Academic Update
After two weeks of data collection we are now analyzing the data from our fieldwork. One of our Directed Research projects investigates the influence of habitat complexity on fish abundance. It involved data collection for students either snorkelling or SCUBA diving and was performed in two parts: fish census and assessment of the substratum. Every day we headed for a different reef in the surrounding area, counted fishes, recorded bottom composition, coral, and algae cover.

Students could apply what they had learned during the semester; they not only showed their abilities to identify many organisms but also learned to look out for new species. As everybody had been on countless snorkel and dive trips, it was only a small, but important step to get accustomed to working in and underwater. Wind, waves, weather, and currents were not always in our favour, but everybody did a great job and became very efficient collecting data. The results will not only show expected correlation between fishes and their environment but also give information on the state of coral reefs and fish populations in South Caicos, which is important for local conservation efforts.

We are all looking forward to seeing the results turned into scientific papers, visualized by posters and finally presented orally for the Center and the local community.  
-Dr. Annemarie Kramer, Lecturer in Marine Ecology

Student Reflections
One of the weekly Saturday community engagement activities is teaching ESL (English as a second language) classes to the local Dominican and Haitian communities. Each week between two and twenty locals attend, ranging from ten year olds to grandmothers, and in ability from understanding virtually no English to near fluency. Although none of the SFS student volunteers have had any training or experience, it has been such an incredible learning opportunity to improvise with our limited language abilities.

We have formed relationships with these people who we have watched grow from being too shy to speak in class to now confidently participating in our eccentric teaching methods. We are now fondly referred to as their “teachers” and our students have invited us into their homes and churches.  Learning how to communicate with, relate to, and teach this group has turned out to be one of the most rewarding experiences of being a student here. Through teaching English, we have not only improved the lives of these Dominicans and Haitians, but we have also learned a lot about ourselves and gained perspective on the culture of South Caicos. Special thanks to Marta Calosso whose energy and enthusiasm fuels our ESL classes.
-Jane Clauson, Dickinson College

For the past two and a half weeks SFS Turks and Caicos students have been diligently working on their Directed Research projects. Myself, Jane C., Chrissy, Fritz, and Joe (who sadly had to venture back to the States after finals - We all miss and love you! You have our utmost support), were chosen to work on John Claydon’s lionfish project. Lionfish are native to the Indo-Pacific where they are rarely found, but here on the east-coastal Atlantic and Caribbean waters the invasive carnivores are multiplying like crazy, gobbling up reef fishes and vicariously disrupting the delicate habitat balance.

Each day our team of four students and two staff members patrol likely lionfish habitats such as seagrass blow outs, coral reefs, or rocky outcrops in search of the enemy. Lionfish tend to hover or perch under ledges, caves and crevices, so the longer we can hold our breath underwater the better. It’s quite a rush to duck dive down and find a lionfish suspended with their beautiful yet dangerous venomous spiny-fins spread wide. We quickly flip our flippers as fast as we can up to the surface and enthusiastically scream, “Lionfish! Over here!" The adrenaline pumps through our veins; the head rush from holding our breath washing down our bodies. The rest of the team hurries over; nets, clove oil, and GPS in hand. Ritualistically, the person who found the fish gets to catch it. Some days we come home without lionfish, some days with twelve! This semester we found forty-four lionfish in total.
-Brittany Hooper, Elon University

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