Juleika Vega Pérez
I am a Senior undergraduate student at the University of Puerto Rico- Humacao campus in the Coastal Marine Biology Program. My interest are in scientific education and environmental interpreter. Currently, I am a rescue diver and working towards my certifications in scientific diving and dive master. My projected graduation time is Spring 2025.
Project abstract:
Estuarine benthic systems, renowned for their productivity and dynamism, serve as vital seafloor habitats supporting a plethora of key species like fish, crustaceans, mollusks, and seagrasses. However, tropical estuaries, such as Jobos Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve (JBNERR), have witnessed theinvasion of the upside-down jellyfish Cassiopea spp., triggering blooms due to their rapid population growth and limited predation pressure. While some predator species like bristle worms and the sea slug Dondice parguerensis have been identified, knowledge about macrofauna associated with Cassiopea blooms and their ecological implications remains scarce. Our study aims to uncover the macrofaunal communities linked with Cassiopea blooms in JBNERR. Bi-monthly surveys were conducted across three reserve sites using a photogrammetric approach, capturing underwater visuals along transects within defined plots. Water parameters were also recorded to contextualize ecological interactions. Sample annotation employed BIIGLE software. Preliminary findings reveal prominent encounters with the great barracuda (Sphyraena barracuda) and juvenile stripped parrotfish (Scarus iseri). D. parguerensis was consistently present across sites but absent within oral arms of Cassiopea. Observation of lesions on Cassiopea aligns with barracuda presence. Principal component analysis (PCA) identified temperature and dissolved oxygen as significant drivers, accounting for ~41% variability. Analyzing the benthic community within Cassiopea blooms will elucidate impacts on resident estuarine species, aiming to reveal a nuanced perspective despite well-documented ecological effects.
Cassiopea project experience
Presentations
July 2024 - USF REU Student Symposium (poster) - Awarded Best Poster Design
May 2024- 7th International Cassiopea Workshop (43:46)
April 2024 - 1er Simposio de Ecología y Ciencias Ambientales de Puerto Rico (poster)
February 2024- Ocean Sciences Meeting (poster)
Making Waves REU - Summer 2024
WHY I CHOSE TO ATTEND THE USF MAKING WAVES
I chose to attend the USF Making Waves Program because it represents a unique opportunity to achieve my educational and professional aspirations. I am excited about the possibility of educating others on the vital importance of environmental stewardship and how protecting natural resources can benefit individuals and communities. My goal is to improve my skills in scientific communication to ensure that my research projects have an impact not only within the scientific community but also on the general public. I aspire to become a competent professional, capable of imparting knowledge about the marine field as an educator, mentor, or environmental guide. The USF Making Waves program is essential to achieving this goal due to its commitment to high-quality work, which will provide me with the necessary experience to perfect my skills as a scientific educator. Completing the Making Waves Program will significantly enhance my experience, both in the laboratory and in the field. Additionally, I could not pass up the opportunity to work with distinguished women in science like Pamela Hallock and Natalia López, who are my mentors.
(source: https://www.usf.edu/marine-science/education/usf-making-waves-reu/student-vignettes/juleika-vega.aspx)
Curriculum vitae
Juleika Vega_CV.pdfPREENTATIONS
43:23 FOR PRESENTATION