|
"Life on the Edge: Exploring Life in the Intertidal Zone and Shallow Waters in Estuaries" • Donna Devlin, Ph.D. - Florida Atlantic University at Harbor Branch About the Lecture Early settlers and scientists explored the tidal ecosystems of Florida and were astounded by the biodiversity of both marine and terrestrial flora and fauna in these transitional areas. This talk will explore the plants and animals that live at the interface of land and sea. The shorelines of estuaries can be treacherous places to live, but they're the cradles of the life for the nearshore ocean. Animals and plants that survive there must be able to withstand changes in tides and salinities, as well as the impacts of increasing urbanization. This talk will discuss the importance of these systems and focus on interactions between estuarine animals and plants. Animals have adapted numerous forms and behaviors in order to hide and forage for food among mangroves, salt marsh cord grass, and seagrasses. About the Speaker Donna Devlin arrived at FAU/HBOI two years ago after living in Louisiana for about 10 years where she earned her Ph.D. at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and worked at the National Wetlands Research Center, U.S. Geological Survey. However, Donna is no stranger to this area; she grew up just north of here in New Smyrna Beach, and spent much of her youth exploring the marine and estuarine environments of Florida. Her research focuses on plant-animal interactions in estuarine systems. Currently she and her colleague, Dr. Ed Proffitt, have a National Science Foundation Grant to study the effects of invertebrates on the recovery of marshes damaged by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. They are also working on an innovative graduate student training grant that will involve scientists from many federal and state agencies as well as non-governmental organizations. Donna has worked at Mote Marine Laboratory, the Collier County Natural Resources Management Department in Naples, and at the Center for Marine Conservation in St. Petersburg. Her diverse career ranges from being a registered lobbyist for environmental concerns in Florida, to studies of coevolution of mangroves and a parasitic beetle, to analyses of the genetic diversity of critical marine species. She has published papers on marine benthic invertebrate ecology, mangrove mitigation and restoration (a long-term study in southwestern Florida), effects of oil on mangroves, and gastropod grazing on mangrove leaf litter. |