Gulf Coast Research Laboratory
GCRL Science Café
Page Content
Monday, April 28, 2025
6-8 p.m.
Cedar Point
Research Building, Room A
300 Laurel Oak Drive.
Ocean Springs, Miss.
Presenter: Dr. Reginald Blaylock
Director
USM Thad Cochran Marine Aquaculture Center
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5:45 PM | (UTC-05:00) Central Time (US & Canada)
Join link:
https://usm.webex.com/usm/j.php?MTID=m576ae91778399b2f53f32c142f904e5d
Webinar number:
2490 303 9438
Webinar password:
jXAMtxqz397 (59268979 when dialing from a phone or video system)
Join by phone
+1-408-418-9388 United States Toll
Access code: 249 030 39438
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Shifting the Food Paradigm
Marine finfish are a relatively cheap, efficient, and sustainable source of healthy protein, and global demand continues to grow along with the world’s human population. However, the current yield from wild fisheries is virtually the same today as it was in the mid-1980’s, while the world’s population is expected to double between 1987 and 2050. We have reached the limits of what wild fisheries can produce. Aquaculture fills the gap between the growing demand for fisheries products and the limits of wild fisheries and is now the fastest growing segment of food production. Though the U.S. ranks 1st in world agriculture production, we rank only 18th in world aquaculture production and must meet our growing domestic seafood demand by importing over 80% of the seafood consumed. To reduce our dependence on imports and reap the economic benefits of meeting the growing global demand through exports, a healthy domestic marine aquaculture industry is needed. This industry would build a more resilient blue economy that fortifies food production and distribution systems to meet demand, improve the health of the population, create a skilled workforce, and help reduce poverty and food insecurity.
Thanks to our sponsor Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium!
Monday, March 31, 2025
Gulf Coast Research Laboratory
Caylor Building, Room 104
703 East Beach Drive
Ocean Springs, Miss.
Also catch us on Facebook.
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Presenter: Dr. Daryl Parkyn
Research Scientist
Center for Fisheries Research and Development
Gulf Coast Research Laboratory
Thanks to our sponsor Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium!
Factors Contributing to Survival and Hooking Mortality in Catch and Release of Greater Amberjack, Gag, and Red Grouper
Many factors contribute to sustainability of fisheries including reproductive success, exploitation rate, as well as natural and fishing mortality. Hooking mortality or death resulting from stress and injuries during capture can be an important factor for fishes that are released because of length-limit regulations and for conservation purposes. We will explore the causes and contributions of hooking mortality including barotrauma, hook type, ascent rate, and hook wound location on the release mortality of three species of Gulf fishes: Greater Amberjack, Gag, and Red Grouper, and discuss what is being done to minimize its effects.
Monday, February 24, 2025
Gulf Coast Research Laboratory
Caylor Building, Room 104
703 East Beach Drive
Ocean Springs, Miss.
Also catch us on Facebook.
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Presenter: Dr. Lee Smee
Chair University Programs Senior Marine Scientist III Dauphin Island Sea Lab
Professor of Marine and Environmental Sciences University of South Alabama
Thanks to our sponsor Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium!
Yikes! An Introduction to the Ecology of Fear and Potential Applications for Habitat Restoration
Scared Strong: Using Predator Cues to Bolster Oyster Restoration and Aquaculture
Many prey species respond to predators by changing their appearance to reduce their chances of being eaten. For example, oysters grow heavier, stronger shells when exposed to scents from blue crabs, oyster drills, or other predators. These shell changes increase oyster survival, and we are now working to improve oyster restoration by toughening up oysters to improve their survival. We investigated if oyster morphology could be manipulated on large scales to improve survival and bolster restoration. Through a series of experiments in collaboration with state agencies, NGOs, and industry, we tested the benefits and costs of this approach. Our results suggested that exposing oyster spat to predator cues significantly increased their survival. Concurrently, we performed experiments to identify the chemical cues predators release that stimulate oysters to grow stronger shells in hopes of building a synthetic cue. We found that oysters are reacting to molecules in predator urine and increase their shell strength by 20 – 100%. Oysters with stronger shells had >50% higher survivorship than controls after being in the field after one year, although survivorship differences varied substantially depending on season and site. These findings demonstrate the utility of using predator cues to enhance the survival of target species, and highlight an opportunity to employ cost-effective methods for improving oyster aquaculture and restoration.
Monday, Nov. 25, 2024
6-7 p.m.
Gulf Coast Research Laboratory
Caylor Building, Room 104
703 East Beach Drive
Ocean Springs, Miss.
Also catch us on Facebook.
