Biodiversity and Biooptics OverviewTeamProjectsPublicationsLatest NewsTechnologies The ocean’s midwater zone is dominated by gelatinous predators such as ctenophores, siphonophores, and hydromedusae. These mysterious creatures still hold many secrets like how and why they make light, and how they survive in such an extreme environment. Which of these diverse groups help indicate the state of the ecosystem and potentially signal change? MBARI is one of very few institutions that has had an ongoing dedication to understanding this habitat and addressing these difficult-to-study organisms.Steve Haddock’s lab aims to characterize and monitor gelatinous plankton through several approaches. A primary goal is to determine the identity and relationships of animals, so that they can be accurately recognized from images or DNA samples. With this knowledge, we can better make use of existing MBARI data to “go back in time” and see what changes have already been occurring. Using emerging methods to identify cryptic genetic diversity, we can determine the true community composition of the midwater habitat. This is important because it is not possible to “count up” organisms until we are able to recognize them accurately. We will also continue the development of broadly applicable tools that make use of MBARI’s unique video archives to study long-term trends.By sequencing genomes (all the DNA) and transcriptomes (DNA that is being turned into proteins at a given time), we can gather novel insights about how organisms make light, how they are related, and how they adapt and survive in the challenging deep-sea environment. Know Your Ocean Bioluminescence Bioluminescence—nature’s living light—is common among deep-sea animals. MBARI research is revealing how and why animals produce their stunning light shows. Team Directory Steven Haddock Senior Scientist/Marine Biologist Principal Investigator Shannon Johnson Research Specialist Anik Grearson Graduate Research Assistant Projects All Projects Zooplankton Biodiversity and Species Relationships Project Zooplankton Biodiversity and Species Relationships The deep-sea is a diverse habitat, but it is turning out to be even more diverse that we imagined. Bioluminescence and Fluorescence Project Bioluminescence and Fluorescence Bioluminescence (the ability of an organism to make light), and fluorescence (special pigments that convert blue light to other colors) are common in marine animals. We are studying how and why organisms use these optical phenomena. Genomics and Transcriptomics Project Genomics and Transcriptomics Studying the genes of an organism can amplify our ability to learn about rare deep-sea species which are difficult to collect. Sometimes obscure animals can even help answer fundamental questions in biology. Physiology Project Physiology One of the enduring mysteries of life in the deep-sea is how organisms can function under high-pressures and at near freezing temperatures. We are beginning to find clues about the trade-offs for life in the deep. Publications ALL PUBLICATIONS Haddock, S.H.D., M.A. Moline, and J.F. Case. 2010. Bioluminescence in the sea. Annual Review of Marine Science, 2: 443–493. http://dx.doi.org/10.1146/annurev-marine-120308-081028 Winnikoff, J. R., D. Milshteyn, S. J. Vargas-Urbano, M. A. Pedraza-Joya, A. M. Armando, O. Quehenberger, A. Sodt, R. E Gillilan, E. A. Dennis, E. Lyman, S. H. D. Haddock, and I. Budin. 2024. Homeocurvature adaptation of phospholipids to pressure in deep-sea invertebrates. Science, 384(6703). https://doi.org/adm7607 Hetherington, E.D., C.A. Choy, E.V. Thuesen, and S.H.D. Haddock. 2022. Three distinct views of deep pelagic community composition based on complementary sampling approaches. Frontiers in Marine Science, 9(864004): 1–10. http://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2022.864004 Johnson, S.B., J.R. Winnikoff, D.T. Schultz, L.M. Christianson, W.L. Patry, C.E. Mills, and S.H.D. Haddock. 2022. Speciation of pelagic zooplankton: Invisible boundaries can drive isolation of oceanic ctenophores. Frontiers in Genetics, 13(970314): 1–17. https://doi.org/10.3389/fgene.2022.970314 Schultz, D.T., W.R. Francis, J.D. McBroome, L.M. Christianson, S.H.D. Haddock, and R.E. Green. 2021. A chromosome-scale genome assembly and karyotype of the ctenophore Hormiphora californensis. G3 Genes|Genomes|Genetics, 11(11): 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1093/g3journal/jkab302 Latest News All News News MBARI’s advanced underwater robots discover deep-sea squid that broods giant eggs News 06.11.24 News Genetic research offers new perspective on the early evolution of animals Press Release 05.17.23 News Scientists discover a new species of deep-sea crown jelly in Monterey Bay News 04.19.22 Technologies All Technologies Vehicle, Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) ROV Ventana Technology ROV Ventana A remotely operated vehicle equipped with a Sea-Bird 19plus V2 CTD package including a dissolved oxygen sensor, transmissometer, and spatial lasers mounted on the main camera. Software Video Annotation and Reference System (VARS) Technology Video Annotation and Reference System (VARS) A software interface and database system that provides tools for describing, cataloging, retrieving, and viewing the data associated with deep-sea video archives. Vehicle, Uncrewed Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Uncrewed Aerial System (UAS) Technology Uncrewed Aerial System (UAS) The Uncrewed Aerial Vehicle (UAV) is an aerial platform for cameras and other sensors that observe phenomena at or near the sea surface. Vehicle, Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV), Tethys Class Long-range AUV (LRAUV) Technology Long-range AUV (LRAUV) The long-range AUV (LRAUV) greatly expands the types of observations and experiments possible with autonomous platforms. Vehicle, Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) ROV Doc Ricketts Technology ROV Doc Ricketts An integrated unmanned submersible research platform with features providing efficient, reliable, and precise sampling and data collection. Data All Data Sorry, no results were found.
