2017 Research Discoveries

2017

UF/IFAS RESEARCH

UF/IFAS FLORIDA AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION

Mission Our faculty are committed to the UF/IFAS research
mission while also assuming Extension and teaching
The research mission of UF/IFAS, conducted under responsibilities, and findings from their research are
the auspices of the Florida Agricultural Experiment used as the basis for Extension programs taught
Station (FAES), is to discover new scientific knowledge, statewide via publications, distance education, and
encourage innovative study, and create applications field day events, and are the foundation of many of the
based on sound science that address challenges facing classes taught by our faculty.
agriculture, natural resources, and interrelated human
systems in Florida, our country, and the world. Research

History At UF/IFAS, research scientists work diligently to
discover solutions to some of the most vexing problems
FAES was founded in 1887 at Florida Agricultural College in Florida and the world. Our research spans three
in Lake City, the state’s original land-grant institution. comprehensive areas: agriculture, natural resources,
When UF officially began operations in fall 1906, FAES and human-systems research.
was relocated to Gainesville. For much of the 20th
century, FAES was headquartered in Newell Hall on Our researchers play leading roles in cross-cutting,
the UF main campus, named for former FAES director campus-wide research initiatives such as:
Wilmon Newell who served from 1921-1943.
• Biodiversity Institute
The first off-campus FAES facility was the Citrus ••Emerging Pathogens Institute
Research and Education Center (REC) in Lake Alfred, ••Florida Climate Institute
established a century ago in 1917 to aid the state’s citrus ••One Health
growers. It was followed by the Everglades REC in Belle ••UF Genetics Institute
Glade, North Florida REC in Quincy, and the Tropical ••UF Informatics Institute
REC in Homestead, all of which were established in the •••UF Water Institute
1920s. Additional facilities opened in the decades that
followed, increasing the statewide presence of FAES. Our researchers are actively involved in UF/IFAS-based
centers of excellence such as:
Funding
• Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants
According to the most recent National Science ••Center for Landscape Conservation and Ecology
Foundation figures, UF has ranked first or second among ••Center for Nutritional Sciences
U.S. universities in total agricultural sciences research •••Center for Public Issues Education in Agriculture
expenditures since fiscal year 2001.1
and Natural Resources
Financial support for UF/IFAS research activities comes
from a variety of sources, including federal contracts • Center for Remote Sensing
and grants; state programs and appropriations; check- ••Institute for Sustainable Food Systems
off programs sponsored by producers; contracts and •••Plant Innovation Center
grants from non-profit organizations and private
companies; donations; and revenues from the licensing Highlights
of crop cultivars, products, and technologies developed
by UF/IFAS personnel. FAES is committed to continually improving its research
programs to meet stakeholder needs. Enclosed are
Faculty research highlights that illustrate this commitment,

UF/IFAS employs more than 550 faculty members with ••including:
research appointments. Many UF/IFAS researchers Developing innovative methods to assess and
are award-winning, internationally recognized experts address challenges faced by coastal communities and
who publish papers in leading peer-reviewed journals natural environments, including coral-reef damage
and are inducted into prestigious organizations such as ••and recovering from natural disasters.
the National Academy of Sciences and the American Responding to newly detected disease threats such
Association for the Advancement of Science. as Zika by using the latest technologies to develop
••effective prediction and mosquito control methods.
The University of Florida is a land-grant university Improving agricultural techniques to sustain a
and an Association of American Universities member. growing world population through the advancement
••of automated technologies.
Investing in students who will one day be scientific
thought leaders through a competitive, engaging
research internship program.

2 | 2017 UF/IFAS RESEARCH DISCOVERIES

FACULTY* ADMINISTRATIVE GOALS***

462 168 568 #1 RESEARCH PROGRAMS
Expand our global leadership in transformational basic
on-campus off-campus with research and applied research by developing "seed"programs to
appointments support strategic research initiatives, increasing
(CY 2016) (CY 2016) awareness of funding opportunities, and funding
(CY 2016) strategic investments in equipment and infrastructure.

14 12 6 #2 RESEARCH CULTURE

departments Research and meNmAbSers** Enrich our research culture to strengthen innovation
+ 1 school Education and discovery by encouraging the recruitment and
Centers retention of diverse, top-performing faculty and sta ,
developing and improving research experiences for
11 1,368 15 students, and promoting synergies between the land
grant missions.
fAelAloAwSs** refereed journal U.S. plant
publications patents issued #3 RESEARCH PEOPLE
16 Build satisfaction and quality of life on the job by
(FY 2015-16) (FY 2015-16) promoting trainings and continuing education,
U.S. utility fostering an inclusive and collegial environment,
patents issued 27 5 recognizing sta at all career stages in individual and
team achievements, and recognizing distinction in
(FY 2015-16) foreign utility plant variety disciplinary and interdisciplinary research environments.
patents issued protection
certificates ***Developed in collaboration with faculty and unit leaders in 2016.
(FY 2015-16)
(FY 2015-16)

*Excluding county faculty
**Currently active faculty funded by the state

FUNDING SPONSORS (FY 2015-16)

UF/IFAS Agricultural Sciences 1,548 Awards Received, Totaling
Research Expenditures
$140 MILLION
167.6$ in Federal FY 20151
MILLION Foundations
$21.15 million
Sponsored Research Awards
Local & 15.1%
STATE FY MILLIONS $ Regional
Government
68.5 $7.05 million
72.2
71.6 5.0State Agencies %
91.3
85.3 $6.87 million
112.9
125.0 Corporations 4.9% 70.1%
107.1 & Companies
102.3 $4.85 million 3.5% Federal Agencies
125.8 $98.21 million
140.0 1.4%

All Other Sources
$1.92 million

2017 UF/IFAS RESEARCH DISCOVERIES | 3

UF/IFAS RESEARCH DISCOVERIES

AUTOMATED SENSING

As the world population climbs toward an estimated 9.7 billion by 20501, food demand will surge,
increasing the need for efficiency in agricultural production systems. Utilizing robots and other
autonomous agricultural techniques to streamline tasks such as planting, fertilizing, and harvesting is
one way researchers with the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS)
are addressing this challenge.

The advancement of electronic technologies has expanded the arsenal of tools to use, such as Global
Positioning System (GPS), Geographic Information System (GIS), drone scouting, variable rate
application technology, and remote-sensing technologies.

Automated-sensing research has typically focused on traditional crops such as citrus and tomatoes,
but as Florida’s crops, population, and land uses have changed, UF/IFAS faculty have sought to develop
innovative, technology-based solutions to challenges facing specialty crop production, urban landscapes
and environmental areas. Researchers at UF/IFAS are dedicated to developing alternative technologies to
more efficiently produce valuable products while leaving a smaller environmental footprint.

Ongoing Research

INTELLIGENT FERTILIZATION

Wild blueberry fields can have up to 50 percent bare and weedy spots, but existing
applicators dispense fertilizer uniformly across the entire field. Arnold Schumann, a
professor at the UF/IFAS Citrus Research and Education Center, and his colleagues
at Dalhousie University developed a modified fertilizer spreader that combines a GPS
map of the field with a real-time, camera-sensing system to deliver targeted fertilizer
applications. His team evaluated the performance of this modified spreader under two
different lighting conditions and three ground speeds. They quantified its effectiveness
compared to traditional applicators by applying collection devices to a field’s bare soil
and weeds and compared fertilizer levels after using each system. This sensing-based
system is being modified for use as an agrochemical sprayer for crops like strawberries
and peppers.

ROBOTIC DISEASE DETECTION

Traditional disease-detection techniques in citrus groves and strawberry fields rely on
human scouts, which are time-consuming, expensive, and prone to error. Reza Ehsani,
a professor at the UF/IFAS Citrus Research and Education Center, is developing an
alternative – electronic sensors and algorithms that work in conjunction with robots
designed by collaborators at the University of Central Florida. First, aerial drones
determine zones that are susceptible to disease, and then ground-based robots canvass
those areas, scanning the crops to determine plant health. If a disease is identified, the
robot records the location. If the robot cannot determine the specific disease, it collects a
leaf and soil sample for lab analysis. Further development will ultimately provide large-
scale growers with a more efficient and cost-effective method for early disease detection
and management.

