Smithsonian Marine Station • National Museum of Natural History

2016 Annual Report

Smithsonian Marine Station at Fort Pierce
Confocal micrographs of a trochophore (left) and pelagosphera (right) larva of the sipunculan 

marine worm, Phascolosoma perlucens, Caribbean of Panama; blue, DNA; yellow, cilia.  Images by 

Michael J. Boyle, Life Histories Program, Smithsonian Marine Station. 

On the cover
The Smithsonian Marine Station at Fort Pierce (SMSFP) is 

a center for research and education in the marine sciences, 

specializing in studies of biodiversity and ecology of the 

marine and estuarine ecosystems of central and south Florida. 

The facility is a field station of the Smithsonian Institution, 

administered by the National Museum of Natural History 

(NMNH). The Station provides unique opportunities to 

conduct marine field research, with the availability of excellent 

laboratory facilities, in a region of the continental United 

States with high marine biodiversity. The Smithsonian Marine 

Station hosts Smithsonian scientists and their colleagues from 

around the world, with over 100 scientific visitors annually.

Table of Contents

 2 Smithsonian Marine Station

 5 Research Highlights

13 Education and Outreach

20 Staff and Administration

21 Fellows and Interns

22 Scientific Publications

24 Station Visitors

25 Friends of SMS

Tom Smoyer26 Volunteers

About SMS
The Smithsonian Marine Station is located 

on the Indian River Lagoon (IRL), an estuary 

extending along more than one third the length 

of the east coast of Florida. The IRL is widely 

recognized as one of the most diverse estuaries in 

North America and has been designated by the 

Environmental Protection Agency as an Estuary 

of National Significance. This region of Florida’s 

coast, characterized as a transitional zone where 

temperate and tropical waters overlap, offers access 

to a great variety of habitats and an extraordinary 

diversity of both temperate and tropical species. 

In the Indian River Lagoon the variety of habitats 

ranges from mangroves, salt marshes, and seagrass 

beds to sand and mud flats, and intertidal oyster 

beds. Along the coastal shores of the barrier 

islands, which separate the lagoon from the Atlantic 

Ocean, are long stretches of sandy beaches, and 

in the nearshore waters, paralleling the shoreline, 

are a series of ridges formed by coquina outcrops, 

which in shallow waters provide a substratum for 

sabellariid worm reefs. The broad continental 

shelf with its sandy plains and shoals extends 

offshore to the Florida Current, a component of 

the Gulf Stream System. Along the edge of the 

continental shelf just to the north of Fort Pierce 

and continuing northward for 167 km is a unique 

Oculina coral reef formation. Located at depths 

from 70-100 m and consisting of pinnacles 3-35 

m in height, this unusual deep water ahermatypic 

(lacking zooxanthellae) Oculina reef formation has 

been recognized by the National Oceanographic 

Smithsonian Marine Station at Fort Pierce

Laura Diederick

Laura Diederick

Laura Diederick
Atmospheric Administration as a Habitat Area of 

Particular Concern. To the south of Fort Pierce, 

within a few hours of travel, are Florida Bay and the 

Florida Keys, the only living tropical coral reefs in 

the continental United States. 

While 2016 marked the 46th year of the 

Smithsonian’s research program in Fort Pierce, it 

was the 17th year of operation at its location on 

South Hutchinson Island along the Fort Pierce 

Inlet. The campus on Causeway Island has allowed 

the Smithsonian Marine Station to increase and 

strengthen the breadth and diversity of its research 

and to attract new collaborative interactions. It 

provides offices and individual laboratories for 

visiting scientists, resident staff, and postdoctoral 

fellows, a conference room and computer room, and 

general use laboratories for chemistry, histology, 

molecular work, confocal microscopy, preparations 

for electron microscopy, and two wet labs. Programs 

currently housed at and/or administered by SMS 

include the Chemical Ecology Program, the Life 

Histories Program, the Benthic Ecology Program, 

the Marine Conservation Program, the Mangrove 

Ecology Program (administered by the Smithsonian 

Environmental Research Center), and the Caribbean 

Coral Reef Ecosystems Program. SMS is also 

one of four sites within the Tennenbaum Marine 

Observatories Network, part of the Smithsonian’s 

Marine Global Earth Observatory (MarineGEO) 

initiative.

Laura Diederick

Zach Foltz

Jessica Lunt

Research

The Smithsonian Marine Station at Fort Pierce is a central 

participant in marine research at the National Museum of 

Natural History. It provides a vital link between tropical and 

temperate ecosystems in the Smithsonian’s coastal network 

of marine research stations, which includes an array of 

laboratories and research vessels spanning the western 

Atlantic coastal zone and across the Isthmus of Panama. 

The Smithsonian facilitates long-term, interdisciplinary 

comparative research among these sites, including the 

Smithsonian Marine Station, Smithsonian Environmental 

Research Center in Maryland, Carrie Bow Cay Field Station 

in Belize, and the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute 

in Panama, which are all part of the Tennenbaum Marine 

Observatories Network.

Zach Foltz
Studying Bottom Feeders to Improve St. Lucie 

River Health

The Benthic Ecology Lab’s main project examines the diversity of the 

tiny animals that live in the sediments (infauna) of the Indian River Lagoon. This is part of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Program 

(CERP) and has been ongoing in the St. Lucie Estuary and Indian River 

Lagoon between Fort Pierce and Stuart, FL for the past 11 years. This 

project’s goal is to determine the effects of freshwater releases from Lake 

Okeechobee on the estuary and lagoon and understand how changes 

in water flow may affect them. This project is funded by the U.S. Army 

Corps of Engineers and is projected to continue as freshwater is redirected through the Everglades to restore historic flow patterns. As part 

of the project, a small targeted study was conducted in 2016 to determine 

if depth and sediment type affect the communities being collected. 

Samples were taken at five sites throughout the St. Lucie River at three 

fixed depths. Sediment type seems to be the most important factor in 

determining communities present.

Secondarily, a study on the effectiveness of restored bivalves (oysters 

and mussels) at improving water quality within the St. Lucie River was 

begun in October. This study, funded by the IRL National Estuary Program, will examine feeding behavior of these two common bivalves at 3 

sites within the St. Lucie River. These three sites were at different salinity 

levels, and the results should present a picture of the tradeoffs between 

the two bivalves across salinity levels within the estuary. 

