Research Project

Galapagos Fish Ecology
"Investigating the Impact of El Niño-Related Stressors on Skin Disease in Galapagos Reef Fish"

To gain hands-on experience in fisheries, I reached out to Dr. Robert Lamb, a fish ecologist at the Nature Biological Coast Station and an assistant professor in UF's fisheries department. I began volunteering with Dr. Lamb in December 2023, and later received the University Scholar Program award, which provided a paid internship to conduct my own research project under the guidance of a UF faculty member. Dr. Lamb has conducted extensive marine research in the Galapagos, and I had the incredible opportunity to accompany him on a research trip in the summer of 2024 & 2025. During the trip, we collected over 300 fish specimens, which will contribute to both his work and my own research project.

Research Focus

Under the guidance of Dr. Robert Lamb, I conducted an independent research project that examined how herbivores such as fish and sea urchins interact with wave exposure to shape benthic algal community structure in the Galápagos Islands. Using a manipulative field experiment conducted across exposed and sheltered subtidal sites, I tested how the strength of top-down control by grazers shifts along gradients in water motion and seasonality. I combined experimental data with multivariate and co-occurrence analyses to evaluate how hydrodynamic forcing influences biodiversity, species interactions, and community composition. This work provides insight into how physical and biological processes jointly regulate benthic ecosystems, with implications for predicting ecological responses to environmental change.

Responsibilities

During my time in the Galapagos, I dedicated countless hours in the lab dissecting fish, where I gained in-depth knowledge of fish anatomy. I meticulously collected various tissues, including muscle, liver, gut, and gills. Beyond the lab, I spent a significant amount of time scientific diving, where we observed fish behavior at cleaning stations and measured urchins to investigate how environmental factors influence their growth and habitat preferences.

After returning from the Galapagos, I dehydrated and ground the liver and muscle tissues for stable isotope analysis. Additionally, I prepared and analyzed otoliths to gather data on fish aging. It was an incredible experience and learned many invaluable skills!