2001 REU’s – Love that Field Work!
Whether it was aboard a research vessel cruising the Gulf of Mexico, or in the seagrass beds of the Florida Keys, field work was the number one pleasure of the 2001 REU participants. For the fifth year in a row, the Sea Lab’s Research Experience for Undergraduates Program brought talented college students to the campus to tackle 12 weeks of workshops, field trips and individualized research projects.
This past year, all six participants cited field work as their favorite experience, as well as getting to meet other motivated science students and the faculty, staff and graduate students of the Sea Lab.

Chosen in a competitive search from around the country, the applicants this year were largely from Alabama colleges. The participants in the program were assigned faculty mentors who supervised their time at the Lab and advised them on their individual research projects. Aside from intensive research experience, these students participate in a series of workshops to hone their academic skills; a seminar series of
Maurice Lightbourne and Heather Bracken found field work to be the highlight of their REU Experience (photo by Geremea Fioravanti).
visiting distinguished speakers; field trips aboard the R/V A.E. Verrill; and lectures on analytical techniques, interpretation and presentation proficiency.

The Sea Lab’s REU Program, funded by the National Science Foundation, has just been renewed for an additional three years. For more information on how to apply, check out our website at: http://univ-prog.disl.org/nsfdescription.html

2001 REU Participants, Mentors and Research Projects:

Heather Bracken
University of California
Dr. Ken Heck - Mentor
Seagrass Herbivory: The Effects of Predation Risk and Nutritional Content in the Upper Florida Keys.

Todd Clardy
Troy State University
Dr. Just Cebrian – Mentor
The Effects of Short-Term Sediment Fertilization and Water-Column Shading
On the Density and Growth of Halodule wrightii.


Senior Aquarist Brian Jones (far right) shows off a lightning whelk to (l-r) Marcus Terneus, John Robinson, Todd Clardy and Maurice Lightbourne.

 

 

 Matthew Hendricks
Troy State University
Dr. LaDon Swann - Mentor
Sampling Oyster Communities Surrounding Taylor Floats: A Community Synopsis.

Maurice Lightbourne
University of North Alabama
Dr. John Valentine - Mentor
Effects of "No Take" Protection on Predation of Macroinvertebrate
Communities in the Upper Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.

 
John Robinson
University of Alabama
Dr. Monty Graham - Mentor
Analysis of RNA: DNA Ratio As An Indicator of Growth Rate of the Moon Jellyfish, Aurelia aurita.

Marcus Terneus
Coastal Carolina University
Dr. Jonathan Pennock - Mentor
Effects of Nutrient Concentration and Pigment Composition on the Production of Acartia tonsa in the Northern Gulf of Mexico.