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Presenter: Dr. Eric Sparks
Director of Coastal and Marine Extension/Associate Extension
Professor - Mississippi State University
Assistant Director for Outreach/Coastal Ecology Specialist - Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant
Director – Mississippi Sound Estuary Program
The Mississippi Sound Estuary Program
Recently, the Mississippi Sound Estuary Program (MSEP) was formed with the overarching mission of facilitating community-driven conservation, restoration, and stewardship of Mississippi Sound. In this presentation, the formation, goals, community engagement and feedback opportunities, and initial activities of MSEP will be discussed. Through discussion of some of the MSEP activities, activities of several connected coastal Extension programs along the Mississippi and Alabama coasts will be highlighted.
Thanks to our sponsor Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium!
Monday, Nov. 4, 2024
6-7 p.m.
Gulf Coast Research Laboratory
Caylor Building, Room 104
703 East Beach Drive
Ocean Springs, Miss.
Also catch us on Facebook.
Facebook Live
This Forum is being presented as part of the USM CFRD Cooperative Sport Fish Tag and Release Program funded by a grant from the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources, Sport Fish Restoration Program.
Center for Fisheries Research and Development
Annual Fisheries Forum
The Secret Lives of Tripletail and Cobia
Thanks to our sponsor Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium!
Speakers and Topics
Paul Grammer
Senior Research Associate, USM Center for Fisheries Research and Development
Paul Grammer is a senior research associate in The University of Southern Mississippi's Center for Fisheries Research and Development. Paul has over 20 years of experience working along Mississippi's Gulf coast. He has been involved in multiple studies focused on the movements of various fish species, including Tripletail, Cobia, Gulf Sturgeon, Red Drum, Bull Shark, Southern Flounder and many more.
Long-Term Studies of Cobia and Tripletail in Mississippi and Throughout the Gulf of Mexico
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Eric Gigli
Biological Program Coordinator, Mississippi Department of Marine Resources
Eric Gigli is a Program Coordinator at the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources' Finfish Bureau. Since 2015, he has called the Mississippi Gulf Coast home, earning a master’s degree from the University of Southern Mississippi and joining MDMR in 2019. An avid recreational angler, Eric brings a dual perspective to his work, recognizing the importance of research and data collection from both stakeholder and fishery management viewpoints. He leads MDMR programs such as the Tails n' Scales Mandatory Reporting Program, MS Recreational Offshore Landing Permits, and the MS Creel Dockside and Effort Survey Program. His work also includes overseeing standardized sampling and research projects, such as satellite tagging of Atlantic Tripletail and Cobia to uncover insights into their movement patterns and winter habitats across the Gulf of Mexico.
Atlantic Tripletail (Lobotes Surinamensis) Migratory Patterns Uncovered Through Multi-Agency Collaboration
As recreational anglers know, Atlantic Tripletail appear in the Mississippi Sound as early as April and typically disappear by October, raising questions about their whereabouts for the rest of the year. Although this species is found worldwide in tropical and subtropical oceans, little is known about their movements or life history. In this presentation, Eric Gigli will discuss how various programs are contributing vital insights into Atlantic Tripletail movements in the Gulf of Mexico. The findings highlight the species’ complex migratory patterns and provide a foundation for informed management strategies that promote sustainable fisheries management in the region.
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Steve Vanderkooy
Interjurisdictional Fisheries Program Coordinator, Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission
VanderKooy is the Interjurisdictional Fisheries (IJF) Program Coordinator and the Aquaculture Program Coordinator with the Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission (GSMFC). As the IJF Coordinator, his primary focus is development of regional management approaches for commercial and recreational fisheries which overlap state and federal boundaries in the Gulf of Mexico. He also coordinates other regional activities including the standardization of biological sampling protocols, the development of socioeconomic descriptions of the fishing community, and the assessment of fish stocks. As the Aquaculture Coordinator, he is working to expand existing aquaculture and introduce new commercial opportunities to the region. The GSMFC has partnered with the NOAA Office of Aquaculture to provide small grant opportunities in the Gulf addressing inshore, offshore, and hatchery related aquaculture activities in support of increased aquaculture production in the U.S.
Migratory Movements of Cobia (Rachycentron Canadum) in the Eastern Gulf Of Mexico
Cobia are one of the most valuable sport-fish species in the Gulf of Mexico. However, recent landings data suggest substantial decreases in captures along the northern Gulf coast, which have resulted in decreased fishing efforts and the cancellation of some traditional Cobia tournaments. Cancellation of tournaments and reduced fishing efforts have greatly impacted the local economies in these areas however few data exist to help explain the decline in Cobia presence in the northern Gulf of Mexico. In February and April 2024, we deployed pop-off archival satellite tags on 35 Cobia off the southwest and northwest Florida coasts to track movements to determine the migratory pathways and habitats currently being utilized by Cobia in the region. Data from these tags will inform management decisions, including stock assessments and catch limits, which are currently being re-considered by the NOAA.