6 | SMS Annual Report 2016

Monitoring IRL’s Tiny Animals 

The Algal Blooms Investigation, funded by St. 

Johns River Water Management District, finished 

in September 2016. This large scale project involved 

multiple teams across the state working on different aspects of blooms and their effects on the Indian 

River Lagoon. The Smithsonian Marine Station was 

part of the team studying grazer effects on bloom dynamics. The Benthic Ecology Lab focused on a survey 

of infauna (animals in the sediments) of the Northern 

Indian River Lagoon for their part in the project. 

The survey aimed to asses and catalog the diversity of infauna in the Indian River Lagoon between 

Oak Hill and Melbourne, FL. To accomplish this, 27 

fixed sites were sampled quarterly from July 2014-July 

2016 with a Ponar grab that samples about two handfuls worth of sediment. This sample is sieved to remove the fine grain sediments and keep the animals. 

These animals are then preserved and transported 

back to the lab for identification. Over the course 

of the study, 312 unique taxa were identified in the 

survey area. Many were different from species found 

in the southern parts of the lagoon. The distribution 

of these species seems related to the sediment characteristics of the site sampled. Additionally, a change 

in community composition was detected in the fall 

of 2015 and subsequent samples had few individuals. 

This change is possibly related to the brown tide event 

that occurred early in 2016.

 Michelle Stephens

Katrina Bayliss
Filter Feeders Keeping the IRL 

Healthy 

The Indian River Lagoon supports a high diversity 

of epifaunal organisms that grow on mangrove roots 

and dock and bridge pilings. As part of a project 

funded by St. Johns River Water Management 

District, scientists at SMS are investigating whether 

the loss of these organisms contributed to the proliferation of the 2011 superbloom in the north IRL. 

Using lab- and field-based experiments, Drs. Chris 

Freeman, Eve Galimany, and Jessica Lunt found 

that bivalves like oysters, clams, and mussels are 

capable of consuming algal bloom cells. In addition, 

by analyzing the diets of barnacles, the researchers 

found these dominant organisms play an important 

role throughout the IRL by removing large amounts 

of organic matter from the water. Experiments were 

also conducted with natural communities of filter 

feeding organisms. Whole communities rapidly 

consumed algal bloom cells from the water, with the 

rate of bloom removal being directly related to the 

number of different organisms present within the 

community. This research highlights the importance of biodiversity in the maintenance of healthy 

ecosystems within the IRL. 

Dean Janiak

TMON, Biodiversity, and the IRL

The Marine Global Earth Observatory (MarineGEO), led by the Tennenbaum Marine Observatories Network (TMON), is a long-term 

research program geared towards understanding coastal marine 

ecosystems around the world. TMON focuses on biodiversity and how 

it changes over time. TMON utilizes standardized protocols to collect 

data used to understand the factors that affect ecosystems. At SMS, 

TMON has joined up with the Florida Natural History Museum to 

census marine life in the region to establish a baseline record of what 

is living in our coastal waters and to provide an archive for future 

generations. As with a starting point to any program, it is important 

to have an understanding of the species present, including who they 

are and what they do. Without this it is difficult to follow change 

through time, as well as to document the disappearance or arrival 

of new species. Biodiversity is greatest in structured habitats, and an 

easy way to census life is to incorporate it into TMON’s long-term 

sampling. For example, TMON has recently joined with Florida 

Department of Environmental Protection to start a project to monitor the health of oyster reefs in the IRL. One aspect of the project is to 

assess the positive effects of oysters as habitat for other invertebrates. 

Over time, continued sampling should yield an extensive list of all 

species found in oyster reefs in the IRL. By sampling multiple habitats, TMON has the ability to document the majority of biodiversity 

locally, as well as around the world.

Christopher Freeman

SMS Annual Report 2016 | 7
The amount of living coral on Caribbean reefs has decreased dramatically over the past 30 years. In many 

cases, the reduction in coral cover coincided with an increase in the growth of algae. Living corals are necessary for the maintenance of healthy reef ecosystems, and this shift from coral to algal dominance is of great 

concern to many coral reef scientists. Drs. Jennifer Sneed and Valerie Paul from the Smithsonian Marine 

Station’s Chemical Ecology Lab, in collaboration with Dr. Danielle Dixson from the University of Delaware, 

have been investigating how the predominance of algae on Caribbean reefs impacts coral recruitment. At 

very early stages in their development, corals are able to “smell” chemical cues in the water and adjust their 

swimming behavior based on this information. Drs. Sneed, Paul and Dixson investigated the swimming 

response of several species of corals during their larval stage to a variety of common reef algae. Coral larvae 

consistently chose to swim toward water collected from just above the reef more often than to water collected 

offshore or over a seagrass bed. This shows that the larvae are able to recognize the reef environment and 

are attracted to it. However, when given a choice between reef water and reef water soaked with algae, larvae 

avoided water containing cues from six out of eight fleshy algae species tested. If coral larvae avoid reefs with 

algae growing on them, it may be difficult for algal-dominated reefs to become repopulated by corals.

Algae represent a key component of many marine environments. Similar to corals, some can produce an important mineral, known as calcium carbonate, which aids in structural integrity. The production of this mineral 

is known as calcification, which maintains the reefs and sediments that serve as a foundation for coastal habitats. Unfortunately, climate change may halt this important process. With increases in carbon dioxide (CO2

), 

the pH of seawater is decreasing. This is known as ocean acidification (OA), which poses a threat to future 

calcification. Furthermore, seawater temperatures are also on the rise, exerting unknown effects on calcified 

algae. Smithsonian scientists have been studying the effects of climate change on algae. Experiments have transplanted several species into aquaria, in which temperatures and chemistry were carefully controlled. Algae were 

incubated for several weeks under four conditions: 1) normal CO2/normal temperature, 2) high CO2/normal 

temperature, 3) normal CO2/high temperature, 4) high CO2/high temperature. Afterwards, calcification was 

compared across the four conditions. Our results demonstrate that while high CO2 exerts a negative effect on 

calcification, high temperatures exert a positive effect, such that when combined, they serve to cancel each other 

out. These findings are surprising, and stand in contrast to prior work with corals. This demonstrates that it is 

important to test the effects of multiple factors on a variety of marine organisms.

