Scientific Research Projects

Jaaziel E. García-Hernández

Conservacionista Clandestino

Project X-Files: Ents of Coral Reefs

- Xestospongia muta- a Foundational and Indicator species: Linking Ecology and Systematics

- OASIS for Biodiversity: Oscillators and Attractors of Symbiotic Interactions between Species

- Dates: 2012- ongoing

- Project's website: EntsofCoralReefs.com

Mesophotic Reef Sponges from Puerto Rico

- Dates: 2013 - ongoing

- In situ biodiversity study of mesophotic reef sponges using closed circuit rebreather technology

- Study the connectivity between shallow and mesophotic reef sponges

- Perform molecular and classical taxonomic analysis to identify the sponges

- Online database with pictures and descriptions of sponges from Puerto Rico

- Study the biological activity of mesophotic reef sponges for the use of natural products and pharmaceutical drugs

- Project's website:Marinesponges.com

Diversity and Distribution of Calcarea (Porifera) from Puerto Rico

- Dates: 2013 - ongoing

- Collaboration between Dr. Michelle Klautau's Laboratory

- Our research team recognized the need to study this class of marine sponges due to the fact that there exists no published data regarding the calcareans from Puerto Rico

- Project's website: Marinesponges.com

Underwater Archaeology and Ecology of a WWII B-29 Superfortress Bomber

- Dates: 2014 - ongoing

- Ecological surveys of the wreck and nearby reefs

- Detailed archaeological survey of the wreck

- Honor the crew of this WWII Bomber by placing a permanent commemorate plaque in order to educate recreational divers who visit the site

- Project's website: B29expedition.org

Marine Sponges from the Island of Hawaii

- Dates: 2008 - ongoing

- Biodiversity study of Hawaiian shallow and deep marine sponges

- Explore the biological activity of shallow and mesophotic reef sponges

- Future: perform a detailed surveys and collection of shallow and mesophotic reef sponges using closed circuit rebreather technology

- Project's website:Hawaiisponges.com