Schery Umanzor

Schery Umanzor

She/her/hers

Assistant Professor

Mariculture
Marine Ecology
Marine Plants

College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences
17101 Point Lena Loop Rd
Juneau, AK 99801
907-796-5432
sumanzor@alaska.edu

 
Education

Center for Scientific Research and Higher Education of Ensenada (CICESE)
Ph.D. Marine Ecology
2017

 

Biography

Dr. Schery Umanzor started her career in 2010 as a field assistant in food production-related projects. Her professional journey showcases a seamless transition from working on IMTA systems in the tropics to kelp restoration in Baja California, Mexico, to engaging in kelp selective breeding on the East Coast of the U.S. and eventually venturing into mariculture research in Alaska. Throughout her multifaceted career, Dr. Umanzor has consistently championed inclusive approaches to food production. Currently, Dr. Umanzor and her students are focused on developing cultivation protocols for red seaweeds and pinto abalone while continuing with kelp-related research.

 

Curriculum Vitae

 

Advising

 

Publications

Umanzor, S., S. Shin, C. Yarish, S. Augyte, and J.K. Kim. 2020. Exploratory evaluation of the effects of Kelpak® seaweed extract on cultivated kelp Saccharina spp. exposed to sublethal and lethal temperatures. Journal of the World Aquaculture Society 1–10.

Umanzor, S., M.M. Ramíz, J.M. Sandoval-Gil, J.A. Zertuche-González, and C. Yarish. 2020. Photoacclimation and photoprotection of juvenile sporophytes of Macrocystis pyrifera (Laminariales, Phaeophyceae) under high‐light conditions during short‐term shallow‐water cultivation. Journal of Phycology 56(2): 380–392.

Mao, X., S. Augyte, M. Huang, M.P. Hare, D. Bailey, S. Umanzor, M. Marty-Rivera, K.R. Robbins, C. Yarish, S. Lindell, and J.-L. Jannink. 2020. Population genetics of sugar kelp in the Northwest Atlantic region using genome-wide markers. bioRxiv 2020.04.21.050930.

Umanzor, S., L. Ladah, L.E. Calderon-Aguilera, and J.A. Zertuche-González. 2019. Testing the relative importance of intertidal seaweeds as ecosystem engineers across tidal heights. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 511:100–107.

Umanzor, S., L. Ladah, and J.A. Zertuche-González. 2018. Intertidal seaweeds modulate a contrasting response in understory seaweed and microphytobenthic early recruitment. Frontiers in Marine Science 5:296.

Umanzor, S., L. Ladah, and J.A. Zertuche-González. 2017. The influence of species, density, and diversity of macroalgal aggregations on microphytobenthic settlement. Journal of Phycology 53(5): 1060–1071.

Umanzor, S., L. Ladah, L.E. Calderon-Aguilera, and J.A. Zertuche-González. 2017. Intertidal macroalgae influence macroinvertebrate distribution across stress scenarios. Marine Ecology Progress Series 584:67–77.

Specialties

  • Rocky shore ecology
  • Ecosystem engineering
  • Seaweed farming and physiology

 

Research Overview

For the past three years, Dr. Umanzor has focused on working directly with kelp farmers and seaweed harvesters to address stakeholder needs. These include developing toolkits for adequate site selection and tools enabling farmers to gauge the ecological impact of their farms by quantifying the amount of carbon and nitrogen removed from the water each growing season. It also includes developing cultivation protocols for species of cultural importance. As an experimental marine ecologist, part of her interest relies on quantifying how community-structuring organisms interact with the physical environment, and how these interactions translate to potential ecosystem services to coastal areas.

 

Current research projects

  • Assessments on pathways to improve kelp farming outputs (funded by EVOSTC)
  • Development of cultivation protocols for pinto abalone, Alaska (funded by NPRB)
  • Unraveling drivers of oyster and kelp productivity in the Exxon Valdez spill area (funded by EVOSTC)

 

Awards / Honors

  • Distinguished Alumni, CICESE

 

Affiliations

  • World Aquaculture Society
  • International Society of Applied phycology
  • Phycological Society of America

 

Links to Other Places