Written by Amelia Gomez Uribe, 2026 Undergraduate Summer Intern
This summer, I had the opportunity to work with Dr. Marc Hensel and Dr. Mark Clark at the University of Florida’s Nature Coast Biological Station. As an intern in the Hensel Lab, I contributed to several research projects spanning Florida’s coastal ecosystems, including oyster reefs, salt marshes, and seagrass beds. Working across these diverse habitats allowed me to better understand the ecological processes that connect coastal environments while strengthening my skills in field research, experimental design, and scientific data collection. Although I participated in a variety of projects, much of my summer focused on oyster reef ecology and understanding the factors that influence oyster survival, recruitment, and restoration.
Corrigan’s Reef
One of my primary projects involved the ongoing Corrigan’s Reef experiment, which investigates how oyster size influences predation rates. To support this project, we harvested Eastern oysters (Crassostrea virginica) from experimental panels that had been deployed at different locations across the intertidal zone. Half of the panels were enclosed in protective cages that excluded predators, while the remaining panels were left exposed. This design allows researchers to examine how predator access and environmental conditions influence oyster growth and survival. After harvesting the oysters, I measured oyster lengths to characterize the size distribution across treatments. Although the experiment is still ongoing, I found that approximately 45% of the oysters were medium-sized, 37% were small, and 18% were large. These measurements will help guide the next phase of the study, in which oysters from each size class will be tethered in the field to determine which sizes experience the highest rates of predation.
In addition to this project, I monitored recruitment of oyster spat, or recently settled juvenile oysters, using settlement panels suspended from the NCBS dock. While these panels were originally deployed for another experiment, we observed noticeable differences in recruitment depending on their placement. Panels positioned deeper in the water, spaced more closely together, and located farther from shore consistently attracted more oyster spat. These observations have inspired a future experiment aimed at identifying the most effective strategies for recruiting oysters for restoration projects.
Salt Marsh Projects
Beyond oyster reef ecology, I contributed to several projects investigating how environmental change influences salt marsh ecosystems. I assisted Hensel Lab Ph.D. student Miranda Mays with her research examining how existing marsh vegetation affects black mangrove seedling survival during drought conditions. As part of this project, my responsibilities included establishing experimental plots, monitoring seedling health, and maintaining the experimental drought treatments throughout the study. This project helped me gain a deeper understanding of how interactions among marsh vegetation can influence the ability of mangroves to withstand environmental stress through competition or facilitation.
I was also a part of my fellow intern Ella Gerace’s mangrove shading experiment where she is investigating how light availability affects mangrove growth. Participating in the development of experimental design and selecting appropriate field sites provided valuable insight into the planning that occurs when establishing an experiment. Additionally, I contributed to Hensel Lab PhD Student Alex Walus’ research that is examining how tropicalization affects predator-prey dynamics along transitions between mangroves and saltmarshes.
Conclusion
This internship provided an incredible opportunity to participate in ecological research across multiple coastal ecosystems while developing practical field and research skills. I also gained a deeper appreciation for the complexity of coastal ecosystems and the importance of asking thoughtful scientific questions to better understand and conserve them. This experience has taught me so many valuable things that I will carry with me on my journey as an aspiring ecologist.
I would like to give a special thank you to Marc Hensel and Mark Clark for their mentorship and for providing such a supportive environment to learn and grow. I would like to extend my gratitude to Miranda Mays, Alex Walus, and Shea Husband for all their guidance and support this summer. Finally, I want to thank my fellow interns Madison Konash, Ella Gerace, Sophia Famiglio, and Aurora Del Vecchio for making this summer an unforgettable experience.
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