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| Diving....good times in cold water | Big Eisenia at Punta San Roque |
I am currently working on my M.S. degree in Ecology here at SDSU. My project deals with the effects of temperature and nutrients on the distribution of two understory kelps, Pterygophora californica and Eisenia arborea (Laminariales) along the California and Baja California coastline and is focusing on whether these abiotic factors may be setting the southern limit of Pterygophora in northern Baja. In this project I am looking at the macroscopic adult stages by collecting and analyzing tissue samples for percent nitrogen and correlating that to ambient levels of nitrogen over the course of one year to see how these species deal with fluctuating resources. I am also conducting culturing experiments with the microscopic stages of these two algae to examine if these abiotic factors affect the ability of the gametophytes to undergo sexual reproduction. Additionally, I have been investigating the relationship between latitude and morphology in these two kelps. I have conducted surveys of sites extending from Santa Cruz, CA, to Punta San Roque, Baja California Sur, MX. A large portion of my field work is done during Dr Edwards' Baja expeditions. I am also interested in kelp forest communities, in particular, the ability of macroalgae to facilitate community formation and the subsequent effects on trophic interactions, biogeography and the effects climiate change on distributions and species interactions. In addition to my coursework, I have been a teaching assistant for BIOL 100L, a research assistant in the Marine Plant Ecology lab, graduate student representative on the Dive Control Board and secretary for the Ecology Graduate Student Association (EGSA).
Since I joined the lab in 2003, I have been lucky enough to visit and work in Alaska, Central California, Baja California, Peru and Chile. How many other labs can offer you the chance to travel around the world diving in kelp forests?
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| Diving....good times in cold water | Big Eisenia at Punta San Roque |
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Ready to dive in Alaska
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Diving off inflatables
in Baja
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Three of the original
SDSU Beerpigs (missing Laura)
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Beerpig representatives
at the Tour d' Diego
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