Coral Reef Restoration

Louis Schlecker

Louis Schlecker

Staff Biologist

Louis is the Staff Biologist for the Upper Keys Land and Field-Based Nursery Program. Born and raised in Delaware, he moved to the Florida Keys to join Mote Marine Laboratory in 2022 after completing his Masters program at Smith College under Dr. Rachel Wright. His masters thesis took a deeper look into the mechanisms and potential tradeoffs of accelerated coral growth induced by microfragmentation. He now spends his time shoulders deep in saltwater as he raises coral fragments as his own children. 

Education

2016 | BA, Chemistry and minor Biochemistry, Rosemont College, Pennsylvania
2022 | MSc Biology, Smith College, Massachusetts

Publications

Schlecker L, Page C, Matz M, Wright RM. 2022. Mechanisms and potential immune tradeoffs of accelerated coral growth induced by microfragmentation. PeerJ 10:e13158 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.13158

Coral reefs provide more than $2.7 trillion in services to economies worldwide—but we're losing these important ecosystems quickly. Mote scientists are spearheading coral reef restoration using cutting-edge science.