MTS Member Webinar: How the University of Texas uses the Spotter Platform to accelerate hypoxia research and protect coral reefs in the Gulf 

Join Nick Gagliano (Sofar Ocean), Dr. Xinping Hu (University of Texas Marine Science Institute), and Marissa Nuttall (Research Specialist, Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary) for an engaging webinar exploring how Sofar's Spotter Platform is helping enhance hypoxia research and protect coral reefs in the Gulf of Mexico .

During the session, our panelists will discuss:

• How hypoxia, or low oxygen conditions, in the Gulf likely influenced the localized die-off of some of the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary's (FGBNMS) vibrant and diverse coral reef ecosystems .
• How Dr. Hu and his team at the University of Texas Marine Science Institute use Spotter to monitor dissolved oxygen and better understand its impact on reef health in FGBNMS, particularly during warm months.
• How Marissa Nuttall and her colleagues at FGBNMS partner with researchers like Dr. Hu to enhance environmental monitoring efforts, make data-driven conservation decisions, and protect reef ecosystems.

Marissa joined the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary research team in 2007. She manages the long-term monitoring program at Stetson Bank, supports mesophotic ecosystem research both within and around the sanctuary, and leads GIS support for research and management activities. Marissa also serves as the Unit Diving Supervisor for the FGBNMS dive unit and has coordinated and led multiple research expeditions utilizing SCUBA and remotely operated vehicles. She is a graduate of Texas A&M University at Galveston and holds a M.Sc. in Marine Biology.

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