Globally, coastal wetland vegetation distributions are changing in response to climate change. In the southeastern United States, increased winter temperatures have resulted in poleward expansion of mangroves at 

the expense of saltmarsh. The replacement of coastal wetland foundation species will likely have substantial 

functional and structural repercussions. Little is known about how these rapid climate-driven shifts may 

alter mangrove productivity, detrital turnover, and ultimately ecosystem carbon (C) storage. Researchers in 

the Mangrove Ecology Lab quantified current ecosystem C stocks, including aboveground, belowground, 

and soil to a depth of 50 cm, in coastal wetlands across a latitudinal gradient (26° – 29°) of mangrove to 

saltmarsh along Florida’s east coast. Interior mangroves had the highest C stocks, followed by fringing mangroves, then the saltmarsh–mangrove transitional zone, and then saltmarshes. Soil C comprises the majority 

of each ecosystem C stock (51 – 98%). At the landscape scale, the mangrove wetlands investigated along the 

Atlantic coast cover 12,106 ha, and may store ~3.7 million megagrams of C. Increases in mangrove area and 

extent will increase total ecosystem C storage, however the magnitude and direction of change is dependent 

on spatial and temporal drivers. By strengthening the science supporting wetland C storage potential and 

our understanding of associated biogeochemical processes, we will improve our ability to identity and manage priority areas for conservation and restoration.

Corals Avoid “Stinky” 

Reefs

Macroalgae and 

Climate Change

Climate-induced 

Mangrove Migration

Jennifer Sneed

Lindsay Spiers

Lorae Simpson
Dr. Mary Rice Honored at 

Annual IRL Gala

Dr. Mary E. Rice, was the guest of honor at Harbor 

Branch Oceanographic Institute Foundation’s fifth 

annual “Love Your Lagoon” gala on February 5, 2016. 

She received the Leadership and Achievement Award in 

recognition of her “devoted stewardship of the Indian 

River Lagoon, and contributing to the world’s understanding of marine ecosystems.”

“Dr. Mary Rice has been described as a local 

legend,” said Katha Kissman, President & CEO of the 

Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute Foundation 

(HBOIF). “We are particularly thrilled to have Dr. 

Rice as our honoree this year because of her lifelong 

work in our area and on the Indian River Lagoon. Our 

Board was unanimous in its recommendation of her as 

our 2016 awardee.”

Mary is well known locally for her long-term scientific studies of invertebrates of the Indian River Lagoon and offshore waters of Florida and the Caribbean, and as the first director of the Smithsonian Marine 

Station at Fort Pierce. An Emeritus Senior Research 

Scientist since 2002, her tenure as a researcher in the 

Fort Pierce area began in 1971 when the Smithsonian 

established a presence in St. Lucie County. 

Photograph: Mary E. Rice (right) holding the sculpture, Little Heron, rendered by artist Cathy Ferrell. She is 

joined by Katha Kissman (left), President & CEO HBOIF 

and Michael Minton (center), Chairman of Board HBOIF.

Michael Boyle

New Manager of the Life Histories Program

In 2016, the Life Histories Program experienced a significant transition. After completing two Smithsonian postdoctoral fellowships, 

Dr. Michael J. Boyle was hired as a staff biologist to manage the Life 

Histories Program, along with molecular biology and microscopy 

at SMS. Michael brings his training in developmental biology, with 

interests in gene expression, microscopy, and biodiversity of marine 

invertebrate larvae. Since arriving, Dr. Boyle has been planning and 

implementing the future course of research in his program, including 

laboratory renovations, presentations, workshops and grant proposals. Long term plans include using DNA barcodes to identify species 

of larvae from Panama to the Indian River Lagoon (IRL), and within 

the Gulf Stream, to detect genetic links between adult marine invertebrates and the swimming larvae that disperse, connect or disconnect their populations. Michael is building upon the legacy of Dr. 

Mary Rice, who was the first director of SMS and founder of the Life 

Histories Program. He will pursue projects on animal development, 

embryonic gene expression, and transcriptomics in sipunculans 

(peanut worms), while asking questions across a diversity of animals 

in the tree of life. As with Dr. Rice, former Curator of Worms in the 

Smithsonian’s Department of Invertebrate Zoology (IZ), Dr. Boyle 

will integrate his work with IZ colleagues, and hopefully attract their 

collective interest to conduct research at the Smithsonian Marine Station in the future.

Brian Cousins, FAU-HBOI

SMS Annual Report 2016 | 9
Mud crabs are economically important in Southeast Asia, with the demand for soft-shelled crab being one 

of the most important export products to Singapore and China. In Myanmar the most commonly harvested 

crabs are from the genus Scylla, which consists of at least four species that are morphologically similar, and 

show a wide distribution from eastern Africa to Southeast Asia and Indo-Pacific regions. The demand for 

soft-shelled crab has rapidly increased, but biological and ecological data in the country are very limited. 

The increasing importance of these species in the country demands an accurate understanding of species 

composition and population dynamics of the fishing stocks to inform management actions and ensure the 

sustainability of the mud crab fishery.

The Marine Conservation Program is collaborating with the Myanmar fisheries department and the 

University of Myiek to genetically identify the species of mud crab (Scylla sp.) that are harvested and farmed 

in Myanmar. In July, Smithsonian scientists conducted genetic analysis training workshops with more than 

25 students enrolled in masters and PhD programs at the university. They visited fishing communities and 

crab farms in the archipelago of Myeik to collected tissue samples of Scylla crabs for genetic analyses. By 

understanding which species are primarily being harvested, researchers can investigate more about their biology and help to design species-specific management plans to promote greater sustainability in the fishery. 

The Marine Conservation Program performed a large-scale connectivity study of the overharvested 

queen conch (Lobatus gigas) fishery throughout the greater Caribbean. Understanding how populations of marine species are connected in space and time is important for developing conservation and 

management plans for internationally shared fisheries. Researchers used DNA fingerprinting to identify patterns of connectivity among queen conch populations from Anguilla, the Bahamas, Belize, Caribbean Netherlands, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Turks and Caicos, and the Florida Keys. They found 

that queen conch in the greater Caribbean can be grouped into seven unique populations, and connectivity among these populations decreases with distance. This information can be used to help pinpoint 

areas to protect and develop effective fisheries management practices to help queen conch populations 

recover from overexploitation.

