Enhancement of Wet Lab Capabilities for Coral Reef Stress Research and Education

中加勒比海洋研究所(CCMI)获得了一笔赠款，用于在其外勤站小开曼研究中心(LCRC)建造和装备一个新的珊瑚礁应力湿实验室。该实验室将配备三个主要的湿实验室工作区，包括一个有盖的屏蔽区、一个气候控制区和一个阴影屏蔽区，用于特别强调气候变化、海洋酸化和渔业管理(狮子鱼和石斑鱼)的实验。新的湿实验室将使LCRC能够(1)提高他们同时进行研究和教育活动的能力和能力；(2)提高LCRC产生和提供的信息的质量、数量和可获得性；以及(3)使他们能够更好地为美国科学家服务，并进一步发展与美国机构和政府的合作伙伴关系。自2006年以来，LCRC一直提供海洋设施，使学生和科学家能够在海洋保护有效且对当地人类和发展影响最小的偏远地点进行实地研究。他们接待了90多名访问研究人员，美国五所主要大学将LCRC访问作为其课程的永久组成部分。CCMI还为开曼群岛当地的K-12学校提供丰富的教育和保护推广活动，其中包括代表性不足的群体。LCRC的研究取得了重大突破，包括发现了新的海洋小型动物物种，增进了对深海珊瑚礁的了解，以及预测珊瑚白化和疾病的新模型。这一基础设施加强的更广泛影响包括在社会最关注的主题上产生新的、高质量的结果；为年轻科学家提供培训场所，他们是科学发现的未来；通过建立新的伙伴关系和合作，吸引最优秀的科学头脑，并增加空间站的能力。除了与美国国家海洋和大气局珊瑚礁预警系统合作的现有长期生态和环境数据监测能力外，新设施还将通过收集、发布结果并与更广泛的科学界交流，增强科学的前沿。有关中加勒比海洋研究所的更多信息，请访问：http://www.reefresearch.org/ccmi_website/home.htm

The Central Caribbean Marine Institute (CCMI) is awarded a grant to build and equip a new Coral Reef Stress Wet Lab at its field station, the Little Cayman Research Centre (LCRC). The lab will be equipped with three primary wet lab work areas including a covered screened area, a climate controlled area, and a shaded screened area for experiments with a specific emphasis on climate change, ocean acidification, and fisheries management (lionfish and grouper). The new wet lab will enable LCRC to (1) enhance their capabilities and capacity for simultaneous research and education activities; (2) improve the quality, quantity, and accessibility of information produced and available at LCRC; and (3) enable them to better serve U.S. scientists and further develop collaborative partnerships with U.S. institutions and government.Since 2006, LCRC has been providing oceanographic facilities that have enabled students and scientists to conduct field studies at a remote site where marine protection has been effective and where local human and development impacts are minimal. They have hosted over 90 visiting researchers and five major U.S. universities include a LCRC visit as a permanent part of their curriculum. CCMI also offers rich educational and conservation outreach activities for local K-12 Cayman Island schools which include underrepresented groups. Research at LCRC has led to major breakthroughs, including the discovery of new marine meiofauna species, an improved understanding of deep reefs, and new models for predicting coral bleaching and diseases.The broader impacts of this infrastructure enhancement include producing new, high quality results on topics that are of the highest concern for society; providing a training ground for young scientists, who are the future of scientific discovery; attracting the best scientific minds and increasing the capacity of the station by establishing new partnerships and collaborations. Alongside existing long-term ecological and environmental data monitoring capabilities in partnership with NOAA- Coral Reef Early Warning System, the new facility will enhance the frontiers of science by collecting, publishing, and communicating results to the greater scientific community.For further information about the Central Caribbean Marine Institute please visit: http://www.reefresearch.org/ccmi_website/home.htm