Jennifer Suárez is our 11th Becario Scholarship student. Following is her thesis project description:
Characterization and composition of mangrove fauna in Isabela, Santa Cruz and San Cristobal
This thesis project links the collection and understanding of the flora and fauna of the mangrove ecosystem of the Galapagos. The project includes a six month field phase, with monthly visits to a site on each island: on Isabela/Shell Pearl, Santa Cruz/Playa de Los Alemanes and San Cristobal/ Puerto Grande. At each sampling will also be recorded factors such as salinity, temperature and dissolved oxygen. The information will be collected in three plots of 10x10m on each plant taller than chest height (DBH), diameter, height and identification of the mangrove species.
The fauna component will be monitored providing quantification and identification of specimens of macrofauna present along a transect of 100 meters (3 quadrants of 1x5m.)
Using snorkel equipment will enable fish to be monitored, identified and counted in an area of 2 m from the wall of mangroves and 50 m long for a period of 10 minutes. 6 transects per site will be monitored.
The information will be analyzed by multivariate analysis from the statistical program PRIMER.
The ultimate goal of this study is to contribute to the knowledge base on the structure and composition of mangrove ecosystems in the archipelago, while constituting a reference of information in the formulation of recommendations to assist in establishing management strategies of this ecosystem and especially to assist the generation and establishing a culture of ownership and protection generated by the importance of such systems in our natural environment.
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