In 2016, SMS/Link Fellow Azra Mallett examined the queen conch populations on the Main Offshore 

Fishing Banks of Jamaica. A total of 218 samples from the three largest and most productive banks 

located to the SW, SE and NE of the Island were collected and genetically characterized using nine polymorphic microsatellite loci in order to provide insight to the population dynamics and viability of the 

queen conch fishery. The results have implications for the improvement of conservation measures and 

management strategies currently in place for the queen conch fishery, which is the most commercially 

important fishery in Jamaica. It will also help to formulate regional management policies for the fishery 

as high levels of genetic connectivity have been reported in the Caribbean region. The genetic technique 

utilized in this study will also be used as a management tool for other marine species across Jamaica to 

control fishing pressure. The research revealed that the queen conch stocks in Jamaica are highly connected and the conch populations on the offshore banks are healthy with good gene flow from external 

sources. Results also indicated that population structure, although not well defined, appeared similar 

within each offshore bank. However there was genetic differentiation between offshore banks in keeping 

with geographical location, current patterns, and fishing pressure. Conch production may currently be 

underestimated as the management strategies in place targets only one offshore bank, which is similar in 

genetic structure to the other offshore banks which are significantly smaller.

Genetics & Myanmar 

Crab Fishery

Jamaican Queen 

Conch Populations

Connecting Queen 

Conch

Iris Segura-Garcia

iLCP / Claudio Contreras-Koob

iLCP / Claudio Contreras-Koob
DNA Barcoding for 

Shark Conservation

Improving Small-Scale 

Fisheries Management

Win-Win: Conserving 

and Catching

The sustained fishing of sharks has resulted in severe population declines prompting international efforts 

to improve the conservation and management of heavily exploited species. Identifying and quantifying 

which shark species are being caught is a fundamental first step for developing fisheries management 

strategies. However, little is known about nearshore fisheries including the small scale and artisanal 

sectors. Shark products from these fisheries enter national and regional markets as processed parts and 

derivatives, so visual identification of species is often difficult. To understand which species are entering 

local markets of the wider Caribbean, researchers from the Marine Conservation Program used DNA 

barcoding to characterize shark products in restaurants and markets from nine countries. They identified 

16 species of shark. The most common species found were the blue shark (Prionace glauca), followed by 

the Atlantic sharpnose shark (Rhizoprionodon terraenovae), shortfin mako shark (Isurus oxyrinchus) and 

the silky shark (Carcharhinus falciformis). These exploited species are regionally important and would 

benefit from local management and conservation efforts. Using genetic techniques to document fished 

species in the absence of visual identification can quantify which shark species are vulnerable to different 

types of fishing activities and help develop and focus localized management strategies. 

The Marine Conservation Program has identified technological solutions to address the lack of fisheries 

data in small-scale fisheries. These are being piloted in Belize and the Honduran Caribbean, in collaboration with the Wildlife Conservation Society and the Center for Marine Studies. To effectively manage target fish species, managers need to understand: (1) Who is using the resource, (2) what species are targeted, 

and (3) where fishing grounds are located. 

Licensing of fishers has been implemented by Belizean and Honduran fisheries departments. These 

systems provide data on how many fishers are entering the fishery, and in which community they live. 

Fisheries production data collection has been revolutionized by the development of a free mobile application, OurFish. The app is used by fish buyers and restaurants to record their normal day-to-day transactions. Catch data are stored in a virtual cloud, which is accessible to the fish buyers and fisheries departments, providing customizable infographics to display the data. In 2017, researchers will be implementing 

the third component on the project - vessel monitoring. They will monitor the movement of fishers across 

the seascape to identifying important fishing grounds. The who, the what, and the where will be incorporated into the design of no-take reserves and fisheries management strategies to promote sustainability in 

Belizean and Honduran fisheries.

Within the Marine Conservation Program, Smithsonian researchers are addressing a prevalent dilemma in marine conservation planning by designing marine reserves that both protect marine resources and boost fisheries income. Program staff and scientists, in collaboration with partners from 

Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute, University of California Davis, and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, have developed methods for selecting optimal reserve locations that 

will benefit fish populations and the communities that depend on them. Researchers are also working 

with international and local non-governmental organizations for the implementation of these reserve 

networks in Honduras (in partnership with Centro de Estudios Marinos) and the entire Mesoamerican Reef (in collaboration with The Nature Conservancy, the Centro de Estudios Marinos, Comunidad y Biodiversidad AC, and Healthy Reefs).

iLCP / Claudio Contreras-Koob

iLCP / Claudio Contreras-Koob

iLCP / Claudio Contreras-Koob

In the service of the Smithsonian’s ongoing mission for both 

the increase and diffusion of knowledge, the Smithsonian 

Marine Station at Fort Pierce supports a robust education 

and outreach program. Central among these efforts is the 

Smithsonian Marine Ecosystems Exhibit, housed at the St. 

Lucie County Aquarium. In 2016 the Exhibit saw its highest 

attendance since opening, welcoming more than 38,000 

visitors to peruse its live ecosystem displays and interpretive 

exhibitry. Smithsonian staff and researchers were also actively 

engaged in community outreach, offering monthly tours 

of SMS, hosting several large-scale events, and attending 

numerous community festivals.

Zach Foltz

Education
The Smithsonian Marine Ecosystems Exhibit (SMEE) 

is a different kind of aquarium. The live displays 

are more than just fish tanks, they are functioning 

model ecosystems. Located in the St. Lucie County 

Aquarium, the Exhibit is a joint venture of the 

Smithsonian and St. Lucie County. The centerpiece 

is the 3,300-gallon Coral Reef Ecosystem. Initially 

on display at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of 

Natural History, the reef was moved to Fort Pierce 

in 2001 to become the focal point of a new outreach 

facility. Visitors to SMEE can also explore five other 

local habitats of the Indian River Lagoon and the 

Florida coast, interact with horseshoe crabs and 

other invertebrates in a touch tank, and investigate 

preserved marine specimens or enjoy hands-on 

activities in the Aquarium’s Discovery Room.

The dynamic quality of natural ecosystems is 

captured not only in the model ecosystem displays, 

it is also reflected in the constant modification 

and improvement of the Exhibit’s interpretive 

elements. Permanent and temporary signage is an 

important component in providing a high quality 

visitor experience. Education staff developed several 

graphic and interpretive elements for the Aquarium 

galleries to complement living displays, highlight 

important ecological concepts, and showcase 

Smithsonian research. Two large-scale murals were 

installed over the live displays in both galleries, 

depicting the expanse of the Indian River Lagoon 

and the bathymetry of the Atlantic moving offshore.

