Heavy rains are pushing murky river water back into Florida’s freshwater springs, reversing their natural flow and degrading water clarity. New University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences research shows these intrusions worsen existing issues like low oxygen and algae blooms. A survey of 62 springs in the Suwannee River and Santa Fe River [&#8230;]

<p><span data-olk-copy-source="MessageBody">Heavy rains are pushing murky river water back into Florida’s freshwater springs, reversing their natural flow and degrading water clarity. </span>New University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences research shows these intrusions worsen existing issues like low oxygen and algae blooms.</p>
<p>A survey of 62 springs in the Suwannee River and Santa Fe River found widespread loss of aquatic vegetation, especially in areas frequently affected by flood-driven intrusions. While the research focuses on Florida, the takeaway reaches much further as heavier rain, stronger storms, and more unpredictable flooding are becoming more common trends.</p>
<p>To read more, visit <a href="https://news.ufl.edu/2026/05/flood-intrusion-to-florida-springs/">UF News</a>.</p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">###</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;335551550&quot;:2,&quot;335551620&quot;:2}"> </span></p>
<p><b><span data-contrast="auto">ABOUT UF/IFAS</span></b><br />
<i><span data-contrast="auto">The mission of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) is to develop knowledge relevant to agricultural, human and natural resources and to make that knowledge available to sustain and enhance the quality of human life. With more than a dozen research facilities, 67 county Extension offices, and award-winning students and faculty in the UF College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, UF/IFAS brings science-based solutions to the state’s agricultural and natural resources industries, and all Florida residents. </span></i><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><a href="http://www.ifas.ufl.edu/"><i><span data-contrast="none">ifas.ufl.edu</span></i></a><i><span data-contrast="auto">  |  </span></i><a href="https://twitter.com/UF_IFAS"><i><span data-contrast="none">@UF_IFAS</span></i></a><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>


Heavy rains are pushing murky river water back into Florida’s freshwater springs, reversing their natural flow and degrading water clarity. New University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences research shows these intrusions worsen existing issues like low oxygen and algae blooms.
A survey of 62 springs in the Suwannee River and Santa Fe River found widespread loss of aquatic vegetation, especially in areas frequently affected by flood-driven intrusions. While the research focuses on Florida, the takeaway reaches much further as heavier rain, stronger storms, and more unpredictable flooding are becoming more common trends.
To read more, visit UF News.
### 
ABOUT UF/IFAS
The mission of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) is to develop knowledge relevant to agricultural, human and natural resources and to make that knowledge available to sustain and enhance the quality of human life. With more than a dozen research facilities, 67 county Extension offices, and award-winning students and faculty in the UF College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, UF/IFAS brings science-based solutions to the state’s agricultural and natural resources industries, and all Florida residents.  
ifas.ufl.edu  |  @UF_IFAS

Heavy rains are pushing murky river water back into Florida’s freshwater springs, reversing their natural flow and degrading water clarity. New University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences research shows these intrusions worsen existing issues like low oxygen and algae blooms. A survey of 62 springs in the Suwannee River and Santa Fe River […]

New research reveals repeated flooding is altering a key Florida natural resource

The Nature Coast Biological Station hosted its first Community Science Night on April 17 in Cedar Key, bringing together students and community members to share research and build connections around coastal science. The event was organized by the Nature Coast Student Organization (NCSO) and featured student-led posters and short “flash talks” highlighting ongoing work across [&#8230;]

