About

Joshua Patterson is an Associate Professor of Restoration Aquaculture at the School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences at the University of Florida, affiliated with the Florida SeaGrant. He joined the faculty in 2014 and is housed at The Florida Aquarium’s Center for Conservation in the Tampa Bay area. His research focuses on the use of aquaculture in coral reef restoration, including corals, sponges, and sea urchins, as well as the restoration and protection of seagrasses, bay scallop population enhancement, and fisheries aspects of large-scale habitat restorations. Patterson collaborates with agencies such as the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and NOAA, non-profit organizations, and private businesses engaged in restoration aquaculture. His work integrates fields including engineering, genetics, physiology, and ecology to address questions related to culturing organisms for aquatic restoration. He teaches the course FAS 6238 Environmental Physiology of Fishes and is involved in extension programs aimed at building outreach capacity at the Center for Conservation and enhancing operations for restoration aquaculture practitioners.

Research topics

• Ecology
• Biology
• Fishery
• Geography
• Demography
• Zoology
• Environmental science

Selected publications

• First evaluation of commercially available diets fed to juvenile Hogfish

  North American Journal of Aquaculture · 2026-05-14

  article

  ABSTRACT Objective The Hogfish Lachnolaimus maximus is a species that is new to aquaculture. They are naturally found on the western side of the Atlantic ocean, mostly in tropical waters. Fishing pressure has led to population declines across most of their range in North America. The development and refinement of aquaculture protocols for early juvenile grow-out of Hogfish would lead to a better understanding of the feasibility of commercial production and stock enhancement. Methods Two dietetics experiments were conducted to evaluate the commercially available dry diets (brands: Otohime and Purina AquaMax) and associated feeding rates for juvenile Hogfish to determine a feeding regime for early grow-out of this new aquaculture species. The mean Hogfish starting weights for two grow-out experiments were 0.28 ± 0.13 g (mean ± standard deviation) and 1.31 ± 0.88 g, respectively. The first experiment compared two commercially available diets that were fed at 6% body weight (BW)/d. A second experiment evaluated a single diet at feeding rates of 6% and 10% BW/d using the best performing diet from the first experiment. Results In the first experiment, significantly different values for final total length (4.41 ± 0.92 cm vs. 4.05 ± 0.77 cm [mean ± standard deviation]) were observed between the diets. Weights increased from 0.28 ± 0.13 g to 1.52 ± 1.06 g versus 1.13 ± 0.64 g but did not differ significantly between the diets. Survival between the fish that were fed with the two diets did not differ significantly at 68.5 ± 12.1% versus 56.0 ± 21.8%. In the second experiment, there were no significant differences in mean total length or weight and the fish grew from 1.31 ± 0.88 g to 5.70 ± 4.21 g. The survival rate of the fish that were fed 6% or 10% BW/d was identical (87.5%), indicating that a ration of 6% BW/d was sufficient. Conclusions Hogfish were able to be reared on commercially available diets from starting weights that were less than 0.5 g to final weights that were greater than 5 g, with survival rates that are promising for intensive production. This is the first published research evaluating feeding commercially available diets to early juvenile Hogfish.

  PublisherDOI

• Developing standard production diets for early juvenile Diadema antillarum sea urchins

  Aquaculture Reports · 2026-02-05

  articleOpen accessSenior author
  PublisherDOI

• Employing invertebrates to restore herbivory on Caribbean coral reefs: recent developments and remaining barriers

  Restoration Ecology · 2025-04-02 · 3 citations

  articleOpen access

  With coral reefs in global decline and further threatened by growing anthropogenic impacts, effective strategies for restoring these critical ecosystems are increasingly sought after. In Caribbean reefs, where disease outbreaks and fishing pressure have reduced herbivore abundances and facilitated widespread phase shifts from coral to algal dominance, herbivorous invertebrates have gained recent attention as a promising restoration tool. However, many restoration practitioners face challenges in evaluating the feasibility and anticipated outcomes of integrating invertebrate herbivores into their programs. Here we review recent developments regarding species and techniques and identify remaining barriers that require further research attention before invertebrate enhancement can be considered a scalable strategy for restoring Caribbean reefs. Bottlenecks in mariculture processes remain in the larval and juvenile rearing stages for many species that impede the scalability of invertebrate production, with significant outstanding challenges across all species in terms of stocking effectiveness and monitoring feasibility. Integrating alternative herbivorous invertebrate species can ameliorate some of these bottlenecks, and investigating the culture feasibility and grazing effectiveness of additional species holds notable research opportunities. Across research and restoration initiatives, ecological objectives and viable techniques for measuring outcomes against these objectives are needed. These findings establish research priorities for restoration and invertebrate husbandry communities alike and provide guidance for practitioners in the critical and rapidly evolving field of coral restoration.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• How body size and salinity affects thermal tolerance of a range-expanding fish

