invisible threat has begun to harm Florida’s marine resources — but the Sunshine State has unique strengths and opportunities to respond, according to

participants at a state roundtable on ocean acidification.

Ocean acidification (OA) is occurring due to increased levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, some of which enters the ocean and makes seawater more acidic. OA could cause substantial changes to the ocean, affecting the people and communities that depend on it. “Mote is first and foremost a research and science-education organization, and we don’t take sides in politics or advocacy issues — however, we know one thing that is irrefutable from the data: A healthy blue environment is vital to the quality of life and the health of the economy in Florida, and marine resources all around the state are vulnerable to ocean acidification,” said Dr. Michael P. Crosby, President & CEO of Mote.

One vulnerable treasure is Florida’s barrier coral reef, which helps attract millions of visitors, supports vital fisheries and ecotourism, protects against storm surge and contributes about $6.3 billion to the state’s economy. Research by Mote and others shows that coral reef organisms — including threatened and endangered corals of the Florida Keys — can have a harder time growing and building their carbonate-rich skeletons as waters acidify. Lab experiments have shown that OA conditions can hinder key steps in producing the next generation of federally protected elkhorn corals.

“As an avid diver, I have seen firsthand the beauty of coral reefs and the abundance of organisms that call these reefs home — and as the mother of a young son, it is important to me that our coral reefs are thriving for him and for future generations to enjoy,” said Rep. Holly Raschein, R-Key Largo, who spoke at the roundtable and has dived with Mote scientists at their Keys-based, coral restoration nursery.

The roundtable, hosted by Mote and the Ocean Conservancy, offered participants an opportunity to discuss how to better share scientific findings in helpful ways, such as producing unified communications materials, synthesizing meaningful research results and highlighting the economic value of resources at stake. It also highlighted the need for increased support through public and private funding, particularly through philanthropic giving. “We wanted to foster and expand the great conversation already taking place in Florida,” said Dr. Sarah Cooley, Science Outreach Manager at the Ocean Conservancy. “This roundtable has shown us that there is a lot of energy to address ocean acidification here, and that momentum is going to take ocean acidification science out of the research space and allow for action.”

OA is here, nowOutside the research community, OA might seem an obscure or distant threat. However, it is already beginning to affect Florida’s natural resources.

Coral reefs in some northern areas of the Florida Keys have experienced notable dissolution of their calcium carbonate structures during winter, possibly because colder months mean less seagrass to absorb carbon dioxide. This impact is occurring 30-40 years sooner than expected by some scientific predictions, but early predictions have mainly used open ocean data — and OA may operate differently in shallow, coastal waters. This effect is seasonal now, and some reefs in the Keys are still doing well, but impacts may increase as waters acidify.

“The implications could be far reaching,” said Dr. Billy Causey, Southeast Regional Director for the National Marine Sanctuary Program of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Issues & Impacts: Ocean AcidificationBY HAYLEY RUTGER


“There are so many carbonate organisms on the reef. Whether it’s coral or calcareous algae or the lobster we think about so much, so many living things have calcium carbonate in their bodies.”

Shellfish beds are a key resource affected on the Pacific coast and are potentially vulnerable in Florida. It also remains unknown whether or how OA might impact other habitats and structures around Florida’s coast, including the carbonate-based geology that underlies reefs and land-based structures.

OA isn’t happening in a vacuumFlorida’s natural resources face multiple threats. For instance, coral reefs can become stressed by warming temperatures — another consequence of increased carbon dioxide in the air and water — along with pollution, storms and other impacts. Stressed corals may be more susceptible to one of their top threats: disease.

Marine life winners or losersOA impacts may vary among different species of marine life or genetic strains within a species. Studying these differences is critical for maintaining and restoring marine ecosystems.

For example, Mote has raised thousands of corals for reef restoration efforts based at its Florida Keys campus, and Mote scientists are currently studying which genotypes of threatened staghorn coral might fare best amid OA and other stressors. OA knowledge and goals must be shared through clear, concise messages so that Florida communities and decision makers can respond wisely.

Highlighting an invisible threat“If carbon dioxide had an orange color and smelled like rotten eggs, things would be different,” said Dr. Dave Vaughan, Manager of the Coral Reef Restoration Program at Mote. “If you tell people there is carbon dioxide affecting the oceans by lowering pH, they may not think of it the same way they think of an oil spill or another visible concern. But maybe the current research can drive home that OA is a reality today and not just a concern for the future.”

Opportunities for optimismFlorida may host habitats that naturally buffer OA impacts. For instance, scientists have begun to study possible benefits of increased seagrass beds, which sequester carbon dioxide (like trees do).

In addition, scientists, policymakers, industry representatives and others have shown great interest and energy for addressing OA in Florida, and there is enough knowledge to act now. For example, the recently introduced federal bill HR 2553: the “Coastal Communities Acidification Act of 2015,” has the support of 10 Florida representatives. This bill would require federal officials

to study the vulnerability of coastal communities in Florida and around the country to ocean acidification.

“We should use the best available science now to begin mitigating the impacts of ocean acidification by implementing major coral restoration initiatives,” Crosby said. “The lack of 100-percent scientific certainty of outcomes should not paralyze us from addressing critical impacts to ecosystems and organisms that are happening now.”

International OA Workshop

The 2nd International Workshop on Impacts of Ocean Acidification and Climate Change on Coral Reefs at Mote’s Lab in Summerland Key, Fla., in August brought together participants from Cuba, Israel, Jordan, Italy, Guam, the U.K. and the U.S. to collaborate on new ocean acidification experiments to address global threats to coral reefs.

The workshop, co-hosted by Mote and the Interuniversity Institute for Marine Sciences (IUI) of Eilat, Israel, allowed participants to plan lab and field experiments with coral reef organisms from the Florida Keys to study how ocean acidification and climate change will affect the local ecosystems. Multi-year, reef community-based mesocosm experiments will be geared toward providing research to inform managers and policy makers. A mesocosm is an experimental tool that brings a small part of the natural environment under controlled conditions. In this case, the group designed a mesocosm experiment utilizing Mote’s new, National Science Foundation-funded Ocean Acidification Flow-Thru Experimental Raceway Units and corals from Mote’s nursery.

“This workshop is a unique opportunity that brings many members from all over the world to collaborate together to find solutions to a problem that affects us all: ocean acidification and climate change,” said Dr. Ali Al-Sawalmih, Research Assistant Professor at the University of Jordan. “This workshop brings people from all different nationalities together, enhancing future collaborations, which is important for the future of the environment.”


M ote welcomed Dr. Jordon Beckler in 2015. He’s a next-generation Ph.D. scientist who is helping to advance Mote’s

Ocean Technology Program and study nutrient cycling in the environment — research essential to understanding Florida red tide.

Beckler is working with Mote’s ocean-observing technology, including the optical phytoplankton discriminators — also known as BreveBusters — designed at Mote to detect Florida red-tide algae, Karenia brevis, and the underwater robotic gliders that carry scientific instruments on seagoing missions. He earned his doctorate in summer 2014 from the Georgia Institute of Technology, where he was involved in projects to adapt widely used lab instruments for in-water deployment and expand scientists’ ability to monitor marine environments more accurately, efficiently and quickly.

His doctoral research focused on chemical oceanography, including iron in the environment. Iron is an essential nutrient for many living things in the ocean, but only certain forms of iron are useful for life. Understanding how iron moves and changes in the environment may help scientists better understand the life cycles of beneficial and harmful marine phytoplankton — tiny plant-like organisms including the red-tide species Karenia brevis.