<figure id="attachment_6307" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-6307" style="width: 213px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" class="wp-image-6307 lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" alt="A room full of people sitting in rows of tables and chairs, watching a presentation on a large projector screen. " width="213" height="284" data-src="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/ncbs/files/2026/04/Image-22-225x300.jpg"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-6307" class="wp-caption-text"><em>A packed house in the NCBS classroom, with several curious community members in attendance. Photo credit: Emily Colson. </em></figcaption></figure>
<p data-start="81" data-end="516">The <span class="hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline"><span class="whitespace-normal">Nature Coast Biological Station</span></span> hosted its first Community Science Night on April 17 in <span class="hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline"><span class="whitespace-normal">Cedar Key</span></span>, bringing together students and community members to share research and build connections around coastal science. The event was organized by the Nature Coast Student Organization (NCSO) and featured student-led posters and short “flash talks” highlighting ongoing work across Florida’s Nature Coast.</p>
<p data-start="518" data-end="946">Presentations reflected collaborations across UF/IFAS and campus programs, including the <span class="hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline"><span class="whitespace-normal">School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences (SFFGS)</span></span>, <span class="hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline"><span class="whitespace-normal">School of Natural Resources and Environment (SNRE)</span></span>, <span class="hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline"><span class="whitespace-normal">Soil, Water, and Ecosystem Sciences Department (SWES)</span></span>, the <span class="hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline"><span class="whitespace-normal">Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering (HWCOE)</span></span>, and the <span class="hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline"><span class="whitespace-normal">Department of Biology</span></span>. Research topics included fisheries, seagrass ecology, mangrove expansion, underwater acoustics, and coastal impacts from recent storms.</p>
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<h2 data-start="518" data-end="946"><strong> </strong></h2>
<figure id="attachment_6305" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-6305" style="width: 276px" class="wp-caption alignright"><img decoding="async" class="wp-image-6305 lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" alt="A large poster is centered with three people viwing it, while the student speaks. " width="276" height="368" data-src="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/ncbs/files/2026/04/Image-24-225x300.jpg"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-6305" class="wp-caption-text"><em>Ella Jones presents her poster while answering questions. Photo credit: Emily Colson.</em></figcaption></figure>
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<h2 data-start="518" data-end="946"><strong>What is NCSO?</strong></h2>
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<p data-start="0" data-end="723" data-is-last-node="" data-is-only-node="">The event was developed and led by Nature Coast Student Organization (NCSO), a registered UF student organization based at NCBS that supports professional development, collaboration, and community engagement among undergraduate and graduate students working across the Nature Coast. NCSO hosts guest speakers, social events, and workshops on topics such as science communication, field note-taking, and photography, along with hands-on trainings in boating safety and CPR/first aid. The group also supports new student orientations, connects affiliate students to field and lab opportunities, and provides resources for those new to the region. Overall, NCSO builds an interdisciplinary student community and creates opportunities to share research with local audiences.</p>
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<h3 data-start="1360" data-end="1408"><strong data-start="1360" data-end="1387">Speakers and presenters:</strong></h3>
<h3 data-section-id="1ov6xpo" data-start="65" data-end="91">Poster Presentations</h3>
<ul data-start="92" data-end="977">
<li data-section-id="1oejb6b" data-start="92" data-end="238"><strong data-start="94" data-end="116">Amelia Gomez Uribe</strong> (SNRE) — <em data-start="119" data-end="236">Assessing the Role of Bird and Snail Predators on Eastern Oyster (Crassostrea virginica) Reef Community Structure</em></li>
<li data-section-id="gim5uj" data-start="239" data-end="378"><strong data-start="241" data-end="259">Madison Konash</strong> (SNRE) — <em data-start="262" data-end="376">Impact of Environment–Seagrass–Microbe Interactions on Seagrass Stress Response and Implications for Restoration</em></li>
