Bodega Marine Laboratory P.O. Box 247 Bodega Bay, CA 94923-0247

Through innovative research programs and teaching initiatives, the Bodega Marine Laboratory will lead the way to the multi-disciplinary scientific understanding required to solve complex environmental problems on the marine and terrestrial sides of the tideline in northern California.

Three major buildings (64,000 ft2) house 65 laboratories and offices. Nearby are two small greenhouses (total 220 ft2), a research greenhouse (2000 ft2), a marine algal culture facility (1200 ft2), and a central service facility (CSF). The CSF includes a 2000 ft2 building that houses trailerable vessels, vehicles, sampling gear, and a self-service fabrication shop; and two SCUBA buildings for diving operations support, including complete Nitrox service and dive locker/shower facility (960 ft2). A Diver Training Facility (5000 ft2) allows on-site formal dive training and equipment testing. Instrumentation facilities include a state-of-the-art scanning laser confocal microscope equipped with four lasers in addition to a temperature-controlled stage and water immersion lenses. The Bodega Ocean Observing Node (BOON) provides automated monitoring of meteorological and oceanographic conditions. Continuous, near real-time measurements and archived data sets from environmental instrumentation, including HF radar (ocean surface currents) and ADCPs (vertical current profiles), are available on the BOON website . Central microcomputer and library facilities are available 24 hours a day. The library is fully connected to the Internet, providing computerized database searching. A part-time librarian provides document delivery and research assistance to resident and visiting researchers and students. An extensive automated seawater system pumps about one million gallons a day to service numerous outside tanks, two major aquarium rooms, two large teaching laboratories, a number of research labs and a self-contained laboratory designed for the study of marine pathogens. Housing for visitors consists of 95 beds (3 dormitories and 3 apartments) and a dining hall. A visiting faculty lodge contains 6 private rooms with a shared kitchen. Numerous conferences also use these facilities.

Although a wide variety of research projects are being carried out on the Reserve and in the Laboratory by resident and visiting scientists and students, much of the research can be loosely grouped into the areas of oceanographic influences on marine populations, marine ecology and impacts of non-native species, responses of marine organisms to environmental stress, coastal fish ecology & restoration, and coastal terrestrial ecology.

A Research-Experience-for-Undergraduates program, supported by the National Science Foundation, is held each summer. In addition, undergraduate courses in Physiological Adaptation, and Population Biology/Ecology (spring quarter) and Marine and Coastal Field Ecology (summer) are given every year by BML resident scientists. Other courses, taught at BML by faculty from other institutions, involve about 1,000 students a year. A weekly seminar program brings speakers to the Laboratory year-round, and in-house researchers present their research at noon-time seminars. Guided tours and education for the public are provided by 15 volunteer docents who host 10,000 visitors each year.

Ernie Chang
Gary Cherr, Director
Jim Clegg
Brian Gaylord
Tessa Hill
John Largier
Steven Morgan
Eric Sanford
Don Strong
Susan Williams

Bodega Marine Lab (BML) is located on the Sonoma County coast, about 70 miles north of San Francisco. All facilities reside on the Bodega Marine Reserve, a 362-acre research and teaching reserve surrounded by two state parks, a protected harbor and the Pacific Ocean. The Reserve is part of the University of California's Natural Reserve System, and includes a rich mix of coastal habitats. Undisturbed rocky intertidal areas are within 100 meters of the Laboratory buildings, and extend over 2 km along the Reserve boundaries. Other intertidal habitats on the Reserve include protected and exposed sandy beaches, extensive lagoon mudflats and sandflats, and a small tidal marsh. Contiguous with the Reserve is the Bodega State Marine Reserve, a fully protected reserve managed by BML and extending 1000 feet offshore. Habitats within the Refuge, and the additional subtidal habitats utilized by BML divers, are remarkable for their diversity and abundance of flora and fauna. Located in the southern portion of one of the most significant upwelling systems in the world, these benthic and nektonic habitats provide excellent opportunities for underwater research. The Bodega State Marine Reserve is contiguous with NOAA's Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary, providing additional research sites and opportunities. Reserve upland habitats include sand dunes, bluffs, coastal prairie and coastal scrub. Plant communities, soils and microclimates vary sharply over relatively small distances on the Reserve because of a variety of geological factors associated with the Reserve's contact with the Pacific Ocean. The entire Reserve is fenced and posted to exclude the public, permitting long-term field research free from external disturbances.

Gary Cherr (Director)
Bodega Marine Laboratory
Box 247, Westside Road
Bodega Bay CA 94923
(707) 875-2211 FAX (707) 875-2009
E-mail: ucdbml@ucdavis.edu

Web Site: http://www.bml.ucdavis.edu