Education staff also update and maintain brochures 

that were developed in-house to accompany each 

Smithsonian at St. Lucie County Aquarium

Jasmine Fox

Joey Roulette

SMS file photo
Model Ecosystem aquarium. 

In an effort to disseminate SMS research to the 

public, education staff continued the series of “Meet 

the Smithsonian Scientist” posters in the Exhibit’s 

Discovery Room, highlighting both research and 

scientific support staff at the Marine Station. Educa-

tors also collaborated with researchers to expand the 

“Spotlight on Science” signage and exhibits at SMEE. 

Several of the model ecosystem aquaria at SMEE are 

habitats in which SMS researchers work, and pho-

tos and descriptions showcasing the scientists and 

their research were added to the complementary 

live displays. A new interactive display featuring 

the Benthic Ecology Lab introduced the concept of 

the benthic community, discussed the importance 

of studying the animals that live there, and featured 

authentic benthic samples to be viewed with a 

magnifying glass. Another research-focused display, 

featuring the Biocube initiative, was installed in 

the gallery at SMEE. This unique project measures 

biodiversity in various ecosystems using a standard-

ized unit of one cubic foot of space. Smithsonian 

researchers conducted a Biocube assessment of a 

coral reef near Carrie Bow Cay field station, home to 

the Smithsonian’s Caribbean Coral Reef Ecosystems 

Program. Researchers extracted and photographed 

each organism photographed in this area, and a 

poster featuring each organism is displayed in the 

exhibit at SMEE, along with an example of a physi-

cal Biocube and signage highlighting the project and 

how individual citizens can become engaged with 

Biocube.

Jasmine Fox

Laura Rush

SMS file photo
16 |SMS Annual Report 2015

Diamondback Terrapins: SMEE’s First Reptiles

In 2016, the Smithsonian Marine Ecosystems Exhibit welcomed 

reptiles to the Aquarium for the very first time. A display featuring 

two diamondback terrapins was unveiled in January that highlighted 

these unique turtles, which are the only species to live their entire 

lives in estuaries such as the Indian River Lagoon. The two terrapins 

were donated to the Aquarium by the Brevard Zoo, which is part of the 

Florida Atlantic Coast Terrapin Team (FACTT). The turtles were found 

as stranded hatchlings in Brevard County, and were in need of a home 

prior to coming to live at the Aquarium. 

FACTT works to identify population locations of diamondback terrapins, as well as address threats that they face. The terrapins 

have been excellent ambassadors for their species, and have served as 

a way for the Smithsonian to partner with FACTT to spread public 

awareness about these unique and little-understood local turtles. The 

terrapins were also part of a study on genetic diversity in Indian River 

Lagoon terrapin populations, while exposing Smithsonian marine 

science summer campers to tissue sampling and the importance of genetics in the process. They have even traveled to outreach events with 

Aquarium educators!

The terrapin exhibit at the Aquarium also encourages members of the public to assist scientists in learning about diamondback 

terrapins by participating in citizen science. Sightings of terrapins in 

the Indian River Lagoon can be reported to terrapin@brevardzoo.org. 

16 | SMS Annual Report 2016

SMEE Celebrates 15 Years 

The Smithsonian Marine Station and St. Lucie 

County celebrated 15 years of partnership in 2016, 

and SMEE offered two special events to commemorate this milestone anniversary. To kick off the 

celebrations, SMEE hosted a 15th Birthday Bash 

on the Lagoon in March. The event welcomed both 

seasonal residents and local students and families, 

as the Bash took place during local schools’ spring 

break. More than 350 visitors took advantage of 

hands-on learning opportunities, including seine 

netting in the Indian River Lagoon, behind-thescenes tours in the laboratory, and learning stations 

with SMS scientists. 

A second celebration took place on Saturday, 

August 27, when the Smithsonian sponsored a free 

admission day in commemoration of SMEE’s opening day on August 28, 2001. More than 1,400 visitors 

enjoyed viewing SMEE’s model ecosystem aquaria, 

visiting the touch tank, and participating in feeding 

tours and behind-the-scenes tours that were offered 

throughout the day. 

With more than 325,000 visitors since its opening in 2001, SMEE has continually grown, with 

increased internship opportunities, engaging exhibits, a successful volunteer program, and education 

programs for children, families, and adults. To learn 

more about SMEE, visit www.sms.si.edu/SMEE. 

Jasmine Fox

Jasmine Fox
New and Improved Indian River 

Lagoon Species Inventory

The Indian River Lagoon Species Inventory (www.

sms.si.edu/irlspec) is a prominent feature of SMS’s 

public outreach program and has been expanding annually since 1997. Its many features include 

a taxonomic database of over 3,500 species, 500 

complete species narratives, material on special 

status and invasive species, information on the IRL’s 

diverse habitats, and a guide to improving IRL water 

quality. The Inventory also contains an IRL species 

image collection that will soon encompass over 

700 images and a downloadable species database 

and IRL bibliography. In the fall of 2015, a newly 

formatted IRL Species Inventory went online when 

informational content from over 160 core pages 

was transferred into newly formatted templates 

and posted. Navigability and overall appeal of the 

site improved substantially. Inventory personnel 

recently completed site-wide verification and expansion of all citations, and are currently focusing on 

migrating species narrative content into the new 

format. Future directions for inventory expansion 

include updating selected species narratives as well 

as boosting the number of listed species by increasing collaboration with IRL researchers. SMS intern 

Sunkanmi Akintoye, has provided much needed 

technical assistance with the new format. 

Cristin Krasco

School District Events Showcase SMEE

Thousands of students who participate in field trips at Smithsonian 

Marine Ecosystems Exhibit (SMEE) each year may view their visit 

simply as a fun day away from their regular classroom. However, 

SMEE is a classroom in itself, providing hands-on experiences that 

complement learning in the classroom, and the opportunity for 

families to enjoy a fun, educational outing in their local community.

Recognizing the important role that informal education 

facilities such as SMEE fulfill, St. Lucie County School District 

(SLCSD) science staff partnered with SMEE educators to offer two 

special events in 2016. In January, K-5 teachers visited SMEE and the 

St. Lucie County History Center to learn about field trip opportunities for their students. During the outing, teachers had the opportunity to engage in a mock field trip to experience what a visit for their 

students would include. The majority of teachers in the group were 

fist-time visitors and were grateful for the opportunity to see the 

resources provided by both facilities.