POSTHARVEST INSPECTION SYSTEM

Citrus greening disease, also called huanglongbing (HLB), and other citrus defects cause
fruit to vary in quality. Daniel Lee, a professor in the UF/IFAS Department of Agricultural
and Biological Engineering, led a team that developed an inspection system with real-
time video processing and a state-of-the-art algorithm that automatically identifies HLB-
infected citrus and other defects such as citrus canker, melanose, rust mites, and wind
scar. The prototype system can be mounted on a portable conveyer system to identify
blemished fruit in the field or integrated into optical-grading systems in packinghouses
to maintain marketable quality by removing blemished fruit from the supply chain. The
system correctly identifies HLB-infected citrus with 94.9 percent accuracy. Lee’s team is
modifying the system to make it a cost-effective solution for producers aiming to increase
orange juice quality and competitiveness.

1https://esa.un.org/unpd/wpp/publications/files/key_findings_wpp_2015.pdf 2017 UF/IFAS RESEARCH DISCOVERIES | AUTOMATED SENSING | 1

UF/IFAS RESEARCH DISCOVERIES

Research with Impact

SATELLITE DATA

New satellite data at microwave wavelengths provide unprecedented soil-moisture
information critical for establishing best management practices for optimal crop
production. However, the information is only available at coarse spatial resolutions, while
farmers need validated, field-scale information to make decisions. To provide accurate
observations of soil moisture at the field level, Jasmeet Judge, an associate professor with
the UF/IFAS Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, and her colleagues
developed an algorithm for downscaling satellites’ soil moisture data from resolution of
100 km2 to 1 km2. Then they integrated the data into a crop-growth model that provides
daily observations of root-zone soil moisture at field scales. This model allows for
improved field management strategies for row crops on large farms, and is freely available,
so producers in Florida can begin using this methodology.

NUTRIENT MAPPING

Florida’s decision-makers need scientific support when determining soil- and water-
resource conservation strategies over large geographical areas. To help guide their
decisions, Sabine Grunwald, a professor with the UF/IFAS Soil and Water Sciences
Department, led a team that created three-dimensional predictive maps of nutrient
levels in the Santa Fe River watershed. Her team sampled soil from more than 100 sites
spanning eight land-use types and then identified the spatial patterns of phosphorus in
the soil using a variety of geostatistical methods that were correlated with environmental
attributes, land-uses, vegetation cover, and geological composition data. The resulting
maps provide regulators insight into phosphorus distribution in local ecosystems and
improved agricultural management recommendations for nutrient-runoff limits and
watershed-wide protection of natural areas.

SENSOR SENSITIVITY

Soil moisture sensor systems control water application in urban landscapes by allowing
irrigation systems to activate only when soil moisture drops below a certain threshold.
In many areas including Florida, irrigation water is commonly reclaimed water, or highly
treated wastewater, which can have elevated salinity levels. Irrigation expert Michael
Dukes helped demonstrate that sensors from various manufactures have distinctly
different accuracy when exposed to Florida’s reclaimed water. Dukes, a professor in
the UF/IFAS Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, tested three
commercially available sensors under controlled, replicable conditions. The findings
provide recommendations to home and small-business owners on which brands are likely
to function best under their particular irrigation conditions, reducing irrigation and
saving millions of gallons of water annually.

Unit Leaders Dorota Z. Haman Michael E. Rogers

Konda R. Reddy Chair and Professor Director and Professor
Chair and Professor
Soil and Water Sciences Agricultural and Biological Engineering Citrus Research and Education Center
352-294-3154
[email protected] 352-392-1864 863-956-5897

[email protected] [email protected]

Researcher Contacts

INTELLIGENT ROBOTIC POSTHARVEST SATELLITE DATA NUTRIENT MAPPING SENSOR SENSITIVITY
FERTILIZATION DISEASE DETECTION INSPECTION SYSTEM
Jasmeet Judge, Director Sabine Grunwald, Professor Michael Dukes, Professor
Arnold Schumann, Reza Ehsani, Professor Won Suk “Daniel” and Associate Professor
Lee, Professor Agricultural and Biological Soil and Water Sciences Agricultural and Biological
Professor Agricultural and Biological Agricultural and Biological Engineering
Engineering Center for Remote Sensing 352-294-3145 Engineering
Citrus Research and Engineering 352-392-1864, ext. 207 352-392-1864, 299
[email protected] [email protected] [email protected] 352-392-1864, 205
Education Center Citrus Research and
[email protected]
Soil and Water Sciences Education Center

863-956-8855 863-956-8770

[email protected] [email protected]

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UF/IFAS RESEARCH DISCOVERIES

CITIZEN SCIENCE

A major obstacle for many researchers is the lack of manpower needed to collect the data required for
conducting scientific studies. Many of those researchers overcome this challenge by utilizing citizen
science, a research collaboration between scientists and volunteers to collect and document data. By
collaborating with experts, citizens can easily become involved in studies with simple instructions for
specialized data-collection techniques. This allows individuals to become an active part in scientific
studies while affording researchers the resources needed to collect expansive amounts of information,
often over large geographical regions.

The term “citizen science” is relatively new, but its value as a research tool has been demonstrated
through discoveries aided by this practice. Researchers at the University of Florida Institute of Food and
Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) collect citizen-driven data for diverse and impactful research affecting
agricultural, environmental, and human systems. By involving the public in science, research projects
become more relevant, responsive, and relatable than ever before, while infusing the passion of discovery
in the individuals who participate.

Ongoing Research

OYSTER RESTORATION

Oyster beds play a critical role in stabilizing Florida’s eroding coastlines, but these
habitats are in steady decline. Todd Osborne, an assistant professor with the UF/IFAS
Soil and Water Sciences Department, and his team have recruited Floridians who live
on saltwater shorelines between St. Augustine and Palm Coast to help with restoration
efforts. More than 100 volunteers are trained to become oyster gardeners at the UF
Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience. The participants then suspended cages of
oysters beneath their docks, committing to measuring and reporting oyster-size and
water-quality data each week for a year. Osborne is hopeful that the results of this citizen-
based study will help identify long-term water quality and habitat suitability for oyster
populations in northeast Florida while increasing citizens’ appreciation for oysters and
the fragile ecosystems they inhabit.

RAINFALL MODELING

Years of experience equip agricultural growers with location-specific knowledge about
rainfall. However, few growers have access to long-term regional data or projections for
how climate change may affect future rainfall. Assistant research scientist Wendy-Lin
Bartels, with the UF/IFAS School of Forest Resources and Conservation, coordinates
the “Tristate Climate Learning Network” that regularly engages farmers to discuss
climate risks. As a result, growers, Extension professionals and scientists collaboratively
developed a rainfall intensity metric to examine rainfall changes over the past 30 years.
Results show that in the southeast U.S., rainfall variability has increased in spring and
summer, and rainfall intensity has increased in summer and fall. Growers will continue to
provide information and share experiences during biannual meetings about how they are
adapting their management decisions to further develop this study.

BACKYARD BARK BEETLES

Many beetles are vital to ecosystems by helping decompose dead wood, but some small,
almost unnoticeable beetle species are incredibly destructive to forests and groves
because they attack live trees. Entomologist Jiri Hulcr, an assistant professor in the UF/
IFAS School of Forest Resources and Conservation, founded a program called Backyard
Bark Beetles to track the distribution of several key bark and ambrosia beetle species in
the U.S. by instructing participants to assemble a simple trap following an online tutorial.
With the help of hundreds of citizen scientists, 36 beetle species have been identified so
far, including the first report of a particular beetle in Michigan, outside its expected range.
Hulcr’s continued ability to research and understand these beetles is enhanced by the
evolving dataset provided by participants, who can view their contributions in an online
interactive map.

