Raul Laiz from IEO joins our research cruise!

Aki and Raul search for bluefin tuna amongst the plankton (how do we know?)

As leg 2 continues sampling in the western Caribbean, we will meet a valuable addition to NF1502: Raul Laiz Carrion! Raul took a minute from sampling to share with the blog: “I work in the Larval Fish Ecology Group at the Spanish Institute of Oceanography or “Instituto Español de Oceanografía”, in the Oceanographic Center of Málaga. 

Raul ready to deploy plankton equipment at the "back-deck"

Raul processes phytoplankton samples in the 'wet lab'

Our lab works on larval fishes, fisheries oceanography, zooplankton, trophic ecology and the interactions that larval fishes have with planktonic food webs and associated daily growth. My research interest focuses in the ecology during the early life history stages with special attention on trophic ecology, nutrition and growth variability. We combine field work and experimental studies to understand the trophodynamics of the fish larvae in the planktonic food webs together with different growth strategies.  We analyze different biotic and abiotic factors than can affect fish larval survival. We also are interested in how the ecosystem is influenced by climate change and how it affects higher trophic levels (e.g., fish populations). Our lab

sardines with lemon and garlic

focuses on small pelagics (such as anchovy and sardines) as well as top predators like hake or bluefin tuna among other tuna species." 
 Sardines are not only important in the Mediterranean as prey for larger fishes, they are delicious! (see recipe!). We will continue to collaborate with Raul and his lab in multiple projects that examine the Mediterranean and the Gulf of Mexico!