Faculty Research Seed Grants

Faculty Research Seed Grants is sponsored by University of North Florida (UNF) - Institute of Environmental Research and Education (IERE). Seed grants are awarded competitively to teams of faculty to stimulate interdisciplinary environmental research projects. The grants assist faculty with the purchase of equipment and supplies and provide paid research opportunities for students.

UNF: Faculty Research Seed Grants Institute of Environmental Research and Education Faculty Research Seed Grants Advancing Knowledge, Driving Solutions Applications for the 2027 Seed Grant cycle will be available in the fall of 2026. Two grants in the amount of $10,000 will be awarded and funds can be used for the purchase of supplies and equipment, associated travel, faculty stipend, publishing fees and student wages.

Proposals are reviewed by a committee of UNF faculty and are competitively awarded to the most meritorious proposals. Geochemical Assessment of the Stability of Bio-Cemented Soils for Coastal Applications Pegah Ghasemi, Ph. D.

, Department of Civil Engineering Florentino B. De La Cruz, Ph. D.

, Department of Civil Engineering The Northeast Florida region is characterized by high groundwater levels, saline pore fluids, and cyclic wetting–drying conditions that challenge the durability of geotechnical structures and stabilized soils. The area hosts critical ecological, cultural, and infrastructural assets that demand sustainable soil-stabilization approaches.

Microbially Induced Calcite Precipitation (MICP) has shown strong potential to enhance the strength and erosion resistance of sandy soils; however, its long-term chemical durability remains poorly understood under variable pH and salinity typical of coastal systems.

This project will establish laboratory capabilities at the University of North Florida to evaluate the stability of bio-cemented soils under controlled chemical environments. Cemented soil cores from prior large-scale MICP studies will be exposed to pore fluids of varying pH to simulate natural acid–base cycling.

Mechanical and microstructural analyses will identify threshold pH conditions and establish a framework for evaluating MICP durability in support of nature-based coastal protection strategies. Tracing Toxicity: Biological profiling of heavy metal contamination in the St. Johns River dolphin food web Quincy Gibson, Ph.

D. , Department of Biology Amber Brown, Ph. D.

, Department of Biology The aims of this project are to complete a biological contaminant profile of heavy metals and metalloids, such as Mercury (Hg), Cadmium (Cd), Silver (Ag), Nickle (Ni), Selenium (Se), Lead (Pb), Copper (Cu), Chromium (Cr), and Arsenic (As) in dolphins and their top prey species in the lower St Johns River (SJR) basin, Jacksonville FL.

Specifically, this project aims to chemically quantify these elements in bottlenose dolphin and fish tissues. Target fish species will be those identified as prey of SJR dolphins and/or targets of human commercial fisheries.

Concentrations of chemical contaminants will be compared to dolphin life history, leveraging 14 years of behavioral survey data, including age-class, reproductive success (if female), habitat use, and health condition during life (e.g., lesion prevalence and body condition) and at time of death (through necropsy).

This project will inform ecosystem-based management decisions for the SJR estuary and support efforts to enhance ecological health. Improving Contaminant Limits of Detection Using Multi-Channel Dilution Analysis Willis B. Jones, Ph.

D. , Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry Contaminants in environmental systems can lead to adverse health effects in plants and wildlife, which can frequently cause knock on effects that negatively impact wider ecosystem health. Prolonged exposure to concentrations as low as the part-per-billion (μg/L) level of traditionally monitored contaminants such as the toxic metals cadmium and lead can result in long-term issues.

Detection of these trace analytes at ever lowering concentrations is essential and fixed at the forefront of environmental chemistry. A contaminant’s limit of detection (LOD) is defined as the lowest concentration that can be measured reliably in a sample.

The research enabled by this proposal is focused on the development of a calibration method called multichannel dilution analysis (MCDA), which has preliminarily shown the capability to determine concentrations below typically reported values for contaminant LODs. Successful improvement in LODs using MCDA would allow for detection of contamination at lower levels, enabling faster intervention and remediation.

Administration and Analysis of Students Exploring Earth Science (SEES) Programs at Elementary Schools on the First Coast Ryan Shamet, Ph. D. , P.

