Texas Tech University

Texas Integrated Diving & Ecological Studies Laboratory (TIDES)

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.

Texas Tech students register for Tropical Marine Biology (Biol 3303) and Coral Reef Research (Biol 4300). 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. After the Spring semester, we travel to Roatan, Honduras to conduct research. Upon return from Honduras, students analyze their data, develop and present a research poster.

This reef is the largest barrier reef in the western hemisphere with more than 60 species of coral, 500 species of fish (including the elusive whale shark), and thousands of invertebrate species found on the reef. Students develop research projects to be conducted on the reef. Here are a few of our former TTU at Waco student research projects:

Poriferan Abundance Associated with Orbicella and Montastraea Coral Health on the Mesoamerican Reef in Roatan, Honduras

     MacKenzie Kroll, Gabrielle Franklin, Shannon Hill, Donna Hamilton, Traesha Robertson, Stephanie Randell and Stephanie Lockwood

Faculty 

Over the course of the program, faculty from several different universities and colleges lead students through concepts and research techniques of coral reefs: Dr. Donna Hamilton, University of North Texas - Dallas; Dr. Stephanie Lockwood, Texas Tech University; Stephanie Randell, McLennan Community College; and Dr. Traesha Robertson, College of Coastal Georgia.

ttu waco biology coral reef

With faculty from across different biological disciplines, students receive information from faculty with expertise in those fields. 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.

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 diving logs.

TTU Study Abroad Application & Scholarships

The TTU Study Abroad Program has many different options when it comes to study abroad opportunities from faculty-lead programs in many different countries to the TTU Center in Sevilla, Spain.

Texas Tech University students must apply to the TTU Study Abroad Program through the Study abroad website.

TTU waco biology honduras

Study Abroad Competitive Scholarships are available through the TTU Study Abroad office. Scholarships range from $700 to $2,000. The deadlines for each semester change, so please check with the scholarship application website. Students are strongly encouraged to apply for these scholarships to help fund study abroad expenses.

2017 TIDES Group

2017 TIDES Group

  

2016 TIDES Group

2016 TIDES Group

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