Scyphers Lab at the University of South Alabama
PROJECTS
NOAA ADAPTATION SCIENCES (AdSci) MANGROVES & SEAWALLS
Collaborative Modeling the benefits, consequences, and trade-offs of mangroves and seawalls for coastal communities.
Through network analyses, interviews, and collaborative modeling, we are studying the impacts of mangroves, bulkheads, and other climate adaptation strategies in the Florida Keys.
AMBERJACK PROJECT
Through network analyses, interviews, and collaborative modeling, we are conducting a study to estimate an absolute abundance of and expand our biological knowledge of Greater Amberjack.
The overarching research topic of our study is:
To determine GAJ abundance variations among habitats (artificial, natural, and unknown/unconsolidated bottom [UCB]) and regions. As well as to show limited connectivity between South America and Gulf of Mexico regions with a mixing zone near the Florida Keys.
REEF FISHERIES EXTENSION PROJECT
Through network analyses, interviews, and collaborative modeling, we are studying the disconnect that erodes stakeholder faith in the credibility of scientific findings.
The overarching research question of our study is:
How can we work directly with stakeholders on a consistent basis to identify pressing research needs and communicate those needs to the scientific and management community?
ADAPTIVE CAPACITY PROJECT
Through network analyses, interviews, and collaborative modeling, we are studying the impacts of risks perceived by five distinct commercial fishing fleets operating in the North Pacific and New England regions.
The overarching research question of our study is:
How can we work with participants in each fishery to develop a fleet-specific adaptive capacity framework for perceptions of environmental, social, economic, and regulatory risks and the degree to which they can adapt to these risks if realized? We will use the resultant distribution to gain a novel perspective on fleet similarities and differences as well as the context for developing a generalized framework for future fishery resilience assessments.