2017 UF/IFAS RESEARCH DISCOVERIES | CITIZEN SCIENCE | 1

UF/IFAS RESEARCH DISCOVERIES

Research with Impact

FLORIDA LAKEWATCH

Floridians want their local lakes to remain healthy, so the UF/IFAS Florida LAKEWATCH
program channeled that desire into citizen-driven data collection. Founded in 1986,
LAKEWATCH sought to solve water-quality problems. According to Director Mark
Hoyer, dedicated staff, graduate students and more than 1,800 trained volunteers have
made the program successful by regularly collecting and reporting water-related data.
As a result, long-term water chemistry data and water-depth maps are available for more
than 1,100 lakes, 175 coastal sites, 120 rivers, and five springs in Florida, many of which
had never been monitored before this program. Volunteer-collected data have contributed
to 37 research articles and helped establish critically important baseline measurements
to help guide the evaluation of water-quality changes in relation to land use and climate
fluctuations in critical Florida waterways.

CROWDSOURCED DATA

Most mobile devices are equipped with GPS, that can provide vast amounts of real-time
data from individual app users — a form of crowdsourced data. Henry Hochmair, an
associate professor with the UF/IFAS Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center,
led a team that analyzed a variety of volunteered geographic information (VGI) data
from bicyclists. Included in this VGI analysis was Strava™, a mobile app used extensively
by athletes worldwide. Hochmair’s team analyzed activity data from 158,000 roads in
Miami-Dade County to identify factors associated with local bicycle ridership. Results
showed that on-road bicycle accommodations, such as bike lanes, benefit commuter and
non-commuter cyclists differently and are dependent on whether the lanes are on local or
major roads. His team presented these and other findings to the Transportation Research
Board as it decides the most efficient plan for bicycle infrastructure improvements.

SCHOOL OF ANTS

Ants are found in almost every country worldwide, with more than 12,000 known species
in total, so tracking them is challenging. Andrea Lucky, an assistant research scientist in
the UF/IFAS Entomology and Nematology Department, enlisted the help of volunteers
in the School of Ants program to capture and mail ants from their urban neighborhoods
to the lab. Having such a geographically vast resource has led to discoveries such as
finding the introduced Asian needle ant (Brachyponera chinensis), thought to be confined
to southeastern U.S. forests, far from their known range in participants’ backyards in
the Upper Midwest and Pacific Northwest. With contributions from more than 1,000
volunteers, this extensive mapping system has been instrumental in expanding the
known ranges of native species, monitoring invasive species, and discovering new species.

Unit Leaders Terrell T. “Red” Baker Robin Giblin-Davis Blair Siegfried
Director and Professor Acting Director and Professor Chair and Professor
Konda R. Reddy School of Forest Resources and Fort Lauderdale Research and Entomology and Nematology
Chair and Professor Conservation Education Center 352-273-3970
Soil and Water Sciences 352-846-0850 • [email protected] 954-577-6333 • [email protected] [email protected]
352-294-3154
[email protected]

Researcher Contacts

OYSTER RESTORATION RAINFALL MODELING BACKYARD BARK BEETLES FLORIDA LAKEWATCH CROWDSOURCED DATA SCHOOL OF ANTS

Todd Osborne, Wendy-Lin Jiri Hulcr, Mark Hoyer, Director of Henry Hochmair, Andrea Lucky, Assistant
Associate Professor Research Scientist
Assistant Professor Bartels, Assistant Assistant Professor Florida LAKEWATCH School of Forest Resources Entomology and
and Conservation Nematology
Soil and Water Sciences Research Scientist School of Forest Resources School of Forest Resources Fort Lauderdale Research 352-273-3952
and Education Center [email protected]
904-461-4047 School of Forest Resources and Conservation and Conservation 954-577-6317
[email protected]
[email protected] and Conservation 352-273-0299 352-273-3611

352-846-1511 [email protected] [email protected]

[email protected]

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UF/IFAS RESEARCH DISCOVERIES

COASTAL RESILIENCE

Florida has more coastline than any other state in the contiguous U.S., totaling approximately 1,350
miles. Much of the state’s land mass is a peninsula, and all Florida residents live within 80 miles of the
shore. Three-fourths of these residents — about 15 million people — live in coastal counties.

Many people choose to live near the shore for the lifestyle that it offers. However, the close proximity of
the sea also means that coastal communities and ecosystems are subjected to powerful natural forces,
notably hurricanes and beach erosion. In recent decades, human activity has impacted the marine
environment and new challenges have followed, including coral-reef damage, harmful algae blooms, and
saltwater intrusion into potable water that we obtain from aquifers.

At the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS), researchers are
finding innovative methods of assessing and addressing these challenges to enhance the resiliency of
both human communities and natural environments. These scientists have a long-term commitment
to help Florida’s coastlines remain livable and sustainable for residents and visitors, and to serve as an
example worldwide.

Ongoing Research

SALTWATER INTRUSION

Seawater intrusion into coastal aquifers disrupts freshwater supplies to communities and
is becoming more common due to rising sea levels and declines in groundwater. In June
2012, Cedar Key, Fla. was impacted by a saltwater intrusion event that left local citizens
without drinking water for two weeks while new water-treatment plans were developed
and implemented. Bill Pine, UF/IFAS Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
associate professor, was part of a team that analyzed the event to document treatment
options, costs, and tradeoffs. The information is available for coastal communities to use
in decision making when faced with a similar challenge. The team is now determining
how changes in freshwater availability affected local resources, including the shellfish
industry, and how to minimize those impacts in future saltwater intrusion events.

SEA OAT OUTPLANTING

Sea oats, Uniola paniculata, are iconic and environmentally crucial coastal plants that
help stabilize dunes and prevent erosion. UF/IFAS professor Deborah Miller, at the
UF/IFAS West Florida Research and Education Center in Milton, Fla., and her team
replanted plots of sea oats on the barrier island dunes with a 10-cm covering of wheat-
straw mulch to mimic the natural “litter” found seaside. After six months, mulched plants
had four times the aboveground biomass compared to unmulched control plants. These
results provide coastal communities with a cost-effective option for improving the beach
environment to facilitate the establishment of sea oats that protect coastal infrastructure.
Miller’s team plans to test this technique on an operational scale and determine if it can
help the establishment and growth of other coastal plant species.

CORAL RESTORATION

To repopulate and restore damaged coral reefs, scientists are turning to aquaculture, or
farming of aquatic organisms. To efficiently generate a more diverse and resilient coral
population, Joshua Patterson, an assistant professor stationed at The Florida Aquarium’s
Center for Conservation in Apollo Beach, Fla., leads a team researching the spawning
habits of endangered staghorn coral, Acropora cervicornis. Corals cultured in a nursery
operated by the Coral Restoration Foundation produce eggs and sperm that are released
into reef waters during specific lunar phases. Team members collected this material,
facilitated egg fertilization, and then identified artificial surface types that attracted the
most free-swimming juveniles as they sought a permanent home. The findings will be
used by aquaculture specialists as they implement coral restoration programs that will
accelerate regeneration of these endangered coral species.

2017 UF/IFAS RESEARCH DISCOVERIES | COASTAL RESILIENCE | 1

UF/IFAS RESEARCH DISCOVERIES

Research with Impact

COASTAL COMMUNITY RESILIENCE

The 2010 collapse of the Deepwater Horizon offshore oil rig did little visible environ-
mental damage to Florida’s Gulf Coast, but the event still curtailed tourism and impacted
businesses. To help Panhandle communities prepare for similar events, a research team
evaluated response efforts by governmental agencies and non-profit organizations. The
team, led by Angela Lindsey, an assistant professor with the UF/IFAS Family, Youth
and Community Sciences Department, determined that a well-coordinated and speedy
communication effort could have reassured residents and vacationers by providing
much-needed local information about the oil slick’s position and movement. These
findings enabled Lindsey to help several communities form disaster-response teams that
developed plans for addressing critical needs quickly, and allowed her the opportunity to
network with like-minded groups to optimize community response along the Gulf Coast.