E. , Civil Engineering Kim Cheek, Ph. D.

, Teaching, Learning, & Curriculum Elizabeth R. Brown, Ph. D.

, Psychology The SEES program is an initiative that enhances the teaching of geoscience concepts to 4th and 5th graders. The goal of this study is to collect additional data to apply for a National Science Foundation (NSF) grant aimed to support the development of a training program for elementary educators, equipping them to effectively communicate complex local geoscience processes through inquiry-instructional activities.

The NSF grant would provide the teachers with all the tools necessary to bring this geoscience program to their schools. In the SEES program, pre/posttest data will be collected on student knowledge gains of the perceived importance of learning about local geoscience/engineering processes.

This data will allow researchers to refine instructional content, statistically assess its effectiveness, and increase potential success of the NSF funded program. Additionally, the SEES programs will provide opportunities for UNF to engage in the community, providing local elementary students with high-quality, community-relevant, instructional programs.

Environmental Risk for the Three Bs in Northeast Florida: Survey of Human-Biting Ticks for Babesia, Bartonella, and Lyme Borrelia species Kerry Clark, Ph. D. , Department of Public Health Three of the most common tickborne diseases in the USA are babesiosis, bartonellosis, and Lyme borreliosis, referred to here as “the three Bs.

” Unlike most other tickborne infections, all three are capable of establishing persistent infections that can be difficult to treat and eradicate. All three infections are likely significantly underestimated causes of human disease in northeast Florida. Babesia infection of ticks is virtually unstudied in Florida.

However, recent studies showed Bartonella and Lyme Borrelia spp. infections in human patients and lone star ticks in Florida and several other southern states. Those studies demonstrated divergent strains of as-yet-uncharacterized Bartonella spp.

and four species of Lyme Borrelia among study patients, many of whom had been chronically ill for years. The purpose of the proposed study is to estimate the infection prevalence and environmental risk of the three Bs in the two most common human biting ticks at sites in northeast Florida. Carbon Capture and Storage from Landfill Gas using Metal Organic Framework Coupled with Enhanced Weathering with Combustion Residuals Florentino B.

De La Cruz, Ph. D. , Department of Civil Engineering Benjamin Williams, Ph.

D. , Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry Landfill gas, composed of 50% methane and 50% CO2, offers an opportunity for carbon sequestration of up to 67 million metric tons of biogenic CO2 equivalent annually. Our research proposes a process involving metal organic frameworks (MOF) to separate CO2 from landfill gas, followed by its permanent storage by converting CO2 into stable precipitates within metal-containing waste.

The process feasibility, both technically and economically, will be evaluated through lifecycle and techno-economic analyses. This proposal contributes to sustainability and climate resiliency in several ways. Firstly, it aligns with the circular economy concept, turning waste into a valuable resource.

Secondly, the process will enhance methane purity, crucial for high-energy-density fuel and chemical production. Additionally, the technology will mitigate greenhouse gas emissions, aiding in combating climate change. This approach not only attempts to address environmental issues but also holds economic potential, as the carbon market is projected to reach $50 billion by 2030.

Plan Bee: A Pilot Study Examining a Preschool Curriculum Unit on Bees and its Influence on Children's Learning and Parents' Environmentally Responsible Behaviors Adrien Malek-Lasater, Ph. D. , Early Childhood Education Katrina Hall, Ph.

D. , Department of Literacy and Early Childhood Literacy Erin Largo-Wight, Ph. D.

, Department of Public Health; Director, Institute of Environmental Research & Education Pam Williamson, Ph. D. , Department of Special Education Heather Barnes Truelove, Ph.

D. , Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences The project is designed to collect pilot data necessary to apply for an EDU Core Research National Science Foundation Grant on STEM learning. While the larger NSF study will examine a larger curriculum package, the purpose of this seed grant proposal is to collect pilot data to support our NSF application.

Specifically, we will develop environmental and age-appropriate curriculum focused on bees to be implemented in two preschools. Next, we will deploy a mixed-methods crossover quasi-experimental design to compare outcomes of the intervention curriculum in both schools.

