Based on these observations a positive feedback between water column anoxia, enhanced benthic phosphorus regeneration, and marine productivity has been proposed and incorporated into a large scale mathematical model of the ocean. The feedback effect helps explain the widespread accumulation of organic-rich marine sediments deposited from anoxic waters that are observed in the geologic record. Another line of research related to the above topics is determining the chemical bond structure of P in marine organic matter by applying both liquid and solid-state NMR techniques. Samples from controlled decomposition experiments as well as natural samples are presently being analyzed in order to understand observed changes in P availability with progressive decomposition. Paul Montagna's research focuses on the ecology of benthos coastal and offshore sediments.
Research projects range from population genetics to ecosystem ecology.
Recently, he has demonstrated that river and wastewater diversions can restore marshes in the Nueces Delta. The importance of freshwater inflow in maintaining benthic production has also been demonstrated. Seasonal hypoxia in Corpus Christi Bay has been discovered and described. In another project, he assessed effects of storm water outfalls and found that only three are contributing significant amounts of pollution to Corpus Christi Bay. He has demonstrated that small crustacea lose genetic diversity when exposed to pesticides.