BIO

Hello! I'm Aiden Hutt, a passionate biology major at Florida State University with a focus on zoology. I am currently conducting a self-directed experiment at the Coastal and Marine Laboratory to better understand how nutrient elevation, which is often caused by environmental pollution, affects the growth of Warty Sea Anemones from Caspersen Beach, FL. My interest in coral conservation research stems from a strong desire to positively contribute to the community dedicated to protecting our oceans. Throughout my undergraduate studies, I found research to be extremely rewarding, and I am excited to continue exploring and contributing to this field.

Impact of Nutrient Enrichment on Warty Sea Anemones’ Growth Dynamics: A Coastal Ecosystem Perspective

Abstract

This study aims to investigate how nutrient elevation (such as that driven by nutrient pollution) affects the growth of Warty Sea Anemones from Caspersen Beach, FL. It has been proposed that anemone reproduction and population growth is aided by excess nutrients from human runoff, which fosters bacterial blooms. By evaluating anemone health and reproduction across experimentally manipulated nutrient levels, my study seeks to understand the effects of nutrients on important taxa from coastal ecosystems. These results may have broad relevance for marine conservation and restoration efforts.

Keywords: Coral, Pollution, Anemone, Runoff