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

中加勒比海洋研究所获得一笔赠款，用于在其实地站-小开曼岛研究中心-建造和装备一个新的珊瑚礁压力湿实验室。该实验室将配备三个主要的湿实验室工作区，包括一个覆盖的筛选区，一个气候控制区和一个阴影筛选区，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（1）提高他们的能力和能力，同时进行研究和教育活动;（2）提高质量，数量和LCRC生产和可用信息的可访问性;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，该中心一直在提供海洋学设施，使学生和科学家能够在海洋保护有效、对当地人类和发展影响最小的偏远地点进行实地研究。他们已经接待了90多名访问研究人员，五所美国主要大学将LCRC访问作为其课程的永久部分。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底栖生物物种，加深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。通过建立新的伙伴关系和协作，吸引最优秀的科学人才，提高空间站的能力。 除了现有的长期生态和环境数据监测能力，与NOAA-珊瑚礁预警系统合作，新设施将通过收集，出版和向更大的科学界传播结果来加强科学前沿。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