Land/Ocean Biogeochemical
Observatory in Elkhorn Slough (LOBO)
Introduction
The aim of the LOBO project is to design and develop a real time chemical sensor network for
marine systems. The observing system uses in situ chemical sensors to determine
chemical fluxes into, within, and out of Elkhorn Slough. The biogeochemical processes that produce these fluxes are then assessed. The
primary focus is to measure nutrients, such as nitrate, ammonium, and
phosphate, using instruments that allow for high-resolution sampling
and the ability to access the data in near-real time. Water properties
such as salinity, temperature, and current velocity are combined with the
nutrient measurements to determine important processes that affect the
biogeochemistry of Elkhorn Slough. The LOBO project is headed by Dr.
Ken Johnson at the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI).
Funding is provided by a National Science Foundation BioComplexity Grant
(ECS-0308070) and by MBARI by a grant from the David and Lucile Packard
Foundation.
Elkhorn Slough
Elkhorn
Slough, located on Monterey Bay, CA (map),
is part of the National Estuarine Research Reserve System (NERRS). Home
to a rich diversity of organisms, the slough is a breeding area for
many of Monterey Bay's marine inhabitants and an important migratory
bird location. As with many estuaries in the United States, Elkhorn
Slough and the watershed are host to numerous human activities, including
agricultural use, an active fishing harbor, and a power plant at the
harbor entrance.
The combination of complex estuarine characteristics, anthropogenic impacts, and many nutrient sources make Elkhorn Slough a challenging environment to accurately characterize biogeochemical processes using traditional monitoring methods. Therefore, the slough is an ideal place to demonstrate the potential of in situ nutrient sensor networks as an important new direction of the aquatic sciences.
Goals of the LOBO program
The overarching goal of the project is to demonstrate that significant
synergies accrue from operating a complete network of autonomous, biogeochemical sensors
for extended periods. In this sense, the sensors and observing system are a pilot study
for larger projects that are envisioned by the ocean community, such as the NSF Ocean
Observatories Initative. The ability to study the interactions of the hydrological cycle,
nutrient chemical cycles and human alterations of these cycles at the land/ocean boundary
is a fundamental component of coastal zone management, and one that has traditionally been
a major scientific challenge. Specific resource management concerns of the NERRS,
such as degraded coastal water quality, loss and alteration of estuarine
and watershed habitat, habitat restoration, reduction of biodiversity,
and problematic effects of pollution and invasive species are relevent
issues in Elkhorn Slough. The LOBO project is a demonstration of how
a real time aquatic sensor network can significantly increase our ability
to address these issues and contribute to the generation of information
that leads to sound resource management.Land/Ocean Biogeochemical Observatory
Website by: Joe Needoba
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