<li data-section-id="cn5h7" data-start="379" data-end="464"><strong data-start="381" data-end="395">Alex Walus</strong> (SNRE) — <em data-start="398" data-end="462">Unlocking predator–prey dynamics in a changing coastal ecotone</em></li>
<li data-section-id="1t7ev62" data-start="465" data-end="608"><strong data-start="467" data-end="489">Laury-Ann Francois </strong>(HWCOE) — <em data-start="492" data-end="606">Impact of Environment–Seagrass–Microbe Interactions on Seagrass Stress Response and Implications for Restoration</em></li>
<li data-section-id="zypugk" data-start="609" data-end="714"><strong data-start="611" data-end="625">Ella Jones</strong> (SNRE) — <em data-start="628" data-end="712">Seed Bank Emergence Study of Spartina alterniflora in Florida’s Coastal Ecosystems</em></li>
<li data-section-id="1qe3th0" data-start="715" data-end="841"><strong data-start="717" data-end="733">Miranda Mays</strong> (SNRE) — <em data-start="736" data-end="839">Quantifying climate-driven shifts in vegetative cover on nearshore islands along Florida’s Gulf Coast</em></li>
<li data-section-id="1qsgqvw" data-start="842" data-end="977"><strong data-start="844" data-end="860">Smitty Smith</strong> (SWES) — <em data-start="863" data-end="975">Genetic diversity and priming: Understanding the role of plant history on seagrasses’ response to light stress</em></li>
</ul>
<figure id="attachment_6301" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-6301" style="width: 282px" class="wp-caption alignright"><img decoding="async" class="wp-image-6301 lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" alt="Several people surrounding a poster and the student presenting it." width="282" height="376" data-src="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/ncbs/files/2026/04/Image-28-225x300.jpg"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-6301" class="wp-caption-text"><em>Miranda Mays can be seen presenting her poster while various conversations happen among students, staff, and community members. Photo credit: Emily Colson.</em></figcaption></figure>
<h3 data-section-id="53rxq8" data-start="984" data-end="1001">Speed Talks</h3>
<ul data-start="1002" data-end="1930">
<li data-section-id="d2uo9c" data-start="1002" data-end="1086"><strong data-start="1004" data-end="1020">Maddy Meeker</strong> (SNRE) — <em data-start="1023" data-end="1084">Effects of habitat connectivity on invertebrate communities</em></li>
<li data-section-id="1rm06df" data-start="1087" data-end="1187"><strong data-start="1089" data-end="1105">Elise Corley</strong> (SNRE) — <em data-start="1108" data-end="1185">Repeated storms are altering the landscape of Cedar Key’s plant communities</em></li>
<li data-section-id="15tqzf8" data-start="1188" data-end="1285"><strong data-start="1190" data-end="1211">Finella Campanino</strong> (SNRE) — <em data-start="1214" data-end="1283">Sound and sight: Linking habitat connectivity and fish biodiversity</em></li>
<li data-section-id="1dee9e7" data-start="1286" data-end="1347"><strong data-start="1288" data-end="1305">Megan Siemann</strong> (SNRE) — <em data-start="1308" data-end="1345">Stable isotopes and food web models</em></li>
<li data-section-id="z9wemc" data-start="1348" data-end="1460"><strong data-start="1350" data-end="1371">Stasia Pietraszun</strong> (SNRE) — <em data-start="1374" data-end="1458">Understanding Spartina alterniflora seed dynamics at the southernmost range margin</em></li>
<li data-section-id="n2bmg" data-start="1461" data-end="1585"><strong data-start="1463" data-end="1480">Nicole Luchau</strong> (SNRE) — <em data-start="1483" data-end="1583">Effects of model type and spatial resolution in coupled oceanographic and fishery ecosystem models</em></li>
<li data-section-id="112t8kq" data-start="1586" data-end="1697"><strong data-start="1588" data-end="1609">Katherine Henning</strong> (SFFGS) — <em data-start="1612" data-end="1695">Too hot, too cold, or just right? Exploring springs as thermal refugia for fishes</em></li>
<li data-section-id="wbv6tq" data-start="1698" data-end="1800"><strong data-start="1700" data-end="1736">Erika Turkington &amp; Caitlyn Cooke</strong> (SFFGS) — <em data-start="1739" data-end="1798">An undergraduate’s journey with seagrass ecology research</em></li>
<li data-section-id="1x28pks" data-start="1801" data-end="1930"><strong data-start="1803" data-end="1820">Melanie Gomez </strong>(SFFGS) — <em data-start="1823" data-end="1928">Histology: Parasite loads across fish species and temperature gradients during El Niño in the Galápagos</em></li>
</ul>
<p data-start="1410" data-end="1517" data-is-last-node="" data-is-only-node="">Community Science Night is planned to continue as an annual event.</p>
<p data-start="1410" data-end="1517" data-is-last-node="" data-is-only-node="">Students interested in getting involved with NCSO or <a href="https://ncbs.ifas.ufl.edu/events/">future events</a> can reach out at <a href="mailto:ncbs@ifas.ufl.edu">ncbs@ifas.ufl.edu</a>.</p>
<p data-start="1410" data-end="1517" data-is-last-node="" data-is-only-node=""><em>Featured image credit: Tyler Jones, UF/IFAS</em></p>


