Amanda Foltz
Amanda has been working in the field of animal behavior and training for nearly 10 years working with a variety of exotic and marine animals, and also working for the Navy Marine Mammal Program with Bottlenose...
This summer, go slow for those below!
Memorial Day is just around the corner! As the weather warms up and you head out to enjoy Southwest Florida's coastal waters this boating season, please be mindful of those below! Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium recommends that...
Lynne Byrd
Lynne Byrd has thirty years of experience in protected species rehabilitative care, with special emphasis on cetacean medical assessment and treatment, emergency care techniques, new animal assessment and acclimation, and training...
Seas the Summer Field Explorations
Get set for an O-FISH-ALLY awesome summer! Join Miss Dana, creator of Mote’s popular homeschool programs, each week this summer to learn about ocean animals as we explore field techniques, look for and catch critters in beautiful...
Progress being made in planning for Buffett’s future
We would like to provide an update on the status of Buffett, Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium’s resident Florida manatee, and provide some insight into the decisions being made in regard to his current and future care. Mote...
Animal Care and Training Internship (Aquatic Mammal and Reptile Department)
Animal Care and Training Internship Aquatic Mammal and Reptile Department The Aquatic Mammal and Reptile Department is responsible for the day to day care, husbandry, and behavioral research of Mote's resident manatees,...
Marine Mammal & Sea Turtle Stranding Investigations Internship
Stranding Investigations Internship The Stranding Investigations Program provides response provides 24-hour response to sick, injured and deceased...
Marine Biomedical Research & Marine Immunology Internship
Marine Biomedical Research & Marine Immunology Internship Internship Mentor: Dr. Cathy Walsh The Marine...
Manatee Research Internship
Manatee Research Internship The Manatee Research Program studies several aspects of the biology of manatees inhabiting the waters of Southwest Florida, including...
Ron & Marla Wolf Seagrass Restoration Center for Ocean Sustainability
Operating in tandem with Mote's Seagrass Restoration Technology Development Initiative, the Ron and Marla Wolf Seagrass Restoration Center for Ocean...
Seagrass Initiative – Leveraged Projects
Return to Seagrass Initiative home Using genetic tools to boost seagrass restoration success in the...
Weddings & Proposals
At Mote, your wedding celebration will truly sparkle amid our beautiful waterfront vistas and our vibrant displays of marine life. Dive into the wedding of...
Florida manatee
Florida manatees have large, paddle-shaped tails that make gliding through water easy. They have vibrrissae, or whiskers around their mouth that help them sense changes in water pressure. Located in the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of...
Christina Nau
Christina started at Mote as an intern in 2016 with the Manatee Research Program and was hired in 2017. Her focus is on the photo ID and distribution studies of manatees in southwest Florida. She has participated in boat based and...
Kerri Scolardi
Mrs. Scolardi began working at Mote Marine Laboratory (MML) in 1999 as a technician for the Marine Mammal Stranding Program and transferred to the Manatee Research Department in 2000. She is currently the Aerial Survey Coordinator...
Manatee calf call contour and acoustic structure varies by species and body size
Vocal activity and signal characteristics of mammals are driven by several factors that result in stability and plasticity shifts over multiple time scales. All three extant species of manatee communicate with several calls that are...
Vocalizations of wild West Indian manatee vary across subspecies and geographic location
Geographic variation in the vocal behavior of manatees has been reported but is largely unexplored. Vocalizations of wild West Indian manatees (Trichechus manatus) were recorded with hydrophones in Florida from Florida manatees (Trichechus...
Antillean manatee calves in captive rehabilitation change vocal behavior in anticipation of feeding
Captive animals typically develop anticipatory behaviors, actions of increased frequency done in anticipation of an event such as feeding. Anticipatory behaviors can be an indicator of an animal's welfare. However, for rehabilitating...
Morning Kayak Tours (Sarasota)
Kayak Tours Join our trained educators on a variety of kayak tours for an opportunity to explore Sarasota Bay. All equipment is provided, and each paddle begins with basic kayaking instruction. Mote offers a variety of morning,...
Classroom Outreach Programs (Sarasota)
Mote Educators bring fun, inquiry-based and hands-on learning experiences to your school. Using relevant, real time data and information, we dive into marine science with your students, helping them better understand science concepts...
Manatee Research
For over 30 years, the Manatee Research Program (MRP) has been involved in a host of research efforts involving manatee behavioral ecology, abundance and distribution, and population demographics, as well as habitat studies. This research...
Marine Immunology
Research in the Marine Immunology Program focuses on basic and applied research on the health and immune systems of marine vertebrates, including cartilaginous fishes (sharks, skates, and rays), Florida manatees, and sea turtles. Basic...
Environmental Laboratory For Forensics
The ELF lab explores a range of organismal and environmental health issues. Over the past 18 years, the ELF lab has been funded over $6.5 million to carry out oil spill and industrial contaminant pollution research, nationally and...
Annabel Russo
As a Florida native, Annabel grew up on the Manatee River and has always loved marine life, specifically manatees. After receiving her degree in Telecommunication from the University of Florida in the Fall of 2022, Annabel joined...
Mote Magazine Fall 2023
In this edition, discover how our team at Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium is: growing a program to bolster populations of algae-eating Caribbean king crabs, stuyding manatees by taking photos of their unique markings, especially...
Mote to announce establishment of voluntary Sea Turtle Protection Zone in Sarasota County
Mote Marine Laboratory is pleased to announce the establishment of a voluntary Sea Turtle Protection Zone (STPZ) in Sarasota...
Mote and Community Foundation of Sarasota County increase science literacy among students
Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium is pleased to announce a three-year strategic partnership with the Community Foundation of Sarasota County. With a grant of $150,000, Mote will launch Ocean Guardians, a new program designed to...
Mote’s resident manatee Hugh passes away
The Mote family is absolutely heartbroken to share that yesterday, April 29, our beloved resident manatee, Hugh, passed away unexpectedly. After Hugh showed a change in his behavior earlier in the day, animal care staff began closely...
Mote welcomes ‘Voyage to the Deep’ exhibition Feb. 19
The temporary exhibition featured in this story has since concluded. Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium is proud to announce its newest temporary exhibition, “Voyage to the Deep,” presented by Flying...