Marine Life
Brian E. Lapointe’s research interests include algal physiology and biochemistry, seagrass and coral reef ecology, eutrophication, marine bioinvasions and marine conservation.
He has extensive experience in water quality research in South Florida and the Caribbean region. As Chief Scientist on numerous Caribbean and western North Atlantic Ocean research expeditions, he has amassed valuable field experience in assessing relations between water quality and the health of tropical seagrasses and coral reefs. Professor Lapointe’s long-term water quality monitoring at Looe Key reef in the Florida Keys represents the longest low-level nutrient record for a coral reef anywhere in the world. His work in the Keys led to a strong phosphate ban and new state regulations for Monroe County requiring greater nutrient removal from sewage effluents.
Professor Lapointe’s work in Florida Bay and the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary in the 1990s, which utilized stable nitrogen isotopes to “fingerprint” nitrogen sources, was the first to demonstrate the importance of agricultural nitrogen from mainland sources to development of algal blooms in the Keys. He developed the first “ridge-to-reef” water quality monitoring program for the European Union in Negril, Jamaica, a model that has been adopted by Marine Protected Areas around the Caribbean region. Professor Lapointe has advised the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, State of Florida and the governments of Monroe County (Florida Keys), Palm Beach County, Lee County, Bahamas, Tobago, Turks & Caicos, Jamaica, Bonaire, Curacao, Martinique and St. Lucia on development of water quality monitoring programs for assessing the impacts of land-based pollution.
Professor Lapointe’s Sargassum research has yielded novel insights into the ecology of this macroalgae, the Sargasso Sea and associated communities, including symbiosis with juvenile fish marked by exchange of habitat and nutrients.
Harbor Branch Series: Secrets of the Sargasso Sea
For over five centuries, the Sargasso Sea has been a
subject of lively debate among explorers and scientists
alike. Named for its characteristic brown seaweed
Sargassum, the boundary of the Sargasso Sea is now
defined by the currents that surround this unique “sea
without a shore” — also known as the North Atlantic
Central Gyre.
Professor Lapointe will share a number of “secrets” about
this mysterious oceanic realm, some of which date back
to the historic voyage of Christopher Columbus. He will
describe the discovery of Sargassum by early explorers,
the phenomenon of the “Bermuda Triangle” and the
amazing community of invertebrates and fishes
supported by Sargassum “weedlines.” Professor
Lapointe will show outtakes of a documentary of the
Sargassum community that he and NHK Broadcasting
(Tokyo, Japan) collaborated on in 1997. He will close by
describing his recent studies of the impacts of the
Deepwater Horizon oil spill on the “essential fish
habitat” provided by pelagic Sargassum.
Buy any four Harbor Branch Series lectures for $75 (Osher LLI members only).M/strong>
Register Early! There is a $5 charge for registering on the day of a one-time lecture or event.
|
| Course # S1M6 — One Time Event
|
|
| Place: | Auditorium, Lifelong Learning Complex, Jupiter Campus |
| Dates: | Monday, April 16 2018 |
| Time: | 2:15 - 3:45 PM |
| Fee: | $25 / member; $35 / non-member |
|
|
Register Now
