抖M女仆 Grad is a Real Life "Science Mermaid"
Chelsea Bennice
Chelsea Bennice, 33, could be described as a real life 鈥渟cience mermaid.鈥 While spending more than 400 hours underwater studying octopus behavior as part of her Ph.D. research, she learned how two octopus species utilize different resources to allow coexistence, something that had previously never been studied. Bennice will be receiving her doctorate in听听on Friday, May 3 at 5 p.m.
Bennice set out to research the question of species coexistence and investigate a group of animals where it is poorly understood, which led her to octopuses. She studies them locally at the Blue Heron Bridge at Phil Foster Park in Riviera Beach, an area of the Lake Worth Lagoon that is home to five different octopus species. Bennice developed a 24-hour camera to monitor the animals鈥 activity periods and to discover how potential predators impact their behavior.听
听鈥淥ctopuses lack a complex immune system and must rely on alternative strategies, possibly these beneficial bacteria, to combat infection.听The diversity of habitats that octopuses live in, including coral reefs, make them an excellent model animal to identify beneficial bacteria for other reef-dwelling organisms,鈥 she said. 鈥淗ealthy marine animals lead to a healthy ocean. Scientists are constantly searching for solutions to help conserve coral reefs.鈥
Her next research project will be in collaboration with researchers at Nova Southeastern University, focusing on the identification of the octopus microbiome, the good bacterial community living on the octopus鈥檚 skin.听
Bennice has been dubbed 鈥淥cto Girl鈥 and hosts听听that showcase her work through photos and videos of her underwater research. She also handmakes marine-inspired jewelry for her听, local dive shops, and nature centers. She donates 100 percent of the proceeds from her jewelry to benefit octopus research.听
Her research has been published in peer-reviewed scientific journals and has been听featured in an听episode of WPBT2 South Florida PBS听Changing Seas鈥淏eneath the Bridge鈥漚nd Schoolyard Films Inc. 鈥淥ctopus Superpowers.鈥
When she鈥檚 not underwater, she talks at local schools and community centers about marine biology to inspire people of all ages to explore and learn more about ocean creatures. She also participates in the Blue Heron Bridge Preservation Society.
鈥淚 love when people are excited and engaged about local conservation,鈥 said Bennice.听
Bennice received her bachelor鈥檚 degree from The Ohio State University. She earned her master鈥檚 degree from 抖M女仆 in 2012 and knew that she wanted to remain at 抖M女仆 to complete her Ph.D.
鈥淚t has been my honor to advise Chelsea with her research,鈥 said听, professor of biology at 抖M女仆. 鈥淚f I had to use three words to describe her, they would be committed, energetic and successful. I look forward to seeing what she will accomplish in the future.鈥
She recently accepted a position at听听following graduation, an innovative program used to address the national shortage in STEM career-oriented students.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 think I鈥檒l ever get sick of diving and monitoring octopus behavior,鈥 said Bennice. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e such a fascinating marine animal and I鈥檓 grateful to play a role in conducting research on them and helping conservation efforts.鈥
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