Texas Tech University

Texas Integrated Diving and Ecological Studies Laboratory

Caribbean Coral Reef Research

The Texas Integrated Diving & Ecological Studies (TIDES) Laboratory is a multi-institutional undergraduate research program that focuses on student driven research projects on the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System between McLennan Community College and Texas Tech University. The laboratory is lead by Dr. Stephanie Lockwood (TTU) and Professor Stephanie Randell (MCC). The joint program has been running since 2016. If you are interested in joining our team please contact Dr. Lockwood or Professor Randell.

Email: stephanie.lockwood@ttu.edu

Student conducting research

TTU Undergraduate Student Program

Texas Tech students register for Coral Reef Research (Biol 4301). The Spring course focuses on concepts in oceanography; marine biology; including coral reef ecology, coral biology, zooplankton, marine algae, coral disease, common reef organisms, as well as marine research techniques. During the semester, student design their research projects collaboratively with other TTU and/or MCC students.  

After the Spring semester, we travel to Roatan, Honduras to conduct their research projects. Students also receive other marine lectures from the Roatan Institute for Marine Sciences (RIMS).

Upon return from Honduras, students analyze their data, develop and present a research poster. The Coral Reef Research (Biol 4301) is repeatable.

 

Previous Student Research Projects  

Students with multiyear data work on comparable studies and are generally working on manuscripts for publication.

 

2021 (Gulf of Mexico)

With COVID travel restrictions, we are focusing our research efforts of the Texas Gulf Coast.

Anthropogenic Effects of Shark (Selachimorpha) Diversity along the Texas Gulf Coast Maddie Knauss and Stephanie Lockwood

 

2020 (Trip Cancelled - COVID)

Boulder Coral Health and Disease in Association to Bioeroding Sponge Presence on the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef in Roatan, Honduras Alaina Tarter, Julie Molina, Kyle Aldridge, Stephanie Randell, and Stephanie Lockwood

Microplastic Loading in the Sediment of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef in Roatan, Honduras Zackary Gallardo, Alyssa Clay, Kaitlyn Dolan, Natali Perez, Weston Woodby, Shannon Hill, Stephanie Lockwood, and Stephanie Randell

     (Presentation Award - Texas Academy of Science - Top Oral Presentation in Marine Sciences, Sammy Ray Award)

 

2019

Fish Assemblages on the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef in Roatan, Honduras Scheila Corujo, Cassidy Dunkin, Stephanie Randell, Shannon Hill, and Stephanie Lockwood

     (Presentation Awards - Texas Academy of Sciences - 2nd place Oral Presentation Undergraduate)

Abundance of Dark Spot Syndrome on Starlet Corals on the Mesoamerican Reef in Roatan and Útila, Honduras Erin Castillo, Ashley Roy, Stephanie Lockwood, Traesha Robertson, and Stephanie Randell

     (National Poster Conference, Community College Undergraduate Research Initiative Washington, D.C.)

Prevalence and Frequency of Encrusting Millepora on Octocorals on the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef in Roatán, Honduras Shirley Stewart, Sarah Cole, Alyssa Aquino, Madilyn Hill, Katelynn Singh, Shannon Hill, Stephanie Randell, and Stephanie Lockwood

Boulder Coral Abundance and Disease Prevalence in Association with Spriobranchus giganteus in Roatan, Honduras Terri Cox, Alaina Tarter, Shannon Hill, Stephanie Randell, and Stephanie Lockwood 

     (Presentation Award - Texas Academy of Science - Best Marine Poster)

 

2018

Fish Assemblages on the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef in Roatan, Honduras  Scheila Corujo, Cassidy Dunkin, Stephanie Randell, Shannon Hill, and Stephanie Lockwood

   (Presentation Awards - Texas Academy of Sciences - Best Marine Poster; Best Overall Conference Poster)

Abundance of Dark Spot Syndrome on Starlet Corals on the Mesoamerican Reef in Roatan and Utila, Honduras Erin Castillo, Marissa Serafin, Stephanie Lockwood, Traesha Robertson, and Stephanie Randell

Prevalence and Frequency of Encrusting Millepora on Octocorals on the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef in Roatán, Honduras Sarah Cole, Shirley Stewart, Katelynn Singh, Traesha Robertson, Shannon Hill, Stephanie Randell, and Stephanie Lockwood

Frequency and Disease Prevalence in Boulder Corals in Association with Burrowing Annelids in Roatan, Honduras Terri Cox, Collin Anderson, Reagan Vaughn, Shannon Hill, Stephanie Randell, and Stephanie Lockwood

 

2017

Fish Assemblages on the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef in Roatan, Honduras (2017) Scheila Corujo, R'Shel Pacheco, Karla Ramos, Donna Hamilton, Shannon Hill, Traesha Robertson, Stephanie Lockwood and Stephanie Randell. 

