The 2020/2021 practicum team spent the year researching Zostera Pacifica, which is the species of eelgrass that The Bay Foundation is planning on transplanting in the Santa Monica bay this year. We learned about the ideal growth conditions and success metrics used for this species of eelgrass and wrote up our findings in this research paper.
In Spring 2020, members of the Stronger Shorelines practicum team used Zoom to interview scientists who work closely with marine vegetation across the United States. Topics included, but are not limited to: stressors to marine vegetation and whether these issues were universal or habitat-specific, potential solutions to seagrass habitat loss, restoration techniques, typical field and lab work, how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected their work, and restoration success stories. We organized our interviews by the geographic region of research:
Heather Burdick is the Director of Marine Operations at The Bay Foundation and has been involved with the UCLA IoES practicum projects for multiple years. In this interview, she discusses her team’s plans and execution of seagrass restoration within the Santa Monica Bay.
Click the button below to learn about the Bay Foundation's seagrass exploration in Santa Monica!
Organization LinkTanner Waters is a second year PHD student working in Dr. Rob Eagle’s lab. He is working on seasonal surveys of seagrass beds in the Santa Monica Bay - near Catalina and Newport Bay - and is using environmental DNA (eDNA) samples to analyze species biodiversity in these areas.
Click the button below to learn about Tanner's experience at UCLA!
Tanner's ProfileAmanda Bird is the founder and co-owner of Paua Marine Research Group, a micro-business created in 2016 to provide field expertise and support both restoration and management of marine habitats in Southern California. Previously, Amanda has worked on eelgrass restoration, wetland habitat restoration, and abalone conservation research. Amanda held the title of Marine Restoration Coordinator for Orange County Coastkeeper and with Coastal Resources Management, Inc.
Use the button to review the projects currently happening with Paua!
Project LinkAdam Obaza is a co-owner of Paua Marine Research Group, the consulting group founded by Amanda Bird. Adam's primary eelgrass project is the mapping and assessment of fish assemblages on open coast eelgrass beds in SoCal. Previously, Adam has worked at the National Marine Fisheries Service in Long Beach where he was involved with policy as it relates to eelgrass mitigation and restoration.
Use the button to review the projects currently happening with Paua!
Project LinkKatie Nichols is the Marine Restoration Director with Orange County Coastkeeper, a small nonprofit organization based in Costa Mesa, California. Her work has dealt specifically with restoration projects all along the Southern California Coast, and this interview explores eelgrass and oyster restoration in the Southern California environment.
Use the button to dive into Orange County Coastkeeper's various restoration projects!
Project LinkBrooke Landry is a natural resource biologist who runs the Chesapeake Bay's Submerged Aquatic Vegetation (SAV) program. In discussing projects with Maryland's Department of Natural Resources, Brooke elaborates on the intricacies of their small-scale restoration projects, the impact of COVID-19, and her passion for involving the local community in marine restoration.
Click the button below to explore more details about Chesapeake Bay's SAV project!
Project LinkCassie Gurbisz is an assistant professor and coastal ecosystem ecologist at Saint Mary’s College in Maryland. Her research focuses on how seagrass and other submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) ecosystems change and how these structural changes affect the function of the ecosystems. In this interview, she describes specifics about her work in the Chesapeake Bay as well as global applications for SAV restoration and how these projects interact with fisheries and human use.
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Cassie's LabMax Calloway takes us through the unnatural path of his early career as well as what a “normal day” in the office or field is like. Max tells us about the nuances of working in Puget Sound as well as the differences and similarities between working with kelp and seagrass habitats. Interestingly, Max also tackles some of the bigger issues scientists and researchers face both during the COVID-19 pandemic and in the midst of climate change.
Click the button below to investigate the Bull Kelp project in Puget Sound!
Project LinkThis panel style interview includes two principal investigators who conduct seagrass restoration research in the Gulf of Mexico and in Southern California waters. These seasoned scientists discuss the similarities in their respective habitat restoration methods while expressing geographical differences due to certain environmental stressors.
Use the buttons below to dive into Kelly's Coastal Ecology Lab at USM and browse Adam's current work with Paua Marine Research Group.
Kelly Adam