The Marine & Coastal Biodiversity Project

Manatee at Crash Boat beach, Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, USA

The Marine & Coastal Biodiversity Project is the focal point of the Marine and Coastal Ecology Research Center’s (MCERC) activities. Field programs, outreach events, citizen science, and enrichment curriculum are developed around the understanding that ecosystems must be examined in order to provide context for detailed investigations.

The MCERC provides unique opportunities for interested adults to participate in research through our Puerto Rico Humpback Whale Project, Turks and Caicos Islands Humpback Whale Project, and Manatee Project. Click each project name to go to their page and learn more about how you can get involved!

Data Collection

Aerial, land, and vessel platforms are utilized to collect data. 

Participants

A majority of field research participants are university students, as days are long and require dedication to data collection and analysis. Non-traditional participants (no science background needed) join too, acting as ambassadors on land! They often interact with the public and answer questions about marine and coastal ecosystem health.

The Research Team

The research team consists of the principal investigator, support team (boat captain, experienced naturalists, volunteers), interns, and students. Colleagues also join our research team each winter with a goal of continuous improvement in data collection, management and analysis.

MCERC has three citizen science projects actively providing a means for local organizations, residents, and tourists who are willing to share their images of target species in study areas. The Puerto Rico Citizen Science Humpback Whale Project and the Turks and Caicos Islands Citizen Science Humpback Whale Project were initiated in 2019 as a response to overwhelming interest in this research. The MCERC Manatee Project provides an opportunity for people to share images of manatee in MCERC study locations.

A pair of humpback whales traveling off Western Puerto Rico, USA

The MCERC Education Hub is a resource for experiential field programs, local field trips, distance learning options for continuing education and certification courses, and applying for internships. The programs and courses are designed to offer professionals and conservation minded citizens a path to exploring science and technology. The Education Hub is constantly being updated as the MCERC faculty and staff identify areas of interest in our professional and personal communities. All programs are components of The Marine and Coastal Biodiversity Project.

Announcements and updates about our research are often posted on social media. You can follow us here:

The Marine & Coastal Biodiversity Project is the focal point of the Marine and Coastal Ecology Research Center’s (MCERC) activities. Field programs, outreach events, citizen science, and enrichment curriculum are developed around the understanding that ecosystems must be examined in order to provide context for detailed investigations.

Research projects, such as the Puerto Rico Humpback Whale Project, the Turks and Caicos Islands Humpback Whale Project and the MCERC Manatee Project, are designed to provide opportunities for interested adults to participate. University students make up a majority of the participants for these professional experiences as the days are long and the work requires all team members be dedicated to collecting and analyzing data.

Non-traditional participants, including interested citizens without a science background, often join MCERC projects as critical members of the research team. Aerial, land, and vessel platforms are utilized to collect data. Land based locations offer opportunities to interact with the public, answering questions and acting as ambassadors for healthy marine and coastal ecosystems. The research team consists of the principal investigator, support team (boat captain and experienced naturalists), interns, and students. Colleagues join our research team each winter sharing experience and collaborating with a goal of continuous improvement in data collection, management, and analysis. Volunteers are an important part of support team.

MCERC has three citizen science projects actively providing a means for local organizations, residents, and tourists who are willing to share their images of target species in study areas. The Puerto Rico Citizen Science Humpback Whale Project and the Turks and Caicos Islands Citizen Science Humpback Whale Project were initiated in 2019 as a response to overwhelming interest in this research. The MCERC Manatee Project will soon have a citizen science element which will provide an opportunity for people to share images of manatee in MCERC study locations. Jenkins Creek, in Hernando County, Florida, USA, is one of many fresh water inlets used by manatee when the coastal waters cool in winter. Kayaking and fishing are popular activities in this area and curious manatee provide an opportunity to study feeding ecology, evidence of boat strikes, and other behaviors which will help answer important research questions.

The MCERC Education Hub is a resource for experiential field programs, local field trips, distance learning options for continuing education and certification courses, and applying for internships. The programs and courses are designed to offer professionals and conservation minded citizens a path to exploring science and technology. The Education Hub is constantly being updated as the MCERC faculty and staff identify areas of interest in our professional and personal communities. All programs are components of The Marine and Coastal Biodiversity Project.