Osborne Lab News

UF study reveals environmental impact of artificial sweeteners

Tracey Schafer is a co-author of a recently published study demonstrating how sucralose affects the behavior of cyanobacteria — an aquatic photosynthetic bacteria — and diatoms, microscopic algae that account for more than 30% of the primary food production in the marine food chain.

Osborne Lab Welcomes Jason Evert

Jason joined the Osborne Lab to study the relationship of populations of marine fishes and benthic macroinvertebrates to water quality parameters (salinity, nutrients, etc.) in southeast U.S. estuaries.

Rivers are Life Premiers Film on Indian River Lagoon Clam Restoration

Once full of life, the lagoon fell victim to unregulated commercial clamming in the 1990s, leaving its waters stagnant and its ecosystem on the brink of collapse. Enter Dr. Todd Osborne. With his dedicated team of graduate students and the support of fishing legend Captain Blair Wiggins, they have embarked on a mission to revive the lagoon's vitality.

Organization hopes 1B clams will help purify the Indian River Lagoon’s waters

On April 26 the Indian River Lagoon Clam Restoration Project, the Coastal Conservation Association Florida, FWC, and the University of Florida Whitney Laboratory released 6 million baby clams into the lagoon. They were delivered to their Melbourne Beach home with a specialized drone.

Osborne Lab welcomes Evan Harms

Please welcome Evan Harms to the Whitney Laboratory! Evan recently joined the Osborne Lab as a laboratory technician.

PhD Student Taryn Chaya Publishes in MDPI

Congratulations to Taryn Chaya, Ph.D. student in the Osborne Lab for her recent publication on her MS research, "Assessing Water Quality Dynamics in Tidally Influenced Blackwater Rivers along a Rural–Urban Gradient" in MDPI.

Osborne Lab Welcomes Lexis Massey

Please welcome Lexis Massey to Whitney Lab! Lexis joins the Osborne lab to pursue a M.S. in Soil, Water, and Ecosystem Sciences working with slow-release phosphorus fertilizers.

Dr. Todd Osborne in Brevard Zoo's Restore Our Shores Residential Clam Restoration Project video

The Residential Clam Restoration project is using "super clams" to help restore filter-feeding clam populations throughout the Indian River Lagoon.

First Coast News Story on Clam Larvae released into the Matanzas River

Thank you SACA for your support to help raise and release 40 million clam larvae into the Matanzas River! A portion of this amount was released during the First Coast News filming on boats provided by the Whitney Laboratory and the Matanzas Riverkeeper.

Osborne Lab Paper Reveals Product to Enhance Seagrass Restoration

Congratulations to Postdoctoral Research Associate Conor MacDonnell, Ph.D., Todd Osborne, Ph.D., Anna Beard, and colleagues who published a paper in Science of the Total Environment -"Use of a wastewater recovery product (struvite) to enhance subtropical seagrass restoration" A news story covering the research was also recently in Futurity.

Dr. Todd Osborne and Citizen Scientist Dr. Eric Smith on NBC News NOW

Dr. Todd Osborne talks Oyster and Clam Restoration on NBC News NOW along with oyster restoration citizen scientist Dr. Eric Smith who shares how citizen scientists are helping restore the reefs.

100,000 clams planted in the Indian River Lagoon on Earth Day

Whitney Laboratory joined with Star Brite Solutions, Coastal Conservation Association Florida, and the IRL Clam Restoration Project to plant 100,000 clams, along with dozens of red mangroves, in the Indian River Lagoon on Earth Day! The clams planted on Friday added to the 13 million clams put into the lagoon over the last three years.

Dr. Todd Osborne in Florida Today

Dr. Todd Osborne and the Indian River Lagoon Clam Restoration Team were recently featured in the Florida Today article - Transplanted 'super clams' thrive, sparking hope of cleansing gunked-up Indian River Lagoon.