Senyacen Monserrat Ramírez Ponce

I am a Honduran biologist dedicated to coral reef ecology, conservation, and public engagement. I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Biology from the National Autonomous University of Honduras, where I graduated with honors as the top of my class. I also specialized in Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems at the Faculty of Spatial Sciences, reflecting my interest in applying innovative tools to conservation science.

My professional career has focused on the conservation and monitoring of coral reef ecosystems in the Caribbean. As Marine Aquarium Manager at Tela Marine, I directed aquarium operations, managed diverse Caribbean marine species under human care, and provided technical support to coral reef monitoring and research initiatives within the Wildlife Refuge of Tela Bay. I also led environmental education efforts, reaching over 10,000 visitors annually, including students from across Honduras.

I have contributed significantly to coral reef research and monitoring. I worked on coral recruitment studies in Tela Bay, analyzing recruits with stereo microscopy, and conducted extensive surveys using AGRRA benthic and coral protocols across 73 reef sites along Honduras’s north coast, including Tela, Roatán, Guanaja, and Cayos Cochinos. My data collection will support regional assessments such as the Mesoamerican Reef Report Card. I have also participated in fish spawning aggregation monitoring workshops and post-storm reef response brigades.

I have presented my work internationally, including an oral presentation on “Restoration Showcase: Honduras” at the Reef Futures Symposium 2024 in Cancún, Mexico, and a poster on coral recruitment in Tela. I am a certified PADI Rescue Diver with over 150 dives, hold AGRRA surveyor certifications, and I´m skilled in QGIS mapping and drone operation.

Passionate about linking research, management, and community awareness, I strive to contribute to the long-term protection and resilience of coral reef ecosystems in the Mesoamerican region and beyond.