SCRIPPS INSTITUTION OF OCEANOGRAPHY, UCSD
SCRIPPS INSTITUTION OF OCEANOGRAPHY, UCSD
SCRIPPS INSTITUTION OF OCEANOGRAPHY, UCSD
CIMRS Researchers
This page is a tribute to the numerous researchers that have contributed to CIMRS outcomes, with a focus on contributions during the last decade. Their dedication to advancing our understanding of marine resources has contributed significantly to CIMRS' overall impact on the West Coast and globally.
Changing Ocean Conditions
Changing ocean conditions are affecting marine ecosystems and resources, leading to shifts in marine productivity, biodiversity, community composition, and ecosystem structure. Understanding how ocean conditions influence the Earth's climate, and monitoring changes in ocean conditions, are key to predicting climate change stressors and developing strategies to enhance resilience.
OCEAN
ACIDIFICATION
The ocean chemistry of seawater is rapidly changing in a process known as ocean acidification, which is caused by the absorption of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. These changes in seawater chemistry affect animal growth, survival and behavior, and they are depleting the ocean of calcium carbonate, a nutrient vital for shellfish to build shells. Marine organisms with calcium carbonate shells or skeletons – such as corals, oysters, clams, and mussels – can be affected by small changes in acidity. Shelled organisms are essential in the marine food chain. Understanding the drivers that alter ocean chemistry is fundamental to long-term health and sustainability of our ocean resources.
-
OSU's Burke Hales developed the Burkolator, which measures dissolved carbon dioxide and total carbon dioxide in seawater. In 2020, Burkolator stations were located in Seward, AK, Shelton, WA, Tillamook, OR, and Tomales Bay and Carlsbad, CA - all shellfish farms. The U.S. IOOS’ Ocean Technology Transition Project, in collaboration with NOAA’s Ocean Acidification Program, supports ocean acidification sensor development and applications to provide information about ocean acidification for protection of the shellfish industry. PMEL is a key partner in the project.
-
A study was conducted to evaluate the interactive effects of temperature, ocean acidification, oil pollution, and prey quality on the growth, morphometric condition, lipid and fatty acid composition of Alaska commercially important fish stocks.