News | Coastal and Marine Sciences Institute

North Coast mussel die-off an alarming sign of warming world’s threat to marine life

July 06, 2019

Marine Ecology

Jackie Sones, Bodega Marine Reserve research coordinator, overlooks a bed of dead mussels that were fried during the June heat wave, Tuesday, July 2, 2019. The high temperatures and the mussels black shells leads to more absorption of sunlight.

For the Santa Rosa Press Democrat, read more

Dr. Tawny Mata will join us as Executive Director of the Coastal and Marine Sciences Institute

July 05, 2019

Announcement

Dr. Tawny Mata will join us in August 2019 as the new Executive Director of the Coastal and Marine Sciences Institute at UC Davis.

We are extremely fortunate to have someone with her talents and experience to help lead us through the next steps of implementing our Strategic Plan, strengthening and expanding our internal and external programs and partnerships, and continuing to build on the foundation that our remarkable community has developed since CMSI launched, barely 6 years ago.

Dead mussels on the rocks in the Bodega Marine Reserve on June 19. (Photo by Jackie Sones)

California’s Early June Heat Wave Cooked Coastal Mussels in Place

June 26, 2019

Marine Ecology

Between increasing heat and shell-dissolving ocean acidification, shellfish die offs may become more common and predictive mechanisms even more critical.

Listen on KQED Forum "June Heat Wave Baked Local Mussels"

As the oceans acidify, these oyster farmers are fighting back

June 25, 2019

Climate Change

It's often hard to notice ecological changes, even when they threaten catastrophe. One oyster company in California hopes to change that.

A Tidepool in Time

June 23, 2019

Climate Change

Witnessing a changed world from the rocky shores of Monterey Bay

Bay Nature Magazine, read more

How is climate change affecting oceans? Check the tide pools

June 21, 2019

Marine Ecology

Marine biologist Eric Sanford hikes down to Horseshoe Cove to study tide pools at the UC Davis Bodega Marine Laboratory in Bodega Bay, Calif. on Wednesday, April 17, 2019. Sanford's research is examining the impacts that climate change is having within intertidal zones.

For the SF Chronicle, read more

A Tradition of Terrestriality: Population Biology Ph.D. Student Victoria Morgan Journeys Among Land Crabs

June 04, 2019

Marine Ecology

While her focus is crabs, Morgan’s research could provide clues to reveal broader trends of terrestriality across all species.

Dying Oceans: Abalone Restoration In California

May 29, 2019

The ocean is a sponge for all the greenhouse gas emissions we produce, and entire aquatic ecosystems are beginning to collapse. Off the coast of California, the disappearing abalone population is raising flags about ocean health and the lasting impact of rising sea temperatures, acidification and pollution. Various teams of scientists, volunteers and businesspeople are collaborating to protect underwater species threatened by the invasion of sea urchins.

Atlantic killifish contributed key adaptive genetic variation to the Gulf killifish, which amounted to an evolutionary rescue from toxic pollutants. (Andrew Whitehead/UC Davis)

An Evolutionary Rescue in Polluted Waters

May 02, 2019

Environmental Toxicology

How Genetics, Resources and a Long-Distant Relative Helped One Lucky Fish Species Adapt to Extreme Pollution

Scientists celebrating breakthrough in race to save endangered white abalone at UC Davis Bodega Marine Laboratory

April 26, 2019

Conservation

Scientists are celebrating a population boom among endangered white abalone being raised at the UC Davis Bodega Marine Lab as they approach the day they can begin introducing captive-bred sea snails into their natural ocean habitat — perhaps later this year or next.