Interns

Evelyn Marquez

Evelyn is a recent graduate from the Biology Bachelors program at Indian River State College. Working on a project exploring the ecological succession that artificial reef below a dock which helps habitat restoration in the Indian River Lagoon. Studying different communities of succession, starting with the initial colonizers and examining the microbes that were grown on the reefs the first months later identifying the fouling species and their growth on the surfaces on the reefs. As well as using GoPro footage around the docks to be able to identify the fish that were utilizing the reefs. Examining the different communities the reef have created.

Jumar Francis (he is a recent Master’s graduate from FAU-HBOI)

Jumar Xavier Francis is a marine biologist dedicated to understanding how marine organisms optimize survival under changing environmental conditions through the integration of behavior, physiology, and evolution. His research focus centers on predator–prey dynamics, specifically exploring how risk perception and non-consumptive effects shape individual decision-making, population processes, and community structure. Jumar is particularly interested in how environmental stressors, such as ocean warming, alter the reliability of chemical cues in marine systems influencing anti-predator strategies, movement behavior, and energetic trade-offs. Ultimately, his work aims to uncover how climate-driven shifts modify species interactions and reshape information landscapes, providing critical insights for ecosystem resilience and coastal management. By bridging the gap between structural complexity and behavioral ecology, this project provides a mechanistic understanding of predator-prey dynamics, refuge availability, and foraging behavior in restored areas. The findings will help coastal managers predict post-restoration success and optimize future planting strategies to maximize ecosystem resilience.

Mallory Neal

Mallory is a recent graduate of the Wilkes Honors College of Florida Atlantic University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Marine Biology. She is conducting a research project on the timing and synchrony of flowering in turtle grass. Although seagrasses most commonly reproduce asexually through clonal growth to form extensive meadows, sexual reproduction through flowering generates new genetic combinations that may enhance resilience to environmental stressors. She is excited to be working with one of her favorite organisms and hopes her work will contribute to ongoing seagrass restoration efforts in the Indian River Lagoon. After spending the year gaining professional experience, Mallory plans to pursue a master’s degree in marine biology.

Adrie Young

Adrie Young is an undergraduate biology major at Wesleyan University, interested in restoration ecology and stress responses in marine organisms. This summer, she is conducting an experiment examining the effects of sea cucumbers on shoal grass and turtle grass growth. This project aims to support the potential application of sea cucumber co-restoration as a strategy to improve seagrass restoration success.