Tag: Josh Patterson

Underwater scene of staghorn coral with sea urchins and marine vegetation in a coral reef.

Creating a sea urchin ‘baby formula’ to help save our reefs

by Brad Buck
February 18, 2026

Sea urchins are the “lawnmowers of the reefs,” a University of Florida scientist says. They tirelessly chew down the algae that would otherwise smother coral and block the sunlight reefs rely on. When they’re abundant, these spiky grazers ... READ MORE

Category: UF/IFAS
Tags: Adult Urchins, Algae, Apollo Beach, Baby Urchins, Caribbean, Casey Hudspeth, Coral Reefs, Ecosystems, Habitat, Josh Patterson, Juvenile Urchins, Lawnmowers, Microalgae, School Of Forest Fisheries And Geomatics Sciences, Sea Urchins, The Florida Aquarium’s Coral Conservation And Research Center
Underwater scene with orange branched coral and surrounding marine life.

UF experts warn of potential peril caused by ocean acidification

by Brad Buck
March 11, 2026

The world’s oceans absorb about 30% of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, which does not bode well for Florida’s 825 miles of coastline. Carbon dioxide can contribute to ocean acidification -- a reduction in the pH of the ocean -- which ... READ MORE

Category: UF/IFAS
Tags: Atmosphere, Carbon Dioxide, Clams, Coral Reef, Emissions, Florida Aquarium, Florida Sea Grant, Josh Patterson, Lisa Krimsky, Marine, Ocean Acidification, Oysters, Pathogens, School Of Forest Fisheries And Geomatics Sciences, Sea Urchins, Water Pollution
Black sea urchins on a green and red mottled marine background.

UF scientists find good places to grow long-spined sea urchins, a starting point to restore ‘the lawn mowers of the reefs’

by Brad Buck
March 18, 2026

Scientists call long-spined sea urchins “the lawn mowers of the reefs” because they eat algae that could otherwise smother reef ecosystems and kill corals. That’s why researchers affiliated with the University of Florida Tropical Aquaculture ... READ MORE

Category: UF/IFAS
Tags: Aaron Pilnick, Caribbean, Coral Reefs, Florida Aquarium Conservation Campus, Florida Keys, Florida Sea Grant, Josh Patterson, Juvenile, Larva, Long-spined Sea Urchins, School Of Forest Fisheries And Geomatics Sciences, Sea Urchins, Settlement, Substrate, Tropical Aquaculture Laboratory
La imagen muestra tres erizos de mar bajo el agua, descansando sobre un fondo marino arenoso con pastos marinos verdes y formaciones de coral alrededor.

Desarrollo de una fórmula infantil para erizos de mar como estrategia de restauración de arrecifes

by Luz Bahder
April 21, 2026

Creado por Brad Buck, especialista sénior en relaciones públicas para UF/IFAS.  Los erizos de mar son los jardineros del arrecife, afirma un científico de University of Florida. Devoran incansablemente las algas que, de otro modo, sofocarían ... READ MORE

Category: Coasts & Marine, Conservation, Natural Resources, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Research, Water, Wildlife
Tags: Alimentacion, Alimento, Arrecifes, Arrecifes De Coral, Caribe, Casey Hudspeth, Corales, Erizos, Erizos De Mar, Erizos Diadema, Español, Estudio, Florida, Fórmula Infantil, Infantes, Investigacion, Josh Patterson, MAR, Spanish
Two sea urchins with dense spines on a rocky underwater surface.

UF research shows a step toward restoring sea urchins: ‘The lawnmowers of reefs’

by Brad Buck
April 1, 2026

Coral reef ecosystems are severely threatened by pollution, disease, overharvesting and other factors. For thousands of years, long-spined sea urchins helped keep reefs intact. They eat seaweed, which can kill or seriously damage coral. Without ... READ MORE

Category: UF/IFAS
Tags: Coral Reefs, Ecosystem, Fish, Florida Aquarium, Josh Patterson, Long-spined Sea Urchins, School Of Forest Fisheries And Geomatics Sciences, Sea Urchins, Seaweed, Tropical Aquaculture Laboratory
Close-up of sea urchins on a green and pink mottled surface.

UF/IFAS, The Florida Aquarium collaborate to revitalize coral reefs, marine habitats

by Brad Buck
December 16, 2025

Coral reefs serve as habitats for fish, increase tourism activities and reduce wave energy – among their many benefits. That’s why scientists with the University of Florida and The Florida Aquarium’s Coral Conservation and Research ... READ MORE

Category: Coasts & Marine
Tags: Broodstrock, Coral, Coral Reefs, Fish, Florida Keys, Florida Sea Grant, Habitats, Josh Patterson, Partnership, Reproduction, Restoration Aquaculture, School Of Forest Fisheries And Geomatics Sciences, Scuba, Sea Urchins, The Florida Aquarium, The Florida Aquarium’s Coral Conservation And Research Center, Tourism

Subscribe For More Great Content

IFAS Blogs Categories