FLORIDA ATLANTIC UNIVERSITY
Approves and supports the project of Denis JIMENEZ and The Ocean Cleaner
Dr. Lapointe’s research areas include algae physiology and biochemistry, algae and coral reef ecology, eutrophication, marine bio-invasions and marine environment conservation.
He has extensive experience in researching water quality in South Florida and the Caribbean region. As Chief Scientist on numerous projects in the Caribbean and research expeditions to the Northwest Atlantic Ocean, he has accumulated valuable field experience to assess the relationships between water quality and tropical algae health and coral reefs. Dr. Lapointe’s study of reef water quality at Looe Key in the Florida Keys shows that this reef holds the world record for the lowest nutrient level. His work in the Keys led to a solid phosphate ban and new state laws in County Monroe requiring greater removal of nutrients from sewage discharge.
In the 1990s, Dr. Lapointe carried out research in Florida Bay and the Florida Keys National Marine Reserve, which used stable nitrogen isotopes to label nitrogen sources, he was the first to demonstrate the importance of nitrogen from agriculture from mainland sources in the explosion of algae blooms in the Keys. For the European Union, he developed the first ridge-to-reef water quality monitoring program in Negril, Jamaica, a model that has been adopted by marine protected reserves across the region. Caribbean. Dr. Lapointe informed the United States Environmental Protection Agency, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, State of Florida, and authorities in Monroe County (Florida Keys), Palm Beach County,
Dr. Lapointe’s research on Sargassum has given new ideas on the ecology of this macroalgae, the Sargasso Sea and associated fauna, including the symbiosis with juvenile fish and the nutrients provided by this habitat.