Intern Experience of Carly Gaebe

PIMS Intern Report

Carly Gaebe

Carly Gaebe graduated in May from Sarah Lawrence College in New York. She was a science intern at the Caribbean Marine Research Center from October to December of 2004. She assisted on four ongoing scientific projects during her stay, as well as participating in several other on-island activities.

Carly aided Dr. Craig Dahlgren with three projects involving economically and ecologically important species to the Bahamas. The Caribbean Spiny Lobster (Panulirus argus ) were collected from the field during their juvenile stage and raised in large in-ground tanks on the island. They were later released onto artificial reefs after being implanted with Passive Integrated Transponder tags (PIT tags) to record movements and migration. Queen Conch ( Strombus gigas ) were monitored using a telemetric system to track juvenile movement in nursery beds. Nassau Grouper ( Epinephelus striatus ) are being tracked at the Bahamas National Trust Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park. This project is focused on the possible spill-over effect of no-take zones, allowing depleted populations of the over-fished grouper to recover. To date, no study has conclusively shown that reserves have an overall positive effect on the general populations of specific marine species. The fourth project tracks the recruitment and mortality of the Bicolor Damselfish (Stegastes partitus) in four locations around Lee Stocking Island.

While on the island Carly was also involved with training for Diving Rescue Accident Management, focusing on diving-related rescues and emergencies in remote locations. She also spent time boating, working towards her Captain's license and becoming certified through Reef Environmental Education Foundation (REEF) for fish identification in Florida, the Caribbean and the Bahamas.

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