Jake Dytnerski
Ph.D. candidate
Research
Hong Kong has a seasonally dynamic marine environment. Summer sea surface temperatures can exceed 30°C whereas winter temperatures can drop below 15°C. This range in temperature allows for year-round coral communities, and abundant growth of macroalgae in the winter. For my PhD, I am researching the role of the long-spined sea urchin, Diadema setosum, in the ecosystem, here in Hong Kong. Much work has been done on Diadema antillarum in the Caribbean, and some work has been done on the D. setosum as a bioeroder of coral reefs in the tropics. However, little is known about which marcoalgae these urchins feed on; how they affect the seasonal patterns of macroalgae growth and distribution; if the urchins target living corals here in Hong Kong or just the turf algae that grows on the dead skeletons of the corals. Answering these questions will help understand the food sources of the urchins and how their energy stores vary with the seasonal change in food abundance. I am also interested in the connectivity of the populations of D. setosum across its range, as they can be found from the East coast of Africa to French Polynesia, from Honshu, Japan to NSW, Australia. I want to compare the physiological performance of the urchins from stable tropical environments and highly variable environments to determine if they show extensive physiological plasticity, or if populations have adapted to variable environments. This will allow me to predict how these important grazers will cope with future conditions across their range.
Education
2016: Bachelor of Science, Honours Marine Biology, University of British Columbia, Canada
2013: Arts and Science Diploma: Biology, Langara College, Canada
Awards
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2015: Dean of Science Scholarship – Biology research grant
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2013: Betty and Tony Pletcher Memorial Scholarship – For Achievement in Biology
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2012: Real Estate Foundation Biology Student Bursary – Bursary for Biology students
Shariar Islam
PhD Candidate
Research
My area of interest is marine ecology, specifically the interactions between macro algae and their environment. My PhD research project focuses on the restoration and function of coastal marine algae, particularly Sargassum, in blue carbon stocks in Hong Kong.
Sargassum is a type of brown macro algae that forms floating mats and provides essential habitats for marine organisms. It also absorbs CO2 and convert it into biomass, helping to mitigate climate change. But, in recent times, there has been a significant impact on the growth of this algal species due to strong anthropogenic activity, climate change, and abiotic factors like sea water temperature, salinity, and day length.
Consequently, there has been an unparalleled decline in Sargassum blooms in the South China Sea. Thus, the purpose of this research is to restore Sargassum to form a forest under the sea and investigate the role of carbon stocks.
Subjects of Interest
• Marine Ecology • Seaweeds • Plankton • Biodiversity