Lindsey enjoys collecting shells and making jewelry. She also plays multiple sports, including soccer and volleyball. Lindsey would love to become a veterinarian someday because she has "a passion for animals and would take much pride in saving their lives."
Lindsey learned from her father, a marine biologist, about threats such as algal blooms that damage coral reefs worldwide. One reason for algal blooms is a decrease in the species that consume algae. Because the sea urchin Eucidaris tribuloides is known to consume algae, Lindsey wondered whether this species could replace other algae eaters that have been lost. To be a suitable replacement, this sea urchin should prefer algae to other foods.
To test the urchin's food preference, Lindsey gave groups of urchins measured daily amounts of sea grass, algae, or a sea grass–algae mixture. After each 24-hour period, she removed the food and measured how much was left. Lindsey discovered that the urchins ate three to four times as much sea grass as they did algae, making them an unsuitable replacement for other algae-eating species.