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Angelos Apeitos
Hatchery Manager, USM Thad Cochran Marine Aquaculture Center
Angelos Apeitos, originally from Cyprus, a small island in the Southeast Mediterranean, serves as the hatchery Manager of the USM Thad Cochran Marine Aquaculture Center, an advanced research center within the Gulf Coast Research lab. Prior to joining USM in December of 2000, Apeitos and a team of scientists at Hawaii’s Oceanic Institute provided oversight for one of the first commercial scale offshore aquaculture demonstration projects, to test the feasibility of offshore aquaculture in the US and create a pathway for the expansion of the domestic aquaculture industry. An avid fisherman and recognizing the need for conservation, Apeitos has been instrumental in the establishment of the Seatrout Enhancement program, a collaboration between the Thad Cochran marine Aquaculture Center and the MDMR since its inception in 2004. He was also instrumental in the development of intensive culture protocols for Red Snapper, Amberjack, Red Drum, Croaker and more recently, Tripletail and Southern Flounder, utilizing recirculating aquaculture technology and artificial seawater.
Advances in Aquaculture of the Atlantic Tripletail (Lobotes Surinamensis)
Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024
6-7 p.m.
Gulf Coast Research Laboratory
Caylor Building, Room 104
703 East Beach Drive
Ocean Springs, Miss.
Also catch us on Facebook.
Facebook Live
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Presenter: Dr. Eric Hoffmayer
Research Fishery Biologist
NOAA Fisheries, Southeast Fisheries Science Center, Oceanic and Coastal Pelagic Branch
Thanks to our sponsor Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium!
Understanding the World’s Largest Fish in the Northern Gulf of Mexico: 20 Years of Whale Shark Research
Whale sharks (Rhincodon typus) have been reported from the Gulf of Mexico for nearly 100 years, with the earliest sightings occurring in the 1930s. Whale sharks primarily occur in the offshore continental shelf edge and slope waters of the northern Gulf of Mexico, making them rarely encountered and challenging to study. An opportunistic encounter in the fall of 2002 began a 20-year collaboration to study whale sharks in the northern Gulf of Mexico. The Center for Fisheries Research and Development at the Gulf Coast Research Laboratory conducted the initial work and expanded to include numerous collaborators, including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, and the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management. This presentation will outline what we have learned about whale shark distribution and movement patterns in the Gulf of Mexico and highlight concerns about a potentially declining population.
Monday, August 26, 2024
6-7 p.m.
Gulf Coast Research Laboratory
Caylor Building, Room 104
703 East Beach Drive
Ocean Springs, Miss.
Also catch us on Facebook.
Facebook Live
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Presenter: Dr. Jessica Pruett
Postdoctoral Research Associate
Mississippi Based RESTORE Act Center of Excellence
Thanks to our sponsor Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium!
The Past, Present, and Future Outlook on the Mississippi Oyster Fishery
The eastern oyster plays an important role in the ecology, economy, and culture of coastal Mississippi. The Mississippi oyster industry has a long history and tradition, but the fishery has declined dramatically in recent years due to events such as Hurricane Katrina, the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, and freshwater flooding. This presentation will provide an overview of how the oyster resource has changed since state management began in 1902, focusing on environmental factors and nonbiological events. Present-day challenges hindering oyster population recovery in Mississippi will also be discussed, as well as the investments aimed at restoring oyster reefs and promoting the growth and development of oyster aquaculture.
Thurs., June 27, 2024
6:30-7:30 p.m.
Gulf Coast Research Laboratory
Caylor Building, Room 104
703 East Beach Drive
Ocean Springs, Miss.
Also catch us on Facebook.
Facebook Live
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Johnny Shelley, MS, DVM, CertAqV, DABVP - Fish Practice
Veterinary Medical Officer
Office of International Affairs, Trade, and Commerce
Seafood Inspection Program
NOAA Fisheries | U.S. Department of Commerce
From Zebrafish to Whale Sharks
Fish Veterinarians - We Do Exist!
My Pathway from the GCRL SFP to Board Certified Fish Veterinarian
Johnny Shelley, DVM, talks about his journey from Missouri to GCRL as a Summer Field Program student, then as a COA graduate student, and a DVM student at Louisiana State University. He will focus on the different types of fish veterinarians there are and what they do.
Thanks to our sponsor Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium!
Tuesday May 28, 2024
Three students from the Division of Coastal Sciences presented talks on their graduate research.
View the talks on Facebook.
James Klein
James Klein is a former graduate student at the USM Gulf Coast Research Laboratory. After receiving his MS in Coastal Sciences in May 2024, James is now a Finfish Scientist with the Department of Marine Resources Office of Marine Fisheries, where he contributes to fisheries dependent and independent data collection and analysis to support sustainability in state fishing regulations for both commercial and recreational sectors.
Autumn Moya
Autumn Moya is a master’s student studying Coastal Sciences at the University of Southern Mississippi. Her research is focuses on the Northeast US Continental Shelf, where near-term offshore wind energy areas are projected to overlap with commercially important species of clams. She is interested in the implications of ocean multi-use with respect to the sustainability of marine fisheries and how these industries can successfully work with renewable energy developments.
