Research

Filling Gaps in Knowledge

Issue

NCRI facilitates funding of external projects identified as filling gaps in specific knowledge areas by its Technical Advisory Committee (TAC). Each year the TAC recommends an area of study to focus upon in an RFP. Proposals are accepted from U.S. institutions.

Project

Previously funded projects have supported the University of Kansas in a global analysis of coral reef vulnerability and the development of an electronic environmental database. The University of Georgia was supported in investigations of population dynamics and genetic diversity of Acropora cervicornis (staghorn coral). Boston University received funds to investigate connectivity among Caribbean stomatopod populations. Florida International University was supported in evaluating the role of a coral pathogen in the ongoing coral mortality on coral reefs of Florida. The University of Florida was supported in research assessing the biodiversity and endemism of reef cryptofauna, and the Bermuda Biological Research Station in the evaluation of molecular biodiversity in semi-isolated octocoral-zooxanthellae symbioses of Bermuda. These projects exemplify the types of external projects that NCRI funds on a short-term (usually one-year) basis, selected by NCRI's external Technical Advisory Committee (TAC).

Project

Coral Reef Vulnerability: An Electronic Reef Environmental Database

Principal Investigator:

Robert W. Buddemeier, Ph.D., University of Kansas / Kansas Geological Survey

Project

Potential for Acropora cervicornis (Staghorn Coral) in Coral Reef Restoration: Genetics

Principal Investigator:

William K. Fitt, Ph.D., University of Georgia

Project

The Hidden World of Coral Reefs: Assessing the Biodiversity and Endemism of the Reef Cryptofauna

Principal Investigator:

Gustav Paulay, Ph.D., University of Florida

Project

Assessment of the Role of a Coral Pathogen in the Ongoing Coral Mortality on Coral Reefs of Florida

Principal Investigators:

Laurie Richardson, Ph.D.
Dee Mills, Ph.D. (Co-PI)
Florida International University

Project

Connectivity among Caribbean Stomatopod Populations: Effects of Ocean Currents and Life History on Patterns of Dispersal and Regional Biodiversity

Principal Investigators:

Paul H. Barber, Ph.D., Boston University
Roy Caldwell, Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley

Project

Molecular Biodiversity in Semi-Isolated Gorgonian-Zooxanthellae Symbioses of Bermuda

Principal Investigator:

Henry G. Trapido-Rosenthal, Ph.D.
Kathryn A. Coates, Ph.D. (Co-PI)
Bermuda Biological Station for Research