IMS Newsfeed
May 1, 2021
William Doyle, founding director of UCSC’s Institute of Marine Sciences, dies at 91
April 28, 2021
William T. Doyle, professor emeritus of biology and founding director of the Institute of Marine Sciences (IMS) at UC Santa Cruz, died peacefully at his home in Santa Cruz on April 21. He was 91.
Researchers rescue endangered black abalone buried by debris flows
April 23, 2021
Massive quantities of sediment washed onto the Big Sur coast from the Dolan Fire burn scar, burying black abalone in their rocky intertidal habitat.
IMS Director Dan Costa named a fellow of the Society for Marine Mammalogy
April 16, 2021
Daniel Costa, professor of ecology and evolutionary biology and director of the Institute of Marine Sciences at UC Santa Cruz, has been honored by the Society of Marine Mammalogy (SMM) in its inaugural class of SMM Fellows.
Coral reefs prevent more than $5.3 billion in potential flood damage for U.S. property owners
April 15, 2021
A new study reveals how valuable coral reefs are in protecting people, structures, and economic activity in the United States from coastal flooding during storms.
Study of U.S. tuna fisheries explores nexus of climate change, sustainable seafood
April 13, 2021
A new study by researchers at UC Santa Cruz and NOAA examines traditional aspects of seafood sustainability alongside greenhouse gas emissions to better understand the carbon footprint of U.S. tuna fisheries.
Seymour Center plans for physical reopening as virtual programs continue to expand their reach
March 31, 2021
Seymour Center Outdoors!, a new in-person outdoor education program, is scheduled to open to the general public on April 24.
Changes in ocean chemistry show how sea level affects global carbon cycle
March 25, 2021
A new analysis of strontium isotopes reveals how the global carbon cycle has responded to changes in climate and sea level through geologic time.
Two UCSC research teams recognized for outstanding papers in PNAS
March 22, 2021
The Cozzarelli Prize recognizes selected papers as outstanding contributions to the scientific disciplines represented by the National Academy of Sciences.
For migrating elephant seals, ‘lightscapes of fear’ shape feeding, resting strategies
March 17, 2021
A new tracking study shows how elephant seals balance predator avoidance and the need to feed, shifting strategies as their body condition improves during a 7-month foraging migration.
Sea otters maintain remnants of healthy kelp forest amid sea urchin barrens
March 8, 2021
While kelp forests have declined dramatically along the California coast, sea otters in Monterey Bay are maintaining patches of healthy kelp forest, according to a new study.
Return to Rat Island: Conservation strategy leads to ecosystem rebound
March 8, 2021
Hawadax Island's birds and seashore ecosystem have returned to a natural balance after the removal of invasive rodents.
The collapse of Northern California kelp forests will be hard to reverse
March 5, 2021
Most of Northern California’s kelp forest ecosystem is gone, replaced by widespread ‘urchin barrens’ that may persist long into the future, according to a new study.
UCSC leads multicampus initiative on coastal resilience and climate adaptation
March 3, 2021
A UC-funded initiative will bring together researchers at the Santa Cruz, Santa Barbara, and San Diego campuses to address pressing issues for California’s coastal communities.
Healthy oceans need healthy soundscapes, say marine scientists
February 4, 2021
A global team of researchers has documented the pervasive impacts of noise on marine animals and ecosystems and identified actions to return to the soundtrack of the healthy ocean.
Seawater intake replacement, bike path improvement projects win public works awards
February 2, 2021
A $1.1 million project to replace the seawater intake structure at the UC Santa Cruz Long Marine Lab was selected as environmental project of the year by the Monterey Bay chapter of the American Public Works Association.
Seymour Marine Discovery Center offers new marine science virtual expeditions
January 25, 2021
“Scientists Saving the Oceans” program begins with a behind-the-scenes look at how marine mammal researchers are working to protect dolphins and whales from ocean noise.
UC Santa Cruz offers virtual tours of Younger Lagoon Natural Reserve
January 11, 2021
Prompted by the temporary suspension of in-person tours due to COVID-19, the new virtual tours are available in English and Spanish.
New analysis highlights importance of groundwater discharge into oceans
January 8, 2021
A global assessment of the impact of groundwater on ocean chemistry is important for understanding the weathering of rocks and its effects on climate.
Marine mammals’ adaptations to low oxygen offer new perspective on COVID-19
December 3, 2020
Humans are poorly adapted for oxygen deprivation, making us vulnerable to long-term effects from a disease that disrupts the body’s oxygen supply pathway.
AXA Chair at UC Santa Cruz funds efforts to build coastal resilience naturally
December 1, 2020
Marine scientist Michael Beck was awarded the chair to support his work on natural defenses to enhance coastal resilience to flooding, erosion, and sea level rise.
Research breakthrough achieves fish-free aquaculture feed that raises key standards
November 12, 2020
A new aquaculture feed formula eliminates conventional fish meal and fish oil ingredients by combining ingredients derived from two species of marine microalgae.
Spring-run and fall-run Chinook salmon aren’t as different as they seem
October 29, 2020
Genetic analysis of Klamath River Chinook salmon finds a simple genetic variant determines the timing of migration, and seasonal runs are otherwise the same fish.
Ocean scientist Christina Ravelo honored as a Fellow of the California Academy of Sciences
October 12, 2020
Christina Ravelo, professor of ocean sciences at UC Santa Cruz, has been selected by the California Academy of Sciences to join the ranks of Academy Fellows.
High-fidelity record of Earth’s climate history puts current changes in context
September 10, 2020
A continuous record of the past 66 million years shows natural climate variability due to changes in Earth’s orbit around the sun is much smaller than projected future warming due to greenhouse gas emissions.
Cooperative research effort documents northward migration of kelp forests
September 9, 2020
From Alaska to Mexico, warming waters are driving widespread changes in these highly productive coastal ecosystems.
Marine mammals show off their training in evacuation from Long Marine Lab
August 24, 2020
All of the resident marine mammals at UCSC’s Long Marine Laboratory are safe and well after a successful evacuation effort.
Coastal scientist Borja Reguero awarded Early-Career Research Fellowship
August 20, 2020
The Gulf Research Program of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine has awarded a 2020 Early-Career Research Fellowship to IMS researcher Borja Reguero.
Alaska’s salmon are getting smaller, affecting people and ecosystems
August 19, 2020
A comprehensive study of four salmon species across all regions of Alaska finds salmon are returning to rivers smaller and younger than in the past.
Influential marine biologist John Pearse dies at 84
August 5, 2020
A leading authority on marine invertebrates and intertidal ecology, Pearse was a beloved teacher and mentor to generations of marine biologists.
Is COVID-related reduction in marine traffic reducing stress in whales?
July 17, 2020
Whale researchers are taking advantage of changes in boat traffic in Monterey Bay during the pandemic to collect data on stress hormones in humpback whales.
Researchers honored for work in UCSC-NOAA Fisheries Collaborative Program
July 1, 2020
Three researchers affiliated with the Institute of Marine Sciences (IMS) at UC Santa Cruz have received awards from the NOAA Southwest Fisheries Science Center for their outstanding contributions to research in 2019.
Marine scientist Adina Paytan to receive A.G. Huntsman Medal
September 5, 2019
Adina Paytan, a research professor in the Institute of Marine Sciences, has been honored with the 2019 A.G. Huntsman Award for Excellence in the Marine Sciences presented by the Royal Society of Canada.
Corals can survive in acidified ocean conditions, but have lower density skeletons
June 26, 2019
A two-year transplantation experiment near a natural low-pH submarine spring evaluated growth and physiological response of different coral species to ocean acidification.
