Highlights

  • Meredith Pratt, an integrative and conservation biology doctoral student at UCF, earned the prestigious Florida Sea Grant/Guy Harvey Fellowship for research on Florida鈥檚 changing coastal ecosystems.

  • Her work examines how warming temperatures and expanding mangrove habitats are reshaping fish diets, food webs and species interactions along Florida鈥檚 east coast.

  • The findings could inform better management of Florida鈥檚 fisheries and coastal ecosystems.

Florida鈥檚 coastlines are changing, and so are the fish that depend on them.

As rising temperatures push tropical species northward and mangrove habitats expand into areas historically dominated by salt marshes, scientists are racing to understand how these shifts could affect marine food webs and long-term ecosystem stability.

Meredith Pratt, a UCF integrative and conservation biology doctoral student, is helping answer those questions. Her research on sustainable fisheries management along Florida鈥檚 east coast earned her the prestigious Florida Sea Grant/Guy Harvey Fellowship. The highly competitive award supports graduate students conducting research that informs marine conservation and fisheries management while cultivating future leaders in marine science.

Tracking a Changing Ecosystem

Pratt studies how tropicalization 鈥� the northward movement of tropical species and habitats 鈥� is altering Florida鈥檚 coastal ecosystems.

“As temperatures rise, mangroves, traditionally found in warmer, tropical regions, are expanding northward into areas historically dominated by salt marshes,鈥� she says. 鈥淭his shift is influencing the species that live there.鈥�

Researchers wade through shallow waters using a seine net to collect fish samples, with marsh vegetation and cloudy skies in the background.
UCF鈥檚 Marine Ecology and Conservation Lab uses a seine net to collect fish community data. (Photo courtesy of Meredith Pratt)

To understand these changes, Pratt and her team study fish communities along Florida鈥檚 east coast. One fellowship-supported project focuses on predator-prey dynamics among popular sport fish, including common snook, red drum and spotted sea trout.

“The most interesting result so far is that the same fish species are eating different things, … and that raises important questions about how continued mangrove expansion could impact the ecosystem in the long term.鈥�

鈥淭he most interesting result so far is that the same fish species are eating different things depending on whether they inhabit traditional salt marshes or increasingly dominant mangrove environments,鈥� Pratt says. 鈥淲hile most species primarily feed on shrimp, common snook tend to consume more fish, and that raises important questions about how continued mangrove expansion could impact the ecosystem in the long term.鈥�

These findings were supported through lab gut analysis of fish samples collected in the field using seine nets to determine stomach contents. Because digestion can make some prey difficult to identify, Pratt also used stable isotope analysis, which provides insight into a fish鈥檚position in the food web based on chemical signatures in its tissue.

鈥淕ut content analysis shows us exactly what a fish recently ate, while stable isotopes give us a longer-term picture of its diet,鈥� she says. 鈥淭ogether, they allow us to answer questions we couldn鈥檛 with just one method alone.鈥�

Guiding Future Fisheries Management

The research is both environmentally and economically important to Florida. As one of the world鈥檚 premier fishing destinations, the state depends on healthy coastal ecosystems and fish populations to support its recreational and commercial fisheries.

鈥淢any of the fish we rely on start in estuaries and coastal environments,鈥� Pratt says. 鈥淭hey grow in protected areas like mangroves and salt marshes before moving offshore. If we don鈥檛 understand how those habitats are changing, we can鈥檛 effectively manage the fisheries that depend on them.鈥�

Connecting Science and Community

Pratt is also expanding the impact of her research beyond the lab. Through her National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Margaret A. Davidson Graduate Fellowship, she launched the Guana Tolomato Matanzas (GTM) Fisheries Monitoring Program at the GTM National Estuarine Research Reserve.

A researcher kneels beside a large fish in a container while recording data during a fisheries study.
Meredith Pratt prepares to surgically tag a red drum fish for a movement study in the GTM National Estuarine Research Reserve. (Photo courtesy of Meredith Pratt)

“Getting people involved and helping them understand the importance of this work makes a big difference.”

The volunteer-driven initiative trains community members to collect fisheries data at designated sites, including species identification, abundance and size measurements. With nearly 20 volunteers participating, the program provides valuable long-term data while increasing public involvement in scientific research.

鈥淚t鈥檚 been one of the most rewarding parts of my Ph.D.,鈥� Pratt says. 鈥淕etting people involved and helping them understand the importance of this work makes a big difference.鈥�

A Full Circle Moment

For Pratt, earning the Florida Sea Grant/Guy Harvey Fellowship was a full-circle moment. As an undergraduate, she completed many of her classes and research experiences at the Guy Harvey Oceanographic Center at Nova Southeastern 海角直播. Now, funding from Florida Sea Grant and the Guy Harvey Foundation is helping advance her research while providing professional development opportunities in science communication.

鈥淭his fellowship not only supports my research but also allows me to connect with other scientists, stakeholders and the public,鈥� she says. 鈥淪haring our findings and contributing to science communication is a really meaningful part of the experience.鈥�

Looking ahead, Pratt hopes her work will support more informed decision-making around fisheries management and conservation.

鈥淐onservation requires research and education working together,鈥� she says. 鈥淚f we can understand what鈥檚 happening and communicate that effectively, we can make better decisions to protect these ecosystems for future generations.鈥