The Laboratory of Integrative Marine and Coastal Ecology focuses on understanding the mechanisms that underlie changes in marine and coastal ecosystems by studying the structure and dynamics of organisms, populations and communities. Our focus is marine sponges, corals, and algae.
We use an interdisciplinary approach to integrate reproductive biology, experimental ecology, population genetics, and mathematical modeling. Our research aims to determine how organisms, ecological interactions, and ecosystems are altered by anthropogenic activities and global impacts such as marine pollution and climate change and seek to enhance the management of ecosystems.
You can find more information about the specific projects in the Research tab
We use an interdisciplinary approach to integrate reproductive biology, experimental ecology, population genetics, and mathematical modeling. Our research aims to determine how organisms, ecological interactions, and ecosystems are altered by anthropogenic activities and global impacts such as marine pollution and climate change and seek to enhance the management of ecosystems.
You can find more information about the specific projects in the Research tab
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LAB LOCATION
Florida Atlantic University Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute 5600 N. US Highway 1 Fort Pierce, FL, 34946 USA |
CONTACT
Dr. Andia Chaves Fonnegra andia.chaves@fau.edu +1 (772) 242-2251 |
LAB NEWS ...
Summer 2023
We welcome new lab members
Honors student and Morton Fellow Kayla Filjon and HBOI Summer Intern Victoria Holcomb are joining the lab. Welcome!
Honors student and Morton Fellow Kayla Filjon and HBOI Summer Intern Victoria Holcomb are joining the lab. Welcome!
Honors student Cami Rimoldi Ibanez got the SURF Fellowship and the OURI Award. Congrats Cami!
Spring 2023
Congratulations!
Ashley Bobnar, Camille Berardone and Julia Hensley graduated from the FAU-Wilkes Honors College with majors in Marine Biology. Good luck and best wishes!
Ashley Bobnar, Camille Berardone and Julia Hensley graduated from the FAU-Wilkes Honors College with majors in Marine Biology. Good luck and best wishes!
Greer Babbe Successfully Defended her M.S. and graduated, Congratulations!
Graduate student Christopher Spagnolia won 1st Place in the Biological and Chemistry Category with his research poster "The Effect of Thermal Anomalies on Coral Reefs Benthic Competitive Interactions" during the FAU Graduate and Professional Student Association (GPSA) Research Day. Congrats Christopher!
www.fau.edu/graduate/news-events/gpsa-research-day/
www.fau.edu/graduate/news-events/gpsa-research-day/
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Ashley and Camille made the Wilkes Honors College Students Spotlight:
wilkeshonors.college/2023/02/10/student-spotlight-ashley-bobnar-and-camille-berardone/?fbclid=IwAR1_4Qe4HUUHvx63xxCbxyy3m4V1QLi4FffJHLxJmEowsnbYuqm6vfrlxhw |
Andia got the NSF CAREER Award!!!
https://www.fau.edu/newsdesk/articles/fonnegra-nsf-career-award.php
Cami Rimoldi Ibanez and Mia Gomez got accepted into the Study Abroad in Australia for Fall 2023!
Ashley Bobnar has been Nominated by the WHC for an FAU Student Award!
Camille Berardone attended the Art of Science Event as the people's choice winner!
https://www.fau.edu/research/art-of-science-winners/
https://www.fau.edu/newsdesk/articles/fonnegra-nsf-career-award.php
Cami Rimoldi Ibanez and Mia Gomez got accepted into the Study Abroad in Australia for Fall 2023!
Ashley Bobnar has been Nominated by the WHC for an FAU Student Award!
Camille Berardone attended the Art of Science Event as the people's choice winner!
https://www.fau.edu/research/art-of-science-winners/
We welcome new lab members
Honors students Braden Haggart and Ainsley Battista are joining the lab as thesis students. Welcome!
Honors students Braden Haggart and Ainsley Battista are joining the lab as thesis students. Welcome!
Fall 2022- Bobbie Successfully Defended her M.S. and graduated, Congratulations!
Fall 2022 - The Lab attended the World Sponge Conference in Leiden, The Netherlands
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Fall 2022 - We welcome new lab members
Honors student Mia Gomez is volunteering in the lab. Welcome Mia!
Honors student Mia Gomez is volunteering in the lab. Welcome Mia!
Summer 2022 - Field trip to the Keys
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Andia attended the Coral Reef Symposium in Bremen, Germany
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Summer 2022 - We welcome new lab members
Honors students Ashley Bobnar and Camille Berardone are new FAU-Morton Fellow doing honors thesis research on sponge larvae reproduction and development.
Honors students Ashley Bobnar and Camille Berardone are new FAU-Morton Fellow doing honors thesis research on sponge larvae reproduction and development.
Summer 2022- Alexandra Sinno joined our lab as HBOI Summer Intern
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Spring 2022 - Alex, Bilal and Val graduated from the WHC. Bilal obtained the 2022 WHC Outstanding Scholar Award, and Alex a 2022 WHC Outstanding Thesis Award. Congratulations!!
Spring 2022- The Lab attended the Benthic Ecology Meeting in Portsmouth, NH
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Fonnegra and Voss Labs
Spring 2022- The lab attended the Indian River Sponge Symposium
Bobbie won the Outstanding Student Presentation Faculty Vote for the 3-minute presentations category! Congrats Bobbie!
Bobbie won the Outstanding Student Presentation Faculty Vote for the 3-minute presentations category! Congrats Bobbie!
