Along with eight other FAU graduate students, Ian Combs and Erin Shilling were recognized as Indian River Lagoon Graduate Research Fellows at the eighth annual “Love Your Lagoon Gala” for their work involving the Indian River Lagoon. Ian and Erin’s work both involves Scleractinian Tissue Loss Disease which is affecting corals throughout southeast Florida. Ian’s master’s research involves characterizing the impacts of Scleractinian Tissue Loss Disease using 3D Photogrammetry, while Erin’s master’s research seeks to compare intervention strategies for diseased coral and their potential impacts on mucus microbial communities. Both Ian and Erin’s work involves corals throughout southeast Florida including at St. Lucie Reef, Florida’s northernmost coral reef which is located at the southern end of the Indian River Lagoon at the mouth of the St. Lucie Estuary.