ALGAL BLOOM DYNAMICS

Algae are microscopic, plant-like organisms that can experience rapid population growth
known as “blooms.” For some species, these blooms negatively affect coastal water
quality, harm marine life, and curtail recreation. To discover the mechanisms that trigger
these harmful algal bloom (HAB) events, Edward Phlips, a professor with the UF/IFAS
Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences Program, began monitoring and collecting data regarding
environmental conditions in a lagoon system along Central Florida’s Atlantic coast in
1997. Water-management district officials used the comprehensive dataset to assess and
design a variety of HAB management programs that reduce and mitigate the harmful
effects of HAB, including reducing nutrient loads, increasing water-flushing rates,
removing sediment, and fixing leaking septic tanks.

BEHAVIORAL IMMUNITY

The Caribbean spiny lobster, Panulirus argus, supports fisheries worth about $45 million
to $60 million annually to Florida producers. A waterborne virus known as PaV1 has
impacted populations since at least 2000 but never reached epidemic proportions.
Donald Behringer, an associate professor in the UF/IFAS Fisheries and Aquatic
Sciences Program, led a study showing that healthy spiny lobsters avoid contact with
infected specimens, warned by chemical cues. This phenomenon, known as “behavioral
immunity,” was demonstrated with experiments that included tethering infected animals
near occupied lobster dens in the Florida Keys. Further analyses cross-referencing
long-term population data and using computer modeling supported the conclusion that
behavioral immunity has minimized PaV1 transmission rates, providing evidence that the
fishery can remain open for commercial and recreational harvesters.

Unit Leaders Charles Wes Wood Terrell T. “Red” Baker Tracy A. Irani
Director and Professor Director and Professor Chair and Professor
Eric C. Hellgren West Florida Research and Education Center School of Forest Resources and Conservation Family, Youth and Community Sciences
Chair and Professor 850-983-7126 352-846-0850 352-273-3446
Wildlife Ecology and Conservation [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]
352-846-0552
[email protected]

Researcher Contacts

SALTWATER INTRUSION SEA OAT OUTPLANTING CORAL RESTORATION COASTAL COMMUNITY ALGAL BLOOM DYNAMICS BEHAVIORAL IMMUNITY
RESILIENCE
Bill Pine, Deborah Miller, Professor Joshua Patterson, Edward Phlips, Professor Donald Behringer,
Assistant Professor Angela Lindsey, Fisheries and Aquatic Associate Professor
Associate Professor Wildlife Ecology and Fisheries and Aquatic Assistant Professor Sciences Program School of Forest Resources
Sciences Program Family, Youth and School of Forest Sources and Conservation
Wildlife Ecology and Conservation School of Forest Resources Community Sciences and Conservation Emerging
and Conservation 352-273-3552 352-273-3603 Pathogens Institute
Conservation West Florida Research and 813-419-4917 [email protected] [email protected] 352-273-3634
[email protected] [email protected]
352-273-3650 Education Center

[email protected] 850-983-7128

[email protected]

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UF/IFAS RESEARCH DISCOVERIES

INFORMATICS

Informatics, or information science, involves collecting, processing, interpreting, and integrating vast
data sets within a contextual framework to advance science and make more precise and improved
recommendations. All informatics applications are computer-based, and as computational capacities
increase, researchers face the ever-growing challenge of developing ways to effectively filter and interpret
increasing amounts of data into meaningful and useful information.

Informatics experts with the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences
(UF/IFAS) integrate computer science and statistical techniques to analyze patterns, tendencies,
associations, and causality.

UF/IFAS researchers collaborate with scientists in a multitude of disciplines when analyzing massive
data sets of genomic information to improve animal reproduction, epidemiological data to predict disease
outbreaks, and ecological systems information to structure food webs to better understand species
interactions. Scientists’ overarching goal is to use “big data” to better meet the ever-increasing needs of
stakeholders for more reliable, useful, and easily accessible information.

Ongoing Research

DEVELOPING FOOD WEBS

Ecologists provide recommendations based on existing knowledge, but the databases
they use are growing at an exponential pace. Ben Baiser, an assistant professor in the
UF/IFAS Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, joined a team of
international researchers to address the limited usability of these datasets by building
new, synthetic datasets. Using research from more than 1,000 research articles, his
team defined the structure and function of “food webs,” an important way to quantify
relationships and interdependencies between species. The researchers then generated
qualitative predictions showing likely global hotspots for species interactions.
Development of this reproducible pipeline for creating ecological food-web datasets will
allow researchers to explore biodiversity at the rate and spatial scale necessary to address
complex ecological questions.

IDENTIFYING MOLECULAR NETWORKS

An ongoing challenge in animal genomics is identifying causal relationships, not just
associations, between how genes and molecules affect specific traits in animals of
economic importance. Francisco Peñagaricano, an assistant professor with the
UF/IFAS Department of Animal Sciences, is working on data integration of observable
traits, genetic markers, gene activity, and metabolites from multi-generation animal
populations in an attempt to reconstruct molecular causal networks underlying the
multiple layers of “omics” data. His team is using this approach to determine the causal
structural determinants underlying muscularity, fat composition, and meat quality in
livestock, giving breeders the knowledge to optimize management practices and breeding
strategies. Further development could lead to predicting with certainty these complex
traits using network information before selecting for breeding stock.

AUTOMATING GENE COUNTS

Gene activity, which is the extent to which a gene is turned “on” or “off,” controls many
plant traits, and sequencing instruments are used to count the thousands of RNA
molecules in the genes that are “on.” Improved accuracy of the gene counts, which is
essential to assessing genetic composition, requires ongoing experimental design. Ana
Conesa, a professor with the UF/IFAS Department of Microbiology and Cell Science,
helped developed the NOISeq R-package to facilitate gene counts. Her team then
analyzed and compared this advanced bioinformatics tool with leading competing
software packages and demonstrated that it outperformed the others by reducing bias
and improving accuracy. Life science researchers are increasingly using this new tool for
more accurate predictions of how gene activity controls plant traits such as yield, disease
resistance, and product quality.

2017 UF/IFAS RESEARCH DISCOVERIES | INFORMATICS | 1

UF/IFAS RESEARCH DISCOVERIES

Research with Impact

INTEGRATING DIVERSE DATA

Recent developments in bioinformatics have enabled UF/IFAS plant breeders to make
more precise genetic adjustments in blueberry varieties. Salvador Gezan, an assistant
professor in the UF/IFAS School of Forest Resources and Conservation, collaborated with
a multidisciplinary team of geneticists, food nutritionists, and biochemists to compare
how genetic and environmental factors influence the perceived flavor of blueberries, a
subjective trait. The team identified traits that were heritable and stable across growth
environments, and were most appealing to volunteers who participated in sensory
evaluation panels. Gezan used a multivariate statistical approach to combine the data and
identify the biochemical compounds and fruit characteristics associated with consumer
preference, which is an indicator of improved marketability. These traits have now
become breeding targets for the development of superior blueberry varieties.

LINKING DNA SEQUENCES

Genomic information is used to enhance the efficiency of breeding and selection in beef
cattle, and it is especially useful for crossbreeding Angus cattle (that have high-quality
ribeye areas) with Brahman cattle (that have high heat tolerance) to harness the optimal
characteristics from each. Mauricio Elzo, a professor with the UF/IFAS Department of
Animal Sciences, and his colleagues capitalized on this information by linking a series
of ultrasound traits with measured and imputed DNA-sequence variation data, and then
used the entire dataset to evaluate animals for specific heritable traits such as ribeye area,
back-fat thickness, percentage of intramuscular fat, and weight. This statistical procedure
allows breeders to identify ideal parents that will create genetically valuable offspring
before the cattle reach reproductive age, improving time and economic efficiency.

REDUCING MISCLASSIFICATION ERRORS

Malaria epidemiologists seek to identify disease risk factors so they can better
recommend preventative measures, but many are unaware that the standard statistical
model used for this purpose fails to account for imperfect diagnostic test results and
misclassifications. Denis Valle, an assistant professor with the UF/IFAS School of Forest
Resources and Conservation, and his team improved malaria analyses by developing
advanced analytical tools that were more powerful and improved confidence of the
identified risk factors. Using malaria data from the western Brazilian Amazon, one of
their new models detected an influence of long-term exposure to the disease on malaria
detection and infection probability, a significant factor overlooked by other methods.
Valle’s new data analysis approach provides critical guidance for malaria prevention and
control methods.