  Marine and Coastal Fisheries · 2025-07-01 · 2 citations

  articleOpen access

  ABSTRACT Objective We investigated the influence of body size and salinity on the thermal tolerance of Common Snook Centropomus undecimalis (hereafter, “snook”). Methods Juvenile snook (small = 59–156 mm standard length, large = 188–341 mm standard length) were collected from Tampa Bay, Florida. Snook were acclimated in a recirculating aquaculture system, where they underwent a quarantine period at 25°C with gradual salinity adjustments to either 3, 15, or 30‰ for large juveniles and 3‰ for small juveniles. Snook were then randomly selected for chronic lethal minimum trials during which temperature was decreased by 1°C per day. Temperatures at which the fish ceased feeding, lost equilibrium, and died were recorded. Results In the chronic lethal minimum trials, small juvenile snook exhibited greater cold tolerance for two end points—cessation of feeding and death—compared with larger juveniles at 3‰. For large juveniles, death occurred at lower temperatures in both the low- and high-salinity trials (9.2°C) than in the midsalinity trials (10.1°C) (i.e., fish were less hardy at midsalinity). In the low-salinity trial for large juveniles, cessation of feeding (16.1°C) occurred before the other salinity trials for large juveniles as water temperatures were lowered, but loss of equilibrium occurred after (10.1°C). Conclusions Juvenile snook undergo complex ontogenetic changes resulting in reduced cold tolerance in larger individuals. Salinity differences further modify cold tolerance. At the onset of a cold event, juvenile snook occupying waters of low salinity (i.e., rivers) are less likely to lose equilibrium, while those occupying waters of midsalinity are more likely to die if they cannot find adequate refuge from cold water. These observations likely apply to adult snook; thus, information on cold tolerance at various salinities, combined with knowledge of fish behavior, provides insights into factors affecting overwintering and snook resilience to climate variability, particularly as the species continues to expand its range north.

  PublisherDOI

• Improved coral nursery production through contingent heat stress events via depth manipulation

  Aquaculture · 2025-04-09 · 7 citations

  articleSenior author
  PublisherDOI

• Evaluation of calcein marking protocols for Hogfish

  North American Journal of Fisheries Management · 2025-07-08

  article

  ABSTRACT Objective Hogfish Lachnolaimus maximus, popular as a sport and food fish, have historically experienced overfishing throughout portions of their range, prompting management agencies to seek interventions to support disrupted populations. Aquaculture and subsequent stock enhancement potentially support intervention efforts, but evaluations of stocking success first require effective assessment tools (e.g., mark–recapture experiments). Various marking methods are available, but their utility may be limited by cost, labor, and species-specific methodologies. Calcein is an efficient, nonlethal, fluorescent chemical marker that potentially addresses problems commonly associated with more traditional marking methods. Standard calcein marking practices use osmotic induction; however, protocols, marking efficacy, and retention may be specific to species and environment. Methods First, a trial was completed to determine the most efficient salinity pretreatment for the osmotic induction of calcein. A second trial determined the calcein concentration that resulted in the brightest mark. Two subsequent trials examined the effects of time and lighting scenarios on calcein mark retention. Results Osmotic induction experiments showed positive correlations between mark brightness, calcein concentration, and salinity pretreatment. Retention experiments suggested vulnerability of marks, with rapid degradation of mark brightness over 3 to 8 weeks. Conclusions These results, along with calcein’s current regulatory status, cast doubt on the viability of calcein as an external mark for stock assessment studies in Hogfish, although more research is needed to assess its viability in natural settings. The results from this research will help guide future aquaculture and stock enhancement efforts for Hogfish and add to the growing body of literature for this valuable marine species.

  PublisherDOI

• Plasticity under pressure: the influence of shear stress on larval echinoid morphogenesis

  Frontiers in Marine Science · 2025-09-24 · 1 citations

  articleOpen accessCorresponding

  Introduction Individuals of some marine species can modify their phenotype in response to environmental factors, allowing them to adapt to new conditions throughout their ontogeny. Echinoids represent an ecologically significant taxon that exhibit such plasticity throughout a biphasic life history in response to known biotic and abiotic factors. Preliminary lab-based observations have suggested that morphological traits, specifically pluteal arm length, may be influenced by physical processes such as hydrodynamic flow during planktotrophic larval development. This dynamic remains understudied despite potentially critical demographic implications. Methods Here, we tested the effect of continuous exposure to different shear stress treatments on larval morphology and life history timing shifts in three co-occurring species: Lytechinus variegatus , Tripneustes ventricosus , and Diadema antillarum . Results Both T. ventricosus and D. antillarum displayed significantly longer postoral arms and increased percent metamorphic competence in response to greater shear. Treatment effects were not observed for L. variegatus . Discussion These findings represent the first observation of morphogenic plasticity in response to a hydrodynamic factor for larval echinoderms. Species-specific effects revealed a plasticity continuum which may be mediated by phylogeny, ecological niche, and/or functional morphology. This dynamic response offers insights into larval dispersal and recruitment potential, adult distribution, and the boom-and-bust cycles characteristic of ecologically relevant echinoid populations.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Closing the Coral Life Cycle: A service blueprint to overcome the coral recruitment crisis through research, restoration, and innovation