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Summer 2021 Commencement Ceremony Juliet Ruggiero graduated from the Master of Science in Marine Science and Oceanography Program at Harbor Branch. Congrats Juliet! |
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Summer 2021 - Field trip to the Keys
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We welcome new lab members
Honors students Kasey Preisser, Bilal Mutluguler, Alexandra Perez and Valentina Garcia-Nunes will be doing honors thesis.
Kasey Preisser is a new FAU-Morton Fellow doing research on sponge larvae and aquaculture. Congrats!
Spring 2021:
Congratulations
Maggie Boing and Kinar Oguz graduated from the FAU-Wilkes Honors College with majors in Biology. Good luck and best wishes! Christelle Alcinor finished her honors thesis research.
The Lab attended the Indian River Symposium
Greer won best student 3 minute presentation. Congrats Greer!
We welcome new lab members
Christopher Spagnolia joined the lab as graduate student in January 2021.
Congratulations
Maggie Boing and Kinar Oguz graduated from the FAU-Wilkes Honors College with majors in Biology. Good luck and best wishes! Christelle Alcinor finished her honors thesis research.
The Lab attended the Indian River Symposium
Greer won best student 3 minute presentation. Congrats Greer!
We welcome new lab members
Christopher Spagnolia joined the lab as graduate student in January 2021.
Fall 2020
We welcome new grad students
Greer Babbe and Bobbie Crouch joined the lab as graduate students. Welcome Greer and Bobbie!
We welcome new grad students
Greer Babbe and Bobbie Crouch joined the lab as graduate students. Welcome Greer and Bobbie!
Summer 2020 News:
In the middle of the pandemic, we researched our backyard, the Indian River Lagoon. We explored the diversity of sponges in this magnificent estuary. We collaborate with Dr. Shirley's Pomponi Laboratory at FAU-HBOI, Dr. Cristina Diaz, Dr. John Reed, and Iris Segura Garcia and Holly Sweet at The Smithsonian Marine Station (SMS) at Fort Pierce. Both Jimmy Nelson, our HBOI diving officer, and Matthew Roy, our boat captain, adventure with us and kept us safe. Thank you to all participants for keeping in quarantine, wearing masks, and following strictly disinfecting rules to get the job done and keep everyone safe.
In the middle of the pandemic, we researched our backyard, the Indian River Lagoon. We explored the diversity of sponges in this magnificent estuary. We collaborate with Dr. Shirley's Pomponi Laboratory at FAU-HBOI, Dr. Cristina Diaz, Dr. John Reed, and Iris Segura Garcia and Holly Sweet at The Smithsonian Marine Station (SMS) at Fort Pierce. Both Jimmy Nelson, our HBOI diving officer, and Matthew Roy, our boat captain, adventure with us and kept us safe. Thank you to all participants for keeping in quarantine, wearing masks, and following strictly disinfecting rules to get the job done and keep everyone safe.
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Spring 2020 News:
Congratulations!
Meghan Riddle graduated from the FAU-Wilkes Honors College with a major in Marine Biology. Good luck and best wishes!
Welcome New students!
Christelle Alcinor, Shannon Bieniek, Amanda Marker, Maggie Boing, and Kinar Oguz have joined the lab as honors thesis students.
Christopher Spagnolia and Juan Fuentes are our new volunteers.
Dr. Iris Segura García joined the lab as a postdoctoral researcher. Welcome Iris!
We said good bye to our lab tech
Our Lab Tech Mariana Lopez is starting graduate school at the University of Florida. Congrats Mariana! We will miss you.
Congratulations!
Meghan Riddle graduated from the FAU-Wilkes Honors College with a major in Marine Biology. Good luck and best wishes!
Welcome New students!
Christelle Alcinor, Shannon Bieniek, Amanda Marker, Maggie Boing, and Kinar Oguz have joined the lab as honors thesis students.
Christopher Spagnolia and Juan Fuentes are our new volunteers.
Dr. Iris Segura García joined the lab as a postdoctoral researcher. Welcome Iris!
We said good bye to our lab tech
Our Lab Tech Mariana Lopez is starting graduate school at the University of Florida. Congrats Mariana! We will miss you.
Fall 2019 News:
Meghan Riddle joined our lab and is now working on biodiversity of sponges in the Indian River Lagoon.
Cris Diaz is collaborating and helping us and with Sponge Taxonomy and identification. Thank you Cris!
Juliet Ruggiero went with the Voss Lab aboard the Walton Smith to do fieldwork in the Keys and Dry Tortugas. Thank you Voss Lab for your support!
We welcome our new lab technician, Mariana Lopez!
Cris Diaz is collaborating and helping us and with Sponge Taxonomy and identification. Thank you Cris!
Juliet Ruggiero went with the Voss Lab aboard the Walton Smith to do fieldwork in the Keys and Dry Tortugas. Thank you Voss Lab for your support!
We welcome our new lab technician, Mariana Lopez!
Summer 2019 News:
Dr. Dennis Lavrov from Iowa State University visited our lab and presented a seminar on evolution of mitochondrial DNA. Thank you for visiting!
Dr. Iris Segura-Garcia from Smithsonian is collaborating with us. Go 2bRAD!
Ph.D. student Holly Trew from the University of the West Indies, Barbados, is doing part of her research in our lab. Welcome Holly!
HBOI Summer Interns Gavin Scott and Emily Rutkowski, volunteer student Kyle Barnes and SURF Fellow Gabrielle Byrd are doing research in our lab. It is great having you here!
Juliet Ruggiero got accepted into the Master of Science in Marine Science and Oceanography (MSMSO) at FAU-HBOI, and she will start in Fall 2019. Congrats!