Zooplankton Biodiversity and Species Relationships Project Zooplankton Biodiversity and Species Relationships The deep-sea is a diverse habitat, but it is turning out to be even more diverse that we imagined.
Bioluminescence and Fluorescence Project Bioluminescence and Fluorescence Bioluminescence (the ability of an organism to make light), and fluorescence (special pigments that convert blue light to other colors) are common in marine animals. We are studying how and why organisms use these optical phenomena.
Genomics and Transcriptomics Project Genomics and Transcriptomics Studying the genes of an organism can amplify our ability to learn about rare deep-sea species which are difficult to collect. Sometimes obscure animals can even help answer fundamental questions in biology.
Physiology Project Physiology One of the enduring mysteries of life in the deep-sea is how organisms can function under high-pressures and at near freezing temperatures. We are beginning to find clues about the trade-offs for life in the deep.
Haddock, S.H.D., M.A. Moline, and J.F. Case. 2010. Bioluminescence in the sea. Annual Review of Marine Science, 2: 443–493. http://dx.doi.org/10.1146/annurev-marine-120308-081028
Winnikoff, J. R., D. Milshteyn, S. J. Vargas-Urbano, M. A. Pedraza-Joya, A. M. Armando, O. Quehenberger, A. Sodt, R. E Gillilan, E. A. Dennis, E. Lyman, S. H. D. Haddock, and I. Budin. 2024. Homeocurvature adaptation of phospholipids to pressure in deep-sea invertebrates. Science, 384(6703). https://doi.org/adm7607
Hetherington, E.D., C.A. Choy, E.V. Thuesen, and S.H.D. Haddock. 2022. Three distinct views of deep pelagic community composition based on complementary sampling approaches. Frontiers in Marine Science, 9(864004): 1–10. http://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2022.864004
Johnson, S.B., J.R. Winnikoff, D.T. Schultz, L.M. Christianson, W.L. Patry, C.E. Mills, and S.H.D. Haddock. 2022. Speciation of pelagic zooplankton: Invisible boundaries can drive isolation of oceanic ctenophores. Frontiers in Genetics, 13(970314): 1–17. https://doi.org/10.3389/fgene.2022.970314
Schultz, D.T., W.R. Francis, J.D. McBroome, L.M. Christianson, S.H.D. Haddock, and R.E. Green. 2021. A chromosome-scale genome assembly and karyotype of the ctenophore Hormiphora californensis. G3 Genes|Genomes|Genetics, 11(11): 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1093/g3journal/jkab302
News Genetic research offers new perspective on the early evolution of animals Press Release 05.17.23
Vehicle, Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) ROV Ventana Technology ROV Ventana A remotely operated vehicle equipped with a Sea-Bird 19plus V2 CTD package including a dissolved oxygen sensor, transmissometer, and spatial lasers mounted on the main camera.
Software Video Annotation and Reference System (VARS) Technology Video Annotation and Reference System (VARS) A software interface and database system that provides tools for describing, cataloging, retrieving, and viewing the data associated with deep-sea video archives.
Vehicle, Uncrewed Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Uncrewed Aerial System (UAS) Technology Uncrewed Aerial System (UAS) The Uncrewed Aerial Vehicle (UAV) is an aerial platform for cameras and other sensors that observe phenomena at or near the sea surface.
Vehicle, Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV), Tethys Class Long-range AUV (LRAUV) Technology Long-range AUV (LRAUV) The long-range AUV (LRAUV) greatly expands the types of observations and experiments possible with autonomous platforms.
Vehicle, Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) ROV Doc Ricketts Technology ROV Doc Ricketts An integrated unmanned submersible research platform with features providing efficient, reliable, and precise sampling and data collection.