A local ecosystem transforms into a living field laboratory for USF students

• April 16, 2026
• Research, Students

When Karen Atwood, assistant instructor of Biology, was forwarded an inquiry from Siesta Key Chapel about biome restoration needs, she knew this would be a complex, long-term challenge. She also knew this was the type of opportunity that didn't come around often.

"As a biology instructor," said Atwood, "I'm always looking for ways to move beyond the traditional classroom and give students meaningful, hands-on experiences. This project transforms a local ecosystem into a living field laboratory."

"In addition to the gopher tortoise preserve on our campus that our students and faculty maintain and study, this new partnership is another great opportunity for students to apply what they have learned in the classroom," said Associate Dean Paul Kirchman.

The back-to-back hurricanes of Helene and Milton in 2024 devastated many of the gulf's coastal communities. The island of Siesta Key experienced a direct hit from a Category 3 hurricane with storm surge rising as high as nine feet, resulting in the loss of homes, businesses and ecosystems. Due to these disasters, Siesta Key Chapel's five-acre maritime hammock lost canopy, understory and soil structure.

Maritime hammocks are layered, hardwood forests found throughout southern, coastal areas in the United States. These ecosystems are important wildlife sanctuaries and vital for storm mitigation. On its own, the hammock recovery could take decades and would be at risk of domination by invasive species. However, a guided recovery could speed up the process and provide natural support for future weather disasters.

Beyond the hurricane damage, Atwood cites additional threats. "Coastal ecosystems like the hammock on Siesta Key are under increasing pressure from development, invasive species and climate-related stressors," she said. "This project allows us to contribute to the restoration and long-term health of a valuable natural space while also generating real data and research opportunities."

Siesta Key Chapel was designed by architects Frank Folsom Smith and James Holliday to be in harmony with its surrounding nature. Completed in 1975 in a postmodern style, the building is made of pine and rough-sawn cedar with floor-to-ceiling windows making up three sides of the sanctuary. Appropriately nicknamed God's Treehouse, the chapel sits atop tall wooden stilts allowing those inside direct, unobstructed views of the canopy.

This beautiful conversation between the property's natural and built environments adds another layer of importance to the restoration. The combination of ecological and social aspects inspired Scott Getty, the chapel's community relations committee co-chair, to find a creative solution for the hammock restoration.

As a former university researcher, Getty knew that local colleges are full of bright students who could benefit from the experience of this project. He reached out to the University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee and was eventually connected to Karen Atwood. Getty wasn't sure what would become of his request and was pleasantly surprised when Atwood sent him a thoughtful, comprehensive 100-page proposal.

This connection resulted in the creation of a four-phase, multi-year partnership that establishes the Chapel's 5-acre maritime hammock as a USF living field laboratory. Following the ecological framework of mutualistic interdependence which emphasizes structural support, soil enrichment and moisture retention, the site will evolve into a self-sustaining, mature hammock ecosystem.

"Our students aren't just studying ecosystems," said Kirchman, "they're helping restore them, leaving a legacy that will benefit native flora and fauna and this community for generations."

The project is in the first phase, assessment. Scheduled to take about one year to complete, this phase includes mapping, zoning, testing and surveys. The next three phases are: establishment and planting, growth and tracking, and maturity and analysis. The entire project will take a minimum of 10 years to complete.

Students interested in participating in this project can register for the undergraduate research course and have the option of continuing for multiple semesters. Those students who choose to continue beyond one semester will perform literature reviews in order to develop their own individual research questions and also train new students. This academic continuity builds on each cohort's progress and gives students the opportunity to witness the direct impact of their work. Atwood said, "I saw an opportunity to create something that is not just a course or a one-semester experience, but a sustained, multi-semester program benefiting students, the environment and the broader community."

Four students are participating in the first semester of this project. Atwood is excited to watch the students transition from learning about science to conducting it. "Instead of memorizing concepts," she said, "they are collecting data, asking their own research questions and contributing to a long-term ecological restoration effort."

Gaining hands-on experience is what inspired animal biology student Beyonce Landa to participate in the project. "I love being directly involved in the action," said Landa, "once we get shovels in the ground, pulling invasives and planting natives to support the maritime hammock, that is when we start getting a real sense for the change that's occurring around us."

This experiential learning has led integrative biology student Sara Genter to discover new interests. "I've found that learning about all the different native plants in the area, and the different roles they play in order to reside, coexist, and thrive within this specific ecosystem is fascinating," said Genter.

In addition to the field work, students will also present their findings and progress on a regular basis to the Siesta Key Chapel congregation - enhancing presentation skills as well as their research.

A project of this magnitude requires a dedicated, collaborative team. In addition to the partnership between USF and Siesta Key Chapel, Getty invited the TREE Foundation - a local nonprofit with a mission to support tree research, education and exploration - to be part of this restoration. TREE Foundation will contribute to the project through volunteers, funding identification and expertise.

A summer session will be offered making this course accessible to students on all USF campuses. Students interested in enrolling in the course and students or community members who are interested in volunteering, can contact Atwood at [email protected] for more information.

Photography by Khalil Garcia