Ecosystem Assessment and Modeling Group
Conducting holistic, longterm assessments of marine ecosystems
What We Do
The Ecosystem Assessment and Modeling (EAM) research group assesses, evaluates, and predicts the state of the marine ecosystem by integrating environmental, biogeochemical, and biological observations collected from oceanographic vessels, small boats and buoys arrays with satellite data, by applying empirical analyses and models, and by conducting experiments,. The mission of EAM is to provide high-quality data and scientific knowledge to inform ecosystem-based management (EBM) decisions with a holistic and integrated approach rather than evaluating responses of individual components of the ecosystem to stressor conditions in isolation.
EAM generates and disseminates data and scientific information to diverse groups of stakeholders in a manner that improves their decision-making. EAM projects aim to understand coupled socio-ecological systems in coastal habitats, processes affecting the occurrence and abundance of marine organisms, from microbes to vertebrates, and how these in turn respond to different types of natural and human-driven pressures, today and in the future.
We also co-lead the Southeast US Marine Biodiversity Observation Network (SEUS MBON) with partners from the University of South Florida (USF) and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission (FWC) for generating operational marine life data for conservation and sustainability of Florida waters.
Top News
NOAA cruises set the foundation for restoring crucial Florida ecosystems
March 28, 2025
South Florida is comprised of 350 miles of the only barrier coral reef in North America – and the third largest in the world. 1,800 miles of shoreline is lined with mangroves in the Florida Keys alone, which provide coastal protection from storms and support juveniles of commercialized fish species. The region sustains the largest […]
