Hold On, We're Going Fishing
Eduardo will be transferring to San Francisco State University for Fall 2019 to pursue a Bachelor of Science degree in Microbiology. This summer, he spent his internship working in the Morgan Lab with Helen Killeen and Sadie Small.
As an undergraduate student, I came to the Bodega Marine Laboratory eager to learn and contribute to any project. When I got the notification that I would have the opportunity to be an intern for the summer at BML, I was extremely excited. As I learned about animals and marine biology in my community college, I wanted to expand my knowledge in studies involved with marine animals, conservation, and ecology. This internship program had given me the chance to put my skills to the test. I had the pleasure of being mentored by Helen Killeen and Sadie Small in the Morgan lab. The study that I conducted was on the impacts of surface wind stress on fish larvae distribution. I spent the summer looking at various samples from the night cruises that my mentors had collected over the past year. By looking through the dissecting microscope and seeing various types of invertebrates, crustaceans, and fish larvae was remarkably fascinating to me. I also learned about other different marine species, lab techniques, and data from conducting this type of study.
Furthermore, I also had the chance to contribute to the California Collaborative Fisheries Research Program (CCFRP), which conducts a tag and release fishing with volunteer anglers to evaluate the effects of marine protected areas on populations of fish species along the entire California coast. It was a unique and unforgettable experience to be on a boat with my science crew and anglers. We caught various types of fish, identified, tagged, and released the fish to the ocean. I learned how marine biologists work on a research vessel and operate sampling and underwater equipment. Being part of a program such as this helped me to meet new people and build connections within a scientific community. For this internship opportunity, I am forever thankful and motivated to pursue my career goals.