In one school, we will implement the bee-friendly curriculum unit, while the comparison school will be on a waitlist for the intervention and engage as business as usual (e.g., serve as a control for purposes of data collection). Data will be collected pre and post to examine the impact on behavior, attitudes, norms, behavioral intention for those children and parents that experienced the environmental curriculum.

Experimental Analysis of IrOx pH-Sensors for Embedded Concrete Monitoring at Wastewater or Sewage Stations Juan Aceros, Ph. D. , Electrical Engineering Steve Stagon, Ph.

D. , Mechanical Engineering Adel ElSafty, Ph. D.

, Civil Engineering Sewage treatment stations, industrial wastewater, acid rain, and other chemically and biologically aggressive environments, are usually built using cementitious materials. The durability of these materials in such aggressive environments has been investigated and their degradation characterized. This deterioration is highly dependent on pH and accelerated at lower levels.

It is therefore of great importance to monitor the pH level across these cement-based structures in-situ. Well suited embedded sensors that are mechanically robust, chemically stable, minimally invasive and inexpensive are needed for this task. In this work, we proposed the development of Iridium Oxide (IrOx) pH sensors based on sputtered IrOx films.

Sputtered IrOx films are chemically robust, fast, and easy to miniaturize and fabricate in various shapes and sizes appropriate for remote embedding. Building on previous knowledge, this work aims to develop fundamental process-performance knowledge for sputtered IrOx sensors to enable their deployment in real-world applications critical to environmental infrastructure.

Leveraging the local: quantifying and communicating wetland climate resilience at UNF Scott F. Jones, Ph. D.

, Department of Biology Kailan Sindelar, Ph. D. , Department of English Christopher Baynard, Ph.

D. , Department of Economics and Geography Robert Richardson, ITS Campus Technology Services Climate change is the defining interdisciplinary issue of our time. For coastal ecosystems, sea-level rise and saltwater intrusion are especially pressing climate impacts, but these issues are often difficult to visualize and communicate to the public.

Further, predicting local climate impacts requires site-specific data that is currently lacking for many wetlands in northeast Florida. We propose to initiate long-term wetland climate resilience monitoring at two sentinel UNF properties connected within the Pablo Creek watershed: freshwater swamp on main campus and saltwater marsh on the Webb tract along the intracoastal waterway.

This monitoring will leverage UNF’s unique location and faculty expertise to quantify and clearly communicate wetland resilience to climate change using ecological (wetland surface elevation change), geographical (remotely sensed imagery), and rhetorical (virtual reality) approaches.

Ultimately, this project will provide the foundation for future work understanding wetland climate resilience for UNF and the broader northeast Florida region. Do the “forever chemicals” pose significant health risks to human and aquatic wildlife populations in northeast Florida? Jim Gelsleichter, Ph.

D. , Department of Biology Amber Barnes, Ph. D.

, Department of Public Health Because of their ubiquity and persistence in the environment and ability to cause harmful effects at low exposure levels, concerns about the environmental risks of the widely used chemicals known as the per- and polyfluroalkyl substances (PFAS) has recently become one of the most important global issues pertaining to water pollution.

Notwithstanding this, much remains to be learned about the levels of PFAS exposure in human and wildlife populations so that the threats posed by these chemicals can be properly evaluated. We propose to conduct an interdisciplinary study that examine the risks that PFAS contamination pose to the First Coast, by measuring PFAS concentrations in northeast Florida fish populations and Jacksonville residents.

We will accomplish this by collaborating with University of Florida researchers who have extensive experience in the analysis of PFAS in human and animal samples, and are currently conducting a statewide assessment of PFAS levels in Florida waters. Field analysis of pervious oyster shell habitat (posh) erosion mitigation performance Raphael Crowley, Associate Professor, Taylor Engineering Research Kelly J.

Smith, Associate Professor, Department of Biology William R. Dally, Professor, Taylor Engineering Research Northeast Florida is home to several historically significant sites along its coast including the Timucuan Preserve (TIMU) and the Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve (GTM-NERR). Each of these sites is badly eroding due to boat wake action.

