Research
Microbes for Carbon Capture
Mesocosms on the roof of KML are used to study how phototrophic communities respond to environmental perturbations under conditions optimized for carbon dioxide capture. Over the course of the experiment, variables such as pH, microbial community composition, and the amount of carbon stored by the system will be tracked. The end goal is to use directed evolution and community selection to develop microbial communities that are stable to perturbations and capable of efficient, scalable carbon capture.
Blue carbon sequestration in anaerobic seagrass sediments
How do microbial communities in coastal seagrass sediments sequester plant-based carbon in anoxic sediments? What are the ecological controls on the microbial production of methane in these systems?
Connecting scales of coastal seagrass health and extent with imaging spectroscopy
In order to reduce the uncertainties associated with carbon stocks and fluxes in blue carbon ecosystems, we are developing new methods to combine remote sensing and in situ measurements across multiple spatiotemporal scales.
Deep sea explorations in sight of Orange County
Just offshore from Corona del Mar, the seafloor drops off steeply, reaching depths of 300 meters, or about 1000 feet, within five miles of the coast. A submarine canyon, Newport Canyon, runs from the mouth of the Santa Ana River deep into the San Pedro Channel. Between Newport Bay and Catalina Island, seafloor depths to ~1000 m (~3000 ft) can be found. The seafloor in this area is tectonically active, and mounds several hundred meters higher than the surrounding seafloor are observed, as well as actively venting methane seeps. Using remotely-operated vehicles (e.g., ROV Doc Ricketts) and human-occupied submersibles (DSV Alvin), we have explored several of these deep sea sites and have ongoing research projects in this area.
Synchrotron-based X-ray imaging of seagrass
In collaboration with scientists at SSRL, part of the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, we are using advanced X-ray imaging technologies to explore metals and sulfur in seagrass roots, leaves, and rhizomes.
