Lessons in fun species! Wrapped up Week one :(

We talked with a graduate student who is researching protists that breakdown sulfates, which is super interesting as it speaks to the formation of the first complex life forms here on earth. These protists, which are found all over the world, are being compared to classify the species and determine important aspects of their physiology, like how they are able to use sulfates to produce energy. 

One other thing about the protists is that they have mitochondria-like organelles, meaning they have fundamentally different powerhouses than every single one of the animals and plants you see around you, which may be what allows them to thrive in completely anoxic environments. 

We also learned about Spiny lobster (Panulirus argus) and a new method of determining the age of crustaceans! Previously it was thought that due to these creatures constantly molting their entire exoskeleton to grow, they would have no continuous structure to help us know their true age. 

However, due to the recent application of developing methods by a recent master's graduate, we were able to learn about calcifying ossicles, which are hard structures found within the stomach of some crustaceans, which can be used like tree rings, simply counting the layers! This allowed an analysis of wild caught lobsters to be tracked across multiple locations in the Caribbean, which will help with population management and the understanding of their sexual dimorphism.

The first week has definitely been challenging, but it’s also made me even more excited about pursuing Marine Biology and Fisheries science. Every survey, all the data analysis, and these amazing conversations have shown me how much there still is to discover about marine ecosystems and our connected world, and how important it is to protect them.