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CURRENTS
Winter 2004/2005 |
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Toronto graduate student finds her niche
among Bermuda's soft corals
Master's degree candidate Lyndsey Holland shares her experiences as a graduate intern at BBSR. |
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Since opportunities in tropical marine biology are somewhat limited in the United Kingdom, I decided after graduating from Manchester
University with a biology degree to look for an institution where I could fulfill my ambition to do marine research at the same time as I earned a master's degree. I found myself at the University of Toronto and subsequently in
Bermuda, as my thesis advisor, BBSR Scientist Dr. Kathryn Coates, is an adjunct faculty member of zoology and graduate studies there. I have now been in BBSR's
graduate internship program for two years, working in the molecular marine biology lab.
My research examines the molecular diversity of symbiotic algae, commonly termed zooxanthellae, within six common soft coral species found in Bermuda. This basically involves comparing different
gene sequences from the algae to see how closely related zooxanthellae within different hosts and from different populations are. Once this is known,
we can get a better idea of how these coral hosts may respond to many of the threats that coral reefs face. I also have samples from various locations
in the Caribbean, so I can see whether the symbiotic associations we have in soft corals in Bermuda do indeed originate from Gulf Stream eddies, as is the current theory.
BBSR is a great place to do marine biology. Its close proximity to different healthy reefs, and hence the species I work on, is ideal, and the molecular
lab has state-of-the-art equipment and a gene sequencer, which means I can do all of my analyses here. The library here is also well stocked with
major marine journals, some of which aren't found even in the University of Toronto library. The benefits of being a graduate student in Bermuda are immense. Visiting
scientists are constantly passing through, so I'm able to get insight into many different fields of research, get feedback on my own research and make
contacts from other labs around the world. There is always something going on. I've taken part in two BBSR summer courses and in two conferences,
gained additional diving qualifications, taken part in research in the Florida Keys, and been a teaching assistant for three university-accredited courses offered by BBSR. The graduate intern program
also entails getting involved in BBSR's educational activities – usually lecturing visiting school groups
, university students or Elderhostel
participants. To me, teaching and education are an important aspect of what we do here, and not only is it great fun, but it
provides valuable experience which certainly would be difficult to equal if I were not at BBSR. When I complete my master's degree next year, I plan to find a position as a
research technician before later commencing my doctoral degree. I wish to thank the Leverhulme Trust, the University of Toronto and BBSR for funding
my research. I've had a fantastic time here and I certainly recommend a stay at BBSR for anyone who wishes to get involved in marine science! |
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Summer courses bring international flavor to BBSR
BBSR's 2004 summer course program
attracted students from 15 countries in four different continents to the island of Bermuda between June and August. Eight university-level courses were offered this year and 65 students took part, attending lectures, labs and field trips taught by resident faculty and visiting scientists. The students also lived at the BBSR campus, allowing them to totally immerse themselves in marine science during the one- to four-week courses.
Three of the undergraduate and graduate courses offered in 2004 were new, including Oceans and Reefs in Global Climate Change, Behavior of Coral Reef Animals, and Scientific Photography.
Oceans and Reefs in Global Climate Change was taught by Dr. Fred Mackenzie of the University of Hawaii. The course focus included the effects of climate change on the marine coastal and coral
reef ecosystems and the associated carbonate sediment responses to change. Behavior of Coral Reef Animals brought Drs. Ruth Byrne and Michael Kuba from the Konrad Lorenz Institute for Evolution
and Cognitive Research in Austria. Their students studied behavior and cognition in a variety of coral reef animals, such as fish, squid, sea stars and crabs. The third new course, Scientific
Photography, was taught by BBSR Assistant Research Scientist Dr. James Wood
and Joyce Chew of Dalhousie University in Canada. Students were introduced to the use of photography as a scientific tool to communicate data and concepts at meetings, on posters and in presentations. They also learned to use photography as a measuring and recording tool in their research. At the end of the two-week course, students gave a public presentation of their work, an example of which can been seen
here.Other
marine science summer courses in 2004 were Coral Reef Ecology, Chemosensory Neurobiology in the Marine Environment, Marine Microbial Ecology, Marine Genomics, and Tropical Marine Invertebrates.
BBSR is planning to offer approximately 10 summer courses in the 2005 season. |
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