The 2018-19 Stetson Spotlight Series continues on October 26 with a presentation by Dr. Benjamin Tanner, Assistant Professor of Environmental Science and Studies, who will speak on “Sediment Archive of Seagrass Dynamics in Mosquito and Indian River Lagoons”
Date: Friday, October 26
Time: 1:30 pm – 2:30 pm
Location: Lynn Business Center – 124
Snacks will be available. All are welcome!
SPOTLIGHT NOW OFFERS CULTURAL CREDIT!
Please encourage your students to attend.
Click here for a complete schedule of Stetson’s Spotlight Series.
“Sediment Archive of Seagrass Dynamics in Mosquito and Indian River Lagoons”
Seagrass beds are abundant in Florida and are estimated to cover several million acres of our estuaries and nearshore environments. Unfortunately our seagrass beds have experienced significant historical declines and algal blooms, driven partly by anthropogenic nutrient inputs, may be responsible for some of the loss. There is a need to supplement current seagrass monitoring efforts with a study of the long term dynamics of algal blooms and seagrass loss in order to separate changes due to anthropogenic disturbance from changes that are part of natural cycles. A summer grant was used to collect a total of six sediment cores from seagrass beds within Mosquito Lagoon, near Canaveral National Seashore. Initial work has focused on determining the maximum age of the seagrass beds and interpreting the history of algal proliferation in the lagoon from the sediment record.
Benjamin Tanner, Ph.D., is a field-oriented environmental geoscientist and outdoor enthusiast who seeks to inspire the next generation to appreciate and preserve our natural areas through the hands-on study of earth places and materials. Dr. Tanner’s education and background began with an anthropology degree (Florida State University), then he continued into Quaternary and climate studies (University of Maine), and culminating in geology (University of Tennessee) — relate to how humans interact with the environment. He currently uses the tools of geology to study wetlands and how they respond to climate and environmental change. He also uses wetland deposits to elucidate past climate changes, including temperature, precipitation and sea level changes. He has involved undergraduate students in all aspects of his research and has mentored over 30 undergraduates in research experiences outside of class. Many of these experiences have led to co-authored conference presentations and a journal article publication with the students. He is delighted to be at Stetson University, which is surrounded by wetland environments to study.
Stetson Spotlight Series
The Stetson Spotlight Series at Stetson University is a showcase of faculty research, creative inquiry, and other scholarly engagement to the campus community. Presenters are primarily recipients of grant awards through the Stetson Summer Grant Program.
Click here for a complete schedule of the Stetson Spotlight Series.