A packed house in the NCBS classroom, with several curious community members in attendance. Photo credit: Emily Colson. 
The Nature Coast Biological Station hosted its first Community Science Night on April 17 in Cedar Key, bringing together students and community members to share research and build connections around coastal science. The event was organized by the Nature Coast Student Organization (NCSO) and featured student-led posters and short “flash talks” highlighting ongoing work across Florida’s Nature Coast.
Presentations reflected collaborations across UF/IFAS and campus programs, including the School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences (SFFGS), School of Natural Resources and Environment (SNRE), Soil, Water, and Ecosystem Sciences Department (SWES), the Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering (HWCOE), and the Department of Biology. Research topics included fisheries, seagrass ecology, mangrove expansion, underwater acoustics, and coastal impacts from recent storms.


 
Ella Jones presents her poster while answering questions. Photo credit: Emily Colson.


What is NCSO?








The event was developed and led by Nature Coast Student Organization (NCSO), a registered UF student organization based at NCBS that supports professional development, collaboration, and community engagement among undergraduate and graduate students working across the Nature Coast. NCSO hosts guest speakers, social events, and workshops on topics such as science communication, field note-taking, and photography, along with hands-on trainings in boating safety and CPR/first aid. The group also supports new student orientations, connects affiliate students to field and lab opportunities, and provides resources for those new to the region. Overall, NCSO builds an interdisciplinary student community and creates opportunities to share research with local audiences.




Speakers and presenters:
Poster Presentations
Amelia Gomez Uribe (SNRE) — Assessing the Role of Bird and Snail Predators on Eastern Oyster (Crassostrea virginica) Reef Community Structure
Madison Konash (SNRE) — Impact of Environment–Seagrass–Microbe Interactions on Seagrass Stress Response and Implications for Restoration
Alex Walus (SNRE) — Unlocking predator–prey dynamics in a changing coastal ecotone
Laury-Ann Francois (HWCOE) — Impact of Environment–Seagrass–Microbe Interactions on Seagrass Stress Response and Implications for Restoration
Ella Jones (SNRE) — Seed Bank Emergence Study of Spartina alterniflora in Florida’s Coastal Ecosystems
Miranda Mays (SNRE) — Quantifying climate-driven shifts in vegetative cover on nearshore islands along Florida’s Gulf Coast
Smitty Smith (SWES) — Genetic diversity and priming: Understanding the role of plant history on seagrasses’ response to light stress
Miranda Mays can be seen presenting her poster while various conversations happen among students, staff, and community members. Photo credit: Emily Colson.
Speed Talks
Maddy Meeker (SNRE) — Effects of habitat connectivity on invertebrate communities
Elise Corley (SNRE) — Repeated storms are altering the landscape of Cedar Key’s plant communities
Finella Campanino (SNRE) — Sound and sight: Linking habitat connectivity and fish biodiversity
Megan Siemann (SNRE) — Stable isotopes and food web models
Stasia Pietraszun (SNRE) — Understanding Spartina alterniflora seed dynamics at the southernmost range margin
Nicole Luchau (SNRE) — Effects of model type and spatial resolution in coupled oceanographic and fishery ecosystem models
Katherine Henning (SFFGS) — Too hot, too cold, or just right? Exploring springs as thermal refugia for fishes
Erika Turkington & Caitlyn Cooke (SFFGS) — An undergraduate’s journey with seagrass ecology research
Melanie Gomez (SFFGS) — Histology: Parasite loads across fish species and temperature gradients during El Niño in the Galápagos
Community Science Night is planned to continue as an annual event.
Students interested in getting involved with NCSO or future events can reach out at ncbs@ifas.ufl.edu.
Featured image credit: Tyler Jones, UF/IFAS

The Nature Coast Biological Station hosted its first Community Science Night on April 17 in Cedar Key, bringing together students and community members to share research and build connections around coastal science. The event was organized by the Nature Coast Student Organization (NCSO) and featured student-led posters and short “flash talks” highlighting ongoing work across […]

Community Science Night Showcases Student Research at NCBS

At University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS), graduate students play a vital role in advancing research that helps us better understand and protect Florida’s natural resources. Many of these students are affiliate researchers with the Nature Coast Biological Station (NCBS), co-advised by faculty in their home departments and NCBS scientists, creating [&#8230;]

