Protect Our Reefs

Mote Marine Laboratory scientists made waves at the International Coral Reef Symposium (ICRS) in New Zealand last month!

Mote scientists shared research on some of the biggest challenges and opportunities facing coral reefs today, from understanding coral responses to climate stress and disease to exploring genetics and microbial communities, monitoring water quality and reef conditions, advancing coral propagation and restoration, and investigating the role of the Caribbean king crab as an important reef grazer.

This year’s presentations showcase the incredible depth of expertise across our team and the collaborative science driving solutions for Florida’s Coral Reef and reefs worldwide.

Congratulations to our presenting scientists:
🪸 Dr. Erinn Muller – Associate Vice President for Research, Senior Scientist & Program Manager, Director of International Coral Gene Bank, Coral Health and Disease Research Program
🪸 Dr. Dom Gallery – Seagrass Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Seagrass Ecosystem Restoration Research Program
🪸 Nick McMahon – International Coral Gene Bank Collections Specialist, Coral Health and Disease Research Program
🪸 Dr. Sara Williams – Staff Scientist, Coral Health and Disease Research Program
🪸 Dr. Jason Spadaro – Staff Scientist & Program Manager, Coral Reef Restoration Research Program
🪸 Dr. Emily Hall – Senior Scientist & Program Manager, Ocean Acidification Research Program
🪸 Melissa Sante – Senior Chemist & Laboratory Manager, Ocean Acidification Research Program
🪸 Dr. Elise Keister – Postdoctoral Researcher, Coral Health and Disease Research Program
🪸 Celia Leto – Senior Biologist & Coral Reproduction Laboratory Manager, Coral Health and Disease Research Program
🪸 Taran McNelly – Technician, Ocean Acidification Research Program

We’re proud to see Mote’s researchers contributing to the global conversation on coral reef science, restoration, and resilience.

Mote Marine Lab & Aquarium

Curious about coral reefs? Ever wondered what happens behind the scenes in a coral reef research lab?

Join us for behind-the-scenes tours of Mote’s International Center for Coral Reef Research and Restoration! Explore our state-of-the-art research facility, meet the scientists working to protect Florida's Coral Reef, and learn how Mote is helping restore reefs for future generations.

–Tours begin every hour, followed by live coral microfragmentation demonstrations
–Interactive STEM activities in the Junior Scientist Classroom
–Meet Mote's Keys Education team and discover educational opportunities for learners of all ages

🎉 Plus, the first 50 guests will receive complimentary sandwiches and cookies, and all attendees can pick up free Mote swag while supplies last!

📅 Saturday, August 22, 2026 | 10 AM–1 PM
📍 Mote’s International Center for Coral Reef Research & Restoration
24244 Overseas Highway
Summerland Key, FL 33042

We can't wait to see you there! For more info, visit mote.org/events or contact Taylor Berard at [email protected]

🚨 Exciting news for Florida's Coral Reef!

A few months ago, Mote's Upper Keys Coral Reef Restoration team collected tissue samples from three Acropora palmata (elkhorn coral) colonies at Carysfort Reef that appeared to be potential unique, wild "founder" colonies.

💡 What is a founder? A founder individual in conservation genetics is an organism from a source population with no recorded relationship to any other member of a managed population, serving as the foundational genetic building block for captive breeding or restoration efforts.

After genetic testing, the results are in... none of the three corals match any of the genetically identified colonies that have already been documented, making all three genetically unique and likely true founders! 🪸💙

Why does this matter? Over the years, researchers have genetically identified and tracked many naturally occurring founder colonies throughout the Florida Keys. Discovering a colony with a unique genetic signature is incredibly valuable because it has the potential to increase the genetic diversity of future coral restoration efforts. Greater genetic diversity can help build healthier, more resilient reef populations.

Fragments collected from these colonies will now be shared with other coral restoration practitioners and preserved in Mote's International Coral Gene Bank to help safeguard their genetics for future restoration efforts.

This discovery is especially meaningful because elkhorn coral is considered functionally extinct throughout much of the Caribbean. Every genetically unique wild colony we find offers new hope for the future of Florida's Coral Reef.

All activities are conducted under permits from the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

📸: Katie Lindback

Tomorrow night's full moon signals the beginning of one of nature's most incredible spectacles: coral spawning 🌕🪸✨

Guided by the moon and other environmental cues, corals release gamete bundles, containing eggs and s***m, into the water in a perfectly synchronized event that gives rise to the next generation of coral reefs.

As Florida's Coral Reef faces warming ocean temperatures and other environmental stressors, this annual event is more important than ever. Over the coming nights, Mote's Coral Health and Disease and Coral Reef Restoration Research teams will work alongside partners to monitor spawning in in situ nurseries, collect gametes from resilient elkhorn and staghorn corals, and strategically fertilize them to produce genetically diverse offspring. These corals will help advance research on coral resilience and support future restoration efforts throughout the Florida Keys.

Follow along as we share this remarkable process and the science helping restore Florida's Coral Reef.

📸: Dr. Hannah Koch