Little Inagua Rapid Ecological Assessment
D/Y Awatea
Little Inagua, Bahamas
July 7-19, 2024
Program Overview
This expedition was conducted with the goal of characterizing the diverse ecosystems of Little Inagua. Thanks to DISCOVERY Yacht Awatea, this team of researchers from the Perry Institute for Marine Science (PIMS) and the Bahamas National Trust (BNT) were able to make it to Little Inagua, the largest uninhabited Bahamian island. The ecosystems here ahve not been surveyed in over a decade, due to its lack of easy accessibility. Through partnership with the International SeaKeepers Society, scientists could conduct biodiversity surveys for a wide variety of organisms including fish, invertebrates, corals, seagrasses, and more. This project also enabled Bahamas National Trust researchers to gain access to the land in search of unique plant specimens that are not found elsewhere in The Bahamas.
Application
This work has been highly useful in informing the next decade of conservation efforts and management practices throughout this region of The Bahamas.
Expedition Summary
This Expedition was extremely successful in its goal. Researchers were able to scout 25 sites, surveying 13 reefs and 4 seagrass beds. To read more, head over to the blog posted by PIMS.
Location
Little Inagua, Bahamas
Duration of Project
13 Days
Research Team
- Dr. Krista Sherman
- Dr. Valeria Pizarro
- Natalia Hurtado
- Maya Gomez
- Candice Brittain
- Lindy Knowles
- Dr. Ethan Fried
- Mark Daniels
You must be logged in to post a comment.