Q: What got you interested in marine science and ocean technology?

A: I really love the ocean. I grew up on it, surfing and fishing. I originally went to school for computer engineering, but I switched to environmental science so that I could study hurricanes. I had moved to south Florida two weeks before hurricane Andrew and I was just fascinated by them. And then I took a geochemistry class, and I thought, “this is cool, the water and chemistry — there is so much more there than you could ever imagine.” Then I went out on my first research cruise and I was sold. There is something about research cruises — the camaraderie you develop being united around a common cause, the travel and the excitement about not knowing what you will discover. You don’t mind working around the clock.

Q: Why do you want to study iron and red tide?

A: Waters on the West Florida Shelf are low in nutrients, specifically nitrogen, and we’d typically expect that to limit the growth of Karenia brevis. Iron can have an indirect impact by stimulating another phytoplankton species called Trichodesmium, which can fix nitrogen from the atmosphere into a form useful for phytoplankton such as K. brevis. Where the iron might come from is still debated, but I have reason to believe that one source could be the sediments. At Georgia Tech, we studied iron-rich sediments from a swampy blackwater river in Georgia, and we found that bioavailable iron could flux out of the sediments and be carried out from the river into the ocean. We have more than a dozen similar blackwater rivers along the West Florida Shelf (like the Peace and Caloosahatchee), so I want to study whether this process is occurring along our coast and what it might mean for Florida red tide.

(Ed. Note: The sources of nutrients for Karenia brevis are diverse and complex, and previous studies by others have also suggested iron can be carried into the Gulf of Mexico in dust clouds blown from the Sahara Desert. Studying iron from sediments will add to the “big picture” of possible nutrient sources for red tide.)

Q: How can ocean technology help with red tide?

A: We can get advanced warnings of red tides using our optical phytoplankton discriminators in the field — they were designed at Mote by Dr. Gary Kirkpatrick and they help us detect Karenia brevis and about a dozen phytoplankton species. We have our two robotic gliders that can move through the water and monitor things like physical and chemical parameters, nutrients and chlorophyll from phytoplankton — allowing us to learn more about conditions that might promote red-tide formation. (See coolcloud.mote.org to learn more about our work with ocean-observing technology.)

Then there’s HPLC (high-performance liquid chromatography) — one of the most popular techniques in all of analytical chemistry.

Generation NextMote’s 2020 Vision & Strategic Plan includes a focus on supporting the

next generation of scientific leaders. This Q & A with Dr. Jordon Beckler,

Postdoctoral Researcher, is part of an occasional Mote Magazine series

on these up-and-coming scientific experts.


Mote says ‘domo arigato’ for new robot name

Mote scientists are thanking students who named the Lab’s new underwater robot “Genie” in honor of the organization’s founder Dr. Eugenie Clark. This naming contest wrapped up with a science-education opportunity as the prize.

Nine classes from five Sarasota-Manatee county schools competed in October to name this newly arrived robotic glider, also known as an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV). The winners were 5th-grade math and science students at Annie Lucy Williams Elementary School in Parrish, Fla.

Their reward was a live video chat with Dr. Jordon Beckler, a postdoctoral research scientist at Mote who works with AUVs and other ocean technology who will be deploying the AUV on its first underwater mission. They also received Mote Aquarium tickets.

The AUV, which looks like a yellow torpedo 4.9 feet (1.5 meters) long, is one of two operated by Mote. It carries instruments that can monitor the abundance of microscopic plant-like organisms called phytoplankton, including the toxic algae K. brevis, which cause Florida red tides harmful to marine life and people. Genie’s instruments also monitor water temperature, depth, salinity, CDOM (colored dissolved organic matter) and turbidity, which can indicate sediments being re-suspended in the water and could be influencing algal blooms. The data will be shared through the Gulf of Mexico Coastal Ocean Observing System, which provides information about the Gulf of Mexico to government, marine scientists, the maritime industry and the public.

Mote educates hundreds of thousands of people about the oceans each year. Connecting with students to name this AUV is one of Mote’s many efforts to help students become more ocean literate — efforts that started with Mote founder Dr. Eugenie Clark, a beloved fish researcher and teacher who died at age 92.

By the way, “domo arigato” means “thank you very much” in Japanese — a nod to Clark’s own Japanese heritage and the catchphrase in the Styx song “Mr. Roboto.”

It is the gold standard for some of the work going on here. We bring water samples back to the lab for HPLC to look at brevetoxins (red-tide toxins) and pigments from algae, to identify what species are in the phytoplankton community.

When I was at Georgia Tech, we worked with the company AIS, Inc., to design an HPLC that functions autonomously at sea without human control. If we apply it here, it would be only the third of its kind ever constructed — cool, right? This is one reason why I’m so happy to be at Mote — having another application for our new toy!

Here, we would be using it for new purposes. We could use HPLC out in the ocean to detect brevetoxins in real time to help keep the public safe, and an ultimate goal would be to analyze phytoplankton pigments so we know what the phytoplankton community looks like in real time. I think that would revolutionize the science and be available to benefit other labs around the world. The hard part is, you can’t just run a sample of seawater — in the lab we have to process it to extract the algae pigments. We would have to find a way to do that at sea — sounds like a great idea for a research proposal.

Q: You think ocean technology is good for public education, right?

A: Ocean Technology at Mote has all these cool resources — it’s the perfect avenue for STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) outreach. Mote has great aquatic robotics summer camps, similar to some outreach I did in Georgia. I really want to incorporate our robotic gliders into fundamental oceanography education, starting with young kids. I’ve been talking with our education program staff here, and we’re looking at developing a glider workshop for teachers for next year and maybe for students after that.

A few days after I started at Mote, someone from SeaGlide stopped by, and his group had constructed fully functional, miniature gliders out of soda bottles. I think that combining the construction of these miniature robots with real-world experience learning from our full-size gliders will allow students to learn marketable electronics and computer skills and I hope they’ll be inspired to pursue ocean-related careers.


T he improving diplomatic relationship between the U.S. and Cuban governments is setting the stage for the expansion of

scientific collaborations between scientists from Mote and their Cuban colleagues.

Cuba and the United States are fundamentally connected by the Gulf of Mexico and Straits of Florida. Animals such as sharks and other fishes, sea turtles and marine mammals migrate between the U.S. and Cuba, and both nations host coral reefs — the rainforests of the sea.

In 2015, Mote shark and coral reef scientists worked with Cuban researchers to place the first satellite transmitter tags on sharks in Cuban waters, conducted the first coral transplant experiment on a Cuban reef and more.

The expedition included partners from Cuba’s Center for Coastal Ecosystems Research, the University of Havana and other Cuban institutions, along with members of the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), which organizes U.S.-Cuban collaborations in science and conservation. Filmmakers from Tandem Stills + Motion, Inc., and Herzog Productions captured the action for Discovery and the Cuban production company Mundo Latino also filmed the expedition for a domestic television program in Cuba. The fieldwork, which took place in February 2015, was featured in Discovery’s “Tiburones: The Sharks of Cuba” in July.

“This expedition allowed U.S. and Cuban scientists to achieve some of the goals we’ve been dreaming about for years,” said Dr. Robert Hueter, Director of the Center for Shark Research at Mote. “For instance, we had been trying to get permission to deploy satellite tags on sharks in Cuba for at least five years, and we were finally given approval to do that on this expedition, thanks in large part to the great partnership with our Cuban colleagues and EDF. It all came together beautifully.”

