Work & Research

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Work & Research

Projects

Undergraduate Dissertation :“The population trends of three important sea turtle species in the Wider Caribbean, a case study from St. Eustatius.” Supervised by Dr Nicole Esteban. Achieved a first.

Remote Summer Placement in association with the Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology: “Spatiotemporal analysis of in situ sea temperature across a model Montipora capitata population in Kāne'ohe Bay, Hawai'i”. Supervised by Dr Lupita Ruiz-Jones & Carlo Caruso. Achieved a distinction (82%).

Masters Dissertation York: “Incorporating ecosystem services into ocean protection targets”. Supervised by Professor Callum Roberts. Achieved a distinction (85%).

Currently collaborating with researchers at the University of Portsmouth and Blue Marine Foundation to develop an oyster filtration model for Ostrea edulis which aims to simplify on nature and will be parameterised on realistic measurements.

Presentations

Author: Spatiotemporal analysis of in situ sea temperature across a model Montipora capitata population in Kāne'ohe Bay, Hawai'i (Co-authors: Lupita Ruiz-Jones, Carlo Caruso).

Co-author: Investigating the spatial patterning of coral relatedness across an urban reef environment (Author: Lupita Ruiz-Jones).

• Achieved “Best Aquaculture Practical Report” issued by Pacific Trading Feeding Global Aquaculture.
• Performed a feed trial, comparing lumpfish raised using two different feeding systems over six weeks.
• Analysed biometric data, feeding behaviour and activity, and consumption rates using R studio.
• Executed multiple dissections on lumpfish before and after the practical.
• Performed routine fish husbandry, including; cleaning of tanks, feeding of fish, checking water quality and removing mortalities.

• Helped build and maintain an artificial coral reef. Created a coral nursery of Acropora palmata, by collecting fragments of the species broken from colonies then attaching these to substrate or nursery trees.
• Boat driving. Able to operate and navigate a boat and capable of picking up scuba divers without a mooring.
• General Marine Park Maintenance. Assisted with lionfish culling and maintenance of dive sites.
• Bird Monitoring. Learned how to identify and count the bird present on St. Eustatius.
• Iguana Patrols. Searched for and collected the Lesser Antillean Iguana, Iguana delicatissima to tag individuals and maintain the population. The Green Iguana, Iguana iguana, was also searched for and removed as it is an invasive species to St. Eustatius.
• Assisted with the Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network. Assisted the Caribbean Netherlands Science Institute collecting data regarding the status and trends of Statia’s coral reefs by scuba diving (Rugosity, Benthic photos for benthic species assemblage, coral recruitment density, fish counts, macro algae index and macroinvertebrate counts).
• Trail Maintenance. Cleared trails for tourists as part of the post hurricane relief effort with power tools after damage caused by hurricane Irma and Maria.
• Education and Outreach. Visited various schools teaching children science. Presented shark conservation talks to local fishermen in an effort to stop shark fishing.
• Scuba surveys. Performed coral and seagrass surveys when scuba diving. Depths ranged from 5 to 35m.

Tropical Marine Ecology Research Placement (Jan 2019)
• Performed free dives to count/identify coral and anemone species and investigate coral-anemone phase shifts.
• Achieved a solid grounding in identifying Caribbean fish families and species.
• Thrived in snorkelling activities at night, recording invertebrate counts.
• Excelled in leadership when performing field work. Ensured team members were safe and confident in their designated tasks, and assisted members who were less comfortable in the water. Solid time management as field work hours were set and non-flexible.

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