Brittney Honisch

In 2011, I graduated from Western Washington University with a B.S. in Environmental Science. Although I had seen coral reefs in my travels, I never had the chance to study them directly. When I was offered a spot in the Master in Marine and Environmental Science program at the University of the Virgin Islands I jumped at the opportunity! I started the program in August 2011 and graduated May 2013. During the program, I worked as a research assistant for Dr. Tyler Smith. My work involved monthly water quality sampling along the south side of St. John, as part of a larger Water Quality Monitoring Program that was designed to characterize a suite of water quality variables at numerous locations on St. John and St. Croix. In addition to sample collection preparation and field work, I also analyzed water samples, maintained water quality data, and contributed to reports for local and federal agencies.

My thesis focused on assessing the impacts of water quality and sedimentation on coral health in two bays on St. John. Diminishing water quality and high sedimentation as a result of runoff is a continuing problem in the US Virgin Islands, so I was interested in seeing how these stressors would impact nearshore coral reefs. I looked at an undeveloped and a developed watershed to provide a comparison based on development and runoff potential. I characterized water quality variables, determined sedimentation flux, and assessed juvenile and adult coral health with scuba diving surveys within these bays over the period of several months. When I’m not doing research, I enjoy diving, hiking, traveling, and painting.

After my successful graduation, I obtained a position at Oregon State University's Hatfield Marine Science Center as a Faculty Research Assistant. I work in the Central Oregon Marine Experiment division. My current project is assessing the toxicity of Deepwater Horizon Gulf Oil Spill by-products to molluscan and echinoderm larvae.