I am a placement student at BARCO LAB. My principal interest focuses on evaluating coral ecosystem structure and function, in addition to their conservation and management.

Coral reefs are highly biodiverse and complex, and provide many ecosystem services. These ecosystems have declined rapidly, due to rising anthropogenic and natural impacts. My main objectives are to assess reef condition and community structure on the Mesoamerican reef, to identify the key elements that contribute to ecosystem function and complexity, and in turn, how these mechanisms influence interactions with other species in order to obtain a better understanding for reef management and conservation purposes.