Researchers were concerned about the potential development of a red tide bloom as a result of the floodwaters of Hurricane Ian because hurricanes are suspected of playing a role in stimulating blooms due to the heavy rainfall and flooding that can bring in an excess of nutrients, which causes blooms to thrive. The science team set out on the R/V Hogarth in October 2022 to observe, study, and sample the ecosystem during the initial Hurricane Ian Response Cruise.

Unfortunately, by the end of the first cruise, red tide blooms were discovered. Luckily, scientists from FGCU and SCCF had collected prior long-term data in the area that could be used to evaluate any impacts the storm could have had on local ecosystems and water quality.

“We are investigating a pattern over the past 20 years in which long and intense red tide blooms can occur after a major hurricane,” said Dr. Eric Milbrandt, Director of SCCF. “It happened after Hurricane Charley in 2004 and again after Hurricane Irma in 2017.”

Hoping to provide a clear picture of the effects of the hurricane and the observed blooms, researchers tracked blooms using satellite imagery, focused on water quality and the ocean floor, and analyzed nutrients collected during the second response cruise. A number of sites were sampled, going as far as 80 miles offshore into the Gulf of Mexico. As in the first response cruise, each researcher aboard the vessel had a different focus.

In the aftermath of Hurricane Ian, the underwater world appeared to have been severely affected. During the first cruise, researchers found that artificial reefs located 30 miles offshore had been heavily impacted. They explained that a great portion of the seafloor appeared to be covered by a thick layer of mud which had caused hard corals to be wiped away. They also indicated that many recreational fish species were back in the area and abundant after the storm, but that the systems that supported those fish had been heavily impacted.

“We combined the strengths of FIO’s experienced crew and captains with the insights of the senior scientists onboard and the precocious energy of FGCU’s student researchers and divers. Together we were able to gather a huge amount of critical information on the ocean-side consequences of this life-changing storm, and we’ve gained a deeper understanding of the workings of the Gulf of Mexico that will help us protect her ecosystems and the people who depend on them,” said Dr. James Douglass of FGCU’s Water School.

During the cruise, researchers sampled nearly 50 sites as far as 12 miles offshore in the Gulf of Mexico. Each researcher on the team aboard the R/V Hogarth had a different focus. Environmental parameters such as chlorophyll A, contaminants and pollutants in the water, ocean acidification, and sediment extractions were key areas of focus. Through the team’s sampling and observation, red tide blooms were discovered (and later confirmed in laboratories).

Karenia brevis is the dinoflagellate known as the leading cause of red tide blooms. High counts of this algae species were found offshore near Punta Gorda, Boca Grande, and Sanibel Island. Medium counts were found near North Captiva Island while low counts were found as far north as Manasota Beach and as far south offshore Wiggins Pass and Cayo Costa, which is where Hurricane Ian made landfall on September 28^th.

The bloom is more widespread than FWC samples indicated and continues to extend south,” said SCCF Marine Lab Director Eric Milbrandt, Ph.D. “We were able to characterize nearshore ocean conditions before the bloom which will help us better understand red tide blooms.”

In the aftermath of Hurricane Ian, the underwater world appears to have been severely affected as well. Researchers who dove in the waters of southwest Florida during the cruise explained that artificial reefs 30 miles offshore were substantially impacted. Much of the seafloor, where there were once complete ecosystems, appeared to be covered by a thick layer of mud which caused hard corals to be wiped away. Many recreational fish species are back and abundant but the systems that supported those fish have been heavily impacted which has the potential to impact Florida’s greater “Blue Economy” with changes in the fishing and tourism industries.

FIO’s research vessel also located the SCCF River, Estuary, Coastal Observing Network’s (RECON) wave buoy, which was knocked off during hurricane Ian after recording a 24-foot wave. According to the scientists onboard, the signal was lost for a few days before it started broadcasting again about a mile from where it originally was.

The post-Hurricane Ian cruise was a success in terms of the amount of research the team was able to complete while at sea, even though the findings were less than ideal. The researchers worked incredibly well together to complete dives, sample collection and equipment retrieval. “The overall experience was inspiring for several reasons. The group of scientists were able to collaborate on a level that is hard to find. Everyone worked together to stay organized and collect samples from nearly 50 sites in our greater area. The FIO crew was extremely professional as well as knowledgeable about the scientific collections that needed to be made,” said FGCU researcher and Sanibel Captiva Islands Chamber of Commerce board chair, Calli Johnson.

“The collaboration between multiple academic institutions (FGCU, USF & FAU), research agencies (SCCF & FWRI), and the state consortium of FIO made all of this work possible to determine the initial impacts of Hurricane Ian on the west Florida shelf and coastline. We are hopeful to conduct future sampling efforts and research cruises with our collaborators to document and determine the future impacts and recovery of the west Florida shelf and coast,” said FGCU researcher Adam Catasus.

