Second Place: Peek-a-boo
Photography by Sydney Bell, graduate student, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science
麻豆精品视频Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute
A small spinyhead blenny (Acanthemblemaria spinosa) makes its home in between the polyps of a great star coral (Montastraea cavernosa). Montastraea cavernosa is an intermediately susceptible coral species to stony coral tissue loss disease, which has dramatically impacted Florida鈥檚 coral reefs. My thesis research is focused on molecular techniques to identify the coral genotypes and algal symbionts in Florida鈥檚 largest-ever restoration experiment, including M. cavernosa and two additional coral species. This information will be used to strategically improve coral restoration efforts throughout the state.
