Recent technological breakthroughs have allowed important advances in the description of deep reefs (below 30 m). However most research has been restricted to the upper section of deep reefs (down to 80 m) and has primarily focused on fish and coral communities. By contrast, the composition of the lower portion of deep reefs, and of non-coral habitat-forming communities remains limited. This work focuses on how the composition and structure of habitat-forming communities change across the entire depth range of a tropical reef-dominated ecosystem, from 5 to 300 m. Using a combination of SCUBA and manned submersible diving, benthic transects were performed in  Curaçao , an island in the Southern Caribbean Sea. Using a combination of morphology, taxonomy, and trait ecology, I will evaluate the faunal breaks of habitat-forming communities with depth. In addition to providing one of the first descriptions of the diversity and community structure of habitat-forming communities across the entire range of a reef’s slope, this work will contextualize over a decade of deep-reef fish observations conducted at this study site. This study will also provide insights into the vertical reef connectivity and resilience, informing future management efforts of deep Caribbean reefs. 

Understanding the structure and habitat preferences of deep-reef fishes is crucial for effective conservation management. Mesophotic ecosystems, occurring between 40 and 150 m, are understudied ecosystems with limited biodiversity assessments, although their importance in supporting species of commercial interest is established.  In particular, very few studies have described mesophotic fish assemblages in the Mediterranean, where essential fish ecosystems face increasing pressures from human activities. This study investigates fish species composition, abundance, and depth distribution at two sites in the Aegean Sea (Eastern Mediterranean).  Fish observations were collected by technical rebreather divers from the surface to 90 meters depth, along with information on habitat and fishing pressure. I will complement this dataset with information collected from the IUCN to identify patterns in species distribution, vulnerability, and habitat associations. This study will provide valuable insights into the community structure and habitat associations of mesophotic fish assemblages, ultimately contributing to conservation strategies that protect vulnerable marine ecosystems in the Mediterranean.

Alcohol and cannabis are associated with increased rates of sexual risk behaviors, especially unprotected sex, and decreased perception of the risk involved in unprotected sex. However, little research has explored the relationship between the context of substance use (e.g., partner presence, simultaneous alcohol and cannabis use) and sexual risk behaviors. Multilevel models tested if simultaneous alcohol and cannabis use with a romantic partner present was associated with a greater likelihood of sex, sex while intoxicated, or unprotected sex compared to using only alcohol with a romantic partner present. Young adults (n=409, ages 18-25) who reported using alcohol alone at least three times and alcohol and cannabis simultaneously at least once in the last month were recruited from the Seattle area. Participants completed six two-week periods of twice-daily surveys over two years. Items measured alcohol and cannabis use, presence of others during use, whether sexual intercourse occurred, condom use, and intoxication during intercourse. Analyses were conducted on 308 participants who reported the presence of a romantic partner during use at least once. Simultaneous alcohol and cannabis use with a partner present was associated with significantly higher rates of sex while intoxicated compared to days when only alcohol was used with a partner present. No other associations were found. Although there was no increase in the likelihood of sex or unprotected sex on simultaneous use days with a partner present (versus alcohol-only days with a partner present), there was an increased likelihood of sex while intoxicated. The increased likelihood of sex while intoxicated on simultaneous use days with a partner present could lead to issues with consent and harmful emotional/psychological outcomes (e.g., guilt, regret, lowered self-esteem, worse self-image). Future work could expand the definition of sexual risk behaviors to include these outcomes of sexual encounters rather than focusing exclusively on protection.

Invasive Red lionfish (Pterois volitans) are responsible for the heavy destruction of reefs, resulting in a decline in biodiversity and negative impacts on commercial fishing. Their success in their non-native range is attributed to their lack of predators in their invasive range. Parasites are often overlooked as predators, but low parasitic loads make for a more biologically fit individual, allowing for higher invasion success. For this reason, it is hypothesized that lionfish carry a lower parasitic load in their invasive range. This project aims to assess the parasite abundance in lionfish collected from along the entire reef slope in Curaçao in 2019 and 2022 by the Tornabene Lab. Using these fish I am conducting dissections examining various parts of the fish under a dissection microscope and carefully looking for parasites. The parts that are examined are the skin, body cavity, buccal cavity, fins, gonad, liver, spleen, eye, heart, intestine, filet, and gills. Using data collected from dissections, I am performing descriptive analyses to summarize parasite presence and quantity by species and body site where they were found. It is most likely that there is a low abundance of parasites within these lionfish, suggesting that parasites could play a major role in regulating populations. Understanding the role that predation plays in invasive species can help us develop strategies to control their spread and prevent ecological damage.

Fishes are the most species-rich and ecologically diverse group of vertebrates, and display a broad array of sensory adaptations that are essential for survival. Included in this evolutionary toolkit are appendages on or around their heads that may act as additional sensory organs. Such attachments, which are often referred to as cirri, occur in dozens of lineages across the fish phylogeny, and are present in species such as decorated warbonnets (Chirolophis decoratus) in the Stichaeidae family, roughhead blennies (Acanthemblemaaria aspera), in the Chaenopsidae family, and kelp greenlings (Hexagrammos decagrammus), in the Hexagrammidae family. While there is limited research on the purpose of cirri, I hypothesize that they serve a role in chemoreception or some other sensory behavior, due to their location on the body, their structure, and their appearance. With the use of electron microscopy, clearing and staining, and histological sectioning to observe cirri morphology, I analyze the types of cells, physical support systems, and signals cirri may receive from the surrounding environment. These methods help determine possible roles of cirri in chemoreception, mechanoreception, camouflage, or mating, although predicted results lean towards chemoreception for gustation or olfaction. These result can help fill gaps in the fish phylogeny, shed light on fish morphology, and indicate possible signs of convergent evolution across diverse lineages of fishes.