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QUEENS WEEKLY, MARCH 1, 2020
Bayside high school student part of team that
discovered two new deep-sea anemone species
BY JENNA BAGCAL
A high school student
from Bayside participated
in the discovery of two new
species of marine animals
as part of a mentorship
program with the American
Museum of Natural
History (AMNH).
Earlier in February,
Bard High School Early
College senior Cherie Qu
and Reed College freshman
Sadie Burke were
featured co-authors on a
study in the American Museum
Novitates, detailing
their collaborative efforts
with AMNH scientists in
discovering two species of
deep-sea anemones.
The study describes the
Scolanthus shrimp and
Scolanthus celticus, two
types of burrowing anemones
measuring around 1.5
centimeters long. These
species exist along the
Whittard Canyon, a deepsea
valley off the coast of
Ireland.
Through the Science Research
Mentoring Program
(SRMP), Qu and Burke
aided AMNH biologists
Drs. Luciana C. Gusmão
and Estefania Rodriguez
on the research last year.
SRMP is a museum initiative,
where New York Citybased
high school students
conduct “authentic scientific
research” with scientists
as mentors.
According to the SRMP
website, the program’s
main purpose is to “increase
access to science
fields and careers for NYC
high school students.”
Students can choose to
conduct research in several
fields including cultural
and biological anthropology,
genetics and
genomics, taxonomy and
astrophysics.
Dr. Gusmão and the
students analyzed the morphology
and genetics of
both organisms in order to
identify the anemones as
new species.
Following the discoveries,
the team chose to name
the Scolanthus shrimp in
honor of the SRMP program
and the participating
students, informally
known as “srmpers.” They
named the Scholanthus
celticus after the Celtic
Explorer research vessel,
which collected the
anemone specimens using
a remote operated vehicle
(ROV) in over 3,000-foot
depths.
The study said that scientists
have discovered 14
“valid” species of Scolanthus
anemone worldwide
but only four species have
been recorded in waters
deeper than 100 meters
(328 feet).
Reach reporter Jenna
Bagcal by e-mail at jbagcal@
qns.com or by phone at
(718) 260-2583.
Staten Island native Sadie Burke (left) and Cherie Qu, of Bayside, at the 6th Annual Student Research
Colloquium of the NYC Science Research Mentoring Consortium, where they presented research
describing two new species o fburrowing anemonesunder the guidance of American Museum of Natural Historybiologists Drs.
Luciana C. Gusmão and Estefania Rodriguez Photo courtesy of AMNH/M. Shanley
CRUZ RIDES Q49 BUS ON FACT-FINDING MISSION
BY BILL PARRY
The MTA’s draft proposal
for a complete redesign
of the Queens Bus Network
has been so poorly received
by riders since it was rolled
out on New Years Eve.
All 15 members of the
Queens delegation to the
City Council called on the
MTA to go back to the drawing
board and amend the
draft and address their constituents
concerns.
Assemblywoman Catalina
Cruz, who represents
Jackson Heights — which
was the first neighborhood
to rise up against the proposal
— as well as Corona
and Elmhurst, where riders
are also dissatisfied, undertook
a fact-finding mission
Feb. 19.
Cruz joined MTA Bus
Company Acting President
Craig Cipriano and members
of the Ridership Alliance
transit advocacy group
aboard the Q49 bus collecting
data from readers about
current slow and unreliable
service and hearing new
feedback on the contemplated
changes to the borough’s
bus network.
“It is clear that bus service
in the community
needs major improvement,
and my partnership with
the Alliance and the MTA
helps reach out to as many
individuals as possible in
order to obtain their feedback
as to how the MTA can
best meet their transportation
needs.” Cruz said. “It is
imperative that during this
open comment period that
community members participate
in surveys, attend
events, and otherwise inform
the MTA of their ideas
and suggestions.”
Riders emphasized the
need for better service
overall and the importance
of hearing local concerns
about the plan. MTA officials
promised to incorporate
feedback into subsequent revisions
to the redesign.
“Today we heard that
Queens riders are fed up
with the unacceptably slow
and unreliable status quo
on the bus,” Riders Alliance
Campaign Manager Stephanie
Burgos-Vera said. “Riders
want MTA officials to
be more forthcoming about
how significant proposed
changes to the bus network
will speed their trips and
improve commutes. We applaud
the MTA for thinking
big. We encourage riders
to engage with planners to
ensure the redesign works
for Queens. Thank you to
Assemblymember Cruz for
riding the bus and hearing
directly from riders about
how badly we need better
service.”
To review the proposed
changes to the Queens bus
network and see a schedule
for public outreach events,
visit new.mta.info/queensbusredesign.
Assemblywoman Catalina Cruz talks with riders on the Q49
about the MTA’s proposed changes to the borough’s bus
network. Courtesy of Riders Alliance
link
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/qns.com
