Shell Museum Hosts Local Scientist Studying The Caloosahatchee River With “Lunar Landers

Written by: Kathleen E. Hoover
Publication Date: February 6, 2010

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Dr. Greg Tolley’s “lunar lander” doesn’t settle on the surface of the moon but rather on the floor of the Caloosahatchee River.  This electronic device measures parameters like water temperature, salinity, and color.  Dr. Tolley's is interested in the larval stage of fishes, a distinct juvenile form many animals undergo before becoming adults. The larva’s appearance is different than the adult phase and they often live in environments that are very different than their adult counterparts. “Larvae respond very quickly to changes in the environment, sometimes within hours,” reports Dr. Tolley, the founding Director of Florida Gulf Coast University’s Coastal Watershed Institute. “This characteristic makes them ideal for this type of study,” he added.

 

At 2 p.m. on February 10, 2010, the Shell Museum will host Dr. Greg Tolley, a former Museum trustee and Professor of Marine Science at Florida Gulf Coast University.  Dr. Trolley will present a program titled, The Importance of Freshwater In-flow To Coastal Ecosystems; the Goldilocks Approach.

 

Dr. Tolley's research is designed to determine the ideal mix of freshwater in the river and the best timing for the release of fresh water. He will describe how the timing, amount and quality of freshwater delivered to estuaries can influence the physiology of estuarine organisms, the structure of oyster reefs, and zooplankton assemblages.  The importance of oyster reefs as essential fish habitats will also be addressed.

 

 

Dr. Greg Tolley is a Professor of Marine Science at Florida Gulf Coast University and was the founding Director of FGCU's Coastal Watershed Institute. He received the Knight Fellowship in Marine Science at the University of South Florida, where he received his doctoral degree. Tolley’s current research interests focus on the influence of freshwater inflow on estuarine ecosystems and aquatic resources. He chairs the Advisory Board of the Florida Institute of Oceanography and is a member of the Advisory Committee for the Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve and of the Conservation and Research Advisory Committee of The Florida Aquarium.

 

The lecture is free with Museum admission.  Please call Diane Orvis Thomas at 239.395.2233 with any questions regarding the program.

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