The Coleman and Koenig Research Laboratory focuses on the connections between reef fish life history and habitat. Specific lines of inquiry include investigations of juvenile reef-fish recruitment to estuarine habitats, population ecology of the protected goliath grouper, and evaluating the efficacy of marine reserves for reef-fish management. Our approach involves collaboration with scientists from a number of disciplines (e.g., benthic ecologists, geologists, and economists) and institutions (federal, state, and academic), as well as working with commercial and recreational fishers. We also work closely with the U. S. Coast Guard on enforcement issues relating to marine protected areas. Our interdisciplinary approach to the study of marine organisms enhances significantly our ability to understand and contribute to the conservation and management of marine resources by state and federal agencies.

International Symposia funded by the Florida State University's Mote Eminent Scholar Chair are developed through our laboratory. These symposia address the most current fisheries research and management issues, including Marine Stock Enhancement, Marine Reserves, Target and Threshold Limits in Fishing, and the Intersection of Fisheries and Human Ecology.

Undergraduate and graduate student research is important to our group. Thus, we strive to include students in our research projects from a number of different departments, including Biological Science, Oceanography, and Geography.