Frequencies and Substrate Associations of Excavating Sponges on the Mesoamerican Reef , Utila and Roatan Honduras (2017) Collin Harvey, Gregory Pugh, Shannon Hill, Donna Hamilton, Traesha Robertson, Stephanie Randell, and Stephanie Lockwood.

Poriferan Abundance Associated with Orbicella and Monestraea Coral Health on the Mesoamerican Reef in Roatan, Honduras (2017) MacKenzie Kroll, Gabrielle Franklin, Shannon Hill, Donna Hamilton, Traesha Robertson, Stephanie Randell, and Stephanie Lockwood.

 (Manuscript: Kroll, M.L., B.A. Rodriguez, A.C. Edie, K.L. Phelps, D.E. Hamilton, S.M. Randell, and S.A. Lockwood. 2018. Poriferan Abundance is Negatively Associated with Coral Health in the Mesoamerican Reef. Texas Journal of Science 70(1):Article 7.)

Prevelance and Intensity of Aspergillosis on Gorgonia ventalina and G. flabellum on the Mesoamerican Reef, Roatan, Honduras (2017) Austin Biddy, Karla Resindez, Traesha Robertson, Shannon Hill, Donna Hamilton, Stephanie Randell, and Stephanie Lockwood.

     (Presentation Awards - Texas Academy of Sciences 2018- Top Oral and Paper Presentation in Marine Sciences, Sammy Ray Award; Texas Tech Annual Biological Sciences Symposium 2018 - Best Undergraduate Oral Presentation; Texas )

Sea Fan Abundance and Frequency of Millepora spp. on the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef in Roatan, Honduras (2017) Sarah Cole, Shirley Stewart, Donna Hamilton, Traesha Robertson, Shannon Hill, Stephanie Randell, and Stephanie Lockwood.

 

 2016

Fish Bite Prevalence of Yellow-Band Disease on Monestraea and Orbicella complexes in Roatan, Honduras (2016) Kara Schmidt, Traesha Robertson, Stephanie Randell, Kendra Phelps, Donna Hamilton, and Stephanie Lockwood. (In Manuscript). 

     (Presentation Awards - Texas Academy of Science - Top Oral Presentation in Marine Sciences, Sammy Ray Award; Texas Tech Annual Biological Science Symposium - Best Undergraduate Oral Presentation)     

Frequency of Sponge Disease on Xestospongia muta on the Mesoamerican Reef in Utila, Honduras (2016) Alfredo Sandoval, Lori Tergerson, Stephanie Lockwood, Donna Hamilton, Traesha Robertson, and Stephanie Randell.

Poriferan Association with White and Yellow Band Coral Diseases on the Mesoamerican Reef, Utila, Honduras (2016) Andrea Edie, MacKenzie Kroll, Bobby Rodriguez, Traesha Robertson, Stephanie Randell, Donna Hamilton, and Stephanie Lockwood.

 

 Faculty

Over the course of the program, faculty from several different universities and colleges assist and dive with students: Dr. Shannon Hill, McLennan Community College; Dr. Stephanie Lockwood, Texas Tech University; Dr. Kendra Phelps, Texas Tech University; Prof. Stephanie Randell, McLennan Community College; and Dr. Traesha Robertson, College of Coastal Georgia. With faculty from across different biological disciplines, students receive information and guidance from faculty with expertise in those fields. 

Faculty dive with and monitor students while completing research projects. Faculty also ensure that students are following proper protocols when it comes to dive limits and dive logs.

 

 

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 2019 Cohort

2019 TIDES Group
Roatan, Honduras

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 2018 Cohort

2018 TIDES Group
Roatan, Honduras

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

   

2017 TIDES Group

2017 TIDES Group
Roatan, Honduras

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 2016 TIDES Group 

2016 TIDES Group
Útila, Honduras

 

 

 

 

 

MCC TTU Flags

 

Department of Biological Sciences

  • Address

    Department of Biological Sciences, Texas Tech University, Box 43131 Lubbock, TX 79409
  • Phone

    806.742.2715
  • Email

    biology@ttu.edu