Between December 2023 and January 2024, a 15-member team from the Ocean Innovation Lab, embarked on a groundbreaking research expedition to Saint Martin’s Island, Bangladesh. Our mission: to unlock the secrets of this ecologically rich island and provide insights that will help ensure its long-term conservation and management.
Spanning 54 meticulously chosen stations across the island, our team collected a wide range of biological samples and environmental data. One group focused on 17 critical water parameters, analyzing nutrients and key water quality metrics to assess the island’s aquatic health. In addition, both zooplankton and phytoplankton samples were collected and preserved, forming a crucial part of understanding the island’s primary productivity and food web dynamics. Meanwhile, another team concentrated on gathering physical and morphological data, analyzing soil samples, conducting rugosity profiling, and studying beach and shore elevation profiling. These findings are essential for assessing sediment quality, habitat conditions, and the overall geospatial distribution of the island’s ecosystems. Using both quadrat and transect methods, the land team evaluated biodiversity, gaining valuable insights of interrelationships between the island’s flora, fauna, and physical features.
This expedition, driven by dedication and expertise, marks a significant step toward better understanding the ecological dynamics of Saint Martin’s Island. As we continue to analyze our findings, we remain committed to contributing to the island’s conservation and management, ensuring its resilience and sustainability for future generations. Stay tuned for more updates as we unravel the island’s environmental complexities!