Under the direction of Virgin Islands’ native Dr. Sennai Habtes, professor of biological oceanography at The University of the Virgin Islands Center for Marine and Environmental Studies, Master of Science in Marine and Environmental Science candidate Mara Duke is studying zooplankton abundance and distribution surrounding Brewers Bay, St. Thomas, USVI. This research is part of an ecosystem analysis study of Brewers Bay funded by VI EPSCoR’s Mare Nostrum program. The purpose of this overall study is to gain unique insight into how environmental conditions impact all levels of the ecosystem within a small coastal bay with highly diverse habitat types.
Mara’s research includes monthly measurements of oceanographic conditions and samples of water quality at 33 stations in Brewers and Perseverance Bays, and at Flat Cay (the small island located to the Southwest of the Cyril E. King airport), as well as identifying and quantifying the zooplankton from four plankton tows spread out among the study area.
The data on oceanographic conditions will be collected using a CTD, a common piece of oceanographic instrumentation that is a package of electronic instruments that measures salinity, temperature, depth, chlorophyll and turbidity. In addition water quality measurements of enterococci and fecal coliform bacteria, nutrient concentrations, and total suspended solids are taken on a quarterly basis by collecting water samples and analyzing them at the Environmental Analysis Laboratory (EAL).
The findings of this research will lead to a better understanding of seasonal and environmental influences regulating zooplankton abundance and distributions. As an important level towards the base of most marine food webs, and understanding changes in this group of organisms, can have important implications for how things like climate change, episodic events like hurricanes, and natural seasonal variation affect coastal ecosystems, and how those will in turn affect higher levels in marine food webs. Time-series data on zooplankton abundance surrounding the USVI has never before been undertaken and will provide critical information. Potentially, this information can help guide fisheries and environmental management and policy within the territory.
The entire team at VI-EPSCoR is excited to learn of all Mara’s discoveries as she continues to forge ahead with this necessary and challenging project.
VI-EPSCoR is a territorial program of the National Science Foundation hosted by the University of the Virgin Islands. Mare Nostrum Caribbean was awarded funding by the NSF in August 2014. It presents a unique opportunity to address the implications of climate change in our Territory. This goal is achieved through support for coral reef research and emerging research areas including oceanography, watershed dynamics and human dimensions. In addition, STEM programs are supported to help encourage a scientifically literate public. A critical priority is the development of an educated and skilled workforce.