Researchers

I am currently working on my master’s degree in marine science, studying the effects of marine algal inputs on arid island communities in Bahia de los Angeles, Baja California.To do this, I am collecting a common marine algae species and labeling it with a carbon isotope in order to track its progress through the island food web. Previous studies have shown that the islands in this region are able to support large numbers of terrestrial consumers, such as beetles and scorpions, despite having very low terrestrial primary productivity. By better understanding the life on the islands, it will be easier to protect them and the waters surrounding them. While doing this, I have also lead high school students in island research projects in Baja California by working with the Ocean Discovery Institute, a San Diego based non-profit organization that uses science to empower young people from urban and diverse backgrounds. I look forward to sharing my research experiences with others doing work in similar environments and all across the Sonoran Desert and Gulf of California.