- Fiona Martin
- Effects of Herbivorous Fish on Algae, CCA, and Coral Growth
- Adobe Illustrator
Illustration of an experiment conducted by Dr. Peter Vine to investigate the role of calcareous coralline algae (CCA), herbivory, fish grazing, filamentous algae and larval settlement on coral reefs. Pomacentrids act as “farmers,” selectively removing indigestible algae and protecting the growth of fine, filamentous algae. Thick algal mats prevent settlement of binding CCA and corals, eventually leading to mounds of loose coral rubble. Removing herbivores by other means—such as overfishing or pollution—may also leave algal growth unchecked, reducing space for CCA and corals to settle. The survival of reefs in the future may depend on the presence of a healthy population of fish.
Rendered digitally in Adobe Illustrator in a style resembling traditional pen-and-ink with watercolor. To be published in an upcoming book about Red Sea coral reef ecology by Dr. Peter Vine.
- Subject Matter: Marine Life, Coral Reef, Ecology, Research
- Collections: Aquatic Life
About the Artist: Fiona Martin (United States) x
Fiona Martin is an award-winning graphic artist and science illustrator at The Seattle Times. She is a 2025 Pulitzer Finalist for Local Reporting for a project describing barriers to salmon migration in urban streams. In 2024 she won an Award of Excellence in the Society for News Design for an illustrated story celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Endangered Species Act. Fiona specializes in digital and vector illustrations, infographics, data visualization, mapping and layout design, and also enjoys working with traditional media including graphite, pen-and-ink, watercolor, and acrylic.
Prior to the Times, Fiona served as Senior Illustration Editor at the nonprofit scientific review publisher, Annual Reviews (14 years), and freelanced from her studio Visualizing Science (20 years). Clients included government agencies (NOAA Climate Program Office, NPS), Monterey Bay Research Institute, Princeton University Press, and authors of scientific books and research papers.
Fiona was born with a rare genetic hearing loss in both ears, but she hasn't let her deafness hold her back. In public schools and in the workplace, she learned to adapt using a combination of speech reading and technology. Defying expectations, Fiona graduated as valedictorian of her high school class, obtained a B.S. in Marine Biology (summa cum laude) from the University of California in Santa Cruz, and then pursued a Graduate Certificate in Scientific Illustration. Upon graduation she completed dual internships with the Channel Islands National Park in California and Electronic Publishing Company in New York City.
Fiona resides in the Seattle area, Washington, with her husband and two girls, and enjoys swimming, kayaking, yoga, culinary gardening, and traveling as much as possible—whether it's local road trips in the beautiful Pacific Northwest or free diving in the Caribbean.
Portfolio: https://www.visualizingscience.com