Unit Leaders Geoffrey E. Dahl Eric W. Triplett Terrell T. “Red” Baker
Chair and Professor Chair and Professor Director and Professor
Eric C. Hellgren Animal Sciences Microbiology and Cell Science School of Forest Resources and
Chair and Professor 352-392-1981 ext. 221 352-392-1906 Conservation
Wildlife Ecology and Conservation [email protected] [email protected] 352-846-0850 • [email protected]
352-846-0552
[email protected]

Researcher Contacts

DEVELOPING FOOD WEBS IDENTIFYING MOLECULAR AUTOMATING GENE INTEGRATING DIVERSE LINKING DNA SEQUENCES REDUCING
NETWORKS COUNTS DATA MISCLASSIFICATION
Benjamin Baiser, Mauricio Elzo, Professor ERRORS
Assistant Professor Francisco Peñagaricano, Ana Conesa, Professor Salvador A. Gezan, Animal Sciences
Wildlife Ecology and Assistant Professor Microbiology and Assistant Professor 352-392-7564 Denis Valle,
Conservation Animal Sciences Cell Science School of Forest Resources [email protected] Assistant Professor
352-392-1947 352-392-1981, ext. 231 352-273-8230 and Conservation School of Forest Resources
[email protected] [email protected] [email protected] 352-846-0133 and Conservation
[email protected] 352-392-3806
[email protected]

An2Eq|uaIlNOFppOoRrtMunAitTy IICnsStit|ut2io0n1.7 UF/IFAS RESEARCH DISCOVERIES

UF/IFAS RESEARCH DISCOVERIES

MOSQUITO-BORNE DISEASES

Mosquitoes are notorious for disturbing outdoor activities, but the blood-feeding varieties also cause
extensive human-health impacts by transmitting pathogens including Chikungunya, dengue, Zika, and
West Nile viruses. The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS)
operates a dedicated research facility, the Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory (FMEL), to investigate
diseases transmitted by mosquitoes and ticks. Launched in 1956, the facility is located just south of Vero
Beach and serves as home base for 13 faculty members in the UF/IFAS Entomology and Nematology
Department, most of whom currently focus on combating one or more mosquito-transmitted diseases.

Throughout its history, FMEL has taken a broad scientific view that encompasses topics such as mosquito
genetics and development, disease epidemiology, and interactions between mosquitoes and predators.
This holistic approach has helped FMEL faculty find answers and develop viable solutions more quickly.
Today, FMEL research is arguably more important than ever, as faculty members respond to newly
detected disease threats such as Zika and use the latest scientific technologies to reduce the toll exacted
by one of the world’s deadliest organisms.

Ongoing Research

DIAGNOSTIC TECHNIQUES

Rapid identification of pathogens is critical to the effective monitoring and control of
human diseases transmitted by mosquitoes. Disease ecologist Nathan Burkett-Cadena, a
UF/IFAS assistant professor, leads a team pioneering the use of “honey cards” to screen
wild mosquito populations for viral infections. They collected virus-laden saliva samples
from mosquitos by outfitting mosquito traps with papers impregnated with sugars and
preservatives. Initial experimental efforts with infected mosquitoes revealed that the
preservative was effective, but feeding rates were low, indicating the need to improve
the experimental design to get a sufficient number of samples from the wild. With
further development, honey cards may be an affordable alternative to current collection
techniques when monitoring for the spread of a virus, which relies on costly blood draws
from birds housed in remote, outdoor locations.

WILD BIRD TRANSMISSION

Wild birds play an important role in the epidemiology of some mosquito-transmitted
human diseases because infected birds are reservoirs for disease pathogens, transmitting
them to feeding mosquitoes. Consequently, bird abundance influences virus availability,
especially for the spread of eastern equine encephalitis and West Nile viruses. UF/IFAS
professor Jonathan Day, a medical entomologist, says collecting data on wild bird
populations can help scientists predict disease outbreaks. Day leads a team that conducts
roadside bird surveillance in southeast Florida, counting and mapping four common
species susceptible to viral infection. The resulting numbers reflect the year’s avian
breeding success and the potential for a disease outbreak to occur. The team is working
to incorporate wild bird surveillance into routine monitoring for mosquito-transmitted
diseases to enhance effectiveness of epidemic prediction and control methods.

INSECTICIDE RESISTANCE

A certain class of pesticides (organophosphates) kills mosquitoes by interfering with a
chemical that transmits nerve impulses. Mosquito populations can gradually develop
resistance to these pesticides if the females produce large amounts of certain proteins
that interfere with the pesticides, enabling those mosquitoes to survive, reproduce
and pass their genes along to future generations. A research team led by molecular
biologist Chelsea Smartt, a UF/IFAS associate professor, has identified a gene that
controls expression of one such protein. The researchers examined the gene’s activity
in several populations of Culex nigripalpus mosquitoes that had received varying levels
of organophosphate exposure over time and found that the gene was more active in
resistant mosquitoes. The team is developing a procedure to identify resistant mosquito
populations by detecting the resistance-related protein in captured specimens.

2017 UF/IFAS RESEARCH DISCOVERIES | MOSQUITO-BORNE HUMAN DISEASES | 1

UF/IFAS RESEARCH DISCOVERIES

Research with Impact

SPECIES COMPETITION

Two invasive, container-occupying mosquito species — Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus
– are entrenched in Florida, and where their ranges overlap, they compete for resources.
Both species transmit viruses responsible for dengue, Zika, and chikungunya diseases,
but one species can often transmit a particular virus more effectively and therefore pose
a greater threat when a disease outbreak occurs. Entomologist Phil Lounibos, a UF/
IFAS distinguished professor, led a team that discovered A. albopictus can displace A.
aegypti in habitats where the two species encounter one another because of “satyrization,”
whereby males of one species mate with females of another species which are disabled
from producing offspring throughout their lifespans. This discovery was achieved during
heightened awareness of container-occupying mosquitoes, now the state’s top mosquito
concern, and has aided reevaluations of mosquito-management priorities.

LARVAE CONTROL

Zika virus has reached Florida, and the risk of an outbreak depends partly on the longevity
of local mosquito populations, namely Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus. Previous
studies have demonstrated that environmental stressors encountered as larvae may
influence adult mosquito traits. This concept intrigued medical entomologist Barry Alto,
a UF/IFAS assistant professor. His research group completed studies showing that larvae
raised in the presence of a predatory midge had shorter lifespans as adults, meaning that
they would be less likely to transmit viruses. Biological control agents, such as predators,
reduce risk of disease transmission through reductions in the number of mosquitoes.
Another unanticipated benefit of this biological control used by mosquito control agencies
is predator-induced shortened lifespans of adult mosquitoes.

INFECTION AND TRANSMISSION

In 2013, an Asian strain of Chikungunya virus spread in Caribbean and Latin American
countries, raising the possibility of outbreaks in the southeastern U.S. Both Aedes
aegypti and Aedes albopictus are potential vectors and present in Florida. To gauge the
public-health risk, medical entomologist Barry Alto, a UF/IFAS assistant professor,
analyzed specimens of both mosquito species collected in four regions of the state.
Mosquitoes were fed Chikungunya virus infected blood and were later evaluated using
molecular techniques for infection and presence of the virus in their saliva, an indicator
of transmission potential. Both species demonstrated high potential for transmitting
Chikungunya virus and their susceptibility to infection varied by region. These results
allow for more targeted and, therefore, effective mosquito-control efforts in communities
with greater risk.