The Gulf and Caribbean ecoregion hosts about 20 percent of the world’s shark biodiversity, with Cuba at the epicenter, but scientists know relatively little about the status of shark populations in Cuban waters and what impacts they face from the nation’s fisheries. Many of Cuba’s coral reefs have thrived — with beautiful stands of elkhorn corals that are listed as threatened in the U.S. — even though most reefs in the Caribbean have declined. Science has yet to explain why reefs are healthier in Cuba and whether larvae from Cuban reefs drift to the waters off other countries, including the U.S. BY HAYLEY RUTGER

Landmark research trip highlights fundamental connections between U.S. and the island nation.

EXPEDITION CUBA


“Trustful collaboration is the way to go if we want to preserve our shared resources,” said Cuban partner Dr. Jorge Angulo Valdes, Director of Conservation at the University of Havana’s Center for Marine Research. “This expedition showed how much we can accomplish together.”

U.S. and Cuban scientists have sought to study sharks, corals and other marine fauna together, but they have needed to overcome the challenges of the multi-decade trade embargo that has severely restricted travel between the two nations. The thaw in U.S.-Cuba diplomatic relations is helping to increase the opportunities for Cuban and American scientists to collaborate on important scientific questions of mutual interest for both countries.

“Across the Gulf of Mexico region, our long-term aim is that improved international cooperation, science and management and the exchange of expertise will lead to the recovery and long-term health of shark populations,” said Daniel Whittle, Cuba Program director for EDF. “Sharks have been around for 400 million years. We don’t want them to disappear on our watch.”

On Oct. 21, Cuba released its first National Plan of Action for Sharks — an effort that is drawing upon the expertise of Cuban scientists, EDF staff and Mote’s Center for Shark Research.

February’s expedition also focused on the spectacular coral reefs in the Gardens of the Queen sanctuary. “It’s incredible,” said Dr. Kim Ritchie, Manager of Mote’s Marine Microbiology Program. “There are big, beautiful big stands of elkhorn coral as far as the eye can see and schools of fish we’re not used to seeing in the Florida Keys.”

Ritchie said there’s a lot to learn about Cuba’s reefs. Elsewhere in the Caribbean, scientists have documented the genetics of elkhorn corals to understand which corals are related and where their larvae might have started life before settling to grow into adult corals. In Cuba the genetics of corals remain largely unstudied, and so do the microbes that can significantly influence coral health. The 2015 expedition laid the groundwork for continued collaborations that will seek to answer some of the questions about why Cuba’s reef remains so healthy when corals in the greater Caribbean are in dramatic decline.

Satellite Tags Reveal Shark Travels

The team placed the first satellite transmitters on sharks in Cuban waters, allowing scientists to follow them in the wild to better understand their life histories, habitat use and vulnerability to fisheries.

Three silky sharks were tagged in the Jardines de la Reina National Marine Park off of Cuba’s south coast. The tags revealed that the sharks had moved away from the inshore reef and into deeper offshore waters, spending most of their time in the upper water column but also diving during the day. One of the sharks reached a maximum depth of 2,073 feet (632 meters). This reveals these sharks don’t just spend their time on the reef but occupy very deep water offshore as well.

The team also deployed a satellite tag on a rare longfin mako shark off Cuba’s north coast. After being tagged in mid-February, the shark traveled with the Gulf Stream between Florida and the Bahamas and then doubled back into the eastern Gulf of Mexico, where it swam in a clockwise loop in April and early May between Florida and the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico. In May, the shark swam back along the Gulf Stream, through the northern Bahamas and into deep waters of the open Atlantic, where it headed north until it was offshore of New Jersey in late June. Finally, it headed south to waters off Virginia and its tag popped off and surfaced about 125 miles east of the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay. The total track covered nearly 5,500 miles in five months, averaging about 36.5 miles per day.

A Coral Transplant

In the Gardens of the Queen, the researchers conducted the first coral transplant experiment in Cuban waters by attaching healthy elkhorn coral fragments to dead coral skeletons to see if they can restore new coral growth to a depleted reef. They plan a return trip to the site to observe the results.

“The Gardens of the Queen has an area with unbelievably pristine elkhorn coral heads like I remember seeing in Florida and the Caribbean during the 60s, and it also has a desolate stand that looks like it had perished from bleaching, disease or storms,” said Dr. Dave Vaughan, Manager of Mote’s Coral Restoration Program, who worked with Cuban partners on the coral transplant. We were able to find a piece of coral that had broken off in the good area and transplant it in many small pieces to an area in the desolate stand to see if the drastic difference between the two areas was caused by location or genetics. This will tell us if these healthy corals have special resilience to stressors like disease or if perhaps they’re in the right location to be less affected by storms. Coral transplant studies are vital for informing reef restoration efforts in Cuba, Florida and the Caribbean.”

The team also shared coral survey and sampling methods to lay the groundwork for future genetics and microbiological studies.


Blazing trails for women in science. Inspiring

generations of people from school children to ocean

experts. Swimming with sharks. Founding a world-

class marine laboratory that turned 60 in 2015.

These are just a few of the ways that Mote founder Dr. Eugenie Clark

made her mark on the world. In February, Dr. Clark — “Genie” to her many

friends and colleagues and “The Shark Lady” to the world — died at age 92

surrounded by family and friends.

Clark, an ichthyologist, was a world authority on fishes — particularly sharks

and tropical sand fishes — and her life was an adventure of scientific

research. She conducted 72 submersible dives as deep as 12,000 feet and

led more than 200 field research expeditions to the Red Sea and Gulf of

Aqaba, Caribbean, Mexico, Japan, Palau, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon

Islands, Thailand, Indonesia and Borneo to study sand fishes, whale sharks,

deep sea sharks and spotted oceanic triggerfish.

She was also happy to share her knowledge with the world and she

recounted her scientific studies in three books and more than 175 articles,

including research publications in leading peer-reviewed journals such as

Science and a dozen popular stories in National Geographic magazine.

In 1955, Clark started the one-room Cape Haze Marine Laboratory in

Placida, Fla., with her fisherman assistant and with philanthropic support

and hearty encouragement of the Vanderbilt family. The Lab later moved

to Sarasota, where it has continued to thrive with the support of the

community. It was renamed Mote Marine Laboratory in 1967 to honor

major benefactor William R. Mote.

BY HAYLEY RUTGER

Remembering Genie


Today, Clark’s original vision is alive at Mote, which hosts 25 diverse research programs, supports new generations of young scientists and sponsors numerous education and outreach programs that help teach the public about the oceans and their importance to our human lives.

“There was absolutely no one like Genie Clark,” said Dr. Michael P. Crosby, President & CEO of Mote. “Her fascination with fishes and dedication to research changed marine science forever; her life story set an example for women in science and countless others who are striving to make a positive impact; her graciousness and warmth opened hearts and made ocean knowledge more accessible to many. And above all, her leadership and legacy sparked a tradition of world-class marine research and education that will continue for generations. Her passion for science and her freedom to pursue that science at Mote continue to inspire us all.”

From Aquarium Visits to International Research

From the beginning, Clark’s curiosity was stoked by fishes and the oceans. Born to American father Charles Clark and Japanese-born mother Yumico Mitomi in 1922 in New York, Genie first visited New York Aquarium at Battery Park at age 9. She was fascinated by the sleek, streamlined sharks, fish of many shapes and colors and stories she read about early underwater explorers.

She earned her bachelor’s degree in Zoology from Hunter College in 1942 and applied to graduate school at Columbia University. She was rejected by a department chairman concerned that she would leave her career to raise a family. “I never let being a woman — even as a young girl — stop me from trying to do something I really wanted to do, especially if it concerned fishes or the underwater world,” Clark later said.

