In November 2013, Dr.

Seabird McKeon was hired as

the Principal Investigator of
the Benthic Ecology Program,
a l ong-term moni tori ng
project that is part of the
Comprehensive Everglades
Restoration Plan and has been
housed at SMS for almost a
decade. Te project focuses
on cataloging the invertebrate communities found in the
muck and sand that is sampled quarterly from dozens of
sites throughout the Indian River Lagoon system. Te
resulting database provides a wealth of information that
can be used to track changes in water quality over time,
especially as it relates to the re-engineering of southeast
Floridas watershed. But the program will not just be
maintained under McKeons leadership, it will expand.
Around the first of the year, McKeon changed
the name of his lab to the Marine Ecology Lab, a
foreshadowing of the much broader scope of projects he
and his team plan to take on in the future. Our work with
the benthic invertebrates of the Lagoon has given us real
insight into how the IRL works, and hints about other
systems beyond the benthos, McKeon explained. Tere
are many more questions we can be asking and more data
we can be collecting.
Tat he is eager to expand the focus of the Marine
Ecology Lab is of little surprise. Dr. McKeon has
shown a wide range of research interests throughout
his career, including reproductive strategies of poison
frogs, crustacean biodiversity on Pacic reefs, and the
role of multi-species mutualisms in biologically diverse
marine communities. As a Postdoctoral Fellow at SMS,
McKeon continued his focus on biodiversity as one of
the three founding collaborators of the BioCube Project,
an initiative that aims to explore global diversity on a
more digestible level one cubic foot at a time (see inside
story). Now that his focus has shifted a little closer to
home, Dr. McKeon will be investigating the response of
marine diversity to the ongoing environmental challenges
in Florida. And his Labs current study sites in the IRL are
only one part of that plan.
In January 2014, McKeon and Dr. Valerie Paul,
Director of SMS, received a grant from the St. Johns
River Water Management District to expand the benthic
monitoring program into the northern reaches of the IRL
system. Tese funds will increase not just the amount of
data collected, but also the type. Te project is a large
scale investigation of what controls algal superblooms.
Well be using several dierent methods to look at how
lter-feeding invertebrates help in these situations.
Te growth in the scope of work also required an
expansion in the Marine Ecology Labs personnel, a
fact that is of utmost importance to McKeon. Since
stepping into his new role, Dr. McKeon has added
a full-time research assistant
and two full-time interns, and
he fully anticipates creating
more opportunities for young
researchers. Im committed to
creating a research environment
where curiosity and creativity
are driving our explorations of
biodiversity. Opportunities to
learn natural history, zoology,
and how to ask questions about
the world, were critical to my
development as a young scientist.
I would like to offer the next
generation of scientists the same
chance. SMS
New Leadership, New Direction
Smithsonian research program expands in size and scope of work
Laura Diederick, Education Specialist
Smithsonian Marine Station | 701 Seaway Drive, Fort Pierce, FL 34949 | 772.462.6220 | www.sms.si.edu
Coral Reef Chemistry 2
COSEE Florida Educator Workshop 2
News, Grants, Publications 3
SMEE Update 4
News
In this issue:
3 4
Dr. McKeon on a recent
research trip exploring the
reefs of Myanmar.
The Smithsonian Marine Station at Fort Pierce Spring 2014
2
Researchers pre-
pare t o col l ect
benthic samples
from one of the
Mari ne Ecol ogy
Lab s IRL study
sites.
SMS
Bacterial Cues Help Corals Find Home
Coral reefs are in trouble world-
wide. They are undergoing major
declines due to threats such as over-
shing, destructive shing practices,
disease, pollution and climate change.
These stressors are causing corals
to die and leaving behind coral reef
habitats that are more like barren
seascapes than the bustling, life-
filled ecosystems they once were.
Scientists and conservationists are
trying to reverse this trend by reducing
the stressors causing coral death
and repopulating degraded reefs
with new corals. Researchers at
the Smithsonian Marine Station are
working to understand how corals naturally recruit in
order to determine what conditions are necessary for
the recovery of coral reefs.
Corals employ dierent reproductive strategies
depending on the species. Smithsonian researchers
are studying brooding corals, which release swimming
larvae into the water, where they remain until they
sense an appropriate habitat. Tey then swim to the
bottom and start searching for a place to attach and
metamorphose. Choosing a good place to attach is
critical for the survival of young corals because once
larvae have attached and undergone metamorphosis
they can no longer move to a new location.
Jennifer Sneed, Research Biologist
Over the past three summers SMS Research
Biologist, Dr. Jennifer Sneed, and SMS Director, Dr.
Valerie Paul, have been working with collaborators
Dr. Kim Ritchie from Mote Marine Laboratory and
Dr. Koty Sharp from Eckerd College to understand
the chemical cues that coral larvae use to choose
an appropriate settlement substrate. Funded by a
grant from Mote Marine Laboratorys Protect Our
Reefs Program, they have discovered that a certain
bacterium (Pseudoalteromonas sp. PS5) associated
with crustose coralline algae produces a compound
called tetrabromopyrrole (TBP) that causes coral larvae
to settle in laboratory tests. TBP induces settlement
in multiple Caribbean coral species including the
mustard-hill coral, Porites astreoides, the boulder star
coral, Orbicella franksi, and the elkhorn coral, Acropora
palmata. Coral larvae may be using this compound
to identify the settlement location that gives them the
best chance for survival.