<p>At <span class="hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline"><span class="whitespace-normal">University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS)</span></span>, graduate students play a vital role in advancing research that helps us better understand and protect Florida’s natural resources. Many of these students are affiliate researchers with the <span class="hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline"><span class="whitespace-normal">Nature Coast Biological Station (NCBS)</span></span>, co-advised by faculty in their home departments and NCBS scientists, creating a collaborative environment that bridges disciplines and connects research to real-world coastal challenges. In celebration of <span class="hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline"><span class="whitespace-normal">Graduate Student Appreciation Week (April 6 &#8211; 10)</span></span>, we’re highlighting a few of these projects led by UF/IFAS graduate students working along Florida’s Nature Coast. From uncovering the chemical defenses that support seagrass resilience to exploring how fish communities respond to habitat connectivity and environmental change, these projects showcase the next generation of scientists tackling complex questions in coastal ecosystems.</p>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h3><strong>Graduate Student Research Project Highlights</strong></h3>
<h4><strong>Top-Down and Bottom-Up Drivers of Resource Allocation and Secondary Metabolite Production in Thalassia testudinum</strong></h4>
<p><em>Written by Carter Oleckna, Ph.D., School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences</em></p>
<p>Advisors: Robert Lamb (UF/IFAS NCBS) and Don Behringer (UF/IFAS SFFGS)</p>
<figure id="attachment_6135" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-6135" style="width: 286px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-6135 size-medium lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" alt="Carter Oleckna in a motorboat, holding the steering handle of the boat with his left hand and adjusting the brim of his cap with his right hand." width="286" height="300" data-src="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/ncbs/files/2026/04/CO1-286x300.jpg"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-6135" class="wp-caption-text"><em>Carter making his way to a field site by boat. Photo credit: Carlos Alves Almeida.</em></figcaption></figure>
<p>Seagrass meadows are one of the most important coastal habitats along the Nature Coast, supporting fisheries, stabilizing sediments, improving water quality, and storing carbon. But these ecosystems are under increasing pressure. Climate change, eutrophication, and boating scars all contribute to declining seagrass cover, making it vital to understand how seagrasses cope with stress and what drives their resilience.</p>
<p>My research investigates the chemical defenses that help Thalassia testudinum, or turtle grass, respond to environmental stressors. Seagrasses produce chemical defense compounds known as secondary metabolites that act as defenses against herbivores, pathogens, and harsh environmental conditions. These compounds also help regulate interactions with nutrients, microbes, and other organisms. Seagrasses must allocate secondary metabolite production in a delicate balance between growth and defense, all in the context of shifting environmental conditions such as temperature, nutrients, and herbivory.</p>
<figure id="attachment_6137" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-6137" style="width: 225px" class="wp-caption alignright"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-6137 size-medium lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" alt="Carter Oleckna, in a wetsuit with snorkeling gear, gives a thumbs-up while in the ocean." width="225" height="300" data-src="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/ncbs/files/2026/04/CO2-225x300.jpg"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-6137" class="wp-caption-text"><em>Carter Oleckna, in a wetsuit with snorkeling gear, gives a thumbs-up while in the ocean. Photo credit: Carlos Alves Almeida. </em></figcaption></figure>
<p>My dissertation focuses on understanding how top-down and bottom-up forces influence chemical defenses in <em>T. testudinum</em>. I am investigating how seasonal and spatial environmental changes influence growth rates and phenolic production, how different types of herbivores trigger chemical defense responses, and whether providing seagrasses with aromatic amino acids can boost the production of these chemical compounds.</p>
<p>I’m a second year Ph.D. student in the Lamb and Behringer Labs at UF, where my research examines how chemical ecology and resource allocation influence seagrass resilience along Florida’s Gulf Coast. In the long run, this work may also help identify new ways to support healthier and more resilient seagrass meadows throughout the Nature Coast.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h4><strong>Sound and Sight: Linking Habitat Connectivity and Fish Biodiversity in Florida’s Coastal Waters</strong></h4>
<p><em>Written by Finella Campanino, Ph.D., School of Natural Resources and Environment</em></p>
<p>Advisors: Laura Reynolds (UF/IFAS SWES) and Savanna Barry (UF/IFAS NCBS)</p>
<figure id="attachment_6143" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-6143" style="width: 280px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-6143 " src="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/ncbs/files/2026/04/IMG_3653-300x225.jpg" alt="Finella Campanino snorkeling underwater near marine plants and corals, writing on a clipboard attached to a pole mounted with a camera." width="280" height="210" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-6143" class="wp-caption-text"><em>Finella Campanino snorkeling underwater near marine plants and corals, writing on a clipboard attached to a pole mounted with a camera. Photo credit: Enie Hensel. </em></figcaption></figure>
<p>Florida’s coastal ecosystems (e.g., seagrass meadows, mangrove keys, and hard-bottom habitats) form a connected mosaic that supports some of the state’s most iconic and economically important fish species. Yet these habitats are increasingly threatened by development, fragmentation, and habitat loss. Understanding how fish use these areas, and how the connections between them shape biodiversity, is essential for effective management of coastal resources.</p>