Hailee Nigro
Hailee Nigro is a second year PhD student in Dr. Zachary Darnell's lab which they call the Craboratory! The lab gets its name from the work they do on crabs and their goal of further understanding behavioral and ecological physiology of commercially and ecologically important species like the blue crab.
Monday, April 29, 2024
Gulf Coast Research Laboratory
Caylor Building, Room 104
703 East Beach Drive
Ocean Springs, Miss.
Webinar ID: 819 9901 1694
Also catch us on Facebook.
Facebook Live
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Presenter: Scott Hereford
Supervisory Wildlife Biologist
Scott Hereford is the Supervisory Wildlife Biologist at the Mississippi Sandhill Crane National Wildlife Refuge on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. A Wisconsin native, he worked briefly with the International Crane Foundation and the University of Wisconsin before joining the US Fish and Wildlife Service in 1985. He has over 40 years’ experience working with cranes, including 34 in Mississippi, and is the Past President of the North American Crane Working Group.
Update on the Mississippi Sandhill Crane Conservation
The Mississippi Sandhill Crane National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1975 under authority of the Endangered Species Act to protect the critically endangered Mississippi sandhill cranes and their unique, and itself endangered, wet pine savanna habitat. The crane population, at that time only 30-35 birds, is currently at approximately 130 birds. Through captive rearing and reintroduction to the area as well as wild birds nesting in the savannas, the crane population continues to grow. The refuge also protects and restores the last large expanses of wet pine savanna, primarily through the use of prescribed fire. The wet pine savanna is one of the most diverse ecosystems in the U.S. with more than 30 plants found in a square meter of land.
Thanks to our sponsor Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium!
Monday, March 25, 2024
Gulf Coast Research Laboratory
Caylor Building, Room 104
703 East Beach Drive
Ocean Springs, Miss.
Webinar ID: 819 9901 1694
Also catch us on Facebook.
Facebook Live
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Presenter
Caitlin Young
Ph.D. Student, USM's Division of Coastal Sciences
Coastal Ecology and Seagrass Biology Lab
Weathering the Storm: Understanding Seagrass Resilience via Monitoring
Seagrasses are important actors in coastal systems and provide many ecosystem services, benefitting nature and people alike. However, seagrass communities are threatened by many natural and man-mediated processes. In particular, hurricanes and tropical storms have a unique relationship with seagrass beds. Long-term monitoring of both seagrass community health and physical aspects of the habitat can help us gain insight to how storms shape seagrass communities and, in turn, how seagrass beds provide coastal protection.
Thanks to our sponsor Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium!
Monday, February 26, 2024
6-7 p.m.
Gulf Coast Research Laboratory
Caylor Building, Room 104
703 East Beach Drive
Ocean Springs, Miss.
Webinar ID: 819 9901 1694
Also catch us on Facebook.
Facebook Live
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Presenters
Calvin Martin
USM SOSE Marine Science (Hydrography) Instructor
Paul Frye
USM SOSE Marine Science (Hydrography) Graduate Assistant
Navigating the Depths:
Insights from a Hydrographic Survey of the Gulf Coast Research Laboratory Harbor and Approaches
Join us for an illuminating presentation by Calvin Martin, USM Professor, and Paul Frye, USM Graduate Assistant, as they unveil the findings of a comprehensive Hydrographic Survey conducted at the Gulf Coast Research Laboratory Harbor and Approaches. The project was conducted by University of Southern Mississippi Hydrographic Science students as part of their senior capstone project; this endeavor aimed to fulfill the rigorous standards set by the International Hydrographic Organization for Category B Certification.
It will be a deep dive into the intricacies of hydrography, exploring the methodologies employed and challenges encountered during this survey. From state-of-the-art equipment utilization to meticulous data analysis, discover how these aspiring hydrographers navigated the complexities of coastal mapping to enhance navigational safety in the Gulf Coast region.
This presentation offers valuable insights into the importance of hydrographic surveys and their significant implications for coastal management and marine research.
Thanks to our sponsor Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium!
Monday, January 29, 2024
6-7 p.m.
Gulf Coast Research Laboratory
Caylor Building, Room 104
703 East Beach Drive
Ocean Springs, Miss.
Webinar ID: 819 9901 1694
Also catch us on Facebook.
Facebook Live
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Presenter
Anthony Ballard
Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks
Black Bear Program Leader
Black Bears in Mississippi
Historically, black bears have been an abundant and valuable native game species in
the state of Mississippi. This presentation will outline the decline of black bear
numbers around the turn of the 20th century, detail their natural rebound, and describe
the growing abundance we are currently experiencing. We will also cover the research
being conducted on black bears such as GPS collaring, reproductive success, and genetic
data collection. Finally, we will explore the future of the black bear program, program
goals, and how we can all take steps to avoid conflict with bears through public engagement.
