Postulated by Bayer (1955), the calcaxonian gorgonians may have close affinity to the pennatulaceans based on the resemblance of axial structure observed under polarized light microscopy. To further confirm the phylogenetic relationship between the tw . . .

Pacific harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) within San Francisco Bay (SFB) have been described as stable compared with those in coastal northern California, like Tomales Bay (TB). Historical data (1970s - early 2000s) indicated an overall increase in adults . . .

Mangrove ecosystems are at continued risk of degradation and deforestation through anthropogenic activity. Mangroves once covered 75% of tropical coastlines, and only 30 - 50% of this habitat currently remains. These ecosystems provide important benef . . .

The occupation of an ecosystem by a new top predator could affect the stability of a food web. In San Francisco Bay (SF Bay), there is evidence for a multi-decadal disappearance of harbor porpoises {Phocoena phocoena) that spanned from the 1940’s to t . . .

Groundwater sustainability is at the forefront of resource management. In light of climate change and growing populations, meeting future water needs must be met with planning and innovation. This is particularly challenging in cities where recharge i . . .

Plastic debris in aquatic environments can accumulate ions from the surrounding water, potentially altering the fate of trace metals in these ecosystems. Mechanisms driving this process are poorly understood, and may be attributed to organic matter fo . . .

Morphological variations in widely distributed plants may be driven by phenotypic plasticity or by underlying genetic differences. In the brackish open water region of the San Francisco Estuary (SFE), a population of sago pondweed, (Stuckenia pectinat . . .

This study examined the benthic zone of tidal habitats in the San Francisco Estuary (SFE) in order to characterize this understudied part of the ecosystem. Microbial community composition was evaluated in relation to nutrient flux rates from the sedim . . .

A systematic monograph of the lichen genus Usnea from the remote, under-explored islands of Sao Tome and Principe (ST&P) in tropical West Africa is presented, treating 11 species representing 2 subgenera, Usnea and Eumitria. Ten of the 11 species are . . .

The Amazon River Plume (ARP) is a productive region of the Atlantic Ocean where riverine nutrients drive particulate productivity. A portion of the carbon produced by phytoplankton is released as dissolved organic carbon (DOC); this research investiga . . .