Upper-ocean biogeochemistry
Ecology and Dynamics of Picophytoeukaryotes
Project leads: Sebastian Sudek, Alexandra Z. WordenProject manager: Alexandra Z. Worden
Project website
The Worden lab has focused on field analyses and potential target genes to indicate the health or physiological stress of picophytoplankton, relevant to carbon cycling and anticipated climate change. The lab will continue research to identify genes that could be used as indicators of biogeochemical changes and will develop a new method for diversity analysis.
Molecular Ecology of Marine and Aquatic Organisms
Project lead: Bob VrijenhoekProject manager: Shannon Johnson Williams
Vrijenhoek’s research group is contributing to the CANON initiative by designing experiments to understand how zooplankton are distributed in the water column, and how best to use autonomous systems to acquire discrete samples for molecular biologically based population analyses. They will also focus on sampling and analyses of clams and tubeworms and their associated symbiotic bacteria at hydrocarbon seeps in the Gulf of California.
Monterey Bay Time Series
Project lead: Francisco ChavezProject manager: Tim Pennington
Project website
The Monterey Bay Time Series utilizes moorings, drifters, gliders, AUVs, ships, satellites, and models to study ocean ecosystem variability and climate change. A waveglider will be assembled and tested, providing the possibility of continuous temporal and spatial coverage, communications, better bio-fouling control, and increased payloads for sampling.