Thanks to our sponsor Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium!
New Insights Into the Lives of Sheepshead, Black Drum, Southern Flounder and Cownose Ray
This Science Café is presented as the USM Center for Fisheries Research and Development's Annual Fisheries Forum for the public, which provides for the exchange of information and discussion opportunities. The evening’s program is centered around presentations given by scientists engaged in new research on four species of fish that occur in Mississippi coastal waters. These studies are advancing knowledge of the biology and ecology of these important fishes in support of resource management and conservation.
Tuesday, October 17, 2023
6-7:30 p.m.
Gulf Coast Research Laboratory
Caylor Building Auditorium
703 East Beach Drive
Ocean Springs, Miss.
Presenters
Dr. Michael Andres
Assistant Professor
USM Division of Coastal Sciences
Gulf Coast Research Laboratory
Behind the bars: Movements and habitat use of Sheepshead and Black Drum in Mississippi Sound
Anna Millender
Research Associate
USM Center for Fisheries Research and Development
Gulf Coast Research Laboratory
Cownose Fever: Unveiling the mysteries within the Gulf of Mexico
Trevor Moncrief
Director, Finfish Bureau
Mississippi Department of Marine Resources
Acoustic Telemetry of Southern Flounder in Mississippi Waters
This Forum is being presented as part of the USM CFRD Cooperative Sport Fish Tag and Release Program funded by a grant from the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources, Sport Fish Restoration Program.
Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2023
6-7 p.m.
Gulf Coast Research Laboratory
Caylor Building - Room 104
You can also join via zoom webinar.
Click the link below to join!
ZOOM
Also catch us on Facebook.
Facebook Live
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Presenter, Larry Tucei
Urban and Community Forestry Advisor
Mr. Tucei began documenting live oaks on the Mississippi Gulf Coast in 2006 and expanded his work to most of the southeastern United States. He has the most extensive and comprehensive catalog of live oak trees in the world. Trees are his passion and now retired, he has the time to spend doing what he loves. Mr. Tucei is certified by the Native Tree Society and is a part of the Mississippi Champion tree and National Champion Trees Programs.
Mr. Tucei tells his story of becoming an urban and community forestry advisor, his passion for our heritage trees, and his work documenting these majestic life forms.
Documenting Our Heritage — Live Oaks and Longleaf Pines
Thanks to our sponsor Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium
Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2023
6-7 p.m.
Gulf Coast Research Laboratory
Caylor Building - Room 104
You can also join via zoom webinar.
Click the link below to join!
Passcode: 38085587
Also catch us on Facebook.
Facebook Live
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Presenter
Samantha Capers
Project Manager
GCRL Marine Education Center
How to Talk About Climate Change: Strategic Framing for Climate Communication
This GCRL Science Café looks at why we need to talk about climate change and tell a different story. By using strategies from NNOCCI, we can use strategic framing and employ elements of an impactful climate story. Our climate story can help us connect with others and build consensus.
Thanks to our sponsor Mississippi Alabama Sea Grant Consortium
Tuesday, August 29, 2023
6-7 p.m.
Gulf Coast Research Laboratory
Caylor Building - Room 104
You can also join via zoom webinar.
Click the link below to join!
Also catch us on Facebook.
Facebook Live
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Presenter
Linda Auld
NOLA BugLady
Monarchs, Migration, Milkweed, and Oe
This GCRL Science Cafe is titled “Monarchs, Migration, Milkweed, and Oe” and will share three recent research papers with big discoveries regarding milkweed, migration, and nectar plants.
Join us for coffee, cookies, and other treats. Masks are available.
Special “Thanks” to the sponsor of the Science Café, MS-AL Sea Grant, and to USM’s
Marine Education Center for tech support.
Thursday, June 2023
6-7 p.m.
Gulf Coast Research Laboratory
Caylor Building - Room 104
You can also join via zoom webinar. Click the link below to join!
Also catch us on Facebook.
Facebook Live
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Presenter
Dr. Johnny Shelley
Veterinary Medical Officer
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
Pascagoula, MS
There and Back Again... From GCRL's Summer Field Program to Aquatic Veterinary Medicine
This presentation will focus on how the USM's GCRL Summer Field Program (SPF) opened up opportunities and prepared Dr. Shelley to become a successful aquatic veterinarian.
Join us for coffee, cookies, and other treats. Masks are available.
Special “Thanks” to the sponsor of the Science Café, MS-AL Sea Grant, and to USM’s
Marine Education Center for tech support.
You can also join via zoom webinar.
Click the link below to join!
ZOOM
Also catch us on Facebook.
Facebook Live
Tuesday, May 30, 2023
Gulf Coast Research Laboratory
Caylor Building - Room 104
Student Research Spotlight
Join us for three short talks on graduate research featuring graduate students from the Division of Coastal Sciences.