Several leading scientists understood her potential and Clark was accepted to New York University (NYU) and guided by eminent ichthyologist Dr. Charles Breder, Jr., who became her lifelong mentor and friend. She earned her MA in Zoology in 1946. Dr. Myron Gordon, an internationally renowned fish geneticist, took her on as a research assistant at the American Museum of Natural

History and sponsored her Ph.D. research at NYU. She earned her doctorate in Zoology in1950 studying platies and swordtails — the same types of fish she had kept in her home aquarium as a child.

She took her first dive as a research assistant to Carl Hubbs at Scripps Institute of Oceanography in La Jolla, Calif., in the early 1940s. Clark went underwater in a helmet and face mask. The diving hose ruptured, leaving her gasping and nearly fainting before she managed to remove the helmet and float to the surface. Shortly after that frightening dive, Hubbs encouraged Clark to try again. “And so, when the helmet was fixed and after a short rest which didn’t allow my fears to become too deeply rooted, I went down again,” and again, and again, Clark wrote in her memoirs. She took dozens more dives with helmets and then with ever-advancing gear. Diving became a hallmark of her career.

“Most ichthyologists were cataloging dead fishes when she started her career, but Genie used her imagination and her education from some splendid mentors to study living fishes in their environment and in the laboratory,” said Dr. José Castro, a fisheries biologist with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) who is writing a biography of Clark based in part on their many conversations. “She would go on to study several fishes in the wild for much longer than others were doing — sometimes for entire days with relay divers.”

In 1949, Clark successfully applied for a project through the Pacific Science Board and the U.S. Office of Naval Research to study fishes, particularly poisonous species, around the Pacific Islands of Micronesia. She honed her skills for free diving and learned about local fauna from the resident spear fishermen. She described her studies in her first book, Lady with a Spear, which became a best seller and was translated into eight languages. The book inspired philanthropists Anne and William H. Vanderbilt, residents of Manasota Key, Fla., whose young son Bill Jr. kept home aquariums. In 1954 the Vanderbilts asked Clark to give a lecture in Englewood.

“They invited me to come give a lecture about this little marine lab I studied at for a year on the Red Sea, that was part of the University of Cairo’s marine program,” Clark later recounted.

Shark Lady: This picture of Genie Clark swimming with a shark in the wild was captured for National Geographic magazine.

PHOTO BY: David Doubilet

Collecting Critters: In this 1950s photo, Genie collects fish in Charlotte Harbor to bring back to the Cape Haze Marine Lab for further study.


“Englewood was a small town then, and they didn’t know if many people would come to my lecture and they were going to hold it in a small room; they had to open the whole school and people were hanging outside the windows looking in. They were fascinated — the fishermen, families, children — they all just loved hearing about fishes in the Red Sea and the exotic places I had been to.”

The Little Lab that Could

On the eve of her lecture, Clark learned that the Vanderbilts invited her to Florida with the idea of starting a marine laboratory. “How often do you get an offer like that?” Clark said. She and her young family moved to Florida and with the Vanderbilts’ support, she opened the Cape Haze Marine Laboratory in January 1955.

In these early years, Clark was raising four young children with husband, Ilias Konstantinou: daughters Hera and Aya and sons Tak and Niki. Rather than leaving science for family life, Clark melded the two, bringing her children on research expeditions around the world. During an expedition to the Red Sea in the 1960s, Clark discovered a new species of sand fish and named it Trichonotus nikii, after her son Niki, the youngest of expedition team.

Clark’s children all became avid divers and learned a lot from their mother’s enthusiasm for her career. “My mom was like my best friend,” said Aya Konstantinou, a United Airlines captain. “She gave me the ability to believe I could do whatever I wanted to.”

During the early years, Clark’s adventures amazed the community. She dissected a 2,200-pound manta ray on the Sarasota City Pier while surrounded by spectators; dove deep into the freshwater Warm Mineral Springs and Little Salt Springs with retired Lt. Col. Bill Royal and helped discover human remains thousands of years old; studied a strange fish called Serranus subligarius that could switch sex in as little as 10 seconds and fertilize its own eggs and much more.

In 1958, Clark became the first person to study the behavior of large sharks in an experimental laboratory setting. In the lab pools,

she trained large sharks to press a special target for a food reward and later to choose between targets of different shapes and colors. The sharks learned quickly, showing they had more sophisticated learning abilities than most people believed — and they were far from mindless eating machines. Her research appeared in Science.

“Genie was affectionately known and respected as ‘The Shark Lady’ because her shark research was so innovative and she was dedicated to teaching the truth about sharks,” said Dr. Robert Hueter, Director of the Center for Shark Research at Mote. “In the early days, she discovered that sharks could be trained to learn visual tasks as fast as some mammals. This was groundbreaking knowledge.”

In 1960, the Lab moved to Siesta Key and continued to grow, drawing hundreds of visiting scientists from the U.S., Germany, Israel and elsewhere, along with numerous students. In 1965, Clark moved north, becoming an associate professor in the Department of Zoology at City University of New York while maintaining a close connection to the Lab. Clark’s mentor, Dr. Charles Breder served as interim director in 1965, and Dr. Sylvia Earle served as interim director in 1966. In 1967, Dr. Perry Gilbert took the helm as director.

Clark joined the Zoology faculty at the University of Maryland in 1968 and the Cape Haze Marine Lab continued to transform. Meanwhile, William R. Mote — a successful transportation executive, avid fisherman and Tampa native — became fascinated with the Lab and cared deeply about giving back to the sea he loved. He began dedicating significant time, talent and financial resources to supporting marine research. In 1967, the Lab adopted his family name and today’s Mote Marine Laboratory was born.

“If Genie had not started the Lab, our understanding of the marine life there would be significantly less,” said her contemporary Dr. William Tavolga. “She was a dedicated scientist, and I got to see her grow. She was a pioneer, but she was never trying to prove anything. She was just doing her thing.”

Gulf of Aqaba: This 1950s photo is of Genie Clark studying fishes in the Gulf of Aqaba in the Red Sea.

Early Shark Studies: Genie Clark studies sharks in the laboratory.


Unceasing Scientific Adventure

Amid teaching, Clark led exciting research expeditions in more than 20 countries and shared her work by writing 12 articles in National Geographic. In 1975, Clark appeared on the magazine’s cover.

Her adventures never ceased. She officially retired from teaching in 1992. But she never retired from research. She returned to Mote in 2000 as Senior Scientist and Director Emerita and later became a Trustee. Her grandson Eli Weiss, 24, joined “Granny Genie” on research dives — watching her raise the bar for grannies everywhere. “We spent a ton of time together, going on dive expeditions — she took me swimming with the whale sharks in Mexico when I was very young. When I was just old enough to be scuba certified, I dove during her research trip to study the convict fish. That was really cool.”

The mysterious convict fish delighted Clark. She spent long hours underwater trying to unlock the secrets of the adult fish, which almost never leave their burrows, and the swarms of juveniles that leave and return — possibly feeding the parents. She also conducted groundbreaking research on sand fishes, particularly in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aqaba and she became a champion of conservation for the area. Her voice provided crucial support and the area became Egypt’s first national park in 1983.

In Eilat, Israel, Dr. Maoz Fine remembered the impact of Clark’s visits to the Interuniversity Institute for Marine Sciences (IUI), an important hub of Red Sea research. “Genie was one of the pioneering scientists at our Institute and spent many days in Eilat and the Red Sea which she loved very much,” he said. “Just last year, Genie celebrated her 92nd birthday diving at the IUI.”

