Undergraduate Research at Scripps Institution of Oceanography

Faculty mentorsand proposed projects for SURF projects- Summer 2013

• Investigating CaCO3 dissolution/dissolution rates in the context of ocean acidification (Prof. Andreas Andersson)
  
• Cycling of biologically active trace metals in marine systems (Prof. Katherine Barbeau)
• Evolutionary genetics and molecular ecology of marine organisms (Prof. Ron Burton)
• Biochemical characterization of light producing compounds (bioluminescence and fluorescence) (Dr. Dimitri Deheyn)
• Physical science of climate and climate change; the role of aerosols and meteorological clouds (Prof. Amato Evan)

• Phytoplankton photosynthetic physiology and ecology; Applications of ocean optics and satellite remote sensing in coral reef ecology (Dr. B. Greg Mitchell)

• Whale acoustics; analyses of long-term Southern California fin whale songs recordings and fin whale song pattern description (Dr. Ana Sirovic)
• Influence of Anthropogenic Noise on the Echolocation Behavior of Beaked Whales (Dr. Simone Baumann-Pickering) Beaked whales appear to be affected by anthropogenic noise, particularly navy sonar but likely other loud sound sources as well.  Beaked whale echolocation is discriminable to species level and therefore well suited for long-term acoustic monitoring. In this research project we intend to quantify how anthropogenic noise may influence echolocation behavior of beaked whales in the Southern California Bight.

• Paleomagnetic studies of sedimentary core records from continental margins (Prof. Jeff Gee)

• Tracing pollution in near shore marine systems and examining changes in near shore foodwebs (Prof. Carolyn Kurle)
• Ecology of coastal and deep sea benthic ecosystems, ecosystems responses to climate change (deoxygenation, acidification) (Prof. Lisa Levin)
• Applications of magnetic measurements on local igneous rocks to examine the record of the magnetic field during the Cretaceous.   (Prof. Lisa Tauxe)  Project Description:  The strength of the magnetic field varies through time from roughly  a tenth of the present field to some four times the current strength over time scales from a few centuries (or shorter) to 10s or 100s of million years.  The field now is in a state in which it reverses its polarity on every four times per million years but there are times in the past when it didn't reverse for 10s of millions of years.  Some believe that the two processes are linked and that the field during times of frequent reversals is weaker than times when it doesn't reverse at all.  Yet data are scarce for the non-reversing intervals, the last of which was the Cretaceous.  There is a great pile of Cretaceous aged igneous material in the mountains directly to the East of us and it is possible that these rocks retain an excellent record of the ancient magnetic field.  The research project will be to analyze material in hand to determine if the rocks are suitable for study.  Then, the student will design and carry out a sampling program, and measure their own samples in the lab.  If successful, this project could result in a published paper. Students need a background in field geology and petrology.

• Characteristics of microbial communities in deep-ocean trenches (Prof. Douglas Bartlett)  Project Description:  Isolation and characterization of novel deep-sea microbes from hydrothermal vents and from deep-ocean trenches (Mid-Caymen Rise vent system and the Mariana Trench).  The projects would entail the cultivation of extremophilic microorganisms at high pressure and under diverse physiological conditions in order to explore the adaptations of life to the largest portion of the biosphere.  Isolates would be characterized with regard to phylogenetics, morphology, growth characteristics, substrate utilization, and perhaps biotechnology potential. Knowledge of sterile technique and some molecular biology is a great advantage.  But, at a minimum students should have knowledge of general chemistry and biology, be able to prepare chemical stock solutions of a specific molarity, and arrive prepared to work five days per week and fulfill all of the obligations associated with fully participating in this REU program.  We are looking forward to working with students who are highly motivated to obtain specialized training in molecular microbiology and to characterize the diversity of life present in relatively unstudied, remote, extreme and alien-like settings. 

