Renata Ferrari
2009 Research Fellow
Bio
Renata received her Bachelor's of Science in Biology from the Universidad de las Americas, Puebla, Mexico in 2004. She is currently enrolled as a PhD student at the University of Exeter, also working under Professor Peter Mumby.
Before enrolling at Exeter, she held the Senior Marine Biologist position for two NGOs, responsible for the joint management of three MPAs in Belizean waters: the Port Honduras Marine Reserve (PHMR), Laughing Bird Caye National Park and Gladden Spitt Marine Reserve. During 2008, her research centered upon a fisheries assessment in the PHMR where she conducted monitoring and research across the Wider Caribbean and participated with the for the Conservation of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System Project (MBRS).
The core of Renata's PhD research is to understand how herbivory varies with forereef rugosity. Renata will also participate in the Global Reef Expedition where she will investigate the effects of coral-algae competition on the growth rate and mortality of coral colonies of different species and sizes. Additionally, Renata will look into algae patch dynamics and the influence of herbivory on the spatial and temporal flux of available space on coral reefs. The extensive fieldwork will produce a unique data set, combining high frequency sampling over a prolonged experimental period. These data will be incorporated into coral population models and will enable management recommendations to be made for Glover's Reef Marine Reserve.
