Investigating biological responses to ocean alkalinity enhancement on pelagic calcifiers (AlkBioCalc).

Leading conceptual and experimental work on the impacts of ocean alkalinity enhancement on ecologically and economically important marine calcifiers (Dungeness crabs, krill, copepods, oysters, red urchins). Defining biological thresholds for aquaculture and fisheries to determine sage operating space. Ongoing, Role: Lead Investigator.

Assessing chemical and biological implications of alkalinity enhancement using carbonate salts obtained from captured CO2 to mitigate negative effects of ocean acidification and enable mCDR.

I am leading biological synthesis of how marine species are expected to respond to OAE.  This includes a structured review and meta-analysis of published OA and OAE studies to identify generalizable, mechanism-based response patterns across taxa and life stages to define biologically safe operating spaces for OAE. Ongoing, Role: Co-lead Investigator.

Oceans as sustainable solutions for climate change: ecosystem and biogeochemical approaches.

I am leading the work with the focus on natural analogues related to the ocean alkalinity enhancement in the Adriatic and Mediterranean Sea, investigating the impacts on the ecological sustainability, abiotic precipitation, and carbonate chemistry dynamics, governance and economic assessment. Role: Lead Investigator.

Biomarkers of subcellular stress under global environmental change.

The work focused on understanding of energetic constraints and organismal capacity to sustaining vital biological processes through the development of cellular biomarkers against the ocean acidification and warming. I oversaw scientific and logistics operation of the state-of-the-art experimental platforms, providing support for the R&D engineering customized support while managing diverse workstreams. Competed. Role: Lead Investigator.

Interactive effect of OA and hypoxia on CA species with ecological and fisheries importance.

The goal of this project was to experimentally define thresholds to combined ocean acidification and hypoxia. We developed physiological and genetic markers that can be used in the field as indicators of organismal health under multiple stressors which can result in greater cumulative impacts on species. The results are used to more accurately forecast their risks and how the exposure to stressors will intersect with management and planning, and what actions can be employed to support the resilience of this important fisheries. Role: Lead Investigator.

Pteropods as indicators of ocean acidification in the high latitudinal environment. 

I led investigation of ocean acidification impacts in high latitudinal environments and the direct impact on the marine calcifiers (pteropods). The goal was to develop applicability of pteropods as OA indicators for addressing a key need for tracking ecosystem change relevant to effective fisheries resource management. and monitoring efforts. Biological data was combined with environmental data to identify potential refugia and habitats of concern and provide foundation for future monitoring of ecosystem health and investigation of ocean acidification in the North Pacific ecosystems.  Role: Lead Investigator.

Cultivating Seaweeds to Mitigate Ocean Acidification.

This multi-partner project was focused on development of phytoremediation techniques (i.e. cultivation of sugar kelp) as a strategy for removing CO2 from seawater to improve local conditions by offsetting the effects from ocean acidification in the local estuarine environment important for marine resources and aquaculture industry. I lead the biological component of the project, determining the effect of kelp on a suite of calcifying organisms within the kelp farm. Specialized in situ mesocosms to conduct the experiments under kelp-related fluctuating carbonate chemistry conditions was developed. Role: Co-Lead Investigator.