  2025-09-07

  articleOpen access

  Coral reefs underpin marine biodiversity and the functioning of oceanic ecosystems, yet since the 1970s they have experienced unprecedented degradation, with the Caribbean region exhibiting some of the most acute declines. Global climate change—through warming, acidification, and intensified storm activity—combined with local stressors such as sedimentation, eutrophication, and over‑exploitation, now impedes every stage of the coral life cycle and has precipitated a chronic failure of sexual recruitment in the region’s dominant reef‑building taxa. In this synthesis we (i) delineate the complete life cycle of Caribbean reef‑building corals, (ii) identify the known principal barriers that prevent successful transition from gamete to recruit, and (iii) evaluate the suite of mitigation and restoration strategies currently available. We highlight interventions that (a) curb greenhouse‑gas emissions, (b) protect habitats from sediment and pollutant influx, (c) enhance adult colony health through targeted feeding and probiotic applications, (d) preserve genetic diversity via assisted gene flow, and (e) increase adult density and improve settlement substrate quality. Our review also exposes critical knowledge gaps that hinder the development of effective strategies to overcome barriers to coral recruitment: (1) the historical trajectory of recruitment failure, (2) species‑specific, quantitative in‑situ recruitment data, (3) reliable, low‑cost methods for determining colony age, (4) robust tracking of larval dispersal and supply, (5) the dynamics of symbiont availability and uptake, (6) identity and fine‑scale measurements of pollutants, and (7) disentangling the interactive effects of multiple stressors on early‑life stages. To bridge these gaps we propose a research agenda that integrates (i) inexpensive age‑dating techniques, (ii) rapid diagnostic and standardized stress‑assay platforms, (iii) next‑generation sensors for contaminant detection, (iv) molecular tools for symbiont identification, and (v) coupled biophysical‑eRNA methods to quantify larval transport and settlement. Finally, we present a service‑blueprint that aligns reef managers, scientists, restoration practitioners, and funders around coordinated decision‑making pathways for research prioritisation, restoration design, and investment allocation. Implementing this blueprint will accelerate our mechanistic understanding of coral recruitment, enable evidence‑based mitigation of global change impacts, and ultimately safeguard the persistence of Caribbean coral reefs.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Corrigendum: Restoration of herbivory on Caribbean coral reefs: are fishes, urchins, or crabs the solution?

  Frontiers in Marine Science · 2025-03-25

  erratumOpen access

  Incorrect Author NamePlease also check that the initials used in the Author Contributions section or elsewhere in the article are correct. In the published article, an author name was incorrectly written as Alwin Hykema. The correct spelling is Alwin Hylkema. The authors apologize for this error and state that this does not change the scientific conclusions of the article in any way. The original article has been updated.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Characterizing Hogfish salinity tolerance for the development of low-salinity culture protocols

  North American Journal of Aquaculture · 2025-04-01 · 1 citations

  article

  ABSTRACT Objective The Hogfish Lachnolaimus maximus is a popular sport and food fish and has historically experienced overfishing in parts of its range. Hogfish are a new candidate for aquaculture, and culture techniques are in the early stages of development. Understanding the osmoregulatory capacity of aquaculture species is important, as salinity can influence metabolic rates, which can impact somatic growth and production efficiency. Low-salinity culture could lower production costs by reducing the need for artificial salt water and may enhance somatic growth by reducing metabolic energy for osmoregulation. Methods Four experiments were conducted to examine the osmoregulatory capacity of cultured Hogfish across various salinity regimes. Experiment 1 assessed fish survival after an acute transfer to six salinity levels from 0 to 32 g/L. Experiment 2 evaluated the physiological response of Hogfish to reduced salinity in a 96-h challenge at 8 and 16 g/L. The physiological effects of gradual salinity change from 32 to 12 g/L were determined in experiment 3. Lastly, experiment 4 assessed growth over 65 d at a salinity of 16 g/L. Results After acute transfer to lower salinity treatments, Hogfish survived at salinities of at least 8 g/L for 96 h; however, plasma chloride, plasma osmolality, and muscle water content were significantly altered at 8 g/L, and mortalities were noted during long-term retention at 8 g/L. Gradual transfer from 34 to 12 g/L yielded no significant physiological alterations compared with acute transfer to the same salinity for the physiological parameters measured. Growth indices for Hogfish cultured in 16 and 32 g/L were similar, though variance in metrics suggests a need for further exploration. Conclusions Hogfish should be tolerant of rapid transfer to salinities as low as 12 g/L, and growth may be unaffected when the fish are cultured at 16 g/L. Further research on feed types, lowering of feed conversion ratio values, and ontogeny of salinity tolerance is warranted.

  PublisherDOI

Frequent coauthors

• Kathryn E. Lohr

  20 shared

• Aaron R. Pilnick

  University of Florida

  15 shared

• Matthew A. DiMaggio

  University of Florida

  14 shared

• Keri L. O’Neil

  Florida Aquarium

  13 shared

• Joseph Henry

  University of California, Irvine

  12 shared

• Cortney L. Ohs

  University of Florida

  11 shared

• Alwin Hylkema

  11 shared

• Tom Wijers

  Wageningen University & Research

  11 shared