Sarah Neenan

The Bahamas

I participated in a coral reef field course in San Salvador, The Bahamas, as part of my marine biology modules. We stayed at the Gerace Research Centre where we carried out 3 different experiments:

• Does the population of lobster change depending on distance between reserves?

We used software to investigate the different factors that could affect populations in marine protected areas.

• The use of nursery habitats by Haemulon sciurus, Chromis cyanea and Thalassoma bifasciatum in The Bahamas.

We looked at the abundance of 3 different species in mangroves, seagrass beds and coral reefs.

• Inter and intra-species variation in surgeonfish bite rates in the Bahamas

We calculated the grazing rates of different phases and species of fish.

Click above to see some pictures of the Bahamas