Unit Leaders Jorge R. Rey
Director and Professor
Blair Siegfried Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory
Chair and Professor 772-778-7200 • [email protected]
Entomology and Nematology
352-273-3970 • [email protected]

Researcher Contacts

DIAGNOSTIC TECHNIQUES WILD BIRD TRANSMISSION INSECTICIDE RESISTANCE SPECIES COMPETITION LARVAE CONTROL INFECTION AND
TRANSMISSION
Nathan Burkett-Cadena, Jonathan F. Day, Professor Chelsea T. Smartt, Phil Lounibos, Barry Alto,
Distinguished Professor Assistant Professor Barry Alto,
Assistant Professor Entomology and Associate Professor Entomology and Entomology and Assistant Professor
Nematology Department Nematology Department Entomology and
Entomology and Nematology Department Entomology and Florida Medical Florida Medical Nematology Department
Entomology Laboratory Entomology Laboratory Florida Medical
Nematology Department Florida Medical Nematology Department 772-778-7200, ext. 146 772-778-7200, ext. 153 Entomology Laboratory
[email protected] [email protected] 772-778-7200, ext. 153
Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory Florida Medical [email protected]

Entomology Laboratory 772-778-7200, ext. 132 Entomology Laboratory

772-778-7200, ext. 141 [email protected] 772-778-7200, ext. 156

[email protected] [email protected]

An2Eq|uaMl OOpSpoQrUtuInTitOy-IBnsOtiRtuNtiEonH. UMAN DISEASES | 2017 UF/IFAS RESEARCH DISCOVERIES

UF/IFAS RESEARCH DISCOVERIES

PALM TREE HEALTH

Florida is home to 11 native palm species – more than any other state in the continental U.S. – and imports
numerous other species for landscaping. These striking evergreen trees are intertwined with Florida’s
history and image. Palms adorn tourism advertisements, city logos, and even the state seal, which
includes a sabal palm. They provide aesthetic value to a landscape, enhance the value of a property, and
contributed nearly $600 million to the state’s palm and tropical foliage plants industry in 2015.

But Florida’s palms face multiple challenges. In the 1970s, a disease known as lethal yellowing devastated
South Florida’s coconut palm population, and today, other palm species face a growing number of
disease threats.

To assist the industry and homeowners, multidisciplinary research teams with the University of Florida
Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences’ (UF/IFAS) Fort Lauderdale Research and Education
Center (FLREC) focus on palm health issues and continue to refine management recommendations
for nurseries, landscapers, and even the Department of Transportation. All palms research at FLREC
emphasizes sustainable fertilization, irrigation, integrated pest management, and pruning methods.

Ongoing Research

PLANTHOPPER IDENTIFICATION

Since 2006, thousands of Central Florida date and cabbage palms have died from a
disease known as ‘Texas Phoenix palm decline’. This disease is caused by phytoplasma
bacteria and likely transmitted by small, plant-feeding insects known as planthoppers.
Scientists have been unable to predict outbreaks or develop management practices to
curtail infections because they are uncertain of which planthopper species transmits
the pathogen. Entomologist Brian Bahder, an assistant professor with UF/IFAS, leads
an effort to identify the culprit using DNA analysis. Researchers collect planthoppers in
affected ecosystems using insect nets and aspiration devices, and then analyze bodily
fluids to find gene sequences unique to the phytoplasma. The team is developing a
detection procedure for the low concentrations of the phytoplasma that are typically
found in infected palms.

IDENTIFICATION OF FUNGAL DISEASE

Among the fungal pathogens affecting palms in Florida, approximately 10 cause identical
symptoms – dark streaks and discolored or dying leaflets on one side of affected stalks.
Two of these pathogens are strains of Fusarium oxysporum and can kill palms; the others
cause similar-looking symptoms but are non-fatal diseases known as blights. Accurate
pathogen identification is fundamental to disease management, so Monica Elliott, a plant
pathologist and professor with UF/IFAS, leads a team working to improve diagnostic
procedures. The team is sequencing the genomes of both F. oxysporum strains to enhance
DNA-based identification procedures. Researchers are also evaluating blight pathogens to
determine which palm species they affect, and which blight diseases are most prevalent
in Florida. These efforts will lead to faster disease diagnosis and better-targeted control
strategies for fungal pathogens.

GENOME ANALYSIS

Lethal yellowing and Texas Phoenix palm decline are potentially fatal palm diseases
caused by tiny bacteria that lack cell walls (phytoplasma); different strains of the same
pathogen might be causing both diseases. By pinpointing genetic differences between
these microorganisms, scientists hope to find ways of developing new management
methods for their associated diseases, a possibility under investigation by plant
pathologist Nigel Harrison, an emeritus associate professor at UF/IFAS. Collaborating
with USDA colleagues, Harrison is searching for gene sequences unique to each pathogen
to map each disease’s current distribution. The team also plans to identify pathogen genes
that promote infection by activating biochemical processes in palms, a finding that could
facilitate development of gene-silencing strategies that protect palms by altering their
response to infection.

2017 UF/IFAS RESEARCH DISCOVERIES | PALM TREE HEALTH | 1

UF/IFAS RESEARCH DISCOVERIES

Research with Impact

PALM NUTRITION

Ornamental palms require supplemental nutrition to thrive in Florida’s sandy, chalky
soils. Over the past three decades, UF/IFAS professor and horticulturist Timothy
Broschat has determined the exact nutrient requirements for virtually every palm species
grown in Florida through a series of field fertilization experiments conducted over 35
years. Broschat recently found that the areca palm, Dypsis lutescens, seldom requires
supplemental phosphorus, but does require supplemental potassium, magnesium, and
micronutrients when grown in landscapes receiving ordinary lawn fertilizer. Broschat’s
improved management recommendations have advised industry personnel and
homeowners on how to reduce nitrogen and phosphorus inputs into the environment,
improve water quality, and optimize palm health while minimizing fertilizer applications
and expenses.

NEW WILT PATHOGEN

When large numbers of queen and Mexican fan palms died unexpectedly throughout
Central and South Florida in the mid-2000s, UF/IFAS researchers suspected that a strain
of Fusarium oxysporum fungus was responsible. A team led by plant pathologist and
UF/IFAS professor Monica Elliott, analyzed tissues from infected trees and confirmed
that the pathogen was a new strain of F. oxysporum. The associated disease was dubbed
“palm wilt.” Working with arborists at Walt Disney World™, the team determined that
fungal spores were spread by wind and rain. As a result, plans were developed to replace
infected palms if an outbreak of the incurable disease struck the properties. Subsequently,
team members have advised every major Florida landscaping company on palm wilt
diagnosis and management, thereby minimizing and preventing localized outbreaks.

NEMATODE INVASIONS

The red ring nematode, Bursaphelenchus cocophilus, is a microscopic roundworm that
kills oil and coconut palms in Mexico and Central America. Although the nematode has
not yet been found in the U.S., one of its primary carrier hosts was recently detected in
California — the invasive South American palm weevil. Robin Giblin-Davis, a professor
and nematologist in UF/IFAS, realized that if the nematode was detected in California, it
could enter Florida in shipments of infected trees and then spread by a native weevil that
feeds on palms. To prevent the nematode’s introduction to Florida, Giblin-Davis helped
California officials develop monitoring and management plans for the industry. He also
worked with colleagues at USDA to educate regulatory personnel in Caribbean nations
about palm weevil identification and reporting protocols.

Unit Leaders Robin Giblin-Davis Rosemary Loria Rosemary Loria
Acting Director and Professor Chair and Professor Interim Chair and Professor
Blair Siegfried Fort Lauderdale Research and Plant Pathology Environmental Horticulture
Chair and Professor Education Center 352-273-4634 352-273-4634
Entomology and Nematology 954-577-6333 • [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]
352-273-3970 • [email protected]

Researcher Contacts

PLANTHOPPER IDENTIFICATION OF GENOME ANALYSIS PALM NUTRITION NEW WILT PATHOGEN NEMATODE INVASIONS
IDENTIFICATION FUNGAL DISEASE
Nigel Harrison, Emeritus Timothy Monica Elliott, Professor Robin Giblin-Davis,
Brian Bahder, Monica Elliott, Professor Associate Professor Broschat, Professor Plant Pathology Professor and Acting
Plant Pathology Environmental Department Center Director
Assistant Professor Plant Pathology Department Horticulture Department Fort Lauderdale Research Entomology and
Fort Lauderdale Research Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center Nematology Department
Entomology and Department and Education Center and Education Center 954-577-6315 Fort Lauderdale Research
954-577-6321 954-577-6317 [email protected] and Education Center
Nematology Department Fort Lauderdale Research [email protected] [email protected] 954-577-6333
[email protected]
Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center

and Education Center 954-577-6315

954-577-6305 [email protected]

[email protected]

An2Eq|uaPl AOpLpMortTuRniEtyEInHsEtitAutLiTonH. | 2017 UF/IFAS RESEARCH DISCOVERIES

UF/IFAS RESEARCH DISCOVERIES

PREVENTION SCIENCE

Prevention science involves defining a social problem, determining the extent of the problem, and
then developing a research plan to evaluate potential solutions. In the context of youth development,
prevention science research generates the scientific evidence regarding the efficacy of intervention
and prevention, specifically of activities that seek to influence or change the well-being of children and
young adults within their communities. With a developmental focus, prevention science addresses
risky behaviors that begin in adolescence and young adulthood, including substance abuse, unsafe
sexual behaviors, mismanaging finances and credit, or any ill-advised activity that is detrimental to the
individual, their family or the community.