Oysters
James Klein
James is a second-year M.S. student with a B.S. in Marine Science from the Coastal Carolina University Honor’s Program. His research revolves around oyster population dynamics, with particular concentration on the importance of food supply to oyster larval development.
Ectotherms
Hailee Nigro
Hailee is a first-year Ph.D. student with a bachelor’s in marine biology from the University of West Florida. Her current research looks at behavioral and physiological ecology of marine invertebrates, focusing on temperature-dependent growth, maturation, and reproduction in the blue crab.
Surfclams
Holly Spencer
Holly is a Coastal Sciences M.S. student studying climate-induced temperature effects on the distribution and abundance of two bivalve species, the Atlantic surfclam (Spisula Solidissima) and Ocean quahog (Arctica islandica).
Tuesday, April 25, 2023
Gulf Coast Research Laboratory
Caylor Building - Room 104
You can also join via zoom webinar. Click the link below to join!
Also catch us on Facebook.
Facebook Live
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Presenter
Jeremy Higgs
Assistant Director, Center for Fisheries Research and DevelopmentGulf Coast Research Laboratory
Billfish Research in the Gulf of Mexico and Beyond
Scientists at USM’s Center for Fisheries Research and Development have been conducting research on billfish for over 25 years. The studies have focused mainly on billfish within the Gulf of Mexico with partners from the recreational fishing community, conservation groups, and the fishing industry. These partnerships have provided the means to research life history projects (age, growth, and reproduction), diet studies, satellite tagging projects, larval fish surveys, and habitat surveys. Jeremy will provide an overview of the current research on billfish by the CFRD team.
Join us for coffee, cookies, and other treats. Masks are available.
Special “Thanks” to the sponsor of the Science Café, MS-AL Sea Grant, and to USM’s
Marine Education Center for tech support.
Tuesday, March 28, 2023
Gulf Coast Research Laboratory
Caylor Building - Room 104
You can also join via zoom webinar. Click the link below to join!
ZOOM
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Presenter
Dr. Mark S. Woodrey
Assistant Research Professor/Avian & Coastal Ecologist
Mississippi State University – Coastal Research & Extension Center
On Winter Savanna Bird Ecology & Conservation
This talk will highlight winter bird research conducted over the past 15+ years in pine savanna habitats across the north coast of the Gulf of Mexico. Dr. Woodrey will give an overview of the ecology of pine savanna habitats, emphasizing the importance of prescribed fire. He will highlight his Lab’s pioneering discovery of the primary wintering grounds for Henslow’s Sparrows and other grassland birds of conservation concern. He will also discuss more recent research focusing on the winter ecology of Yellow Rails, a “Holy Grail” bird much sought after by birders around the United States. He will conclude with thoughts on current and future conservation efforts to provide critical habitat for these species for future generations of birds and bird-watchers.
Tuesday, February 28, 2023
Gulf Coast Research Laboratory
Caylor Building - Room 104
You can also join via zoom webinar. Click the link below to join!
ZOOM
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Presenter
Dr. Kelly Darnell
Interim Director,
USM's Gulf Coast Research Laboratory
Professor, USM’s Division of Coastal Sciences
Celebrating 75 Years
of Research, Service, and Education at GCRL
This year marks the 75th anniversary of the Gulf Coast Research Laboratory (GCRL) as the State of Mississippi’s designated marine laboratory. Throughout its history, GCRL has been a leader in research, service, and education for Mississippi and beyond. This Science Café will tell the story of GCRL and the wide-ranging impacts of GCRL scientists and teachers over the past 75 years. We will look at the present and into the future for how GCRL is poised to continue contributing innovative research, serving the community, and offering high quality education to benefit society and the next generations.
Tuesday, November 29
Gulf Coast Research Laboratory
Caylor Building - Room 104
You can also join via zoom webinar. Click the link below to join!
Webinar ID:
Passcode: 01216885
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Presenter
Dr. Renee Collini
PLACE Program Coordinator, and Coastal Climate Resilience Specialist with Mississippi State University and Mississippi Alabama Sea Grant Consortium and Florida Sea Grant
Changing flood risk in coastal Mississippi - why, what's next, and what can we do?
Flooding is changing in coastal Mississippi, becoming more intense and frequent. Coastal residents are no strangers to hazards including flooding. Join this Science Café to learn about the changes that have already been seen in rainfall patterns and rising seas, the impacts they have already had and are likely to have moving forward, and most importantly what residents and local governments can do to stay ahead of these changes. The session will be interactive with lots of opportunities to ask questions and get hands on locally specific flood risk information.
Coffee and cookies will be served.
Sponsored by Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium
Tuesday, October 25
Marine Education Center Conference Center, 101 Sweet Bay Drive
Ocean Springs, MS
You can also join via zoom webinar. Click the link below to join!