2022

• Nov. 4, 2022 – A team of scientists and researchers set out to discover the impact that Hurricane Ian had on coastal life – Business Observer
• Nov. 2, 2022 – FGCU student-scientists & Florida Institute of Oceanography explore the Gulf to collect ecosystem data – ABC 7 News
• Nov. 2, 2022 – Ian ruins man-made reefs, brings algae bloom to Southwest Florida – Wink News
• Oct. 29, 2022 – Studying Ian’s effects on the ocean: Researchers go on 7-day trip in the Gulf – Wink News
• Oct. 28, 2022 – FGCU researchers study red tide blooming after Hurricane Ian – Wink News
• Oct. 27, 2022 – FGCU Water School researchers survey Hurricane Ian’s impact on Gulf – Charlotte Florida Weekly
• Oct. 21, 2022 – MBARI to Transfer Research Vessel to Florida Institute of Oceanography – MarineLink
• Oct. 10, 2022 – Research trip in Gulf continues with day three after Ian – Wink News
• Oct. 18, 2022 – Researchers inspect Gulf water on seven-day voyage – Wink News

2019

• Dec. 19, 2019 – FGCU’s “The Water School” brings the water quality battle to our backyard – Wink News
• Dec 2, 2019 – They tagged sharks and waded in wetlands – Crow’s Nest
• Nov 22, 2019 – New technology developed to improve forecasting of earthquakes, tsunamis – Eureka Alert (AAAS)

2018

• Aug 1, 2018 – Inside Look: RV Hogarth – Passagemaker
• May 15, 2018 – Students embark on research trip at sea – FIU News
• Feb 16, 2018 – Big new floating lab aids FGCU marine research – USA Today News-Press
• Jan 29, 2018 – New ship for local marine research sets sail – WSVNTV Miami
• Jan 29, 2018 – Florida’s “Floating Lab” Docks in Ft. Lauderdale – Sun Sentinel
• Jan 25, 2018 – UNF marine-science students check out state’s brand-new ocean research vessel – Florida Times Union
• Jan 25, 2018 – University of North Florida to research marine life from 78-foot boat – CBS 47/FOX 30

2017

• November 7, 2017 – USF, Florida Welcome New Research Vessel – WUSF News
• October 23, 2017 – Florida Institute of Oceanography [FIO] welcomes new research vessel – Bay News 9
• May 25, 2017 – Launch of Research Vessel, W.T. Hogarth  – The Maritime Executive
• May 23, 2017 – New Research Vessel to Impact Marine Research Across Florida – USF News Channel
• May 23, 2017 – FIO has a new way to sudy oil spills and red tides. – Channel 10 CBS News
• May 23, 2017 – Student scientists get new boat to study Tampa Bay Area – Channel 28 ABC News

2016

• October 18, 2016 – OneGulf Voyage Gathers Unprecedented Marine Samples for Two Oil Spills – Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative
• June 1, 2016 – Florida Institute of Oceanography and USF System Host the “Keel Laying Ceremony” for a New State-funded Marine Research Vessel – USF News
• May 24, 2016 – New 78′ research vessel to be built for Florida – WorkBoat
• May 12, 2016 – Longtime Tarpon Springs boat builder to construct state research vessel – Tampa Bay Times

2015

• June, 24, 2015 – Researchers Rescue Missing Boater  – The Oracle

Florida International University’s (FIU) 2021 Oceanography-at-Sea course (OCB4005C) was launched in 2013 and is aimed at providing undergraduate students an immersive, hands-on experience developing and executing a research project at sea. In early March, following strict COVID safety guidelines, Associate Professor and Assistant Director of Coastlines and Oceans in FIU’s Institute of Environment, Dr. Heather Bracken-Grissom, led a team of 8 students on a 4-day trip onboard the Florida Institute of Oceanography’s (FIO) Research Vessel, the R/V Hogarth, to collect samples in Tampa Bay and the eastern Gulf of Mexico.

Using dredges, otter trawls, bongo nets, and plankton nets, the students successfully collected specimens to measure and observe for their individual projects. Sampling was very biodiverse with an abundance of plankton, fish, and crustaceans enabling students to observe the vast biodiversity in the area while comparing nearshore species to offshore species. Dr. Bracken-Grissom was also able to collect samples that contribute to a National Science Foundation (NSF) Environmental Biology Grant Study designated to reconstruct the crab “tree of life”. Several times while in transit, a pod of dolphins danced in the vessel’s wake, highlighting to the students the variety of life that call the Gulf of Mexico home. As the weather took a turn and the seas became rough, the FIU cohort and FIO’s crew held strong and continued to sample diligently. “Our collections from this trip include a few new representative species to add to the Florida International Crustacean Collection, and many other specimens will be used for local outreach and downstream molecular work”! The crew was very helpful in setting and retrieving the gear throughout the entirety of the trip. Overall, we had an amazing time and are very grateful to FIU, FIO, and everyone involved who made this trip possible!” exclaimed Dr. Bracken-Grissom. Click here to read about Dr. Bracken-Grissom’s scope of work and see testimonials from students regarding the Oceanography-at-Sea course.

Earlier this Summer, the R/V Hogarth departed from Bayboro Harbor for Key West on a two-week long FIO State University System (SUS) Sponsored educational cruise with Professor Stephen Wood and Ocean Engineering students from the Florida Institute of Technology (FIT). Dr. Wood was focused on teaching data collection at sea, shipboard deployment techniques on a variety of instruments and sensors, and much more. The cohort participated in a number of these enriched learning experiences on their way to Key West where another group of FIT Ocean Engineering students enrolled in the Marine Field Projects Course (OCE 4911, 12, and 13) joined Dr. Wood and the Hogarth Crew on the cruise back to St. Petersburg.