As researchers for the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission's Restoration Team, Dr. Spiers focuses on corals and long-spined sea urchins and Dr. Lennon focuses on nearshore hardbottom communities and sponges. Come join us to learn more about the importance of underwater video surveys!
Lets dive into what conservation genetics is and how it can help us combat ecological problems like invasive species! After a brief presentation, participants are welcome to take part in extracting DNA from a strawberry and see how we can use DNA to find out what invasive lionfish are eating.
Erin is a South Florida native who has called Key Largo home since she was 15 and now leads the Florida Keys Wild Bird Center. She holds a B.S. from Florida International University with a focus on education, team management, and biodiversity conservation, and earned her M.S. in biology from West Liberty University. Erin has conducted research on freshwater species and is a published biologist with a passion for wildlife conservation and community engagement. In her current role, she combines science and outreach to protect native and migratory birds across the Florida Keys.
José E. Trujillo, Ph.D., is a marine biologist from Ecuador with advanced degrees in marine biology from Chile and a Ph.D. in marine science from New Zealand. His research has explored how kelp forests support egg-laying sharks and how young reef sharks evade predators using their environment and physiology. As a shark behavioral ecologist, his work highlights key factors shaping shark nursery habitats. Now a Postdoctoral Associate at Bonefish & Tarpon Trust, he leads research on shark depredation in the Florida Keys.