Tropical Field Phycology Course 2015 - Panama
Laura Bush
University of Bangor
Photo Caption: Tropical Field Phycology Course 2015. A. The Team ( Left to Right. Back:: Maycol Madrid, Will Schmidt, Micah Marty, Laurie McConnico, Holly Cronin, Sofie Vranken, Talita Pinto, Lynn Cornish, Glenda Hunter, Mary Cruz Rojas, Emilia Croce.. Mid: Luis Reyes, Suzanne Fredericq, Laura Bush, Robin Taylor, Mariana Mungioli, Abdiel Jover, Front: Karla Pedraza. B. What lies beneath? C. Discovering the wonders of the seaweed communities of Bocas del Toro.
Tropical Field Phycology Course 2015
The Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI) have run three previous Tropical Field Phycology courses from their Bocas del Toro Research Station on the Caribbean coast of Panama since 2008. In 2015 I was privileged to be offered a place the fourth course along with 15 other students from, in alphabetical order, Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Costa Rica, Cuba, Mexico, the host nation, and the USA. Our instructors Wilson Freshwater, Suzanne Frederiqc and William Schmidt also travelled from afar (USA).The course focused on the development and enhancement of the practical skills required for collection, processing, and preservation of tropical marine macroalgae, with numerous collections occurring in a diverse range of marine environments within the Caribbean (e.g. mangroves, seagrass meadows, coral reefs, sponge communities). Specimens were identified morphologically in the Bocas del Toro laboratory with assistance from available literature and informed opinion. The course participants had a wide range of specialised knowledge, supplementary to the expert knowledge of the instructors, facilitating abundant knowledge exchange. Specimens were predominantly preserved by press, with those that required additional molecular analysis preserved in silica gel. Individual species plates were produced contributing to the Bocas del Toro Biodiversity Inventory.
In addition to practical work, daily lectures were available on morphological and molecular identification, macroalgal taxonomy, in addition to case studies of the instructors work. My personal favourite was the talk by Suzanne Frederiqc on the long term impact of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill on Rhodolith beds and their associated flora, a relatively rare but perhaps very resilient habitat. Course participants also presented their research with my oral presentation on the long-term change of large brown macroalgae in the British Isles receiving great interest.
This was a thoroughly enjoyable and educational experience through which I gained a deep insight into entirely new ecosystems, complete with new genera and species. Additionally I formed many rewarding links with a wide range of people from many different backgrounds. I have returned to the UK reinspired with regards my current research and potential future career, and I cannot thank the Challenger Society enough for their generous Travel Grant which enabled me to attend this course.
Profile:
I am currently writing up my PhD on “the stability and variability of marine coastal habitats on decadal time-scales” at Bangor University, North Wales. My PhD has focused on change in ecosystem engineers, specifically the large brown macroalgae and the honeycomb reef worm Sabellaria alveolata, around the coast of the British Isles and I am co-author on several papers and reviews in both habitats (see references). I completed my Masters at Heriot Watt University, Scotland, in Marine Resource Development and Protection, and prior to my PhD I was employed as a Marine Ecologist with the Scottish Environment Protection Agency and consequently I have expertise in benthic invertebrate, phytoplankton and macroalgal taxonomy.
Twitter:
Tropical Field Phycology 2015, the experience of a lifetime, made possible by the Challenger Society #algaeRbeautiful #seaweediversity #BocasStation
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Marine Data Management, Governance and the MEDIN toolset
The Marine Environmental Data and Information Network (MEDIN) and OceanWise are delighted to invite you to attend our popular free online training workshop: ‘Marine Data Management, Governance and the MEDIN toolset’ on the 19th – 23rd of May 2025.
Workshop on the contribution of UK Arctic Ocean science to the International Polar Year 32/33
12:00 11th June – 16:00 12th June 2025: NOC Southampton (In-person with online option): Registration deadline 16th May
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Pre-meeting questionnaire (open to all)
The purpose of this workshop is for the UK Ocean Science community to discuss and then draft a prospectus document outlining the priority Arctic research questions the community would like to address during the run up to, throughout and beyond the International Polar Year 32/33. Additionally, to identify what unique strengths and technologies the UK has to help fill these knowledge gaps.
The second day of the workshop will be dedicated to writing groups, one for each of the priority research questions identified - from both the pre-meeting questionnaire (HERE) and day one discussion. By the end of the meeting, each group will have produced draft text and sourced supporting figures for the prospectus.
Post meeting, the draft will be opened for comments and suggestions from everyone, regardless of whether they were able to attend the workshop or not. It will then be shared with UK funders (UKRI, FCDO, DSIT, ARIA) and potential international programmes with whom we would like to collaborate (e.g. Arctic 2050, Norway). It will form a basis from which wider integration with terrestrial, atmospheric and cryosphere communities can be built, e.g. at the UK Arctic Science Meeting in September in Northumbria.
To ensure balanced community and ECR representation, and to ensure that the size of the writing groups is efficient and effective, if the number of registrations from individual institutes becomes overwhelming, we may contact individuals or teams and ask that each institute selects a smaller number of individuals to attend in-person. Please wait for confirmation of in-person attendance before finalising travel arrangements.
The workshop will be open to hybrid attendance and contributions on both days.
Challenger Society Council Position Vacancy
The Challenger Society for Marine Science (CSMS) are pleased to announce an exciting opportunity to support the next generation of ocean scientists and innovators. CSMS are looking for a new Council member to fill the Student Travel Awards and Stepping Stones Portfolio. The successful applicant will administer the travel and research grants available for Early Career Researchers.
The role involves:
- Receiving applications for the two schemes and responding to applicant inquiries
- Soliciting and compiling input from the rest of the Council for assessing the applications
- Communicating with successful and unsuccessful applicants for the two schemes
- Working with the Honorary Treasurer on allocating funds to successful applicants
- Following up with award winners on their reporting requirements
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The usual term for Council members is three years.
For more information about the CSMS Council, please follow this link: https://www.challenger-society.org.uk/The_Council
For more information about our Early Career Researcher grants and awards, please follow this link:
https://www.challenger-society.org.uk/Stepping_Stones
and
https://www.challenger-society.org.uk/Travel_awards
If you are interested in applying or have any questions regarding the role, please contact kathen@bas.ac.uk