O'Leary Lab:
Applied Marine Ecology
Applied Marine Ecology
California Polytechnic State University & California Sea Grant
[email protected]
[email protected]
LAB NEWS:
Grad student Erin Aiello was awarded an NSF for her masters research on eelgrass!
Grad student Erin Aiello was awarded an NSF for her masters research on eelgrass!
We conduct lab and field studies to evaluate how human disturbance and environmental variability affect persistence and recovery of marine systems, and how we can manage complex systems for long term sustainability. We use results to inform management and conservation policies locally and globally. The lab focuses on kelp forest and estuary ecosystems in California. Dr. O'Leary also conducts work on MPA management in East Africa (see about J. O'Leary above) in collaboration with the Kenya Wildlife Service, Tanzanian Marine Parks Authority, and Seychelles National Parks Authority.
CURRENT RESEARCH PROJECTS:
Causes & Consequences of Eelgrass Decline: Morro Bay This is a working group with five Cal Poly faculty looking at why eelgrass has declined in Morro Bay and what factors are impeding restoration efforts. We are evaluating biological, physical, and historical data. The O'Leary Lab helped develop the field monitoring program with the Morro Bay National Estuary Program, and is conducting field data collection on grazing, competition, and epifauna communities, as well as evaluating consequences of eelgrass loss on bird and fish populations. Co-PI: Ryan Walter, Physics, Cal Poly; Jenn Yost, Biology, CP; Clint Francis, Biology, CP. Effects of seastar loss on intertidal communities We are working with 3 other California Universities (Stanford, UC Davis, and Humboldt State) to conduct long term field surveys of how intertidal communities change in the absence of seastars and during seastar population recovery from the 2013-14 wasting disease. The O'Leary Lab is contributing to the this state-wide study, and also looking at changes associated with seastar loss in the presence and absence of human trampling and harvest. The local public radio station recently reported some of our findings: http://kcbx.org/post/star-fish-population-rebound-along-west-coast Fish trapping with fishers to assess MPAs This is a collaborative effort with Dean Wendt (Cal Poly), Grant Waltz (Cal Poly) and commercial trap fishers. We are assessing fish populations inside and outside of MPAs in central California using standard fish traps to compare results with previous trapping done between 2007-2009 at the inception of the MPAs. We will determine catch per unit effort (CPUE) and abundance of nearshore groundfish, and track movement through tagging. This project is funded by the Morro Bay Community Quota Fund. Abalone & Crab Recruitment Dynamics We are assessing recruitment dynamics of red abalone (Haliotis rufescens) and the abundance of abalone settlement substrate (crustose coralline algae) in Northern and Central California. We are evaluating the timing of larval settlement and how distribution and abundance of abalone affect recruitment rates. We are collaborating with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife to inform management efforts of the important red abalone recreational fishery. (Co-PI Laura Rogers-Bennet, CDFW). This year (Spring 2016), we also conducted daily assessment of crab recruitment dynamics at the Cal Poly Pier for over 3 months. We are evaluating oceanographic cues associated with crab recruitment (over 10 species including Dungeness crab; co-PI Ryan Walter, CP). Zero-Genomics We are developing novel meta-genomic techniques to allow rapid assessment of recruitment from numerous small and spatially explicit field samples. This is critical for management because recruitment is a vital component of population dynamics, yet this data is laborious to obtain due to sample processing time. Co-PIs Steve Palumbi, Bryan Barney: Stanford University) |
Dr. O'Leary
Lab PI |
Prospective Lab Members
UNDERGRADUATES: If you are interested in volunteering in the lab, please send me your CV and a paragraph about why you want to join the lab (e.g. what do you want to do and what type of career are you planning for). |
GRADUATE STUDENTS When there are openings in my lab, I prefer students who have worked for at least 1-2 years to gain experience in ecology before graduate school. Also, its a good idea to try to develop an NSF doctoral proposal to pay the cost of your graduate school. Otherwise, I can only accept you if I have grant money to support a graduate student. |