Mote CEO Crosby accompanied Clark on that trip to celebrate her birthday and forge a new research partnership between Mote and IUI. Clark dove just one more time following the trip.

In June 2014 she brought a team of volunteer research divers to

study deep water triggerfish in the Solomon Islands. The divers had been searching for nests and monitoring how the fish behaved. Later, if friends called that her last dive, Clark would say: “You’re so pessimistic.”

“Genie was an amazing woman — her initiative, intelligence and enthusiasm have always been the heart of Mote,” said Dr. Kumar Mahadevan, Mote’s longest-serving president. “As a graduate student in India in 1970, I knew about the reputation of Mote as the leading institution in ichthyology and shark research from the great scientific publications by Genie and other scientists at the Lab. When I moved to nearby Anna Maria Island in 1975, I aspired to, and was fortunate enough to become, part of the Mote family. To me, Genie has been a great mentor, friend and a true inspiration.”

After carrying out a distinguished career spanning almost 75 years, raising four children and inspiring countless scientists, students and others, Clark will be remembered for her legacy of amazing discoveries and their ripple effects around the world. She is survived by her four children: Hera, Aya, Tak and Niki Konstantinou, and her grandson, Eli Weiss.

On March 2, Clark’s family scattered her ashes into the Gulf of Mexico from aboard Mote’s research vessel, the Eugenie Clark.

Honoring Genie

The American Elasmobranch Society established the Eugenie Clark Award following her death. The award honors Clark’s memory and inspires scientists studying elasmobranchs — sharks, skates and rays. It was created in conjunction with Save Our Seas Foundation and Mote and will recognize early career female scientists who demonstrate uncommon perseverance, dedication and innovation in biological research and public outreach on elasmobranch fishes, just as Clark did during her life.

Return: In 2014, Genie returned to the Gulf of Aqaba to celebrate her 92nd birthday.

In Memoriam: Celebrating a lifetime of science and adventure in the sea.


D ivers and snorkelers removed 456 invasive lionfish from the Gulf of Mexico during the second annual Sarasota

Lionfish Derby in July. Lionfish are venomous, fast-reproducing fish that have spread along the eastern Atlantic coast, through the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico, posing a major threat to Florida’s native species and ecosystems. They consume more than 70 different species of fish and crustaceans and in heavily invaded areas, they have reduced fish populations by up to 90 percent and continue to consume native fishes at unsustainable rates.

The only controlling predators of invasive lionfish in Florida are humans — and the fish are delicious to eat. Lionfish Derbies are an important way to harvest large numbers of this invasive species, train more people to safely remove them, encourage restaurants and the public to cook and eat lionfish and to support scientific studies of the invasion.

The Derby was hosted by Mote in cooperation with Reef Environmental Education Foundation (REEF), which helps study and address the lionfish invasion and sanctions official Lionfish Derbies, and ZooKeeper, the Sarasota-based manufacturer of the leading lionfish containment unit used throughout invaded areas. It was presented by Capt. Eddie’s Seafood and included eight teams of 27 divers and snorkelers from as far away as Texas who vied to catch the most lionfish, the largest lionfish and the smallest lionfish in Gulf waters from Collier to Escambia counties.

“We all know that a lot of lionfish were removed during the event,” said Lad Akins, Director of Special Projects at REEF. “Efforts like this, taking lionfish out of the water, have a huge impact. We know the lionfish will recolonize, but every lionfish that comes out of the water means less pressure on our native species. Studies have been done in the Bahamas and the Florida Keys that show a single-day lionfish removal event can reduce the local lionfish population by 45-70 percent.”

Lionfish captured during the Sarasota Derby were measured and participants documented the capture locations, depth, habitat type and number of fish found in a given area, providing vital data for research and monitoring efforts. Mote scientists examined the stomach contents of fish to help document what these voracious predators are eating. In addition, REEF staff use mathematical modeling to estimate how many prey fish could have been

consumed by lionfish caught in derbies, based on the size and number of lionfish caught.

“Every one of the Derby participants became a volunteer citizen scientist with Mote,” said Dr. Michael P. Crosby, President & CEO of Mote. “Thanks to them, we gained a tremendous amount of data, which help give us a scientific basis for management decisions. We’re probably never going to eliminate lionfish, but with science and the partnership with volunteers like you, we could gain an advantage in controlling what we hope will be an unsustainable fishery.”

The event culminated with a celebration at the Sarasota Outboard Club, next-door to Mote on City Island, Sarasota. There, the public visited educational booths about lionfish, checked out gear designed to capture them, tasted fresh lionfish ceviche prepared by staff from REEF and ZooKeeper and watched lionfish be counted and measured by REEF staff and dissected by Mote scientists and graduate students involved in the RTR Lionfish Ecosystem Modeling Workshop through University of Florida. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and others shared information about the lionfish invasion and how people can help.

Meaghan Faletti, Lionfish Outreach Coordinator for FWC and a participant in the Derby, noted its value for public education. “Not only is it a great event for getting people on the water, but also drawing crowds here and showing them what they can do to help. Not everyone is a diver but everyone can play their part. We want to get people interested in eating lionfish, creating lionfish jewelry and getting involved in other ways. One of our big projects now is our Reef Rangers lionfish control program. You can adopt a reef and choose areas where you plan to clean off lionfish. We want to find out where people are removing them, where they’re not, and facilitate that communication.”

Presenting Sponsor Capt. Eddie’s Seafood; Gold Sponsors Mote Marine Lab, REEF, ZooKeeper, FWC and Sarasota Outboard Club; Silver Sponsors Reef Pirate and Turtleskin; and Reef Sponsors Florida Underwater Sports, Team Frapper, Pelican, Speared Spearfishing Apparel, LionfishHunting.com, Trident, Lionfish Striker, Scuba Quest, Gulf Coast Lionfish Coalition and Narked Scuba.

BY HAYLEY RUTGER

HOW YOU CAN HELP The public can help document the lionfish invasion by reporting sightings through REEF, the U.S. Geological Survey or the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). FWC has a Report Florida Lionfish app available.

Sarasota Lionfish Derby Takes Bite Out of Invasive Species


Derby Winners

MOST LIONFISH

First Place ($750 award): 152 lionfish

We Be Dreamin’/Jim’s Dive Shop, with Kristie Gilford, Mike Dreamer, Bob Richardson and Charlie Barnes

Second ($500): 110 lionfish

Low T, with Steve Sanders, D.J. Strott, Jeff Harris

Third ($250): 108 lionfish

Dive Rite/Reef Pirate, with Alex Fogg, Meaghan Faletti, Chris Barton, Eric Chaignet

LARGEST LIONFISH

First ($300): 418 mmWe Be Dreamin’/Jim’s Dive Shop

Second ($200): 418 mm (tied with first-place team but declared second place because they arrived at scoring second)

Low T

Third ($100): 409 mm

Dive Rite/Reef Pirate

SMALLEST LIONFISH

First ($300): 122 mm

Low T

Second ($200): 131 mm

We Be Dreamin’/Jim’s Dive Shop

Third ($100): 150 mm

Sweet Pursuit with Eric Cote and Jennifer Ford-Cote 2016 DERBY The next Sarasota Lionfish Derby

is July 8-10, 2016. Check online at mote.org for details.

PHOTO BY: cbwathen/Adobe Stock


Mote scientists studying how to increase survival of hatchery raised fish released into the wild are testing whether putting them into more snook-like conditions before release might help them do better in the wild.