Webinar ID: 892 5794 3263
Passcode: 01216885
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Presenter
Dr. Jessica Kastler
Director, Marine Education Center
The University of Southern Mississippi
Community Resilience - More than the Climate
Join us for a refresher on climate change basics and factors that make a community vulnerable. Learn how middle and high school students would address some of these challenges to make their communities more resilient. Ranging from practical to highly unexpected, their ideas illustrate the possibilities that can come from a fresh outlook and thinking outside the box. Jessie will also take this opportunity to discuss the resilience of the MEC in adapting to pandemic conditions (don’t be surprised if someone mentions Zoom) and building for the future.
Thursday, August 30, 2022
5:30 -7 p.m.
Marine Education Center Conference Center, 101 Sweet Bay Drive
Ocean Springs, MS
You can also join via zoom webinar. Click the link below to join!
Passcode: 01216885
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Discussion Leader
Dr. William (Bill) Hawkins (Retired)
Panelists
Dr. Michael Andres, Assistant Research Professor
Division of Coastal Sciences
Dr. Reg Blaylock, Interim Director Thad Cochran Marine Aquaculture Center
Dr. Jeff Lotz, Director Thad Cochran Marine Aquaculture Center and Professor (Retired)
John T. Ogle, GCRL Senior Technician (Retired)
Jean Jovonovich Alvillar, GCRL Senior Technician (Retired)
Robin Overstreet:
Honoring His Life and Career
On Tuesday August 30, we will celebrate the life and career of Dr. Robin M. Overstreet, one of the top scientists ever to hail from Mississippi. Robin spent his entire scientific career spanning more than fifty years at the Gulf Coast Research Laboratory and was widely acknowledged as the premier marine parasitologist in the nation, if not the world. He was broadly knowledgeable and accomplished in a variety of fields of marine science including environmental toxicology, ecology, aquaculture, and fisheries management. The presentation is a panel discussion with interaction with the audience.
Sponsored by Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium
Thursday, June 30, 2022
6-7 p.m.
Gulf Coast Research Laboratory
Caylor Building - Caylor Auditorium
You can also join via zoom webinar. Click the link below to join!
Passcode: 53521123
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Presenter
Dr. Johnny Shelley
Veterinary Medical Officer
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
Pascagoula, MS
There and Back Again...
From GCRL's Summer Field Program into Aquatic Veterinary Medicine
This presentation will focus on how the USM's GCRL Summer Field Program (SPF) opened up opportunities and prepared Dr. Shelley to become a successful aquatic veterinarian.
Special “Thanks” to the sponsor of the Science Café, MS-AL Sea Grant and to USM’s Marine Education Center for tech support.
Tuesday, May 31, 2022
Gulf Coast Research Laboratory
Caylor Building - Caylor Auditorium
You can also join via zoom webinar. Click the link below to join!
Passcode: 01216885
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Presenter
Tara Skelton
GenSea Director of Communications & Curriculum, University of Southern Mississippi Center for STEM Education
Sliding Sideways into Science — My Journey to GenSea and the Blue Economy
“What can I do with my marine science degree?” Many young people steer away from their passion for the ocean in college because they think it’s not practical. They could not be more wrong. Technical jobs in the Mississippi Gulf Coast’s blue economy sector are surging and will only increase over the next decade. Tara Skelton’s vantage point from working in science communications for multiple organizations since 2008 showed her a myriad of ways one can put that marine science degree to work. In Skelton’s new role with the GenSea, she lets members of Gen Z know they can follow their hearts and make a good living—all without ever leaving Mississippi.
Tuesday, April 26, 2022
Tagging and Tracking Mississippi Sport Fish
Photo Credit: Captain Kyle Johnson, Coastal Waters Outfitters
You are invited to a zoom webinar. Click the link below to join!
This month’s Science Café is comprised of four 12 minute presentations centered on fish tagging research being conducted on local species of great importance in the Mississippi recreational fishery: Spotted Seatrout, Red Drum, Southern Flounder and Tripletail. It is presented by scientific staff of the USM Center for Fisheries Research and Development, the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources Finfish Bureau, and the Gulf Stated Marine Fisheries Commission. Join us to hear about these ongoing studies that include the use of conventional and electronic tagging techniques to help advance understanding of fish movements and habitats in support of resource management and conservation.
Organized by the USM Center for Fisheries Research and Development as part of the Cooperative Sport Fish Tag and Release Program funded by the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Sport Fish Restoration Program.
