Federal Grant Award Summary

East Carolina University received a $849,624 Project Grant award from the National Science Foundation (NSF) Division of Ocean Sciences under the Geosciences program (CFDA 47.050), effective August 1, 2026 through July 31, 2030. This collaborative research initiative investigates how biogeographic barriers and oceanographic processes influence range shifts in marine fish populations, with a specific focus on an ocean convergence zone in the Mid-Atlantic Bight on the U.S. continental shelf. The research delivers fundamental ecological knowledge through an integrated approach combining statistical modeling of species distributions, physiological experiments, and field surveys—including the first ichthyoplankton (fish larvae) surveys in the study region in over two decades.

The project generates a predictive framework for understanding why certain marine species successfully cross biogeographic barriers while others do not, despite favorable physical transport conditions. Findings will directly inform local and regional marine fisheries management decisions as ocean warming continues to drive poleward species shifts. In addition to core research outputs, the award includes a substantial education and training component that provides paid internship experiences and coursework for undergraduate students, particularly those from universities without established marine science or oceanography curricula, thereby expanding access to marine science training across institutional types.