In recent years, proposed Co-PI Smith developed pervious oyster shell habitats (POSH) as a method to reduce wake energy and subsequent shoreline erosion. Several of these POSH units have been installed along the mid intertidal zone at TIMU and GTM-NERR.

This proposed project involves quantifying wave energy reduction associated with these POSH units as well as using stationary video capture to assess usage of POSH units by predatory fishes.

The work will give several engineering and biology students the opportunity to conduct field work in a multidisciplinary environment and represents a significant collaboration between coastal engineers from the Taylor Engineering Research (TER) and biologists from our flagship Coastal Biology Program.

If successful, the work proposed herein should result in at least one peer-reviewed journal publication and significant opportunities for additional funding.

Forest Fire Tracking using Machine Learning and Thermal Imaging from an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Dr. John Nuszkowski, School of Engineering (Mechanical Engineering) Dr. Alan Harris, School of Engineering (Electrical Engineering) Wildfires are devastating due to the environmental concerns from the destruction of land, the significant release of greenhouse gases, and considerable emission of particulate matter that is concerning to public health.

Improvements in wildfire detection, tracking, mitigation, and modeling would lessen the environmental impact from wildfires. The objective of this proposed work is to develop a wildfire tracking algorithm, using machine learning (ML), that is based on thermal imaging captured from an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV). The ML algorithm will be a neural network (NN) model based on object detection for tracking the fire front.

Thermal images will be captured by the research team’s UAV on terrain without a fire, with firepit(s), and with a prescribed burn. Hydrogeological considerations for sinkhole development in the Silver Springs recharge basin in Marion County, Florida.

Dr. Ryan Shamet, Civil Engineering The Silver Springs state park in Marion County has played a tremendous role in the development of Central Florida’s national image of beautiful natural resources and unique eco-tourism attractions.

However, with an increase in urbanization in the surrounding area, the groundwater emitted from Silver springs has seen a drastic increase in pollutant concentrations, in turn severely affecting the water quality and ecosystems within the silver river. A major contributing role for the increase in groundwater pollutants is the increase in sinkhole occurrences within the recharge basin for the springs.

Sinkholes essentially provide a “direct connect” to the Floridian aquifer, allowing nutrient-rich surface water to enter the aquifer without any natural filtering or biological degradation processes. This study will investigate the influences of subsurface conditions to sinkhole formation within the area surrounding silver springs through implementing insitu soil laboratory testing and numerical modeling.

This information will greatly benefit future decision making when designing stormwater management structures (i.e., ponds or roadway swales) to ensure less potential of pollutant groundwater entering the aquifer and deviating Silver Spring’s fragile environment. Water and Disease in Florida: A Look Back as a Way Forward Dr. Amber N.

Barnes, Department of Public Health Waterborne diseases, water-based toxins, and water-related vector-borne diseases are a significant cause of the reportable diseases and conditions influencing the health and well-being of residents of Northeast Florida and other regions of the state. Health care practitioners are required to report these cases to their county health department for public health patient tracking and outbreak response.

These cases are input into the state’s Merlin system and the public can access monthly surveillance reports. However, a large-scale analysis on pathogen circulation among Florida residents over time has not been conducted. In addition, there has been no systematic reviews conducted on the animal and environmental reservoirs of these same pathogens throughout the state.

This study will take a One Health approach to investigate the historical reports and trends of waterborne, water-based, and water-related diseases of public health importance that have been found in Northeast Florida residents, domestic animals and wildlife, and environments. Simulation and Assessment of Extreme Storm Events for Four Watersheds in the Lower St. Johns River, Florida USA Dr. Christopher J.

Brown, School of Engineering Samantha Kovalenko, Graduate Student, School of Engineering Currently, faculty and students from the UNF Civil Engineering Program are developing a comprehensive, coupled water resources model of the entire St. Johns River basin. The simulation model couples hydrologic models of more than 100 sub-basins in the watershed to the main stem of the St.

Johns River and links the river itself to the Atlantic Ocean so that combined extreme flood events including the effects of rainfall, storm surge, tide, urbanization, and sea level rise can be evaluated. This study will use existing data, HSPF simulation models, and analytical methods to estimate the extreme water flows emanating from four of the sub-basins in the Lower St. Johns River watershed.