Snook are one of the most sought after catches in Florida’s saltwater recreational fishing industry. According to the American Sportfishing Association, Florida is the top-ranked state in economic output from recreational fishing, which draws more than $8 billion to the economy annually. Saltwater fishing alone generates about 80 percent — more than $6 billion — of that income.

Increased fishing pressure and environmental concerns such as weather patterns and red tide have contributed to a serious decline in snook population, which placed them on the state’s list of species of special concern in the 1980s. As a result, fishing restrictions and careful monitoring led to a rebound in snook abundances in the 1990s.

However, occasional environmental pressures such as red ride and cold winter freezes still periodically reduce snook stocks. For more than 25 years, Mote and FWC scientists have partnered on research studies designed to evaluate whether releasing hatchery-reared snook to the wild can be an effective management tool for rapidly replenishing snook stocks following the periodic mortalities.

In August, Mote and FWC tagged about 400 juvenile common snook born and raised at Mote Aquaculture Park with passive integrated transponder (PIT) tags and then released them into Sarasota Bay. The key questions being tested are whether first conditioning a group of the snook before release and then placing them in special acclimation pens in the wild for several days would increase their survival in the wild.

“About half of the snook, our control group, was raised in a traditional aquaculture manner — in a big, round open tank and using artificial feed,” said Dr. Kenneth Leber, Associate Vice President for Mote’s Directorate for Fisheries and Aquaculture. “The other half has received conditioning, or live prey as food and shelter to mimic the outside environment, which will help the fish prepare for life in the wild. We are asking a fundamentally new question, which is if we condition the fish, feed them live prey and give them shelter much like they would find in the wild, and then transport them to these acclimation enclosures, will they survive longer and do even better than the control group that is placed in the acclimation enclosures without conditioning?”

Past Mote and FWC research conducted through pilot snook releases has shown that hatchery-reared fish released into the wild can make an impact in the replenishment of these populations, but the specific release site where these fish are released can make a huge difference in their growth and survival. Mote scientists have been able to improve survival of hatchery raised snook by 10 times just by choosing the right habitats.

The results are key to developing large-scale stocking techniques that can help rapidly increase populations of species like snook. “It is not so important that we do this in Sarasota Bay as it is that we’re evaluating a technique that can be used all over south Florida for a fish that is so valuable to the sport fishing industry,” Leber said. “Taking the fishing pressure off these fish and waiting for several years for a comeback is one way, but here is another new tool that can be used to help rapidly recover these fish populations.”

Visit Highlights Need to Meet Growing Seafood DemandWith dwindling supplies of seafood for Earth’s growing population, fisheries enhancement and aquaculture, or fish farming, research are needed more than ever, said Chinese scientists from the Yellow Sea Fisheries Research Institute (YSFRI) who visited Mote in September as part of a long-term knowledge exchange designed to benefit fisheries.

More than half the world’s seafood is supplied by aquaculture, with many wild fish stocks overfished and declining. Scientists at both Mote and YSFRI are seeking solutions by developing aquaculture technology to raise seafood sustainably, while studying the best ways to enhance wild fisheries by strategically releasing hatchery-reared fish.

Mote scientists have been interacting with YSFRI since 1990, and in 2012 the two institutions’ shared missions led to a Memorandum of Understanding designed to support knowledge sharing, research collaborations, graduate student exchanges and more.

“The supply of fish from fisheries is not enough to feed people. To meet the human demand for seafood, I think aquaculture is the future,” said YSFRI’s Director General, Dr. Xianshi Jin. “People need seafood and most of it is going to come from aquaculture. We need to do this with reduced, or no, pollution around coastal areas. Recirculating aquaculture — with zero discharge of wastewater like in your research systems at Mote — are an important effort and can produce minimal pollution while raising good seafood.”

Survival of the SnookiestBY KAITLYN FUSCO


M ote scientists and a Japanese colleague have tallied a record number of “baby” scallops from a restoration site in Sarasota

Bay — good news for a community-wide partnership working to replenish the Bay’s depleted scallop populations.

Florida’s scallop populations fell dramatically around 1960. The reasons are not fully understood but are thought to include decreased water quality, extreme red tides, destruction of seagrass habitat and overharvesting. To restore Sarasota Bay populations and study which strategies work, Mote is working with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Sarasota Bay Watch, Sarasota Bay Estuary Program, Sarasota County, Bay Shellfish Co., local business leaders, and most important, many volunteer citizen scientists. Partners are placing young scallops into the Bay, monitoring for recovery and working to improve environmental quality and expand community involvement.

The Mote Community Partnership: Scallop Restoration Initiative is being studied by the Japanese Research Institute for Humanity and Nature (RIHN), as part of a global research initiative to study how communities and scientists work together on environmental problems (the Integrated Local Environmental Knowledge — ILEK — Project).

In November 2014, Mote deployed cages full of young-adult bay scallops (Argopecten irradians) at an experimental restoration site to

examine if they’d do what nature intended: make more scallops. In March, Mote senior scientist Jim Culter, Mote intern Devon Witczak and Japanese guest Prof. Tetsu Sato of RIHN visited the site off Ken Thompson Park to see how they were doing. “We’ve been raising scallops to a larger size before putting them into the Bay, which our research suggests will make them less vulnerable to predators and give them a better chance to survive, spawn and have larvae settle in the area,” said Jim Culter, manager of the Benthic Ecology Program at Mote. “We think it might be working.”

Culter and his interns monitored for new babies by deploying scallop collectors made from mesh produce bags by local high-school volunteers. The collectors give juvenile scallops an inviting place to settle after their short stint as drifting larvae. When Culter pulled up a mesh collector — brown and slimy after eight weeks accumulating algae and invertebrate animals — they found 114 scallops, most smaller than a fingernail.

It far surpassed Mote’s previous high count of 39 juveniles for this type of restoration, found on six collectors at six different sites. The new bunch came in many colors, too. “An amazing amount,” Sato said.

There’s no way to tell for sure if these juveniles came from the caged adults, but Culter said the previous year’s generation had an

BY HAYLEY RUTGER

Seeding Scallop Populations


elevated number of unusual color morphs — a possible sign the newbies are their young.

Finding the juveniles near the caged adults is also a hopeful sign. Culter and his interns have found smaller numbers of juveniles at this restoration site since late December 2014, and their presence suggests that adults spawned nearby. “The juveniles may not travel too far from the parents,” Culter said. “The larvae that hatch from the eggs will drift in the water for less than two weeks before they settle.”

Culter, Witzcak and Sato brought the new juvenile scallops back to Mote, where they will be raised with the goal of returning them to the wild at a less vulnerable size. Mote has a scallop nursery at its City Island campus stocked with tiny scallops hatched by Bay Shellfish Co. of Terra Ceia Island. Mote’s nursery space was prepared with help from local high schoolers, Sarasota Bay Watch volunteers and college interns.

“This project involves the local community,” said Prof. Sato, leader for RIHN’s ILEK Project. “This scallop is a very important icon (and reason) for everyone to work together. This is an opportunity for many different stakeholders in this community to work together with Mote Marine Laboratory to improve the Bay environment.”

The team is his major focus. Sato and other RIHN scientists from Japan have documented how scientists and residents collaborate in Mote research, in volunteer monitoring efforts like the annual Scallop Search led by Sarasota Bay Watch, and more. Sarasota Bay is one of multiple case study sites around the world where RIHN’s ILEK Project is documenting how scientists and local residents work together to benefit the environment. Learn more about the ILEK Project.

