Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences

Dr. Joshua Patterson, Assistant Professor

Dr. Josh Patterson joined the School of Forest Resources & Conservation (SFRC) faculty in June 2014 as an Assistant Professor of Restoration Aquaculture. He is housed at The Florida Aquarium (FLAQ) in Tampa, where he also serves as a Research Scientist. Josh is assisting in the development of FLAQ’s Center for Conservation research and education facility in Apollo Beach.

Josh’s past research projects have included his master’s work on aquaculture of paddlefish Polyodon spathula for a put and take system known as reservoir ranching. This work included development of a procedure to measure routine metabolism of P. spathula across a range of body masses and water temperatures. During his doctoral studies, Josh’s main research focus was reproductive physiology, lipid trafficking, and ionoregulation in Gulf killifish Fundulus grandis, a candidate species for marine baitfish aquaculture. Josh also contributed to a series of mini and full-day workshops held throughout coastal Louisiana which educated interested individuals on the potential of F. grandis aquaculture. In addition to marine baitfish, Josh was heavily involved in a collaborative program examining captive reproduction and early life stage physiology of alligator gar Atractosteus spatula, an ancient species which has experienced a dramatic range constriction in the last century.

Within SFRC, the Patterson Lab utilizes aquaculture to address restoration needs for Florida’s aquatic ecosystems. In addition to other University faculty, our lab seeks to collaborate with state agencies such as the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and non-profit organizations such as the Coral Restoration Foundation. Fostering expansion of restoration aquaculture through private commercial ventures is also a priority. Our location at FLAQ provides an excellent platform for outreach, an especially important area for our focus on restoration of aquatic habitats and species. Projects within our lab also seek to provide experience and training for citizen-scientists, as a means to nurture a sense of public responsibility for the health of aquatic natural resources.

Degrees:

PhD, Renewable Natural Resources, Louisiana State University, 2014
MS, Aquaculture/Aquatic Science, Kentucky State University, 2010
BS, Biology, George Mason University, 2006