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Dr. Megan Davis: Ocean Ranchers, Pink Pearls, the Magic of 9pm, and Queen Conch Aquaculture (#89)

Megan Davis
Photo credits: Chalier Dones Ortiz

For four decades, Dr. Megan Davis has been working with the iconic queen conch in Florida and all over the Caribbean. In today’s episode, Megan shares how at age 16, she knew she wanted to do conch aquaculture, and how she’s been at the forefront of conch science and aquaculture since. Megan shares how conch is being restored all over the Caribbean, some crazy facts about the iconic species, and what a conch pearl looks like. Her passion for these shelled creatures is contagious; you’re in for a treat.

This episode is brought to you by Florida Atlantic University’s Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute. For over 50 years, FAU Harbor Branch has been in relentless pursuit of Ocean Science for a Better World®. Located in Fort Pierce, Florida, FAU Harbor Branch’s cutting-edge research focuses on marine ecosystem conservation, aquaculture, the connection between ocean and human health, and technological innovation and national defense. During my time as part of the undergraduate Semester By the Sea program, I learned so much about the ocean and what it takes to become a good scientist. The programs and opportunities offered at FAU Harbor Branch have continued to swell since! To learn more, and how you can get involved, please visit www.fau.edu/hboi.

Connect with Megan : Website | Instagram | LinkedIn

Quick links

Queen conch
Florida Institute of Technology
Turks and Caicos Islands
Larvae
Benthic organisms
Conch early life stages
Keystone species
Sea grass
Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute
Seaweeds
Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA)
Sea asparagus or Salicornia bigelovii
Conch pearl

Show notes

0 : 28 Megan discovered the Queen conch in the Bahamas and immediately fell in love with that animal and thought it should be farmed!

2 : 33 From the very beginning of her undergraduate studies, Megan knew she wanted to become a conch farmer and she took every opportunity to discover more about the species and how to farm it in the islands.

4 : 56 Megan started to study the conch in the Turks and Caicos Islands and did so for 10 years. She became the cofounder of a small commercial conch farm in which they were able to grow a million conch a year.

7 : 50 Megan explains the whole process of growing a conch, from collecting the eggs, to incubation, hatching and the metamorphosis from a swimming larva to a benthic little animal!

16 : 33 The conch is a keystone herbivore and allows the sea grass to develop.

18 : 46 Establishing restauration hatcheries and working side by side with the fisheries in order to replenish different nursery areas.

30 : 24 Megan is also growing sea vegetables in Harbor Branch, in an IMTA (Integrated Multi-trophic Aquaculture) system.

36 : 19 Megan shares one of her favorite recipes that includes sea vegetables.

39 : 54 Conchs make pearls! Megan has tried to develop conch pearl culture and explains how a mollusk produces a pearl in the wild.

44 : 05 What is Megan’s favorite animal? With no surprise it is the Queen conch!

44 : 40 What does the ocean mean to her?

47 : 08 Given a blank check, what projects would she like to spend the money for?

48 : 25 She shares her field stories and tells how it looks like to live on an island.

51 : 15 Conservation topics to bring home for listeners: don’t take shells that have a live animal inside.

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