The study will examine the 10, 25, 50, and 100-year return frequency rainfall events and the resulting flood flows from the same in the Black Creek, Julington/Durban Creek, Ortega Creek, and Upper Pablo Creek.

Public Opinion on Climate Change: Assessing the Impact of Personal Experience Dr. Josh Gellers, Department of Political Science and Public Administration Dr. Enrijeta Shino, Department of Political Science and Public Administration Dr. Heather Barnes Truelove, Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences Does personal experience with environmental hazards moderate the relationship between attitudes and political behavior?

Research has shown that attitudes towards the environment are affected by many aspects of a person’s identity, including age, education, morals, political ideology, religious beliefs, sex, and values. Further, a person’s environmental attitudes influence his/her level of support for environmental policy. Climate change is a serious environmental issue that requires a timely policy response.

Florida is particularly vulnerable to climate change impacts such as sea level rise and more intense hurricanes. Interestingly, recent research shows that personal experience with environmental issues may affect support for environmental policies. Less is known about how these experiences affect political decisions that have implications for the environment, such as vote choice.

Given Florida’s exposure to climate change-related events, it presents an ideal testing ground for assessing how personal experience with these occurrences might shape attitudes and subsequent voting behavior.

Distribution of Diamondback Terrapins in Coastal Georgia Dr. Joseph Butler, Department of Biology I propose to survey the saltmarshes of Georgia for diamondback terrapin populations and nesting sites so they can be managed and protected in the future. As long-lived vertebrates living at the interface of the marine and shoreline habitats, terrapins can serve as a sentinel species as coastlines succumb to sea level rise.

Terrapins suffer mortality in crab traps and lose nesting habitat to shoreline development for homes and seawalls. In Georgia over 100 creeks and numerous barrier islands offer terrapin habitat, however few published terrapin accounts exist from there. Eight undergraduates will assist with data collection from the boat during four separate field trips in 2019.

The ultimate goal is to investigate the entire Georgia coastline, a quest we began in 2015. In 2019, we will survey from St. Andrew Sound south to the Georgia - Florida border.

Undergraduates will co-author publications and/or presentations and use their data for Senior Seminar.

Durable and Environmentally Sensible Materials for Oyster Reef Restoration Dr. Craig Hargis, College of Computing, Engineering & Construction Dr. Kelly Smith, Department of Biology Oyster reef restorations often incorporate recycled materials, such as oyster shells or derelict crab pots, into their design, which is desirable from an industrial ecology point of view.

However, an often-unintended consequence of this material reuse is the premature failure of the oyster reef scaffolding due to poor structural detailing or improper material selection by researchers who are experts in aquatic biology, but not experts in materials science or engineering.

This research project seeks to bridge biology, engineering, and materials science disciplines and develop oyster reef substrates, which are both durable and environmentally friendly. If the external grant is funded, a series of oyster reef substrates utilizing recycled oyster shells and derelict crab pots will be constructed and then deployed in the William C Webb Coastal Research Station.

Material samples from pre- and postdeployment will then be analyzed at the Materials Science and Engineering Research Facility to understand how the materials perform in intertidal zones. If the external funding is not secured, the project will be scaled down to look at performance of model structures in the environment.

American alligator ( Alligator mississippiensis ) distribution across an urban landscape Dr. Adam Rosenblatt, Department of Biology Eli Beal, M. S. Graduate Student Urbanization is increasing at a rapid rate across the southeast U.S., yet our understanding of the ecological effects of such change is still rudimentary.

One major way that urbanization may affect ecological systems is through changes in the distribution and abundance of large top predators, but little research on this issue has been done. To address this knowledge gap, I am proposing to begin a research program that monitors the distribution and abundance of American alligators ( Alligator mississippiensis ) within a major urban area: Jacksonville, FL.

I will survey alligator populations within nine tributaries of the lower St. Johns River (characterized by a gradient of urbanization) across four seasons to determine how land use and seasonality influence alligator habitat use and population density.

