|
In 1994 CEA and the Cornell University Center for the Environment began a long-term Coral Reef Monitoring Program at Akumal to provide baseline data on the health of Akumal's reefs. The goal of the Akumal Coral Reef Program is to protect the coral reefs in and surrounding Akumal and along the entire Mesoamerican Reef System; to educate students, locals, and visitors about coral reefs; to encourage low-impact development as opposed to massive tourism; and to protect the needs of the local people and cultures.
There are 25 transect sites from Akumal Bay to Yal Kú Lagoon. The hard and soft coral species, invertebrates and herbivorous fish are monitored.
The Tropical Marine Science Course, TMS, a college-accredited course in coral reef ecology and is offered each summer at Akumal. The course is sponsored by Cornell University and Shoals Marine Laboratory and is offered to undergraduate and graduate students.
In addition, here are a number of local and international scientists and their students who conduct coral reef research at Akumal and they also contribute their data to CEA.
.
The Cornell University and Shoals Marine Laboratory Tropical Marine Science Course will be held at Akumal June 16, 2003 through July 14, 2003, for more information click here
One of CEA's greatest strengths is the on-going relationship it has with a number of educational institutions that have continued over several years and are firmly established. Cornell University began coming to CEA in 1994 and has offered an eight-week course in Tropical Marine Science at Akumal each summer. Other Cornell faculty use CEA resources for their research and that of their graduate students. These include Dr. Drew Harvell of the Cornell Biology Department, Dr. Charles Green, oceanographer, and Dr. Larry Brown, geophysicist.
A similar relationship has evolved with the biology department at the University of Wisconsin at Madison under the direction of Dr. Don Waller and Dr. Jeff Bayliss.
Dr. Fiona Wittaker and Dr. Peter Smart of the University of Bristol in the United Kingdom are supervising two doctoral theses in the Akumal area. The doctoral students, Samantha Smith and Patricia Beddows, are Canadians who did research at CEA while at McMaster University. Their doctoral work is in the fields of geomicrobiology and geohydrology, respectively.
Doctoral candidate Roshan Roy from the University of Texas at Austin is studying coral reefs under the direction of Dr. Judy Lang.
Postgraduate students from Universidad Naciónal Autonoma de Mexico have carried out design studies under the direction of Dr. Manuel Rodriguez in architecture.
Students and faculty from Universidad Autonoma Metropolitána, under the direction of Dra. Sylvia Diaz, are studying fish populations.
Dr. Pedro Ardisson and his student, Issac Razo, of CINVESTAV, a graduate school of oceanography in Merida, Yucatán, have studied sedimentation on reefs at Akumal.
Numerous other colleges and universities in the United States have brought their students here where CEA offers facilities that include laboratory space, field trips, dormitories, access to SCUBA facilities and a stimulating intellectual environment.
To view a calendar of upcoming events and research in Akumal click here. |
