The Benthic Lab has been working at Moss Landing Marine Laboratories since 1970. Five senior staff and eight graduate students are involved in studies of natural and human disturbances impacting coastal marine, estuarine, and freshwater systems.
Projects are highly field oriented and extend from the tropics to the poles.
Aroon Melwani Tamara Voss Applied Ecology Natural disturbance is used as a reference for evaluating the ecological impacts of human activities from chemical contamination to water diversions. Through close collaboration with the California Mussel Watch Program at Moss Landing Marine Labs, we focus on the biology, chemistry and toxicity of contamination from petroleum hydrocarbons, pesticides and herbicides, other organic compounds, and trace metals. Habitat Restoration and Planning Effective land use planning is done at the watershed level, and natural habitats provide the best models for restoration. This approach requires experience with environmental laws and policies and a strong commitment to environmental planning. The major focus of our environmental planning is on the restoration and conservation of coastal wetlands, adjacent upland environments, and watershed restoration.