Student Blogs & Vignettes

Natalia Lopez Figueroa

About my research

¡Hola! My name is Natalia López, and I am a Ph.D. student in the Reef Indicators Lab at USF College of Marine Science, under the mentorship and advisement of Dr. Pamela Hallock-Muller. My research is focused on use field studies data to understand better the ecology of the upside-down jellyfish (Genus Cassiopea) in their natural environments. My research takes place in Coon Key at Sarasota, Keys Marine Lab at the Florida Keys, and the Jobos Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve (JBNERR), in Guayama-Puerto Rico.

Historically, research on upside-down jellies has focused on their life history and their symbiotic relationship with zooxanthellae. However, the majority of such studies have been in laboratory conditions. In contrast, there is much less information about their field ecology. Recently, a couple of studies have tapped into their potential as bioindicators of nutrient pollution since their symbionts thrive on the nutrient availability. Also, high population densities of upside-down jellies have been linked with human activity in nearshore environments.

Hence, the overarching question of my project is: can upside-down jellies be used as bioindicators of nutrient pollution or other social disturbances in coastal ecosystems? This project is the missing piece in the upside-down jellies puzzle. The results of this project will allow a better understanding of how these unique jellies live in their natural habitat. Potentially, upside-down jellies can be useful for coastal zone management practices as a low-cost bioindicator.

Why USF CMS?

I chose the College of Marine Science not only because of its convenient geographic location but also the academic and research excellence they are known for in the field of marine sciences. In addition, the financial and professional development opportunities available to help U.S. minority students has made it possible for me to pursue a graduate degree in a competitive institution like USF, which was ranked #44 among public universities in U.S. News and World Report. Finally, CMS is actively interacting with the surrounding community of Saint Petersburg which has facilitated many opportunities for networking and outreach education.