Marine and Coastal Ecology Program at Whitney
Dr. Todd Z. Osborne
Associate Professor in the Wetland Biogeochemistry Laboratory
Dr. Todd Z. Osborne has a diverse research program focusing on biogeochemical processes in soil and water in a variety of ecosystems throughout Florida. Currently, Dr. Osborne is highly engaged in shellfish restoration in the Indian River Lagoon as well as UF's iCoast initiative.
The shellfish restoration project is investigating how clams can restore water quality in the Indian River Lagoon by filtering suspended microalgae and particulates from the water. Clams play an important role in nutrient uptake and turbidity reduction by consuming microalgae and ejecting it as feces or pseudo-feces. The feces are transferred to the bottom where they can be consumed by other organisms (also called benthic coupling).
Dr. Osborne is also heavily involved in UF's iCoast initiative, where his personal focus is monitoring water quality and parameters along the Matanzas River Basin and region. The iCoast initiative is addressing a global problem that impacts coastal areas around the world. In deploying the iCoast science-based network, we will be able to develop the most complete understanding of a coastal ecosystem at multiple levels than anywhere else on Earth. This will help Florida act on real time mitigation strategies to coastal health threats such as hurricanes and algae blooms, and serve as a model for national and international benchmarking. iCoast brings together and connects research that otherwise has not been well coordinated to address threats facing our state and coastal regions nationally.
View Dr. Osborne's CV here.
Coastal Ecosystem Research
Dr. Osborne is also quite active in coastal ecosystem research dealing with sea grass, mangrove habitat restoration, and mitigation. Collaborations with students and colleagues have successfully opened new opportunities in coastal and marine ecosystem sciences for the Soil and Water Science Department. These research projects include mangrove and sea grass habitat restoration and intensive soil studies on hard clam aquaculture leases. These projects allow for a novel application of soil science to new ecosystems with a multidisciplinary approach to fundamental questions concerning Florida’s extensive coastal resources.
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New Research
New research directions include investigations of sediment mapping in Lake Okeechobee with the South Florida Water Management District, investigations in sea level rise, soil carbon storage, wetland fire frequency, exotic/invasive vegetation responses, and salt marsh restoration in coastal Florida. Such research requires a great deal of time in the field, which often inspires new ideas and research directions.
"My research interests afford me the incredible opportunity to visit some of Florida’s last wild places and see firsthand biogeochemistry at work in shaping Florida’s beautiful, unique, and infinitely valuable ecological resources. These research endeavors often require getting my feet on the ground in the field to make critical observations…however, that ground is often under several feet of water!” ~Dr. Todd Osborne |