Award: OCE-1057713

Our research focuses on how the invasion of the red seaweed Gracilaria vermiculophylla affects the ecology of SC and GA estuaries. We found that Gracilaria provisions food and structure important to benthic species, and fuels microbial production by leeching sugars while alive and producing detritus after death. Gracilaria is successful in these estuaries because of a novel mutualism with a non-native decorator worm called Diopatra cuprea. Our results add to a growing recognition in the literature that non-native species can increase local ecosystem functioning (eg., productivity) in some habitats. Funds from this grant allowed us to genotype 2500+ individuals at multiple microsatellite loci, which revealed substantial genetic variation within invasive populations previously thought to be genetically depauperate based on a single mitochondrial locus (cytochrome oxidase I). We also found that this genetic diversity within populations of Gracilaria may potentially facilitate the invasion, by increasing primary productivity at a small scale. We initiated a citizen science project in collaboration with Patriots Point Naval and Maritime Museum in Charleston SC. This unique project generates curricular opportunities for students in South Carolina elementary schools. The "Sotka lab" is a Science Spotlight laboratory that will allow students to follow our research throughout the academic school year. We developed lessons about statistics, DNA, and marine ecology using "Case Studies" that are based on real data, some of which the students will be collecting. An intern at Patriots Point has already visited the poorest elementary school in every county in South Carolina, and introduced quadrat methods, ecology and invasive species to 5thgrade children at 21 schools in the 2014-15 academic year. The curriculum was also adapted for sophomore-level students in Ecology at the College of Charleston. For details see "The Sotka Lab" at http://patriotspointsciencespotlight.com and LAMPS ("Lowcountry Algal Monitoring Program for Students":http://www.patriotspointsciencespotlight.com/lamps-introduction.html) Last Modified: 11/09/2015 Submitted by: Erik E Sotka