Presenters
Dyan Gibson
Fisheries Biologist, USM Center for Fisheries Research and Development
Tagging Red Drum and Spotted Seatrout in Mississippi Coastal Waters, 2019 – 2021: Overview
Steve VanderKooy
Fisheries Biologist, Interjurisdictional Fisheries Program Coordinator, Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission
Acoustic Tracking of Tripletail in the Gulf of Mexico
Jennifer Green
Fisheries Biologist, Mississippi Department of Marine Resources – Finfish Bureau
Movements of Southern Flounder in Mississippi Sound
Eric Gigli
Fisheries Biologist, Mississippi Department of Marine Resources – Finfish Bureau
Satellite Tagging and Real-time Tracking of Tripletail
Special “Thanks” to the sponsor of the Science Café, MS-AL Sea Grant and to USM’s Marine Education Center for tech support.
Tuesday, March 29, 2022
You are invited to a zoom webinar. Click the link below to join!
Webinar ID: 853 6408 7030
Password: 74829441
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Presenter
Mark W. LaSalle, Ph.D.
Naturalist and Wetland Ecologist
Shifting Baseline Syndrome – Implications for Habitat
Habitat restoration efforts are based on achieving baseline conditions that we determine are natural or the norm. But baseline is often established on conditions that may no longer be normal or current where restoration is planned, reflecting how local and regional environments may have changed over time. This is the essence of the concept of “shifting baseline syndrome”, our deference to conditions that may be normal in our lifetime but may have been quite different in the past or have been altered in the present. Understanding and considering how target conditions may have shifted are crucial to successful habitat restoration projects.
Pop-up Café
Tuesday, March 15, 2022
You are invited to a zoom webinar. Click the link below to join!
Webinar ID: 831 9783 7425
Password: 10547643
International numbers available: Here
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Presenter
Dr. Shelly-Ann Cox
Fisheries Management Specialist and CEO of Blue Shell Productions
Sargassum - Brown Tide or Golden Jewel?
Massive influxes of floating sargassum seaweed have been impacting shorelines on both sides of the tropical Atlantic for the last decade. 2018 saw record breaking quantities of pelagic sargassum reaching the Caribbean, with 20 million metric tons reaching the region in June alone. The seaweed itself is not harmful; floating sargassum at sea is beneficial as a unique habitat. It is the large floating mats clogging fishing gear and impeding navigation at sea, and the mass stranding on coastlines and ensuing decomposition that is highly detrimental to people, ecosystems, and economies. Join us at the Science Café to hear more about what sargassum is, where it’s coming from, how we predict its arrival, and how it can be turned into an opportunity.
Tuesday, February 22, 2022
6 p.m.
You are invited to a zoom webinar. Click the link below to join!
Webinar ID: 829 1861 6343
Password: 81957849
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Presenter
Nadine Phillips
Nature and Forest Therapy Guide
The Magic of Nature & Forest Therapy
Join us to learn more about connecting to the natural world through Nature and Forest Therapy practices. Deeply rooted in the Japanese concept of Shinrin-yoku, or “forest -air bathing,” Forest Therapy is an evidence-based public health practice considered to be a natural remedy to reduce stress and a pathway to a happier, healthier, and more rewarding life. Guided Forest Therapy experiences combine a specific blend of complementary sensory, physical, and mental exercises in suitable forest surroundings. This beneficial practice is backed by significant medical and scientific research, and the abundance of health benefits are wide-reaching. Nature and Forest Therapy Guide Nadine Phillips will share more about the background, research, and beneficial results of this relaxing practice and how to invite more nature connection into your everyday life.Tuesday, January 25, 2022
6 p.m.
You are invited to a zoom webinar. Click the link below to join!
Webinar ID: 831 5472 0302
Password: 09822306
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Presenter
Michael
Andres
Assistant Research Professor
Division of Coastal Sciences
The University of Southern Mississippi
Gulf Sturgeon: Hidden Giants of Our Coastal Rivers.
Sturgeon are one of the oldest extant lineages of fish and also one of the most interesting. Gulf Sturgeon are a protected species in habiting coastal drainages in the northern Gulf of Mexico. In Mississippi’s waters Gulf Sturgeon have spawning populations in the Pearl and Pascagoula rivers, which also happen to be some of the most understudied river systems for this species and happen to be the two systems where the species has been slowest to show signs of recovery. This species makes seasonal migrations between coastal rivers (where they can even be seen jumping!) to estuarine and marine waters of the Gulf of Mexico.
Virtual Café
Tuesday, October 26, 2021
6 p.m.
You are invited to a zoom webinar. Click the link below to join!
Webinar ID: 879 9666 4499
Password: 98546663
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Presenter
Mandy Sartain
Bats, bugs, and burns...
oh my!
Bats are elusive, often misunderstood, flying mammals that come in a diversity of sizes, colors, diet palate, and habitat preferences. These amazing creatures play crucial roles within ecosystems such as natural pest control, pollination, and seed dispersal. Unfortunately, bats face many threats including habitat destruction and negative perceptions from people. Many of the bat species flying throughout the Mississippi coast roost in forested areas that are often managed by prescribed fire in efforts to improve overall forest habitat quality and increase biodiversity.