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
Models estimate potential shifts in thermal habitats for key fisheries
September 3, 2026
The U.S. east coast has already seen shifts in the distribution of major fisheries, influencing catch limits and complications with permitting across states. As black sea bass, summer flounder and scup populations have shifted away from their habitat in the southeast, they have moved to northern regions where fisheries may have lower catch limits and […]
