Coastal Watch, SCCF welcome intern
The Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation’s Coastal Watch recently welcomed AJ Carothers as a new intern. From Dallas, Texas, she will also serve as a new intern for the SCCF’s Marine Lab.
Carothers is a recent graduate from the University of Washington with a Bachelor of Science in oceanography and experience with oceanographic and conservation genetics research.
She will assist with various projects at the lab, including ongoing macroalgae research. Carothers also will help prepare collected algae samples for stable isotope analysis, which will help the SCCF understand potential sources of nitrogen used by the algae.
“The data from this project, along with the other projects going on at the lab, will help us better understand coastal ecosystem health and the potential effects of disturbances on these ecosystems,” she said. “This information can then be used to support coastal management and conservation efforts, which will be beneficial for local fish populations and habitats.”
During her undergraduate degree, Carothers worked in multiple biological oceanography labs helping with research on topics including zooplankton ecology. She also completed an internship in the Philippines, where she investigated the presence of a cryptic species of blue swimming crab using mitochondrial DNA markers. Additionally, Carothers completed her senior thesis on the temporal and spatial variations in nutrients and pCO2in the equatorial Pacific.
“Thanks to your generous donations in support of this internship, I will be able to grow as a scientist, gain skills that I will be able to use in future coastal science and conservation positions, and support the important research going on at SCCF,” she said.
Her internship is funded and supported by the Sanibel FlyFishers.
To reach SANIBEL-CAPTIVA CONSERVATION FOUNDATION, please email