A second collaboration with SLCSD took place in late April, 

when SMEE hosted the first annual Elementary Science Showcase. 

Five informal science education centers throughout St. Lucie County 

hosted Showcase events, providing opportunities for elementary 

students to share their science fair projects with the public while 

introducing students and their families to educational facilities in 

the community. This successful inaugural event will be repeated for 

2017. 

Joe Dineen

SMS Annual Report 2016 | 17
Education

Numbers by the

COSEE Florida Brings Scientists and 

Public Together

The Ocean Science Learning Network is COSEE 

Florida’s informal education initiative led by SMS 

and tasked with fostering meaningful collaborations 

between ocean scientists and science centers, 

aquariums, museums, university outreach programs 

and other informal entities looking to increase and/or 

enhance their marine science-based activities for the 

public. These collaborations are developed through 

the mutual coordination and implementation of a 

variety of activities under the umbrella theme, Water 

as Habitat (WaH). 

Last year, COSEE Florida supported more than 15 

public science events, bringing together more than 75 

scientists with a reach of over 2000 event participants. 

Notable events sponsored by COSEE Florida include 

the North Florida Marine Science Symposium in 

Cedar Key, the National Marine Educators Association 

annual conference in Orlando, the Indian River Lagoon 

Science Festival in Fort Pierce, and a new series of 

“pop-up” science encounters called Talk Science with 

Me in Gainesville. 

Ashley Luke

18 | SMS Annual Report 2016
SMS Annual Report 2015 | 19

Indian River Lagoon Science Festival Continues to Grow

On Saturday, October 22, the third annual Indian River Lagoon Science Festival (IRLSF) brought 

more than 80 exhibitors (including five from SMS) and an estimated 10,000 participants to the 

Festival’s new location at Veterans Memorial Park in Fort Pierce, just north of downtown. After 

outgrowing its previous location on South Hutchinson Island, the new location was a welcome 

change and easily accommodated the 30% increase in attendance over the previous year.

The IRLSF serves as a central, collaborative activity around which the extensive Science, 

Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) community in the region can rally in support 

of increased engagement. Pre- and post-Festival events, or satellite events, were held directly in the 

community, with the intention of maximizing the reach of the Festival efforts. Additionally, the 

events targeted community members of all ages, and interest-levels in science. New exhibitors in 

2016 included NASA/Kennedy Space Center, Triton Submarines, LLC, and an expanded presence from 

the United States Department of Agriculture.

Earlier in the year, the IRL Science Festival leadership team was selected by the Science Festival 

Alliance to serve as a mentor festival to three new festival initiatives located across North America as 

part of the Accelerator Program. The program is generously funded by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. 

In addition to the honor of serving as a leader in this national network, the IRLSF receives a $10,000 

award to support its ongoing efforts to show the Treasure Coast community that science is meaningful, 

accessible, and fun!

Michelle Donahue 
Staff and Administration

David J. Skorton - Secretary, Smithsonian 

Institution

Richard Kurin - Acting Provost/Under Secretary 

for Museums and Research, Smithsonian Institution

Kirk Johnson - Sant Director, National Museum of 

Natural History

Maureen Kearney - Associate Director for Science, 

National Museum of Natural History

Valerie J. Paul – Head Scientist, Smithsonian 

Marine Station at Fort Pierce

Mary Rice - Emeritus Senior Research Scientist

Neal Asthana - Marine Technician

Katrina Bayliss, Research Assistant

Stephen Box - Coordinator and Supervisor, Marine 

Conservation Program

Michael J. Boyle - Biologist

Justin Campbell - Biologist

Steven Canty - Latin America and Caribbean 

Coordinator, Marine Conservation Program

Laura Diederick - Public Programs Specialist

Joseph Dineen - Research Associate

Zachary Foltz - Station Manager, Carrie Bow Cay 

Field Station and Dive Safety Officer

Jasmine Fox - Marine Biology Educator

Sarath Gunasekara - Research Chemist

William Hoffman - Ecosystems Exhibit Manager

L.J. Houk - Research Technician

Dean Janiak - Biologist, TMON

M. Scott Jones - Program Coordinator, Caribbean 

Coral Reef Ecosystems

Joan L. Kaminski - Administrative Officer

John Paul Kennedy - Biological Science Technician

Cristin Krasco - Education Specialist & Volunteer 

Coordinator 

William D. Lee - Research Technician

Jessica Lunt - Biologist

Melanie McField- Program Coordinator, Healthy 

Reefs Initiative

Julianne Piraino - Laboratory Manager

Sherry A. Reed - Station Manager

Lorae Simpson - Biological Science Technician

Katherine Skura - Research Assistant

Jennifer Sneed - Biologist

Michelle Stephens - Research Assistant

Judith Winston - Research Associate

20 | SMS Annual Report 2016
Postdoctoral Fellows

Iliana Chollett

Courtney E. Cox

Christopher Freeman

Eva Galimany

Iris Segura-Garcia

Jessica Lunt

Francois Seneca

Nathan Truelove

Link Fellows

Azra Blythe-Mallett

Bartholomew DiFiore

Nicole Johnston

Interns

Sunkanmi Akintoye

Emma Bennett

Nina Davis

Khalila Haque

Kendall Lee

Nicole Llinas

Audrey Looby

Malcolm Mossop

Ashley Petticrew

Nelson Rivera

Erika Schmitt

Arthur Simas Domingos

Barry Smith

Ellyn Willse

Fellows and Interns

SMS Annual Report 2016 | 21
Al-Awadhi, Fatma, R. Ratnayake, V. J. Paul, and H. Luesch. 2016. Tasiamide F, a potent inhibitor of cathepsins D and E from a marine cyanobacterium. Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry, 24(15): 3276-3282.

Baeza, J. Antonio, L. Simpson, L.J. Ambrosio, R. Guéron, and N. Mora. 2016. Monogamy in a hyper-symbiotic shrimp. PloS ONE, 11(3): e0149797.

Baeza, J. Antonio. 2016. Molecular phylogeny of Porcelain crabs (Porcellanidae: Petrolisthes and allies) from the south eastern Pacific: the genera 

Allopetrolisthes and Liopetrolisthes are not natural entities. PeerJ, 4: e1805.

