A professorship of tropical ecology has been established in the College of Arts, Sciences & Education at FIU thanks to a gift from FIU Emeritus Professor Walter Goldberg and his wife, Rosalie. The Walter and Rosalie Goldberg Professorship in Tropical Ecology is designed to expand FIU’s already-growing expertise in conservation, sustainability, resilience, impacts of invasive species and […]
FIU, Italian university partner to tackle water problems
FIU and the Universita per Stranieri di Perugia in Italy are formalizing collaborative efforts to address global water and environmental challenges. The two universities signed a memorandum of understanding to explore the possibility of developing academic, scientific, and cultural programs. This includes offering undergraduate and graduate courses, encouraging pursuit of doctoral degrees, establishing student and […]
South Florida comes together to help save Biscayne Bay
A 63-inch sewer line broke June 20, sending waste into Miami-Dade County’s Biscayne Canal and Intracoastal Waterway. Although the “no contact with water” advisory for swimmers has since been lifted by the the water and sewer department, this incident is one of many disturbances impacting Biscayne Bay. Members of the community, including FIU researchers, alumni, and students, came together […]
Aerial drones reveal sharks in shallow water
Answers about shark populations could come from the skies, new research finds. Using drones, a team of researchers from FIU recently completed a survey of sharks and rays in a shallow coral lagoon along the island of Mo’orea in French Polynesia. The project could be a game-changer for scientists and conservation agencies that often […]
Florida scientists take aim at Zika with launch of new center
Four Florida universities are joining forces in the fight to stop Zika. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has awarded $10 million to a new center that brings together scientists from FIU, University of Florida, University of Miami, and University of South Florida. With Florida often being an entry point into the United States […]
Biologist rounds up lizards on the loose
Lizards are on the loose in South Florida, and FIU biologist James Stroud needs local middle-schoolers to help him keep track of the reptiles. Stroud is training middle school students to collect information on anole lizards, including species, size, and where they are found. To help the young ecologists, he has created a Field Identification […]
Algae give freshwater clues in the face of sea-level rise
Sea-level rise is a monumental threat, but one FIU biologist is tracking levels using one of the Florida Everglades’ tiniest residents. Viviana Mazzei is examining communities of algae to help resource managers pinpoint which areas need freshwater most. Known as diatoms, these microscopic algae are a great indicator of environmental changes, including increased salinity and […]
Cold spells chill tropical species
Two cold spells, two years apart, and in two subtropical regions of the world have given scientists clues as to what happens when an extreme climate event strikes. By tracking conditions before, during, and after a 2008 cold spell in China and a 2010 cold spell in Florida, FIU researchers found chilling effects on plants […]