While additional research is still necessary
to determine how important this compound is in
the natural environment, this work highlights the
importance of understanding the eects of stressors on
not just corals, but also other organisms, like bacteria,
in the ecosystem. SMS
The pink crustose
coralline algae pic-
tured above (cen-
ter) is associated
with a bacterium
important for coral
recruitment.
COSEE Florida Unites Scientists, Teachers
Laura Diederick, Education Specialist
COSEE Florida is charged with
providing opportunities for ocean
scientists to connect with new and
broader audiences. Last fall, Smithsonian
scientists Dr. Seabird McKeon, Dr. Chris
Meyer, and Dr. Jennifer Hammock
joined natural history photographer
David Liittschwager for a weekend-
long educator workshop sponsored by
COSEE Florida. Te workshop focused
on using BioCubes - a cubic foot of space
- to explore and better understand biodiversity, especially
in familiar environments like a schoolyard.
Held at the Florida State Universitys Coastal and
Marine Laboratory, the intensive three-day workshop
immersed both formal and informal educators in hands-
on activities in the classroom, laboratory and field.
Educators took home most of the materials necessary to
conduct the BioCube activities and were excited to share
what they learned. Tere are so many dierent ways I
can bring this to [my] classroom!, shared one teacher.
Plans are already underway for a second BioCube
workshop that will include even more scientists, a key
part of the weekends success according to another
participant - [Te] scientists contributions really made
the workshop! SMS
Tis work was supported by a
grant funded by the sale of the
Protect Our Reefs license plate.
The s e F l or i da
high school sci-
e nc e t e a c he r s
are constructing
BioCubes to use in
their classrooms.
Workshop par-
t i ci pant s got
t h e i r h a n d s
dirty, their feet
wet, and their
minds filled with
classroom-ready
activities.
New Grants
Stephen Box received an award of $123,297 from Te Summit
Foundation [Summit Fund of Washington] for the project,
Creating a Network of No-Take Zones Across the Honduran
Caribbean Catalyzing Fisher-Led Resource Management.
Melanie McField received an award of $87,880 from Te
Summit Foundation for the project Healthy Reef for Healthy
People VI.
Valerie Paul received an award of $30,115 from the St. Johns
River Water Management District for the project, Indian
River Lagoon Species Web Based Education Tool.
Stephen Box received an award of $68,287 from NOAA for
the project, Supporting the Establishment of a Sustainable
Conch Fishery with Indigenous Communities in Honduras.
Valerie Paul and Seabird McKeon received an award of
$240,000 from St. Johns River Water Management District
for the project, General Survey and Grazing Characteristics
of Infauna and Epifauna in the Northern Indian River.
Valerie Paul (SMS), Justin Campbell (SMS), Emmett Duy
(TMON Director), and Andrew Alterieri (STRI) received
$100,000 from the Smithsonian Institutions Grand Chal-
lenges Award (Level Two) program for the project, An
Experimental Network for Understanding Seagrass (Talas-
sia testudinum) Biodiversity and Ecology Advancing the
Tennenbaum Marine Observation Network (TMON).
Selected Publications
Baeza, J. A., D. C. Behringer, R. J. Hart, M. D. Dickson and
J. R. Anderson. 2014. Reproductive biology of the
marine ornamental shrimp Lysmata boggessi in the
south-eastern Gulf of Mexico. Journal of the Marine
Biological Association of the United Kingdom, 94:
141-149.
Feller, I. C., A. H. Chamberlain, C. Piou, S. Chapman, and
C. E. Lovelock. 2013. Latitudinal patterns of herbivory
in mangrove forests: Consequences of nutrient over-
enrichments. Ecosystems, 16: 1203-1215.
DeBose J. L., V. J. Paul, 2014. Chemical signatures of multi-
species foraging aggregations are attractive to sh.
Marine Ecology Progress Series. 498: 243248.
Herranz, M., N. Snchez, F. Pardos, and R. P. Higgins.
2014. New kinorhyncha from Florida coastal waters.
Helgoland Marine Research, 68: 59-87.
Olsen, K., R. Ritson-Williams, J. D. Ochrietor, V. J. Paul
and C. Ross. 2013. Detecting hyperthermal stress
in larvae of the hermatypic coral Porites astreoides:
the suitability of using biomarkers of oxidative stress
versus heat shock protein transcriptional expression.
Marine Biology, 160: 2609-2618.
Riley, M. 2014. Fitness-associated consequences of an
omnivorous diet for the mangrove tree crab Aratus
pisonii. Aquatic Biology, 20: 38-43.
Ritson-Williams, R., S. N. Arnold, V. J. Paul, R. S. Steneck.
