BERMUDA is an ideal place for marine biologists to conduct their research and make new discoveries. Recently researchers Dr. Craig Schneider from Trinity College and Dr. Chris Lane from Rhode Island University did just that.They were here as part of an ongoing research project when they discovered a type of seaweed that had never before been studied or catalogued.

The newly discovered Botryocladia flookii seaweed was named after Chris Flook, the collector of specimens and the Bermuda Lionfish Project co-ordinator for the Bermuda Aquarium Museum and Zoo.

Dr. Schneider and Dr. Lane published their findings in a recent copy of the scientific journal Phycologia.

Dr. Lane spoke with the Mid-Ocean News about the discovery as well as the research project he and Dr. Schneider are currently working on.

"I'm a professor of biology at the University of Rhode Island and I've been to Bermuda 10 times over the last couple of years," said Dr. Lane who is 31. "Dr. Schneider has been coming to Bermuda since the 1970's.

"When he first came he was doing offshore surveys. It was real deep water stuff where he was living underwater for a couple of days at a time.

"From there the research grew and now we come back a couple of different times a year.

"At different times of the year different things show up in the water.

"We are collecting and cataloguing all the different types of seaweeds in Bermuda. We want to know what is endemic and what is not."

Dr. Lane said Bermuda waters offer types of seaweed not found in the Caribbean.

He noted that no original research had been done on the subject in more than 50 years which is why he and Dr. Schneider are working on cataloguing Bermuda's various types of seaweed.

Dr. Lane described the unique species of red seaweed recently found and explained why they named it after Mr. Flook.

"It's a red seaweed commonly known as sea grapes," he said. "It is found in deeper water as well as at the low tide mark at coves.

"As far as we know this is the only place on the planet it is found. However, now that it has been catalogued it might show up elsewhere.

"We named it after Chris because he's always been tremendously helpful – as have all the Aquarium staff. The Marine-Ops staff of LeAnne Hinton and Chris provided logistical support. Chris takes us out in the boat a lot, has a keen eye and is able to pick stuff out from pretty far away.

"We've actually found a number of things thanks to him. It was a way for us to express our appreciation for all the hard work that he's put in. He's a tremendous hunter of anything in the sea."

Mr. Flook said he felt honoured to be recognised in such a manner, adding: "It's one thing to find something and name it after yourself, but somebody else naming something after you is quite an honour."

Dr. Lane is quick to praise Bermuda both as a base for oceanic research and for the facilities and help the island offers visiting research scientists.

"Bermuda has some wonderful resources here and every year we enjoy coming back to see what else we can find and we seem to find no end in finding new things," he said.

"There are a tremendous number of interesting things around Bermuda and as long as you take the time to look for them, they are everywhere."