research and collaborations
Quantifying and Characterizing Beached Sargasso
We are monitoring the frequency and intensity of beached Sargassum (commonly referred to as sargasso!) in South Florida to investigate the dynamics of local influxes, complementing Citizen Science efforts.
Research focus:
- Quantifying temporal and spatial trends in Sargassum abundances.
- Identifying seasonal patterns in species and morphotype composition to trace origins.
- Characterizing nutrient and heavy metal concentrations in different morphotypes.
Skills:
- Field sampling and species identification of marine macroalgae.
- Ecological monitoring and data analysis of biomass and nutrient content.
- Expertise in heavy metal analysis and environmental assessment.
- Data management and interpretation to uncover ecological insights.
Ecophysiological Experimental Manipulations
This project assesses the physiological performance (growth and photosynthesis) of pelagic Sargassum morphotypes to thermal stress. The study uses short-term mesocosm experiments, PAM fluorometry, and pigment analysis to investigate physiological performance.
Skills:
- Expertise in culturing marine macroalgae and conducting controlled physiological experiments.
- Ability to set-up and maintain large-scale and small-scale mesocosm facilities.
- Proficiency in assessing growth rates, chlorophyll fluorescence, and photosynthetic performance.
- Ability to analyze physiological and pigment data to determine stress responses and thermal tolerance thresholds.
Nearshore seagrass surveys
This research examines the impact of pelagic Sargassum influxes on nearshore seagrass communities in South Florida, assessing how Sargassum brown tides (SBTs) and management strategies influence seagrass health and community dynamics.
Skills:
- Proficiency in conducting ecological surveys and quantifying benthic percent cover.
- Expertise in field sampling techniques, including the use of transects and quadrats for population assessments.
- Strong organizational skills for planning and executing field studies, managing logistics, and maintaining high standards of data quality.
- Skilled in managing and leading fieldwork teams, ensuring effective coordination and execution of research activities.
- Proficient in training and supervising team members in field methods and data collection protocols.
Collaborator: Citizen Science
As a collaborator in the Sargassum Watch project, I contribute to the collection and analysis of photographic observations, utilizing the Epicollect5 app to support citizen science monitoring efforts.
Collaborator: Ecology and ecophysiology of red algae (Hypnea sp.)
As a collaborator in ecological surveys of Hypnea (red macroalgae), I have participated in field surveys of multiple populations in South Florida, contributing to species identification and ecological assessments. Our team has described a new species and conducted ecophysiological experiments to investigate its thermal response, tolerance to salinity gradients, and the effects of Sargassum leachates on these populations. My role involves assisting in fieldwork, data collection, and analysis to advance our understanding of Hypnea's adaptability and ecological interactions.