2014. Larval settlement preferences of Acropora
palmata and Montastraea faveolata in response to
diverse red algae. Coral Reefs, 33: 59-66.
Flotsam and Jetsam
SMEE Volunteer Recognized
Long-time SMEE volunteer, Erika
Steele, was recognized by East Florida
State College in Melbourne for her con-
tributions in working with the Smith-
sonian. Erika received the Outstanding
Student Humanitarian Scholarship
Award, which she will use in pursuit
of her degree in Marine Biology. Te
award is one of just two scholarships
the schools Center for Service-Learning
gives each academic year. Erika began
volunteering at SMEE in September
2012 and has logged over 300 hours of
volunteer service. Congratulations and
many thanks, Erika!
Many Thanks to Our Friends
Te sta of SMS extends a warm welcome and a big thank you to new and
renewing members of Friends of the Smithsonian Marine Station who provide
critical support for research and educational programs. For information on
how to become a Friend, call 772.462.0977.
Charles & Janet Alford - Robert & Frances Bangert - Tomas Beddow
Hugh & Carolyn Benninger - David & Ursula Blackburn - William & Clare
Bohnett - Robert & Kathleen Braun - Jack & Sally Chapman - Judith Collins
Anne Covert - Ashton & Margo DePeyster - Eugene Detmer
Norman Fashek & Tara MacTaggart - Tomas Fritz - Paul Hargraves
William Jaeckle - Richard G. Jennings - Mark & Linda Kaiser
Kenny & Debbie Langley - Marilyn Link - Alma Lee Loy
Whitney & Elizabeth MacMillan - John & Marilyn McConnell
Eleanor Sexton - Sumner Gerard Foundation - Randy & Mimi Swaringen
Renke & Pamela Tye - Peter & Jeanne Tyson - Lace Vitunac
Margaret Wisniewski - Camille Yates - Joel & Amy Zwemer
SMS Open House
Te 2014 Open House, a springtime
tradition in Fort Pierce, saw a number of
new activities, much to the appreciation
of our over 300 visitors. Participants in
the March 8th event had the opportu-
nity to explore the research station and
learn about a variety of projects from
SMS scientists. Additionally, sta were
on hand to showcase the tools of the
trade, including several of our research
vessels and a variety of sampling equip-
ment commonly used by researchers in
the eld. If you have never been to this
annual event, be sure to keep your eyes
open for the 2015 dates!
Sta members of the Smithsonian Marine Station and the
Ecosystems Exhibit are grateful for the ongoing support
provided by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation
Commission through the Fish and Wildlife Research
Institute. These funds allow us to conduct ongoing
research and education activities that would otherwise
not be possible.
The new Pacific Reef
exhibit at SMEE is an
example of a high-
diversity, low-impact
display.
Recent visitors to the Smithsonian Marine
Ecosystem Exhibit may have noticed that
the tropical Indo-Pacic coral reef tank has
been rebuilt from scratch. Although display-
ing native Floridian ecosystems is the focus
at SMEE, the Indo-Pacic tank represents
the type of coral reef found in the western
Pacic Ocean and is more typical of home
and public aquariums around the world. Te
popularity of in-home tropical Pacic reefs
has soared over recent decades due to the
vibrancy and diversity of tropical shes, cor-
als and invertebrates. Te increased demand
for reef components has placed stress on an already
fragile resource, leading to the destruction of natural
reefs and the overshing of certain species. Te mo-
tive behind SMEEs tank reconstruction was to build a
display using only 100% sustainably-sourced rocks, sh
and corals from aquaculture, showing that a beautiful
reef tank can be established at home with little impact
to the natural habitat.
Reef rock is the foundation of any reef tank, pro-
viding structure and habitat for the organisms that live
on and within it. In searching for a sustainable source
Smithsonian
Marine Station
701 Seaway Drive
Fort Pierce, FL 34949
772.462.6220
www.sms.si.edu
Marine Ecosystems Exhibit Update
SMS
News
The Smithsonian Marine Station at Fort Pierce Spring 2014
SMEE Showcases Sustainable Coral Display
of rock, SMEE aquarists contacted Real Reef, a
company that manufactures ecofriendly reef rock
grown in closed systems here in the United States.
Te product uses only marine ingredients and the
same mineral building blocks, which emulates real
reef rock in almost every way. A non-toxic natural
pigment is applied through various processes to
match the natural color of reef rock, which is red or
pink due to the coralline growing over its surface.
Sourcing sustainable shes and corals was a
slightly easier task, as the largest marine ornamen-
tal aquaculture facility in North America, Oceans,
Reefs & Aquariums (ORA), is located only 15
minutes from the Exhibit. ORA has long been a
supporter of SMEE through donations of impres-
sive coral and sh specimens that are all cultured
on site. Teir recent donations include a dazzling
array of corals and shes that come in all shapes,
sizes and colors.
To learn more about SMEEs sustainable
Pacic Reef, or see the diversity of marine life from
near and far, be sure to stop by the Ecosystems
Exhibit or visit www.sms.si.edu/SMEE. SMS
Neal Asthana, Marine Ecosystems Technician