<p>My research uses an innovative combination of underwater visual census (UVC) and passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) to study fish communities across the St. Martin’s Marsh Aquatic Preserve. By pairing traditional snorkel-based surveys with underwater sound recordings, I hope to capture both what can be seen and what can be heard; including vocalizing, cryptic, and nighttime-active species often missed by visual surveys.</p>
<p>Every month from March through October 2025, I looked at and listened to the fish communities across seagrass meadows, mangrove keys, and hard-bottom habitats that were either close together or more isolated from one another. I place acoustic recorders (HydroMoths) at these habitats every full moon to document dawn and dusk soundscapes, when many fish produce noises associated with mating, territory, or other communication types.</p>
<p>My dissertation research aims to answer key questions:</p>
<ul>
<li>How do fish communities differ between seagrass, mangroves, and hard-bottom habitats and across seasons?</li>
<li>Do more connected habitats support greater biodiversity?</li>
<li>Can acoustic monitoring serve as a reliable, low-impact tool for long-term fisheries assessment?</li>
</ul>
<p>My research supports the St. Martin’s Marsh Aquatic Preserve Management Plan by improving understanding of fish–habitat relationships and evaluating PAM as a potential monitoring method. Beyond advancing science, my research provides research opportunities and training for undergraduate students, contributing to the next generation of marine scientists. By integrating sight and sound, my research expands the toolkit for coastal conservation and offers new insight into how Florida’s underwater habitats sustain vibrant and resilient fish communities.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h4><strong>Fish Communities in a Changing Environment: Exploring the Function of Aquifer Seeps and Springs as Thermal Refuges for Fishes Within the Suwannee River Estuary</strong></h4>
<p><em>Written by Katherine Henning, M.S., School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences</em></p>
<p>Advisors: Robert Lamb (UF/IFAS NCBS) and Deb Murie (UF/IFAS SFFGS)</p>
<figure id="attachment_6147" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-6147" style="width: 172px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-6147 size-full lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" alt="Katherine Henning standing in front of green foliage and holding a large fish." width="172" height="298" data-src="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/ncbs/files/2026/04/KH2.jpg"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-6147" class="wp-caption-text"><em>Katherine Henning standing in front of mangroves, holding a large Black Drum pulled in a seine net. Photo credit: Robert Lamb. </em></figcaption></figure>
<p>Florida’s Nature Coast is undergoing rapid ecological change as tropicalization reshapes its temperate ecosystems, driving shifts in species ranges and increasing the frequency of marine heat waves alongside the region’s characteristic episodic cold snaps. Under these conditions, thermal refuges, areas where temperatures remain relatively stable, can play a critical role in supporting aquatic species. The Nature Coast’s karst geology creates ideal conditions for such refuges, with abundant aquifer springs and seeps supplying groundwater at relatively constant temperatures into coastal rivers and tidal creeks. Despite their ecological importance, however, many of these low-magnitude springs remain unmapped, under-studied, and poorly understood.</p>
<figure id="attachment_6145" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-6145" style="width: 225px" class="wp-caption alignright"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-6145 size-medium lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" alt="Katherine Henning standing in shallow water, surrounded by marsh vegetation. She and another person work together to handle a fishing net." width="225" height="300" data-src="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/ncbs/files/2026/04/KH1-225x300.jpg"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-6145" class="wp-caption-text"><em>Katherine Henning standing in shallow water, surrounded by marsh vegetation. She and another person work together to pull a seine net. Photo credit: Robert Lamb. </em></figcaption></figure>
<p>My research investigates these springs and seeps as potential thermal refuges and essential fish habitat within the Suwannee River estuary. Using an integrated approach that combines aerial infrared imagery, GIS based hotspot detection, and in-situ environmental monitoring, I identify thermal anomalies on the landscape and evaluate how their hydrology and temperature regimes vary through time. From August- September of 2025, I conducted standardized seine surveys at 20 paired thermal anomaly and ambient control sites from the mouth of the Suwannee River to the northern border of Waccasassa Bay Preserve. Water quality parameters were measured at each site using a YSI, and HOBO temperature loggers were deployed at selected locations to capture both instantaneous environmental conditions and continuous thermal dynamics.</p>
<p>This research examines how fish assemblages, trophic structure, environmental conditions, and growth vary between thermal anomalies and ambient habitats, across the broader estuarine gradient, and between seasonal extremes. A second field season (January 2025– February 2026) will resample all sites to assess winter assemblages and refine understanding of seasonal habitat use. By coupling GIS analysis, hydrological assessment, and ecological monitoring, this project advances our understanding of how habitat structure and thermal stability influence juvenile sportfish and forage fish communities. The results will support ongoing efforts by state agencies to locate and protect essential fish habitat, guide sportfish management under tropicalizing conditions, and improve knowledge of groundwater–surface water connections within the estuary.</p>
<p>As a second-year master’s student in the Lamb and Murie labs, I aim for this research to contribute both to ecosystem-based fisheries management and to a deeper understanding of how Florida’s coastal habitats can sustain diverse fish communities in a changing future.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Meet our other affiliate graduate students <a href="https://ncbs.ifas.ufl.edu/graduate-students/">here</a>.</p>
<p><em>Featured image credit: Enie Hensel</em></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>