• Surface wave and ambient noise tomography using ocean bottom seismometers (OBSs) (Prof. Gabi Laske) Project description: Seismic tomography is a geophysicist's workhorse to image Earth's internal structure. Surface waves help unravel anomalies that reach down into the asthenosphere, or about 200 km in depth. We will use data gathered on OBSs  deployed around Hawaii to examine details of the magma plumbing system that feeds Hawaii's volcanoes."

• Terrestrial volcanology and geochemistry- Studies of lunar and planetary formation (Prof.James Day)
• Physical oceanography or climate modeling (Dr. Art Miller)
  
• Petrology and isotope geochemistry of the post-subduction magnesian andesites from Baja California, Mexico:  Implications for the origin of continental crust (Prof. Paterno Castillo)

• Assessing genetic connectivity of marine invertebrates between South America and Antarctica. (Prof. Greg Rouse)
  

• Marine Natural Products:  Drug Discovery from Cyanobacteria (Prof. William Gerwick)
• California Cooperative Oceanic Fisheries Investigation (CalCOFI):  Characterization of the abundance and distribution of micronekton assemblages in the California Current (Dr. Tony Koslow)   Project Description:  Kostlow's Lab uses acoustic and pelagic trawl sampling on the quarterly CalCOFI cruises to study the micronektom (krill and small midwater fishes, squid and crustaceans) of the California Current:  their abundance, distribution, seasonality, feeding, productivity, vertical migrations and other behavior, their place in regional food webs, influence on predators and prey, and the impacts of climate variability and climate change.  The SURF project will potentially involve going to sea to sample the micronekton, working up the samples in the lab and analyses of data related to one of more areas of micronekton ecology. 
• Marine Microbiology, microbial diversity, drug discovery (Dr. Paul Jensen)
  
• Climate change impacts on the California Current Ecosystem, especially marine zooplankton  (Prof. Mark Ohman)
• Geochemical analysis of marine sediment cores related to climate change and productivity (Prof. Richard Norris)
• Physical Oceanography/Air-Sea Interactions (Prof. Ken Melville)
  
• Characteristics of reef growth, coral settlement and community composition  (Prof. Jennifer Smith)  Project Descriptions:  Assist with ongoing assessments of coral reef community structure and health from across the central Pacific. Projects will involve learning common species of benthic reef organisms and analyzing photographic data taken across islands in Hawaii, the Marianas, Samoa and the Line and Phoenix Islands.  Examine differences in reef growth, coral settlement and community composition across the islands of the central Pacific.  Assist with and participate in experiments in California to examine the responses of marine organisms to ocean acidification.  Catalog the seaweeds of California and assess the current distribution and ecology of invasive seaweeds along the CA coast
• Molecular-level examination of the interactions between cyanobacteria and some protozoan predators; investigations of swimming motility in marine cyanobacteria (Dr. Bianca Brahamsha)  Project Descriptions:  Examination of the interactions between cyanobacteria and some of their protozoan predators at the molecular level.  Investigation of swimming motility in marine cyanobacteria. 
• Aquatic Ecosystem Ecology (Prof. Jon Shurin)  Project Descriptions: Investigate the effect of temperature and temperature variability on freshwater aquatic taxa. The student would have the opportunity to help sample freshwater lakes along an elevation gradient in Yosemite National Park for zooplankton, phytoplankton, bacteria and viruses. The REU project would be to explore the intra-specific variation in thermal tolerance of zooplankton collected from the Yosemite lakes. The student would gain lab experience maintaining zooplankton cultures and conducting a controlled life-history experiment.  Investigating the effect of sea-level rise on salt marsh communities. The student will work in the lab and in several southern California marshes, surveying plants and collecting and identifying invertebrates with a graduate student. There may also be an opportunity to conduct greenhouse experiments with salt marsh plants.

• Climate Studies: Using observation and numerical model results to analyze the variability of air-sea exchanges of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the California Current Ecosystem. (Dr. Ariane Verdy)  Project Description:  Analyze the variability of air-sea exchanges of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the California Current Ecosystem, using both observations and numerical model results. The goal of this research is to determine the impact of various physical and biological processes on the ocean carbon cycle.