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​​Scientific Research

Samples of research coursework:​

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​*ongoing

​​Wee Wee Caye Marine Laboratory, Belize

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​Using a Pulse-Amplitude Modulated (PAM) fluorometer to quantify photosynthetic efficiency in autotrophic and polytrophic species

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Abstract: To quantify the photosynthetic efficiencies of autotrophic and polytrophic species, in Belize,  using a PAM meter by focusing on five categories of readily available photo-synthesizers: terrestrial (tropical and garden plants), chlorophyta (green algae), phaeophyta/rhodophyta (red and brown algae), corals (small colonies), invertebrates (sponges, zooanthids, and corallimorphs).  We hypothesized terrestrial plants would be more photosynthetically efficient because they build large structures in a lower support environment. 

​Harvard University*

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​​Investigating comparative anatomy and functional morphology of the Stellwagen Bank forage species Atlantic butterfish (Peprilus triacanthus), Longfin inshore squid (Loligo pealeii), Northern shortfin squid (Illex illecebrosus), and Northern sand lance (Ammodytes dubius​)

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Abstract: Forage fish in Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary play a large role in maintaining balance within the community. Peprilus triacanthus and Loligo pealeii were once known to share similar life cycles and diets. Based on previous stable isotope data, both species may occupy the same trophic level. However, P. triacanthus may have several morphological differences such as the pharyngeal pouch that has allowed it to become adapted to another food source—Mnemiopsis prey populations. I hypothesize that the adaptation of a pharyngeal pouch in P. triacanthus has allowed the species to occupy a different niche by feeding on cnidarians and ctenophores such as Mnemiopsis leidyi. The pharyngeal pouch is an adaptive mechanism for gelatinous material-trituration in P. triacanthus, allowing it to feed on different prey than L. pealeii. Without this adaptation, P. triacanthus may share the same niche as Loligo pealeii, suggesting ecological redundancy in the Stellwagen community.

​​Boston University Marine Laboratory

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Investigating Radial Basis Function and Kriging to create an efficient historical baseline using fishing weir data

 

Abstract: Historical baselines are means of measuring temporal changes in optimal ecosystem services of different species. Historical baselines are important in creating management plans for fisheries. We are taking a proactive approach in creating a baseline from fishing weir data for herring, mackerel, menhaden, and alewife from 1876-1896. We used ArcMap to create a spatial representation of our historical data based on five-year intervals. We then experimented with different methods of interpolation and spatial prediction to determine which method most accurately created a historical baseline that could be applied to some weirs with missing data. Using an ANOVA test, we concluded that there was a significant decrease in fish counts from 1876-1896. We also decided that Radial Basis Function interpolations are best for this data although there is not a significant difference between Radial Basis Function and Kriging.

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Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary

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Investigating potential ecological redundancy between Longfin inshore squid (Loligo pealeii) and Atlantic butterfish (Peprilus triacanthus) in the northwest Atlantic Ocean with stable isotope analysis

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