Joseph M. Long Marine Laboratory

The research and education facilities of the Joseph M. Long Marine Laboratory (LML) provide a state-of-the-art home for interdisciplinary research and teaching on marine life, coastal conservation, climate change impacts and other marine and coastal science issues. The close proximity of the marine lab to the main UCSC campus permits ease of integration of instructional and research activities between the sites.

Long Marine Laboratory is world renowned for innovative research in coastal ecology, marine vertebrates and invertebrates, and marine mammal studies in the lab and field, including physiology, sensory reception, behavior and bioacoustics. The research conducted at Long Marine Lab depends on a reliable seawater system capable of delivering 1,000 gallons per minute of high-quality filtered seawater.

IMS Researchers and staff at Long Marine Lab have developed specially designed research pools and equipment that are used for studying marine mammal diving physiology, bioacoustics, and cognition. Facilities for marine mammal work include five large pools and five smaller pools. Beginning in early 2016, the entire marine mammal pool complex will be completely rebuilt and expanded to increase research capabilities. The lab has housed a wide variety of marine mammals over the years, including Atlantic bottlenose dolphins, southern sea otters, California sea lions, a northern elephant seal, harbor seal, endangered Hawaiian monk seals, a bearded seal, and Arctic ringed and spotted seals.

Additional research facilities at Long Marine Lab include seawater laboratories and tank farms for plankton, marine invertebrate, and fish research; radioisotope labs; a culture lab for marine invertebrate larvae and juveniles; a research SCUBA-diving, small-boat, and field-research support facility; a meteorological station, and a high-frequency radar system for monitoring offshore surface currents.

The Ocean Health Building at LML is a premier research facility for coastal conservation, policy, and research. Built entirely with private support, the center opened in 2001 with 23,000 square feet of labs, offices, and lecture and meeting rooms, providing much needed facilities for IMS Researchers, affiliated faculty, and students. The Coastal Biology Building houses the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (EEB) and supports research and teaching on coastal conservation, ecology, habitat restoration, climate change impacts, and policy.

Available facilities at Long Marine Lab include:

* Outdoor seawater pools and pens for holding pinnipeds, sea otters, and small cetaceans

* Seawater laboratories for fish, plankton, and marine invertebrates

* Radioisotope labs

* Culture lab for fish and marine invertebrate larvae and juveniles

* Controlled photoperiod labs

* Plankton culture labs

* Research scuba-diving facility including Nitrox fill station and small boat staging area

* Meteorological station

* Remote sensing surface current station (CODAR) in cooperation with NOAA

* 1,000-gallon-per-minute seawater delivery system, wet and dry labs, and staff support

CONTACT: Ashley Vizurraga, Assistant Director Institute of Marine Sciences, LML Managing Director