Schery Umanzor

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.

• CV

• Muriel Dittrich
• Sara Ebersole
• Cameron Jardell
• Alexandra Meyer

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. https://doi.org/10.1111/jwas.12687

Umanzor, S., M.M. Ramírez, 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. https://doi.org/10.1111/jpy.12951

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. https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.04.21.050930

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. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jembe.2018.11.008

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. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2018.00296

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. https://doi.org/10.1111/jpy.12565

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. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps12355

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

• 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)

• Distinguished Alumni, CICESE

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

• Schery Umanzor Mariculture Lab