The UF/IFAS Department of Family, Youth and Community Sciences (FYCS) is committed to
investigating how to offset potential risks youths face by identifying current and needed supports, known
as “protective factors,” and promoting a more positive developmental path. This may involve designing,
implementing and evaluating various proactive and preventative strategies. These efforts can focus on the
individual’s environment (such as neighborhood, school, and community), as well as more abstract factors
that affect those environments (such as leadership, media, and culture).

Ongoing Research

MILLENNIAL HOME OWNERSHIP

The “American Dream” often includes home ownership, but many millennials (born
between the 1980s and early 2000s) are delaying purchasing a home longer than
preceding generations. Michael Gutter, an associate professor in UF/IFAS FYCS, is part
of a multistate group of researchers who identified internal and external influencing
factors by cross-analyzing more than 80 research studies, coming to three conclusions.
First, stringent credit requirements only allow the most financially sound millennials
to purchase, but those who do are more likely to sustain homeownership. Second, high
student loan debt often delays home buying. Third, family events such as parenthood
often accelerate the process. Understanding the financial behaviors of the millennial
generation will help the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and other organizations
determine which educational and outreach initiatives are worthy of investing resources.

COMMUNITY INTERVENTION

Native Americans are 552 percent more likely to die from alcoholism than other
Americans, so Sarah D. Lynne, an assistant professor in UF/IFAS FYCS, collaborated with
Cherokee Behavioral Health and other prevention scientists to reduce underage alcohol use
in this population by combining Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment
(SBIRT) with a community-based intervention (CMCA). Doing research with communities
presents unique challenges, but these studies are critical to understanding how
interventions work in the real world. The team used experimental designs and a variety of
rigorous methodological techniques to accurately determine the effects of the intervention,
including random assignment and multiple comparison groups. Active engagement of
communities is a critical part of the intervention (e.g., the Pirates Don’t Provide campaign).
This intervention is a model for other rural, high-risk, multiethnic communities.​

YOUTH STRESS

In the U.S., 7.8 million youth live below the poverty level. Social scientists are charged
with uncovering controllable factors that could decrease vulnerability toward risky
behaviors. Rosemary Barnett, a professor in UF/IFAS FYCS, led a team of researchers
to examine how these youth perceive their community in four areas: environment,
support, involvement, and connectedness. After-school programs were established to
help teenagers connect with their community through participation in online support
groups and volunteer efforts such as planting gardens and rehabilitating their own
neighborhoods. A follow-up survey indicated that these youth are less likely to engage
in risky behaviors when involved in a community that promotes belonging, community
service, and high expectations. Barnett’s team is planning a five-year study to determine
if these findings will remain consistent over a longer period of time.

2017 UF/IFAS RESEARCH DISCOVERIES | PREVENTION SCIENCE | 1

UF/IFAS RESEARCH DISCOVERIES

Research with Impact

PATERNAL INVOLVEMENT

Many scientific studies have shown that absent parents have a negative effect on the
sexual behavior of their adolescents. To help address issues associated with sexual
activity among students, UF/IFAS FYCS professor Rosemary Barnett led a team that
surveyed university students about their sexual activity, contraceptive use, and parental
involvement. Results showed a strong relationship between daughters who perceived that
their fathers were active participants in their lives during high school and decreased risky
sexual behaviors in college. This finding provided strong support for programs that focus
as much on parents as their teenagers. It also provided evidence that parental involvement
affects a teenager’s future decision-making and that teen-parent programs have long-
term benefits.

EMERGING ADULTHOOD

College students are considered “emerging adults” – a stage of life characterized

by identity exploration – and they are likely to engage in risky behaviors. UF/IFAS
FYCS associate professor Larry Forthun collaborated with researchers at 30 colleges
and universities across the U.S. to survey more than 10,000 students to examine the
psychological, social, and emotional correlates of their risky behaviors, with attention
given to underrepresented minority groups. The results of this Multi-Site University
Study of Identity and Culture (MUSIC) study showed that to reduce risky behaviors, it
is important to stimulate personal and cultural identity development by encouraging
strategies such as strengthening decision-making skills and doing introspection exercises.
Given the diverse and substantial amount of data collected in the MUSIC study, more than
30 research studies have been published that report these findings.

UNDERAGE ALCOHOL SALES

In the U.S., approximately 5,000 youth deaths are attributed to alcohol-related causes
each year, generating a significant public health concern. UF/IFAS FYCS assistant
professor Sarah D. Lynne helped train adult recruits who appeared underage to purchase
alcohol from commercial retailers. They were instructed to state their age truthfully and
provide identification if asked but not to offer that information unsolicited. Naturalistic
observation studies like this one observe individuals in a natural setting without any
manipulation by the observer. Over a 10-month period, the females attempted nearly
1,000 purchases and were sold alcohol without identification nearly 25 percent of the time.
Communities have used the results of this study to pass local ordinances requiring law
enforcement to conduct alcohol compliance checks at all commercial outlets at least every
three months, reducing underage access to alcohol.

Unit Leaders

Tracy A. Irani
Chair and Professor
Family, Youth and Community Sciences
352-273-3446
[email protected]

Researcher Contacts COMMUNITY YOUTH STRESS PATERNAL EMERGING ADULTHOOD UNDERAGE
INTERVENTION INVOLVEMENT ALCOHOL SALES
MILLENNIAL HOME OWNERSHIP Rosemary V. Larry Forthun,
Sarah D. Lynne, Barnett, Professor Rosemary V. Associate Professor Sarah D. Lynne,
Michael Gutter, Associate Assistant Professor Family, Youth and Barnett, Professor Family, Youth and Assistant Professor
Professor in FYCS, Associate Family, Youth and Community Sciences Family, Youth and Community Sciences Family, Youth and
Dean for Extension and State Community Sciences [email protected] Community Sciences 352-273-3528 Community Sciences
Program Leader for 4H Youth 352-273-3546 352-273-3519 [email protected] [email protected] 352-273-3546
Development, Families & [email protected] 352-273-3519 [email protected]
Communities
352-392-1761
[email protected]

An2Eq|uaPl ORpEpVorEtuNnTitIyOINnstSitCuItiEoNn.CE | 2017 UF/IFAS RESEARCH DISCOVERIES

UF/IFAS RESEARCH DISCOVERIES

UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH

Since its inception in 2000, the Undergraduate Summer Research Internship Program at the University
of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) has enriched the education of
more than 600 students, introducing hands-on scientific inquiry that supplements and illuminates
classroom learning.

About 50 student interns participate in the program every summer by working with faculty on a broad
spectrum of UF/IFAS research projects. All projects are conducted under the auspices of the Florida
Agricultural Experiment Station, including basic and applied science investigations that result in
the development of new crop varieties and consumer products, and improvement of rural economic
conditions and recreational opportunities.

Research internships train students to conduct scientific procedures and carry out responsibilities that
contribute to scientific discovery. Though the work can be demanding, rewards include enhanced self-
confidence, greater familiarity with laboratory procedures and field work, and an impressive academic
credential that often helps participants secure desirable jobs or gain admission to graduate programs.

