“We don’t know enough about seaweed and there’s still so much to learn. I think that’s what makes phycology so intriguing.”

Research fellow: Alicia Beauvais
Hometown: North Attleboro, Mass.
School: Roger Williams University
Majors: Marine Biology and Environmental Science

Alicia Beauvais arrived on the Roger Williams campus geared toward marine biology, with the intention of working with fisheries. Along the way, she added a second major, Environmental Science.

But last fall, a class in phycology — the study of algae — opened up a new area of interest for the rising senior. And now, a Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship with Rhode Island NSF EPSCoR is allowing her to explore the field full-time, for 10 weeks, under the guidance of faculty mentor Professor Brian Wysor.

“I don’t know what specifically drew me in,” Beauvais says, pausing to consider what exactly it was about seaweed that caught her interest. “We don’t know enough about seaweed and there’s still so much to learn. I think that’s what makes phycology so intriguing.”

The goal of the Wysor lab’s project is to shed light on the diversity of the red algae family, Rhodomelaceae, which has five genera, or sub-families, in Rhode Island waters and more than 20 species. Accurately identifying the species holds important implications in the context of climate change with shifts in biodiversity. The data collected will be used for a peer reviewed article and update the Illustrated Key to the Seaweeds of New England, Martine Villalard-Bohnsack (2003).

The research also will contribute to a larger RI Seaweed Biodiversity Project that was funded by a 2013 Rhode Island Science and Technology Advisory Council (STAC) grant. The STAC grants serve as the state’s match to the National Science Foundation EPSCoR grant in Rhode Island. Ultimately, this work will help to scientists understand responses at the organismal level to changes in marine communities in response to elevated sea surface temperatures associated with global climate change or other human-induced stressors.

Beauvais explains: “We’re looking at the family of red algae and trying to gain a better understanding of the Rhode Island populations, and whether the richness of this species has changed as a consequence of invasions due to climate change, other human-assisted transport, or because of migrations out of the area, possibly related to climate change.”

About half-way through the fellowship, Beauvais currently is working her way through a collection of seaweed and using the microscope to identify them down to the species. The chance to work full time on the  project through the RI ESPSCoR fellowship, which pays a $4,500 stipend plus up to $500 for research supplies, has provided an in-depth learning opportunity.

“When I took Phycology, I had four other classes at the time,” Beauvais says. “SURF gives me the chance to focus full time. I’m still working to classify species, which is challenging as the diagnostic features of a species are not always apparent.  But it’s getting easier to observe the differences with more experience.”

As she looks ahead to her plans after graduation, Beauvais says she eventually wants to attend graduate school and continue studying seaweed.

“But,” she adds, smiling, “I’m open to anything in phycology.”

Story and photo by Amy Dunkle