Dr. Philip Gravinese,
Assistant Professor
Eckerd College
Dr. Gravinese discusses how stone crab larvae adjust their swimming in response to environmental cues to help them find a home, but it remains unclear how their swimming may change in a warmer and more acidic ocean.
October 7th, 2026 @ 1 PM ET
R/V ANGARI Expeditions:
Select Supplemental Content:
[READING] ANGARI Foundation – Meet The Scientist: Philip Gravinese
[READING] Eckerd College – Ecophysiology Lab
[3D MODEL] Nova Southeastern University / A. Velligan – Florida Stone Crab (Menippe mercenaria)
[RESOURCE LIBRARY] Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission – Stone Crabs (Menippe sp.)
Educators – would you like to be kept up to date on ANGARI ocean science education content & programs like this? If so, please complete our Educator Registration form!
PRESENTER BIO
Dr. Philip Gravinese received his B.S. and M.S. degrees in Marine Biology from Florida Institute of Technology. After teaching biology and integrated science in Florida public schools for 5 years, Phil returned to Florida Tech and earned his Ph.D. in Biology. He completed a post-doc in the Fisheries Ecology & Enhancement Program at Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium, and is now an Assistant Professor of Marine Science at Eckerd College. Phil’s research aims to determine how environmental stressors, like ocean acidification, elevated temperature, hypoxia and toxic algae, impact the early life history stages of marine invertebrates. He focuses on how these stressors may affect the physiology and behavior of Florida’s commercially and ecologically important crustaceans, including stone crabs, spiny lobsters and the Caribbean king crab. Phil also runs Youth Making Ripples, a volunteer-driven non-profit that challenges K-12 and college students to create short films promoting marine conservation.
Ocean Expert Exchange is a live educational webinar series featuring experts in marine science and technology, many of whom have participated in expeditions onboard R/V ANGARI. The 30-minute live events welcome audiences of all ages and include a presentation on the speaker’s area of expertise followed by Q&A with participants. The series is co-hosted by ANGARI Foundation and the University of Florida Thompson Earth Systems Institute’s Scientist in Every Florida School program.