At University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS), graduate students play a vital role in advancing research that helps us better understand and protect Florida’s natural resources. Many of these students are affiliate researchers with the Nature Coast Biological Station (NCBS), co-advised by faculty in their home departments and NCBS scientists, creating a collaborative environment that bridges disciplines and connects research to real-world coastal challenges. In celebration of Graduate Student Appreciation Week (April 6 – 10), we’re highlighting a few of these projects led by UF/IFAS graduate students working along Florida’s Nature Coast. From uncovering the chemical defenses that support seagrass resilience to exploring how fish communities respond to habitat connectivity and environmental change, these projects showcase the next generation of scientists tackling complex questions in coastal ecosystems.

 
Graduate Student Research Project Highlights
Top-Down and Bottom-Up Drivers of Resource Allocation and Secondary Metabolite Production in Thalassia testudinum
Written by Carter Oleckna, Ph.D., School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences
Advisors: Robert Lamb (UF/IFAS NCBS) and Don Behringer (UF/IFAS SFFGS)
Carter making his way to a field site by boat. Photo credit: Carlos Alves Almeida.
Seagrass meadows are one of the most important coastal habitats along the Nature Coast, supporting fisheries, stabilizing sediments, improving water quality, and storing carbon. But these ecosystems are under increasing pressure. Climate change, eutrophication, and boating scars all contribute to declining seagrass cover, making it vital to understand how seagrasses cope with stress and what drives their resilience.
My research investigates the chemical defenses that help Thalassia testudinum, or turtle grass, respond to environmental stressors. Seagrasses produce chemical defense compounds known as secondary metabolites that act as defenses against herbivores, pathogens, and harsh environmental conditions. These compounds also help regulate interactions with nutrients, microbes, and other organisms. Seagrasses must allocate secondary metabolite production in a delicate balance between growth and defense, all in the context of shifting environmental conditions such as temperature, nutrients, and herbivory.
Carter Oleckna, in a wetsuit with snorkeling gear, gives a thumbs-up while in the ocean. Photo credit: Carlos Alves Almeida. 
My dissertation focuses on understanding how top-down and bottom-up forces influence chemical defenses in T. testudinum. I am investigating how seasonal and spatial environmental changes influence growth rates and phenolic production, how different types of herbivores trigger chemical defense responses, and whether providing seagrasses with aromatic amino acids can boost the production of these chemical compounds.
I’m a second year Ph.D. student in the Lamb and Behringer Labs at UF, where my research examines how chemical ecology and resource allocation influence seagrass resilience along Florida’s Gulf Coast. In the long run, this work may also help identify new ways to support healthier and more resilient seagrass meadows throughout the Nature Coast.
 
Sound and Sight: Linking Habitat Connectivity and Fish Biodiversity in Florida’s Coastal Waters
Written by Finella Campanino, Ph.D., School of Natural Resources and Environment
Advisors: Laura Reynolds (UF/IFAS SWES) and Savanna Barry (UF/IFAS NCBS)
Finella Campanino snorkeling underwater near marine plants and corals, writing on a clipboard attached to a pole mounted with a camera. Photo credit: Enie Hensel. 
Florida’s coastal ecosystems (e.g., seagrass meadows, mangrove keys, and hard-bottom habitats) form a connected mosaic that supports some of the state’s most iconic and economically important fish species. Yet these habitats are increasingly threatened by development, fragmentation, and habitat loss. Understanding how fish use these areas, and how the connections between them shape biodiversity, is essential for effective management of coastal resources.
My research uses an innovative combination of underwater visual census (UVC) and passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) to study fish communities across the St. Martin’s Marsh Aquatic Preserve. By pairing traditional snorkel-based surveys with underwater sound recordings, I hope to capture both what can be seen and what can be heard; including vocalizing, cryptic, and nighttime-active species often missed by visual surveys.
Every month from March through October 2025, I looked at and listened to the fish communities across seagrass meadows, mangrove keys, and hard-bottom habitats that were either close together or more isolated from one another. I place acoustic recorders (HydroMoths) at these habitats every full moon to document dawn and dusk soundscapes, when many fish produce noises associated with mating, territory, or other communication types.
My dissertation research aims to answer key questions:
How do fish communities differ between seagrass, mangroves, and hard-bottom habitats and across seasons?
Do more connected habitats support greater biodiversity?
Can acoustic monitoring serve as a reliable, low-impact tool for long-term fisheries assessment?
My research supports the St. Martin’s Marsh Aquatic Preserve Management Plan by improving understanding of fish–habitat relationships and evaluating PAM as a potential monitoring method. Beyond advancing science, my research provides research opportunities and training for undergraduate students, contributing to the next generation of marine scientists. By integrating sight and sound, my research expands the toolkit for coastal conservation and offers new insight into how Florida’s underwater habitats sustain vibrant and resilient fish communities.
 