The results of this research will help inform alligator management strategies within urban areas and increase our understanding of the ecology of this iconic species in a rapidly changing world. This project will also create field research opportunities for UNF graduate and undergraduate students, and the results can be used to educate the public about the potential effects of human activities on local wildlife.

Student Driven Design and Implementation of a Solar Powered Watering System and Educational Display at the Jacksonville Arboretum and Gardens Dr. Stephen Stagon, School of Engineering Dr. Anthony Rossi, Department of Biology This grant, in conjunction with a UNF Transformational Learning Opportunity Grant, supports an interdisciplinary team of five Biology and five Engineering students working under the guidance of Dr. Tony Rossi (Professor of Biology) and Dr. Stephen Stagon (Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering) to conceptualize, design, and build a solar powered watering system for a native flower display at the Jacksonville Arboretum and Gardens (JAG).

The watering system meets a critical need for JAG, as watering is currently performed via "bucket brigade" by JAG volunteers. The watering system will draw water from the pond via a submerged pump and will transport it to a reservoir near the flower beds. The reservoir will serve as the backdrop for an educational display that the students will create about the watering system and solar energy.

Students involved in this project will gain experience in a real interdisciplinary project with a community partner. Living on the Leading Edge of an Expanding Range: Examining the Physiological Response of Mangrove Species to Temperature and Environmental Change Dr. Michael Aspinwall, Department of Biology Climate warming is causing rapid changes in saltmarsh and mangrove plant communities.

Freezing temperatures have historically restricted the distribution of mangrove species to parts of south Florida. Yet, warmer temperatures have facilitated the northward expansion of mangroves, resulting in a parallel reduction in saltmarsh habitat. This project aims to examine the physiological mechanisms involved in mangrove species northward expansion.

In particular, this project will determine whether mangrove species growing at the leading edge of an expanding range vary in thermal acclimation of key physiological processes (photosynthesis and respiration), and whether salinity and nutrient availability modify mangrove physiological responses to temperature.

The project will take place at the Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve (GTM-NERR), and will involve a factorial experiment with three mangrove species, two salinity levels, and two nutrient levels. This project will improve our understanding of mangrove responses to temperature, as well as predictions of mangrove range expansion in response to future climate.

Bench-Scale Testing of Microbial Induced Calcite Precipitation (MICP) Treated Sand Dune Dr. Raphael Crowley, School of Engineering Matthew Davies, Department of Chemistry Dr. Terri Ellis, Department of Biology Sand dunes are often the primary means of protection from hurricane storm surge and associated wave action.

However, dunes are highly erodible and do a relatively poor job of protecting the coast when compared with other coastal protection measures such as seawalls, bulkheads, or revetments. It would be beneficial to develop a sustainable rapid-deployment system that could be used to strengthen the dunes just prior to a hurricane.

Microbial-induced calcite precipitation (MICP) is one technology that would appear to be suitable for such an application. A study is proposed whereby synthetic bench-scale dunes will be built in UNF's new wave basin, (basin will be completed by December 2017), treated via MICP, and subjected to wave action.

Erosion will be quantified by measuring the dunes' profiles, and results from treated dunes will be compared with results from untreated dunes to determine erosion improvement.

Exploring Ecological, Morphological, and Molecular Aspects of Cyanobacterial Communities Isolated From Ichetucknee Springs, Branford, FL Dr. Dale Cassamatta, Department of Biology Alyssa Garvey, Biology Graduate Research Assistant Anthropogenic nutrient pollution has led to an increase in harmful algal blooms in recent years, with an increase in both eukaryotic algae and cyanobacteria.

Cyanobacterial blooms can be of particular concern due to their ability to produce toxins. Because of the ability for cyanobacterial blooms to occur in both freshwater and marine habitats, characterizing species composition of these communities in areas of high social and economic importance is crucial to limiting potential exposure.

This project aims to characterize cyanobacterial communities isolated from Ichetucknee Springs in order to document and inform the public of potential exposure to any toxin-producing species.

Perception of Drinking Water Quality in the City of Jacksonville, FL: The Influence of Consumer Location Within the Distribution System Dr. Chiradip Chatterjee, Department of Economics and Geography Dr. Russell Triplett, Department of Economics and Geography Dr. Christopher K. Johnson, Department of Economics and Geography Dr. Chung-Ping A.