Baeza, Antonio, L. Simpson, J.J. Ambrosio, N. Mora, R. Guéron, and M. Childress. 2016. Active parental care, reproductive performance, and a 

novel egg predator affecting reproductive investment in the Caribbean spiny lobster Panulirus argus. BMC Zoology, 1: 6.

Baeza, J. Antonio, R. Guéron, L. Simpson, and L.J. Ambrosio. 2016. Population distribution, host-switching, and chemical sensing in the symbiotic 

shrimp Lysmata pederseni: implications for its mating system in a changing reef seascape. Coral Reefs, 35(4): 1213-1224. 

Bousquet, Michelle S., J.J. Ma, R. Ratnayake, P.A. Havre, J. Yao, N.H. Dang, V.J. Paul, T. Carney, L.H. Dang, H. Luesch. 2016. Multidimensional 

screening platform for simultaneously targeting oncogenic KRAS and hypoxia-inducible factors pathways in colorectal cancer. ACS Chemical 

Biology, 11(5): 1322-1331.

Cai, Weijing, J.H. Matthews, V.J. Paul, and H. Luesch. 2016. Pitiamides A and B, multifunctional fatty acidamides from marine cyanobacteria. 

Planta Medica, 82(9/10): 897-902.

Campbell, Justin E., J. Fisch, C. Langdon, and V.J. Paul. 2016. Increased temperature mitigates the effects of ocean acidification in calcified green 

algae (Halimeda spp.). Coral Reefs, 35(1): 357-368.

Capper, Angela, A.A. Erickson, R. Ritson-Williams, M.A. Becerro, K.A. Arthur, and V.J. Paul. 2016. Palatability and chemical defenses of benthic 

cyanobacteria to a suite of herbivores. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology & Ecology, 474: 100-108.

Chollett, Iliana, S.J. Box, and P.J. Mumby. 2016. Quantifying the squeezing or stretching of fisheries as they adapt to displacement by marine reserves. Conservation Biology, 30(1): 166-175. 

Dangremond, Emily M., and I.C. Feller. 2016. Precocious reproduction increases at the leading edge of a mangrove range expansion. Ecology and 

Evolution, 6(14): 5087-5092.

Doughty, Cheryl L., J.A. Langley, W.S. Walker, I.C. Feller, R. Schaub, and S.K. Chapman. 2016. Mangrove range expansion rapidly increases coastal 

wetland carbon storage. Estuaries and Coasts, 39(2): 385-396.

Evans, Nathaniel and C.S. McKeon. 2016. New records and field observations support a facultative commensal association of Thalamita longifrons

and Thalamita murinae with soft coral. Bulletin of Marine Science, 92(1): 105-106. 

Freeman, Christopher J., E.W. Stoner, C.G Easson, K.O. Matterson, and D.M. Baker. 2016. Symbiont carbon and nitrogen assimilation in the 

Cassiopea-Symbiodinium mutualism. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 544: 281-286.

Freeman, Christopher J., C.G. Easson, and D.M. Baker. 2016. Niche structure of marine sponges from temperate hard-bottom habitats within Gray’s 

Reef National Marine Reserve. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the UK, 96(2): 559-565.

Freeman, Christopher and C.G. Easson. 2016. Sponge distribution and the presence of photosymbionts in Moorea, French Polynesia. PeerJ, 4: e1816. 

Flower, Jason, J.C. Ortiz, I. Chollett, S. Abdullah, C. Castro-Sanguino, K. Hock, V. Lam, and P.J. Mumby. 2016. Interpreting coral reef monitoring 

data: A guide for improved management decisions. Ecological Indicators, 72: 848-869.

Scientific Publications

22 | SMS Annual Report 2016
Gamal, Abrahim El, V. Agarwal, S. Diethelm, I. Rahman, M.A. Schorn, J.M. Sneed, G.V. Louie, K.E. Whalen, T.J. Mincer, J.P. Noel, V.J. Paul, 

and B.S. Moore. 2016. Biosynthesis of coral settlement cue tetrabromopyrrole in marine bacteria by a uniquely adapted brominase–thioesterase 

enzyme pair. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 113(14): 3797-3802.

Gunasekera, Sarath, Y. Li, R. Ratnayake, D. Luo, J. Lo, J. H. Reibenspies, Z. Xu, M. J. Clare-Salzler, T. Ye, V.J. Paul, and H. Luesch. 2016. Discovery, total synthesis, and key structural elements for the immunosuppressive activity of Cocosolide, a symmetrical glycosylated macrolide dimer 

from marine cyanobacteria. Chemistry – A European Journal, 22(24): 8158-8166.

Gunasekera, Sarath, L. Imperial, C. Garst, R. Ratnayake, L. Dang, V.J. Paul, and H. Luesch. 2016. Caldoramide, a modified pentapeptide from the 

marine cyanobacterium Caldora penicillata. Journal of Natural Products, 79(7): 1867-1871.

Hedley, John D, C.M. Roelfsema, I. Chollett, A.R. Harborne, S.F. Heron, S.J. Weeks, W.J. Skirving, A.E. Strong, C.M. Eaken, T.R.L. Christensen, V. 

Ticzon, S. Bejarano, and P.J. Mumby. 2016. Remote sensing of coral reefs for monitoring and management: A review. Journal of MDPI, 8(2): 118.

Kennedy. John Paul, L. Garavelli, N.K. Truelove, D.J. Devlin, S.J. Box, L.M. Chérubin, and I.C. Feller. 2016. Contrasting genetic effects of red mangrove (Rhizophora mangle L.) range expansion along West and East Florida. Journal of Biogeography, 44: 335–347.

Magalhães, Tatiana, R. Robles, D.L. Felder, and F.L. Mantelatto. 2016. Integrative taxonomic study of the purse crab genus Persephona Leach, 1817 

(Brachyura: Leucosiidae): combining morphology and molecular data. PloS ONE, 11(4): e0152627. 

McKeon, C. Seabird, M.X. Weber, S.E. Alter, N.E. Seavy, E.D. Crandall, D.J. Barshis, E.D. Fechter-Leggett, and K.L.L. Oleson. 2016. Melting barriers to faunal exchange across ocean basins. Global Change Biology, 22(2): 465-473.