Back in the Bay: Bay Scallops, Argopecten irradians.

Lend a HandMote has openings for a small

number of adult volunteers to

assist in its outdoor scallop nursery

for three to four hours one day per

week. Volunteers clean and move

equipment, monitor the nursery or

help with technical or maintenance

tasks if qualified. To volunteer, to

learn more about the project or

to report scallop sightings, contact

Jim Culter at: [email protected],

941-388-4441, ext. 247. To learn

about internship opportunities with

Mote’s scallop restoration efforts,

contact Gina Santoianni at: gina@

mote.org, 941-388-4441, ext. 269.


G inger, a bottlenose dolphin rehabilitated in Mote’s Dolphin & Whale Hospital, was seen in the wild with what is

believed to be her first calf in August, proving the success of her treatment and reinforcing the importance of the hospital. The dolphin was 3 when she stranded on Siesta Beach in December 2008 and was brought to Mote, which rehabilitates and releases sick and injured dolphins and small whales. Ginger was dehydrated and covered with toothrake marks from interactions with other dolphins. She was also suffering from bronchopneumonia.

All hospitalized dolphins require plenty of care, but Ginger stood out because she refused dead fish. Caregivers had to provide her with live fish only, which helped her stay as wild as possible and be ready for release, but it required the rehabilitation team to go an extra mile to get her well.

As a member of the Sarasota Bay dolphin population, Ginger has been monitored by the Sarasota Dolphin Research Program (SDRP) since her birth and especially since her February 2009 return to the wild. The Program, operated by the Chicago Zoological Society in partnership with Mote, is the world’s longest-running study of a wild dolphin population.

“From the time Ginger was released, she has demonstrated her ability to reintegrate into the local, multi-decadal, multi-generational resident dolphin community and engage in normal dolphin activities,” said Dr. Randall Wells, Director of SDRP. The calf, spotted with her mother on Aug. 6, is believed to have been born in the latter weeks of July. “Successful reproduction is a very good indication of successful treatment in rehab.”

Helping Dolphins Takes Community Effort

While Ginger was being treated at Mote, trained Mote volunteers spent 1,320 hours monitoring her condition, providing vital information about her progress. Hospital staff also had to provide her with nearly 4,000 live pinfish.

Getting stranded marine mammals home requires a team effort — as well as the support of the community.

“Unfortunately, there are no health insurance programs for Sarasota Bay’s dolphins,” said Lynne Byrd, Medical Care and Rehabilitation Coordinator at Mote. “That means we have to rely on community support and financial contributions to help us care for animals like Ginger until they can be returned to the wild. She was one of the most labor intensive patients that I’ve had the privilege to work with, and it was obviously well worth our effort!”

To support dolphin rehabilitation, donate online at mote.org/donate.

Before: Ginger in 2009, prior to her release after being successfully rehabilitated at Mote Marine Laboratory’s Dolphin & Whale Hospital.

After: Ginger in 2015, with her calf. Photo taken under NMFS Permit No. 15543.

Rehabbed, Released Dolphin

Spotted with New Calf

PHOTO BY: Marc Ellis/H2Opictures.com


Travelers have spoken and TripAdvisor has named Mote Aquarium in the Top 10 list of best U.S. aquariums, clinching the number five spot in TripAdvisor’s 2015 Traveler’s Choice awards.

Mote was also named the 15th best Aquarium in the world. The awards honor top travel spots worldwide based on the millions of reviews and opinions from TripAdvisor travelers. Award winners were determined using an algorithm that took into account the quantity and quality of reviews for zoos and aquariums in the U.S. and worldwide over 12 months.

Many TripAdvisor reviews mentioned Mote’s Oh Baby! exhibit and praised Mote volunteers for their wonderful efforts to educate, assist and inspire visitors.

“At Mote, we continually strive to enhance our guests’ experiences at the Aquarium by sharing our knowledge of the ocean and the animals that call it home,” said Evan Barniskis, Assistant Vice President for Mote Aquarium. “Our exhibits reflect ongoing research in the Laboratory and stimulate curiosity, discovery, exploration and stewardship of aquatic environments and we think it’s great that our guests have enjoyed their visits and have shared their thoughts on TripAdvisor.”

TRIPADVISOR NAMES MOTE 5TH BEST U.S. AQUARIUM

BEST OF SHOW

Mote’s redesigned web site won Best of Show for its budget class during VISIT FLORIDA’s 48th Annual Florida Governor’s Conference on Tourism in Tampa.

The web site was redesigned through a team effort among Mote and its St. Petersburg-based marketing and web contractors Paradise Advertising & Marketing and Big Sea, Inc.

The Best of Show award honored mote.org as the top choice among many different kinds of projects in its class: tourism marketing budgets under $500,000. In the web site category for any budget, it won a Bronze Award.

The Flagler Awards, named for Henry Flagler and presented each year since 1999, honor individuals and organizations that help maintain and improve Florida’s position as one of the world’s most popular travel destinations. Entries receive scores from a panel of judges who assess the creativity, innovation, production quality and effectiveness of projects in each category, along with Best of Show at multiple budget levels. The awards were presented in August.

MOTE MILESTONES


Electric vehicles and other eco-friendly technologies showed their power during “Electrify the Island,” the Sarasota-based kickoff event for the fifth annual National Drive Electric Week, which featured local events across the nation. Mote has hosted the event for the last three years, showcasing its Sustainable Energy Initiative to enhance the Lab’s environmentally sound practices, including the use of solar power, electric car chargers and other eco-friendly technologies to conserve energy, water and other natural resources.

Electrify the Island featured a plug-in electric vehicle (EV) expo, ride-and-drive sessions that allowed visitors to test some of the sleekest EVs around including cars from BMW of Sarasota and Sunset Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, along with vendors focused on sustainability and energy efficiency and educational booths provided by Andrews & Associates Realty, Inc., Freedom 4 Electric Bike Company, Region Solar, Sarasota County, City of Sarasota and others.

“This annual event showcases Mote’s dedication to sustainable practices, while also getting the community involved. As a nonprofit, Mote relies on the support of the community and this event is just one way to give back,” said Nigel Mould, Mote Trustee.

The 2015 Electrify the Island was made possible by the following sponsors: Florida Power & Light Company; BMW of Sarasota; Brilliant Harvest, LLC; Sunset Chevrolet, Buick, GMC; Gettel Nissan; Sarasota Ford; Apollo Sunguard Systems, Inc.; and Willis A. Smith Construction.

IT’S ELECTRIFYING DISCOVERY REEF & SANCTUARY REEF IN THE FLORIDA KEYS

Take a closer look at the wondrous oceans by visiting Mote’s traveling exhibits Discovery Reef and Sanctuary Reef at the Keys History and Discovery Center in Islamorada, Fla. The exhibits will be on display through February 2016.

Coral reefs are estimated to cover less than 1 percent of the earth’s surface but are home to more than 25 percent of all known marine species. As much as one-third of all sea creatures either live or spend much of their lives on reefs.

Discovery Reef and Sanctuary Reef allow visitors to take a closer look at the inner workings of reefs — vital habitats for thousands of marine species — through hands-on educational panels.

The Discovery Center is located on the property of the Islander Resort, Mile Marker 82, Islamorada, Fla. The center is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday through Sunday. General admission is $12 for adults, $10 for seniors and free for children 13 and younger. For more information, call 305-922-2237 or visit keysdiscovery.com


Mote’s digital learning program, SeaTrek Interactive, earned a coveted Pinnacle Award for the 2014-2015 school year from the Center for Interactive Learning and Collaboration (CILC).