Loh, Department of Economics and Geography We received a UNF Environmental Center Seed Grant in 2016 to conduct a telephone survey designed to assess the willingness-to-pay for improvements in the quality of drinking water among local residents. The findings from that project suggest the need for follow-up research designed to fully explore the role of information, outreach and public awareness in water usage within the community.

As part of this proposal and study design we have been collaborating with officials from JEA to widen the reach of a survey that includes more detailed questions regarding usage, information availability, information processing, trust in institutions, health history, demographics and geography. With the cooperation of JEA, we will pair the survey responses with administrative data on water usage.

Using regression methods, we will (1) estimate the determinants of perceived quality of tap water, and then, conditional on (1), (2) estimate the determinants of water usage in the home.

Spartina alterniflora Floating Nurseries: Growing Plants to Reduce Nutrient Loading and Enhance Coastal Shoreline Restoration Dr. Kelly Smith, Department of Biology Kenneth Rainer, Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve (GTMNERR) Nicole Llinas, Biology Undergraduate Research Assistant Retention ponds are ubiquitous in the southeast and play a key role in allowing stormwater to re-enter the groundwater supply; however, these ponds are sources of nutrients that can lead to nuisance algae blooms in recipient waterways.

We propose using floating mats planted with Spartina alterniflora (smooth cordgrass) to achieve two goals: 1) Reduce nutrient levels in retention ponds through uptake by plant roots, and 2) harvest mature and healthy plants for control of sediment erosion and as habitat for coastal organisms.

This collaborative effort between the education group at Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve (GTMNERR) lead by Kenneth Rainer and the Department of Biology will merge scientific inquiry with environmental education.

Outcomes of the project include: assessment of nutrient uptake in retention ponds, analysis of plant health response to floating mats and subsequent deployment in coastal shorelines, and integration of middle school student participation in plant harvesting and deployment as an environmental science activity. Correlating Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) strandings to cyanobacterial and cyanotoxin exposure in the St.

Johns River, Jacksonville Dr. Quincy Gibson, Department of Biology Amber Brown, Biology Graduate Research Assistant Recent necropsy reports have documented a large number of unexplained deaths among bottlenose dolphins in the St. Johns River, Jacksonville. Moreover, a number of these deaths occurred in low salinity areas of the river that are strong deviations from the residential population's known home ranges.

These findings indicate that dolphins are traveling farther upstream into the freshwater, suggesting possible exposure to native toxin producing cyanobacterial blooms. In 2015, two dolphin stranding reports noted the presence of dermal "algal mats." Preliminary microscopic identification of these algal mats revealed the presence of both water mold and cyanobacteria.

This combination could potentially provide an explanation for these previously unexplained fatalities. This research will focus on unusual strandings and the effects of freshwater cyanobacterial blooms on the health of dolphins in the St. Johns River.

Willingness to Pay for Safe Drinking Water: A Contingent Valuation Study in the City of Jacksonville, Florida Dr. Chris K.

Johnson, Department of Economics and Geography Dr. Chiradip Chatterjee, Department of Economics and Geography Dr. Parvez Ahmed, Department of Accounting and Finance Dr. Russell Triplett, Department of Economics and Geography The objective of this study is to examine how measures of socioeconomic background, social capital and media exposure influence the willingness-to-pay (WTP) for water quality improvement.

The purpose of this study is threefold: First, we will estimate residents' monetary valuation for the improvement of tap water quality. Second, we will explain the influence of social capital and other socioeconomic factors on WTP.

Finally, since Jacksonville's tap water quality has attracted both positive and negative media attention, we will investigate to what extent the media attention influenced the monetary valuation for the improvement of tap water quality. We propose a household phone survey of randomly selected residents in the city of Jacksonville by the Public Opinion Research Laboratory at UNF with a target sample size between 500 and 1000 respondents.

Students enrolled in Business and Economic Statistics (ECO 3411) will staff the phone bank. This will help to offset costs and offer students practical exposure to data collection procedures and