Fish Communities in a Changing Environment: Exploring the Function of Aquifer Seeps and Springs as Thermal Refuges for Fishes Within the Suwannee River Estuary
Written by Katherine Henning, M.S., School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences
Advisors: Robert Lamb (UF/IFAS NCBS) and Deb Murie (UF/IFAS SFFGS)
Katherine Henning standing in front of mangroves, holding a large Black Drum pulled in a seine net. Photo credit: Robert Lamb. 
Florida’s Nature Coast is undergoing rapid ecological change as tropicalization reshapes its temperate ecosystems, driving shifts in species ranges and increasing the frequency of marine heat waves alongside the region’s characteristic episodic cold snaps. Under these conditions, thermal refuges, areas where temperatures remain relatively stable, can play a critical role in supporting aquatic species. The Nature Coast’s karst geology creates ideal conditions for such refuges, with abundant aquifer springs and seeps supplying groundwater at relatively constant temperatures into coastal rivers and tidal creeks. Despite their ecological importance, however, many of these low-magnitude springs remain unmapped, under-studied, and poorly understood.
Katherine Henning standing in shallow water, surrounded by marsh vegetation. She and another person work together to pull a seine net. Photo credit: Robert Lamb. 
My research investigates these springs and seeps as potential thermal refuges and essential fish habitat within the Suwannee River estuary. Using an integrated approach that combines aerial infrared imagery, GIS based hotspot detection, and in-situ environmental monitoring, I identify thermal anomalies on the landscape and evaluate how their hydrology and temperature regimes vary through time. From August- September of 2025, I conducted standardized seine surveys at 20 paired thermal anomaly and ambient control sites from the mouth of the Suwannee River to the northern border of Waccasassa Bay Preserve. Water quality parameters were measured at each site using a YSI, and HOBO temperature loggers were deployed at selected locations to capture both instantaneous environmental conditions and continuous thermal dynamics.
This research examines how fish assemblages, trophic structure, environmental conditions, and growth vary between thermal anomalies and ambient habitats, across the broader estuarine gradient, and between seasonal extremes. A second field season (January 2025– February 2026) will resample all sites to assess winter assemblages and refine understanding of seasonal habitat use. By coupling GIS analysis, hydrological assessment, and ecological monitoring, this project advances our understanding of how habitat structure and thermal stability influence juvenile sportfish and forage fish communities. The results will support ongoing efforts by state agencies to locate and protect essential fish habitat, guide sportfish management under tropicalizing conditions, and improve knowledge of groundwater–surface water connections within the estuary.
As a second-year master’s student in the Lamb and Murie labs, I aim for this research to contribute both to ecosystem-based fisheries management and to a deeper understanding of how Florida’s coastal habitats can sustain diverse fish communities in a changing future.
 
Meet our other affiliate graduate students here.
Featured image credit: Enie Hensel

At University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS), graduate students play a vital role in advancing research that helps us better understand and protect Florida’s natural resources. Many of these students are affiliate researchers with the Nature Coast Biological Station (NCBS), co-advised by faculty in their home departments and NCBS scientists, creating […]

Spotlight on Affiliate Graduate Student Research at UF/IFAS NCBS

Water Resources

Recursos acuíferos

<p>S<span>pring, in hydrology, opening at or near the surface of the Earth for the discharge of water from underground sources. A spring is a natural discharge point of subterranean water at the surface of the ground or directly into the bed of a stream, lake, or sea.</span></p>

Springs (water)

manantiales

993-thumbnail

017527.jpg UF/IFAS Photo by Amy Stuart
Copyright 2015 UF/IFAS Communications

Springs (water)

Publications

Septic Systems and Springs Water Quality: An Overview for Florida

2025 Handbook of Florida Water Regulation: Florida Springs and Aquifer Protection Act

New research reveals repeated flooding is altering a key Florida natural resource

Community Science Night Showcases Student Research at NCBS

Spotlight on Affiliate Graduate Student Research at UF/IFAS NCBS