JESSICA LYNNE POTEET
The University of Queensland / Brisbane, Australia / July 2013 to November 2013
The School for Field Studies / South Caicos, Turks and Caicos / February 2014 to May 2014
Stradbroke Island: Performed research to analyze the relationship between the burrowing intensity of Cherax marine crayfish and the thickness of the oxic layer of sediment. Developed research question and methods with a small research team. Analyzed data and presented results to faculty and students.
Heron Island: Quantified coral health on either side of the island to assess damage in conjunction with cyclone patterns. Developed research question and methods with a small research team. Analyzed data and presented results to faculty and students.
Assessed sea grass and mangrove ecosystems on South Caicos and wrote in-depth evaluations of ecosystem services. Developed proficiency in identifying marine flora and fauna by scientific and common nomenclature. While scuba diving, used transect lines to assess fish and conch populations and analyzed coral health with color cards. Spent two months on directed research to explore the environmental awareness of South Caicos citizens through photography.
