The Carl and Marcella Matthaei Ecological Scholarship Fund at the Whitney Laboratory provides support for University of Florida scientists-in-training to have access to the Matanzas River Basin, where they can engage in its biodiversity, ecology, and conservation. The Matanzas River Basin is a dynamic regional ecosystem, and the Whitney Laboratory’s campus is strategically located with access to numerous and diverse habitats along the Florida coast. We thank those who have contributed to the Matthaei Ecological Scholarship Fund, and would like to introduce you the 2025 summer scholar.
Through generous donation to the endowed fund, we are able to offer Joe Mangun the opportunity to spend a portion of the summer working on focused projects in the Matanzas River Basin.
Joe's research is centered around studying microbiomes to explore their biodiversity, ecological function, potential bioactivity and chemical biology. Specifically, he is interested in the role of animal-associated bacteria in the life cycles and development of local animals in the Matanzas River Basin. Working this summer with Whitney faculty Dr. James Liao, he is sampling the microbiomes of local species of fish (red drum) to isolate bacterial strains and microbial communities. Microbiomes can reflect the animal’s health status and give insights into the response and persistence to anthropogenic challenges in the Matanzas River. Understanding the chemical ecology of these animal-associated microbes may aid in future conservation or treatment options as seen in the addition of beneficial, also called ‘probiotic’, bacteria to endangered corals. Joe is a Ph.D. Student in the Loesgen Lab at the Whitney Laboratory.