Name: Bonnie Young

Position: MSc by Research Candidate

Supervisor/s: Dr Ger Summers, Dr Jake Snaddon

Office: Research Office, Ground Floor, Department of Geography

Email Address: 124127977@umail.ucc.ie

Biography

I completed a Bsc in Marine Biology at the University of Belize (UB) in 2022, where I focused my thesis on the influence of farming technique on seaweed species at the Turneffe Atoll Marine Reserve (TAMR). This work sparked my interest in understanding the interactions between seaweed and their surrounding environments, particularly within marine habitats like seagrass meadows. During my undergraduate studies, I gained field and research experience through volunteer and internship roles, leading me to take up the role of Marine Biologist at the UB-Environmental Research Institute. My time working there solidified my interest in marine research.

Research

My current project focuses on evaluating the impact of seaweed farming on seagrass habitats in the TAMR in Belize. This project aims to develop a synergistic workflow that integrates remote sensing techniques from the SEAMANS_Carbon project with water quality sampling to assess the relationship between seaweed farms and the health of adjacent seagrass beds. High-resolution multispectral imagery from multispectral unoccupied aerial vehicles (UAVs) is being used to monitor the extent of the farms and surrounding environments, while water quality data, such as chlorophyll content, turbidity, and nutrient concentrations, will provide insights into the condition of the seagrass habitats. By using open-source satellite imagery, I aim to expand understanding of how these interactions have evolved over time.

Publications

2024-03-06 | Dataset

DOI: 10.5061/DRYAD.C866T1GCN

Contributors: Jessica C. Boles; Ninon Martinez; Jané Salazar; Kevin Novelo; Victor Alamina; Galento Galvez; Bonnie Young; Allan Romero; Nicole Craig; Gabriela Ugarte et al.

Grants

Our Shared Ocean Mobility and Travel Grant 2025 - €2,000