Faculty Spotlight: Carsten Grupstra, Ph.D., Is Diving into Coral Research and Restoration

New faculty member Carsten Grupstra, Ph.D., quite literally dives into his research. The assistant professor of biology studies coral reef conservation and restoration, and he explores oceans around the world to better understand these highly complex marine habitats. 

Contrary to popular belief, corals are animals—not plants or rocks. Corals build reefs through symbiotic associations with microscopic algae and other diverse microorganisms that provide nutrition to the coral host. At increasing rates, these symbiotic partnerships are interrupted in a process called coral bleaching caused by marine heatwaves.  

“Coral diseases have become more prevalent over the past few decades, resulting in high amounts of coral mortality in the Western Atlantic,” stated Grupstra. “I am interested in studying the nature of the symbiotic relationships between corals and their microbial partners and how they are affected by diverse stressors such as bleaching and disease.” 

His current research focuses on genetically distinct but visually indistinguishable lineages of important corals, named cryptic lineages. These cryptic lineages often associate with distinct microbial partners and have different responses to environmental stressors such as coral bleaching, with important repercussions for conservation and restoration practices. 

“Some of my research also focuses on how other animals influence coral symbioses and reef health by extension,” noted Grupstra. “For example, fish waste products are an important source of nutrients that stabilize coral symbiosis and promote coral growth. Additionally, coral-eating fish disperse beneficial microbes that can support corals. I am interested in studying how conserving critical fish species can aid coral reef conservation.” 

In order to better understand these intricate issues, Grupstra frequently travels. His work is primarily conducted in Palau, Panama, Mo’orea and Florida. While he does teach traditional classes on campus, he also hopes to travel with Florida Atlantic students in upcoming expeditions, including trips this summer and fall to Panama and along the Florida coastline to sample cryptic coral lineages. 

“At various stages, there will be opportunities for students to contribute to research in my lab,” shared Grupstra. “Their roles may range from supporting the research team by assisting in the field, to conducting independent research on various topics.” 

Looking ahead, Grupstra hopes to expand outreach activities about these vibrant corals to the community. He is currently exploring partnerships with non-profit organizations to grow threatened corals in aquariums and perform outplanting of those corals along the Florida coastline.  

“Coral bleaching and disease are becoming increasingly prevalent and severe. The only way we can keep these ecosystems is by employing strong management and restoration practices,” stated Grupstra. “My research shows that some coral populations are genetically better equipped to deal with diverse stressors, and that other animals that live on reefs also influence coral reef health in nuanced ways. These findings can be leveraged to improve integrative management practices.” 

Grupstra works out of several locations. His primary lab, the Grupstra Reef Symbiosis Lab, is located on Florida Atlantic’s Davie campus. In addition, he works at the FAU Marine Lab at the Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, where he has recruited undergraduate students to conduct Directed Independent Research (DIR) and grow a variety of corals and fish.