Education
- BSc. (2016), Biology, University of Guyana, Turkeyen Campus, Guyana
- PgDipEd. (2019), Higher Education, University of Guyana, Turkeyen Campus, Guyana
- MSc. (2018), Forest Biology, University of Guyana, Turkeyen Campus, Guyana.
Biography
Mark's research interests focus on marine and coastal ecology, fisheries management, marine pollution, climate change mitigation, sea-level rise, coastal wetlands, and governance of marine resources. He is researching the ecological outcomes of mangrove restoration in Guyana, including quantifying the vegetative characteristics, blue carbon stock, and fauna recovery in restored mangrove ecosystems. He believes that effective and sustainable management of marine resources requires a holistic approach, which is why his research is interdisciplinary, spanning the fields of biology, ecology, socioeconomics, policy, governance, and management.
Teaching
- BIO3119: Marine & Coastal Ecology
- BIO3121: Invasion Biology
- BIO4116: Fisheries Management
- BIO4200: Capstone Research Project
- BIO4205: Internship
Selected Publications
- Ram, M., Sheaves, M., & Waltham, N. J. (2024). Tracking the long‐term vegetation and soil characteristics of restored mangroves: a case study from Guyana's coast. Restoration Ecology, e14170.
- Alfred, S., Ram, M., Lakenarine, R., Hemraj, D., & Maharaj, G. (2022). Occurrence and characteristics of microdebris in commercial fish species of Guyana, South America. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 182, 114021.
- Taphorn, D. C., Liverpool, E., Lujan, N. K., DoNascimiento, C., Hemraj, D. D., Crampton, W. G.,
Kolmann, M.A., De Souza, L.S., Werneke, D.C, Ram, M., ... & López-Fernández, H. (2022).
Annotated checklist of the primarily freshwater fishes of Guyana. Proceedings of the Academy of
Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, 168(1), 1-95. - Ram, M. A., Caughlin, T. T., & Roopsind, A. (2021). Active restoration leads to rapid recovery of aboveground biomass but limited recovery of fish diversity in planted mangrove forests of the North Brazil Shelf. Restoration Ecology, 29(5), e13400.
Grants/fellowships/ Awards
- Faculty of Natural Sciences – University of Guyana, Dean’s Teaching Award for Excellence 2021/2022 academic year.
- The New England Aquarium’s Marine Conservation Action Fund (MCAF): 12, 000 USD (2023). Mangrove Restoration Trajectories: Trends & Lessons from Guyana, South America.
- World Wildlife Fund Education for Nature Aspiring Faculty Fellowship: (2020 – 2024)
- UG-UFWWF Building Human Capacity for Natural Resource Management in Guyana: 2,000 USD, (2017) Impacts of Mangrove Degradation on Fish Assemblages along Guyana’s Coast.
- National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI): 1000 USD (2017). Impacts of Mangrove Degradation on Fish Assemblages along Guyana’s Coast.