Ongoing Research

IMPROVED PEST CONTROL

Gel-based baits are widely used to control the German cockroach, Blatella germanica,
but in recent years, isolated populations have developed aversions to popular baits,
necessitating new formulations. One undergraduate researcher took part in a series of
experiments to explore the insect’s feeding preferences with professor Philip Koehler
of the UF/IFAS Entomology and Nematology Department. The student documented
the amount of time roaches spent consuming current and proposed baits. He collected
specimens, videotaped the insects sampling multiple baits, and then cross-referenced
feeding time with mortality to determine which products killed roaches fastest. The
student learned to design experiments, write in academic style, and give presentations
to manufacturers of pest-management products to inform their development of next-
generation baits.

MARINE HABITAT STEWARDSHIP

In Hillsborough County, a youth angling program relies on a 4-acre man-made, saltwater
pond for its activities. Program managers need to know whether the pond is attracting
game fish such as snook and red drum from nearby Tampa Bay, a question addressed by
undergraduate interns supervised by Joshua Patterson, an assistant professor stationed
at The Florida Aquarium’s Center for Conservation. The interns were responsible for
assessing baitfish populations in the pond, data that Patterson needed to predict the
presence of larger game fish and potential youth angling success. The interns pulled seines
through the water twice weekly, cataloging the captured fish by species. The students
became adept at fish identification and learned the fundamentals of wildlife population
surveying, contributing to the development and justification of future pond management
decisions.

EXTREME MICROBES

Microorganisms native to extreme habitats can be harnessed for industrial processes. The
objective investigated by one undergraduate intern working with Julie Maupin-Furlow,
a professor with the UF/IFAS Department of Microbiology and Cell Science, was to
optimize salt-tolerant microbes, such as Haloferax volcanii, for use in biofuel production.
The intern sought to isolate strains of these microbes that could thrive in high levels of
protein-degrading chemicals typically used when producing biofuels. After tagging DNA
sequences in selected H. volcanii strains, the intern exposed the microbes to sodium
hypochlorite, a common bleaching agent, and discovered genetic alterations that enabled
the microbes to thrive under severe oxidizing conditions. Besides learning to operate
instruments that map DNA sequences, the student facilitated development of more
efficient practices for producing biofuels, using microbes as biocatalysts.

2017 UF/IFAS RESEARCH DISCOVERIES | UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH | 1

UF/IFAS RESEARCH DISCOVERIES

Research with Impact

VALUE OF RECREATIONAL INVESTMENTS

Florida’s government builds and maintains recreational facilities for public use and local
economy stimulation, often in rural areas. One intern who was interested in natural
resource policy examined the recreational use of a Florida river system with Xiang Bi, an
assistant professor with the UF/IFAS Food and Resource Economics Department. The
intern was tasked with evaluating economic benefits attributable to the river and related,
state-supported infrastructure at popular destinations. He analyzed survey data to identify
amenities that visitors enjoyed most and estimated how much they were willing to pay for
improved environmental and infrastructure quality. Not only was the student trained to
determine the value of environmental goods and services, the project generated important
data on economic returns that justify public investments in rural recreational facilities.

TEA VARIETY ANALYSIS

Tea is one of the world’s most widely consumed beverages, produced by steeping Camellia
sinensis leaves in heated water. To investigate the origins of black tea’s characteristic
aroma and flavor, one undergraduate intern worked with Yu Wang, an assistant professor
at the UF/IFAS Citrus Research and Education Center. The student determined
which sensory qualities in prepared black tea are intrinsic to tea leaves and which
arise during processing. The student led volunteers through taste panels, analyzed
chemical components of black tea aroma with a gas chromatograph and measured the
concentrations of materials in tea aroma using an olfactometer. She learned to operate
some of the most vital analytical instruments in flavor and aroma chemistry; findings may
contribute to the development of improved tea varieties and processing methods.

BUILDING ORGANIZATIONAL CAPACITY

Many elderly Floridians rely on nonprofit organizations for home and community-
based social services, but previous research has found that these nonprofits often lack
the organizational capacity to provide quality service efficiently and effectively. An
undergraduate intern helped Muthusami Kumaran, an assistant professor in the
UF/IFAS Family, Youth and Community Sciences Department, develop a capacity-
building “tool kit” to improve organizational management. She also contributed to a
series of EDIS documents and organized data collected from interviews with 40 nonprofit
leaders in Florida and Arkansas. Besides developing her ability to manage and interpret
large amounts of data, the student engaged in an applied research project that will help
non-profits better serve Florida’s senior citizens.

VISUAL REMOTE SENSING

Using remote sensing devices to detect variation in plant foliage characteristics is a
promising method to help growers map projected yields and treat nutrient deficiencies
and disease symptoms more efficiently. One undergraduate intern helped Daniel Lee, a
professor with the UF/IFAS Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, to
evaluate several systems that could offer real-time information. After learning technical
background on remote sensing and conducting a scientific literature review on the use of
its capability for yield mapping, the student developed and executed field tests to evaluate
several attributes of new systems that had not been investigated previously. The intern
learned to operate remote-control cameras and write programming software that support
Lee’s overall effort of developing a practical system that delivers results in real time.

Researcher Contacts

IMPROVED MARINE HABITAT EXTREME MICROBES VALUE OF TEA VARIETY ANALYSIS BUILDING VISUAL
PEST CONTROL STEWARDSHIP RECREATIONAL ORGANIZATIONAL REMOTE SENSING
Julie Maupin- INVESTMENTS Yu Wang, CAPACITY
Philip Koehler, Joshua Patterson, Furlow, Professor Assistant Professor Won Suk “Daniel”
Microbiology and Xiang Bi, Food Science and Muthusami Kumaran, Lee, Professor
Professor Assistant Professor Cell Science Assistant Professor Human Nutrition Assistant Professor Agricultural and
352-392-4095 Food and Citrus Research and Family, Youth and Biological Engineering
Entomology and School of Forest [email protected] Resource Economics Education Center Community Sciences 352-392-1864, ext. 207
352-294-7671 863-956-8673 352-273-3524 [email protected]
Nematology Resources and [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

352-392-2484 Conservation

[email protected] 813-419-4917

[email protected]

An2Eq|uaUl ONpDpoErRtuGnRitAy IDnUstAituTtEionR.ESEARCH | 2017 UF/IFAS RESEARCH DISCOVERIES

UF/IFAS Research Facilities

12 8
12 8

17

_Gainesville Campus 14 15 13
Off-Campus Research and Education Centers (RECs) 16

1 Citrus REC | LAKE ALFRED 7
1
2 Everglades REC | BELLE GLADE 5
18 5
3 Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory | VERO BEACH 9

4 Fort Lauderdale REC | FORT LAUDERDALE 10

5 Gulf Coast REC | BALM, PLANT CITY

6 Indian River REC | FORT PIERCE 3
6
7 Mid-Florida REC | APOPKA
2
8 North Florida REC | MARIANNA, QUINCY 4

9 Range Cattle REC | ONA 11

10 Southwest Florida REC | IMMOKALEE

11 Tropical REC | HOMESTEAD

12 West Florida REC | JAY, MILTON

Research and Demonstration Sites

13 Hastings Agricultural Extension Center | HASTINGS

14 Nature Coast Biological Station (NCBS) | CEDAR KEY

15 Ordway-Swisher Biological Station (OSBS) | MELROSE

16 Plant Science Research and Education Unit (PSREU) | CITRA

17 Suwannee Valley Agricultural Extension Center (SVAEC) | LIVE OAK

18 Tropical Aquaculture Laboratory (TAL) | RUSKIN, APOLLO BEACH

1 “Table 39. Total and Federally Financed Higher Education R&D Expenditures in the Agricultural Sciences, Ranked by FY 2015 Total: FYs 2012–15.” NCSES Data. National Science Foundation. Web.
1 March 2017. From http://bit.ly/2lcuF0C

An Equal Opportunity Institution. Florida Agricultural Experiment Station, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, UF/IFAS Dean for Research,
Jackie Burns, publishes this information to advance research programs and related activities. For more information contact the UF/IFAS Office of the Dean for
Research, P.O. Box 110200, Gainesville, Florida 32611-0200, 352-392-1784.