Current Research and Research Interests

M.S. Thesis:

Distribution and Physiological Consequences of Macroalgae Inhabiting Refugia from Herbivores

Spatial heterogeneity within habitats can provide refugia for prey by limiting their accessibility to predators. Because coral reef in Moorea, French Polynesia have high levels of herbivory, many macroalgal species are limited in their distribution to available microhabitats, such as crevices in coral bommies and areas between closely-spaced branching corals. However, the physical characteristics in these microenvironments, such as water flow and light flux, may have physiological consequences for these macroalgae. The focus of this study is to isolate the underlying mechanisms that lead to the utilization of these microhabitats and the physiological consequences that result. Primarily, I will address the role of herbivory, environmental stress and resource availability affects the productivity and competitive abilities macroalgae as important space occupiers. Essentially, this study may provide insight to changes in coral-algal interactions should external constraints be reduced and algal competitive abilities become less restricted.