Mote Aquarium’s Aquaculture Laboratory & Latest Inclusion Efforts

Amanda Hodo began her career as an animal care specialist nearly 9 years ago at Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium, and is currently serving in a hybrid role as Aquarium Biologist III/Diversity and Inclusion Advisor to the President & CEO.

As an Aquarium Biologist III at Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium, Amanda provides care for several aquarium exhibits and co-manages the Fish and Invertebrate Department’s intern program. She oversees Mote’s “Aquarium Conservation Laboratory”, a multi-species aquaculture laboratory on display for the public, that breeds fish and invertebrates for display, maintenance, research, and conservation. The lab’s main breeding efforts are with Neon Gobies (Elacatinus oceanops) and Peppermint Shrimp (Lysmata boggessi). Both are useful Atlantic cleaners that eat parasites and dead skin cells off of other fish. In this talk, I introduce the ACL space, discuss the species historically bred in the ACL, and highlight the maintenance animal aquaculture contributions that Mote makes to an important coral rescue and conservation network, The AZA-Florida Reef Tract Rescue Project. 

As Mote’s Diversity and Inclusion Advisor to the President & CEO, Amanda is passionate about encouraging young people of color to pursue careers in marine science and serves as a mentor in a variety of settings. In this talk, I will also discuss how I am building upon Mote’s current initiatives and models to increase participation and retention of underrepresented minorities in both marine research and aquarium science.