Introduction

Student opportunity to conduct coral research in the US Virgin Islands

Student opportunity to conduct coral research in the US Virgin Islands

Santa Fe College’s Research in Undergraduate Education (RUE) program is partnering with the US Geological Survey (USGS) to provide undergraduates the opportunity to study coral in the US Virgin Islands this May.

Coral is being threatened as oceans warm and acidify. Recent expeditions by scientists at the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) have found coral thriving in a novel habitat under the shade of coastal mangroves.

Participants will spend several weeks preparing for our own research expedition, followed by two weeks collecting data while snorkeling in the US Virgin Islands. Upon our return, we will use the data to map coral location and diversity and environmental co-variables (shade coverage, water temperature, etc.) in coastal mangrove habitats.

For more information, contact Matthew Carrigan at 352-395-5163 or matthew.carrigan@sfcollege.edu.