Ocean Science for a Better World

Mysid shrimp are a widely distributed group of zooplankton that exist in both freshwater and marine environments. Due to their extensive presence and large biomass, they form a critical link in most marine food webs, yet, little is known about their ecology and interactions with their local surroundings. To further understand mysids and their impact on the broader marine ecosystem, an interdisciplinary team of investigators from FAU have received a $361,187 grant from the National Science Foundation Biological Oceanography program to develop and deploy a novel in situ imaging system in coastal Maine over the span of two summers.

“The NSF award will allow our researchers to conduct a comprehensive investigation on mysid behavior and ecology with in situ observations, characterizing their distribution and abundance, especially in the context of local flow, food availability and light conditions,” said principal investigator, Aditya Nayak, Ph.D., assistant professor, department of ocean and mechanical engineering, FAU Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute.

Other participating institutions are the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and the University of Southern Maine.