The Pinnacle Award is given annually by the CILC to organizations that receive outstanding scores on program evaluations submitted by educators. The award recognizes remarkable quality of educational content and exceptional skill at program delivery.

SeaTrek Interactive brings high-energy, multimedia science programming right into classrooms throughout the country using videoconferencing and Internet technology. The programs feature real scientists working in the field who teach children about the ocean, the animals that call it home and the marine research conducted by Mote scientists.

To qualify for a Pinnacle Award, the provider must receive at least 2.85 average out of 3.0 on all their program evaluations during the school year. The program evaluation assesses whether: the presenter is knowledgeable about the content and engages well with the audience; the program was engaging, appropriate for the advertised age/grade range; the program aligned to advertised educational standards and met advertised objectives and whether it had an impact on student learning.

SeaTrek Interactive has received six Pinnacle Awards and two honorable mentions since the award’s start in 2007. CILC is a nonprofit organization specializing in the use of video conferencing and collaborative technologies for live interactive content and professional development within K-20 education and lifelong learning.

DIGITAL LEARNING IS TOPS

Don’t be shellfish,

give the gift of discovery

with a Mote Membership

this holiday season.

MOTE.ORG/MEMBERSHIP

Memberships are 100% tax deductible.


2016 Special EventsMote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium offers special events throughout the year. For full details, including ticket info, please visit mote.org/events.

FEBRUARYFeb. 1 n MOTE SUMMER CAMP registration opens for past campers and Mote Members.

Feb. 5 n TEA FOR THE SEA fundraiser by the Women’s Giving Circle — uniting women philanthropists in support of science. Location to be determined. 2:30 p.m.

Feb. 8 n MOTE SUMMER CAMP registration opens for all.

Feb. 17 n OPEN HOUSE/COFFEE WITH DR. JIM LOCASCIO, Mote’s Boca Grande Office. 9 a.m.

Feb. 23 n LEGACY SOCIETY BRUNCH celebrating those who support Mote through estate plans or other planned gifts. Keating Education Center, New Pass Conference Room, 10 a.m.

MARCHMarch 7, 14, 21, 28 n MOTE’S ANNUAL SPECIAL LECTURE SERIES, sponsored in-part by Bob and Jill Williams. WAVE Center. 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

March 18 n PARTY ON THE PASS, a casual evening of good food, good fun and goodwill supporting Mote’s dolphin and sea turtle hospitals. Mote Aquarium. 6:30 p.m.

APRILApril 2 n 30TH ANNUAL RUN FOR THE TURTLES. Sanctioned 5k and fun run/walk in support of Mote’s sea turtle research. Siesta Key Beach. 6:30 a.m. A special thanks to Positive Tracks for their continued partnership. Mote.org/run or register at active.com

April 2 n 7TH ANNUAL FLORIDA KEYS OCEAN FESTIVAL AND WATERFRONT CRAFT SHOW. Fun, music, food and shopping in support of Mote’s coral reef restoration programs. Florida Keys Eco-Discovery Center, Truman Waterfront, Key West. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

JUNEJune 4 n WORLD OCEANS DAY FAMILY FESTIVAL with games and crafts focused on green practices, marine science and conservation by Mote and other local organizations. Mote Aquarium. (Free with regular admission.) 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

June 11 n MINI-WORLD OCEANS DAY CELEBRATION ON BOCA GRANDE. With Mote’s mobile aquarium. Location/time to be announced.

JULYJuly 8-10 n SARASOTA LIONFISH DERBY. Divers help harvest an invasive species that is quickly spreading throughout the Gulf. Based at Mote Marine Laboratory.

SEPTEMBERSept. 1-30 n MOTE MEMBER APPRECIATION MONTH. Learn more at mote.org/membership.

OCTOBEROct. 21 n NIGHT OF FISH, FUN & FRIGHT — dress up and discover creatures from the deep in a safe and fun trick-or-treating zone at Mote Aquarium. Mote.org/halloween

Oct. 29 n OCEANIC EVENING, Mote’s annual black-tie gala celebration and fundraiser. The Ritz-Carlton Sarasota. 6:30 p.m.

COMING EARLY 2016Opening: OTTERS & THEIR WATERS. New exhibit at Mote Aquarium. Free with regular admission.


(L to R) Robert Thomas, Laura Woodard, Nicole Rhody, Paul West,

Dr. Crosby and Sharon Crosby, Jamie Uihlein, Mary Uihlein, Moira

McManus and Jon McManus.

LEFT:Dr. Crosby introducing Mote’s

Leadership Circle, a special group of supporters who understand the urgent

threats facing the oceans and are providing critical financial support of

$1 million or more each to the Oceans of Opportunity campaign to help

address these problems.

RIGHT: Mark Pritchett, President & CEO

of the Gulf Coast Community Foundation, Gina Taylor,

Steve Wilberding and Teri Hansen, President &

CEO of the Charles and Margery Barancik Foundation.

LEFT:A shark brooch, designed exclusively

for the event by Diamond Vault, was raffled off at the Gala.

RIGHT :Judy Graham, Mote’s 60th

Anniversary Chair, and Dr. Michael P. Crosby, Mote President & CEO.

PHOTOS BY: Chris Fitzgibbons


Oceanic Evening is an opportunity for Mote friends to celebrate our oceans and the marine research, education and outreach programs we undertake to conserve and protect them. The 2015 evening marked Mote’s 60th year — its Diamond Anniversary.

(Seated L to R) Elizabeth Moore, Mote Leadership Circle member, Jeff Rogers, Jan Pullen, Jim Pullen and Ann Marie Shields. (Standing L to R): Elizabeth Moore’s son Peter Moore, Catherine Ellis, Steve Ellis; Dr. David Vaughan, Executive Director of Mote’s Tropical Research Lab, Donna Vaughan and Jim McDaniel.

LEFT: Bob Essner, Chair of Mote’s Oceans of Opportunity Campaign and Leadership Circle member, and Dr. Crosby.

RIGHT: Mote’s 60th Anniversary Committee: (L to R) Ellie Waskom, Glenda Miller, Joan Galvin, Jane Graham-Hyslop, Michelle Senglaub, Beth Waskom, Judy Graham, Glenda Wright, Rae Malcolm, Mary Letschert, Sandy Stewart and Stacy Alexander, Mote Assistant Vice President for Community Relations & Communications.

Beautiful centerpieces from Tiger Lily Flowers dazzled guests at Mote’s Oceanic Evening.

PHOTOS BY: Chris Fitzgibbons

Mote would like to thank Tervis for their generosity in providing our exclusive

60TH ANNIVERSARY TUMBLERS

MOTE MARINE LABORATORY, INC. IS REGISTERED WITH THE STATE OF FLORIDA #CH1050, UNDER REQUIREMENTS OF THE SOLICITATION OF CONTRIBUTIONS ACT. A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE (800-435-7352) WITHIN THE STATE. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE.

MOTE.ORG/MEMBERSHIP

NON PROFIT ORG.U.S. Postage

PAIDLebanon Junction, KY

Permit #698 1600 Ken Thompson ParkwaySarasota, FL 34236-1004

(941) 388-4441www.mote.org

"The best use of a life is to invest in something which will outlast life."

– William James

Build your legacy today. Contact Mote’s Development Division at (941) 388-4441, ext. 309.

L E G A C YS O C I E T Y

M O T E M A R I N E L A B O R A T O R Y

mote magazine – annual 2015-2016

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