Meyer, Julie L., S.P. Gunasekera, R.M. Scott, V.J. Paul, and M. Teplitski. 2016. Microbiome shifts and the inhibition of quorum sensing by Black 

Band Disease cyanobacteria. ISME J., 10: 1204-1216.

Meyer, Julie L., J.M. Rodgers, B.A. Dillard, V.J. Paul, and M. Teplitski. 2016. Epimicrobiota associated with the decay and recovery of Orbicella corals exhibiting dark spot syndrome. Frontiers in Microbiology, 7: 893.

Olsen, Kevin, J.M. Sneed, and V.J. Paul. 2016. Differential larval settlement responses of Porites astreoides and Acropora palmata in the presence of 

the green alga Halimeda opuntia. Coral Reefs, 35(2): 521-525.

Ritson-Williams, Raphael, S.N. Arnold, and V.J. Paul. 2016. Patterns of larval settlement preferences and post settlement survival for seven Caribbean corals. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 548: 127-138. 

Ritson-Williams, Raphael, C. Ross, and V.J. Paul. 2016. Elevated temperature and allelopathy impact coral recruitment. PloS ONE, 11(12): e0166581

Rodriguez, Wilford, I.C. Feller, and K.C. Cavanaugh. 2016. Spatio-temporal changes of a mangrove-saltmarsh ecotone in the northeastern coast of 

Florida. Global Ecology and Conservation, 7: 245-261.

Theil, Emma P., J.A. Cuesta, and D.L. Felder. 2016. Molecular evidence for non-monophyly of the pinnotheroid crabs (Crustacea: Brachyura: Pinnotheroidea), warranting taxonomic reappraisal. Invertebrate Systematics, 30(1): 1-27.

Tilley, Alexander and J. Lopez Angarita. 2016. Predicting vulnerability to management changes in data-limited, small-scale fisheries. Marine Policy, 72: 211-218.

Winston, Judith E. 2016. Bryozoa of Floridan Oculina reefs. Zootaxa, 4071(1): 001-081.

SMS Annual Report 2016 | 23
Station Visitors

The Smithsonian Marine Station serves as a field station of the National Museum of Natural History, 

drawing scientists and students from within the Smithsonian, as well as collaborating institutions around 

the world. The charts below reflect the make-up of visitors to SMS during 2015.

Total number of Visitor Days: 1362

Total number of individual visitors: 102

24 | SMS Annual Report 2016

NMNH - National Museum of Natural 

History (Washington, D.C.)

NZP - National Zoological Park

SI Admin - Smithsonian Institution 

Administrators (Washington, D.C.)

SERC - Smithsonian Environmental 

Research Center (Maryland)
Charles & Janet Alford 

Robert & Frances Bangert 

Thomas Beddow 

Hugh & Carolyn Benninger

David & Ursula Blackburn 

William & Clare Bohnett 

Robert & Kathleen Braun

Jack & Sally Chapman 

Judith Collins 

Anne Covert 

Ashton & Margo DePeyster 

Eugene Detmer, Jr. 

Norman Fashek & Tara MacTaggart 

Thomas Fritz 

Paul Hargraves 

William Jaeckle 

Richard G. Jennings

Mark & Linda Kaiser 

Robert & Susan Komarinetz 

Kenny & Debbie Langley 

Marilyn Link

Alma Lee Loy 

Whitney & Elizabeth MacMillan

John & Marilyn McConnell 

Eleanor Sexton 

Sumner Gerard Foundation 

Randy & Mimi Swaringen 

Pamela Thye 

Peter & Jeanne Tyson

Lace Vitunac 

Margaret Wisniewski 

Camille Yates 

Joel & Amy Zwemer

Friends of the Smithsonian Marine Station

SMS Annual Report 2016 | 25

The Friends of the Smithsonian Marine 

Station is the sponsor organization devoted 

to promoting and supporting the research 

and education efforts of SMS. Annual 

membership provides financial support 

for student and postdoctoral researchers, 

large-scale outreach events like the Annual 

Open House and Indian River Lagoon Science Festival, programs and displays at the 

Smithsonian Marine Ecosystems Exhibit, 

and a number of other mission-driven initiatives. Special events provide participants 

opportunities to interact with scientific and 

education staff while learning about current 

research. All donations to the Friends of the 

Smithsonian Marine Station are tax-deductible. For more information about becoming a 

Friend, visit www.sms.si.edu/GetInvolved.
Volunteers

Diane Barbret

Ellen Butler

Gloria Clifford

Alonnah Creswell

Jessica Espinosa

Nancy Evans

Nichole Gaza

Kelly Grogan

John Hallam

Khalila Haque

Kim Honig

Judy Keicher

Debbie Langley

Paul Laura

Marvin Lesman

Chloe Lloyd

Jodie McClure

Chad McDonie

Randy Migliano

Patricia Neal

Ashley Petticrew

Kaitlynn Pike

Michael Pipes

Barry Smith

Marjorie Taylor

Valerie Vericella

Cameryn Weaver

Peter Worch

Beverly Yoshioka

Paul Yoshioka

Patricia Zangrillo

26 | SMS Annual Report 2016
In Memoriam

SMS Annual Report 2016 | 27

Charles “Charlie” Kennedy, 79, died April 26, 

2016 in Fort Pierce, Florida. Charlie moved 

to the Treasure Coast in late 2006 and almost 

immediately began volunteering with the 

Smithsonian Marine Ecosystems Exhibit at the 

St. Lucie County Aquarium. For more than 

nine years, Charlie’s smiling face and gentle 

demeanor greeted Aquarium visitors at the 

touch tank on most Tuesday and Saturday 

mornings. In 2011, Charlie was the recipient 

of a Gold Level President’s Volunteer Service 

Award, which is awarded to adults who have 

given more than 500 hours of their time in a 

12 month period. Over the course of his time 

with the Smithsonian, Charlie served 4,066 

hours as a volunteer. The staff and volunteers 

of the Smithsonian Marine Station and the 

Ecosystems Exhibit will be forever grateful for 

his hard work, dedication, and friendship.

Charlie proudly displaying his certificate for the President’s Service Award in April 2011. 

Laura Diederick
A Facility of the National Museum of Natural History

701 Seaway Drive | Fort Pierce, Florida 34949 USA

772.462.6220 | 772.461.8154 (fax)

www.sms.si.edu

Smithsonian Marine Station at Fort Pierce