St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, USA
The US Virgin Island's geographic and ecological setting offers a rich tapestry of natural beauty and biodiversity. Their ecological importance extends beyond their borders and underscores the need for conservation efforts to preserve their natural heritage for future generations.
The United States Virgin Islands (USVI) consists of three main islands—St. Thomas, St. John, and St. Croix—along with numerous smaller islands and cays in the Caribbean Sea. The beautiful USVI is home to a diverse range of ecosystems, including coral reefs, mangrove forests, sandy beaches, tropical rainforests, and dry coastal scrublands. The coral reefs surrounding the islands are part of the diverse and critically important Caribbean coral reef ecosystem and support a wide array of marine life, including colorful fish, sea turtles, and various invertebrates.
With a tropical climate with warm temperatures year-round (80-85°F; 27-29°C), the islands experience a wet season from May to November and a hurricane season from June through November (highest risk of storms typically in September and October), making them an ideal spot to investigate climate changes impacts.
Established in 1962, the University of the Virgin Islands (UVI) is a public, historically black university in the USVI. The university is known for its strong programs in marine biology and environmental science, reflecting the unique ecological aspects of the Virgin Islands. As one of the top research centers in the Caribbean, the Center for Marine and Environmental Studies (CMES) was established in 1999 with the mission to offer students and researchers a dynamic atmosphere to study tropical marine and environmental issues and increase awareness about marine topics in the VI. Faculty and staff in the CMES have been developing important research on Sandy Beach Ecology, Coral Reef, Watershed and Blue Carbon, Coastal Restoration, Sea Turtle Ecology, Ciguatera Fish Poisoning, and Seagrass Ecology.
MarineGEO Team
- Principal Investigator: Guilherme Corte
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