BIO

Marsella Bryanna Munoz is a freshman at Florida State University where she is majoring in Biological Science and minoring in Environmental Science. She is an active student in the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (UROP). Marsella grew up in Key West, Florida, an island at the southernmost point of the Florida Keys. Conquering her childhood fear of the ocean, Marsella became SCUBA certified with SCUBA Schools International (SSI) through the non-profit DiveN2Life in 2016. Marsella participated in DiveN2Life for five years and held many leadership and mentor roles. She acquired her American Academy of Underwater Sciences Scientific Diver rating through DiveN2Life in May 2021. She was involved and volunteered with organizations including Mote Marine Laboratory’s Elizabeth Moore International Center for Coral Reef Research & Restoration, Coral Restoration Foundation, College of the Florida Keys Aquaculture Lab, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s Lobster Research, Virgin Islands Reef Response, and more. In recognition of her passion and involvement in the community, Marsella was the distinguished guest of Congresswoman Debbie Mucarsel-Powell at the 2020 Presidential State of the Union Address. In the future, Marsella hopes to pursue a career in conserving and restoring coral reefs by continuing to work within and research marine ecosystems.

No evidence of kin competition for food in a filter-feeding marine bryozoan

Abstract

Collecting data on feeding habits of marine bryozoans will provide insight into the effect of kin competition. Genetically related colonies were compared to unrelated colonies. Kin share similar phenotypes that express similar preferences which can cause competition for a specific resource. This study is still in the early stages but will conclude what proximity to siblings affects competition for food in a marine bryozoan. Initial results show that kin competition within a density of three colonies, at the age of three weeks, when competing for 23,553 cells/mL has no effect.

Keywords: kin competiton, marine bryozoan, feeding