The Everglades is an essential natural resource that provides fresh drinking water for much of Florida and serves as habitat for the endangered Florida panther, on which FIU's beloved mascot Roary is modeled. FIU ecosystem researcher and ecology professor John Kominoski has studied the Everglades for 11 years to understand the interface between land and water. Kominoski currently leads the Florida Coastal Everglades Long Term Ecological Research Program, an ongoing research study that seeks to understand the impact of climate change on coastal ecosystems since 2000.