Channel Islands Divers Support Research on Acoustics, Giant Kelp, and Bioplastics

May 21, 2024

two people on deck in their dive gear — NOAA divers prepare to swap out an acoustic receiver off San Miguel Island in the Channel Islands off the California coast. Photo: NOAA

NOAA divers spent the day at San Miguel Island in Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary finishing up the West Coast observations by swapping out the acoustic receivers that are located at 13 sites around the Channel Islands. With acoustic receivers, we can get the exact position of tagged animals that use the sanctuary as habitat and improve our understanding of animal movement and connectivity between the sanctuary and mainland. Signals from white sharks, giant sea bass, and other large tagged sharks and fish are recorded when they swim within a half mile of an acoustic receiver.

The dive team also supported the research of a current Dr. Nancy Foster Scholar, Natalie Dornan, who is studying the cycling of nutrients in kelp forest ecosystems, by diving inside and outside of kelp forests to collect water and kelp samples. Dornan's dissertation work aims to improve our understanding of how nitrogen drives kelp production, contributing to our ability to manage kelp forests in the West Coast Region effectively in the face of changing ocean conditions.

person holding up a algae sample — Dr. Nancy Foster Scholar Natalie Dornan holds an algae sample. Photo: Claire Fackler/NOAA

group of people around a table on deck cleaning a sampleing container cover in algae, barnacles and other thing — The team works together to clean algae, barnacles, and other growth off of the sampling container for the bioplastics project. Photo: Claire Fackler/NOAA

Another project supported through this field work was a National Science Foundation-funded bioplastics (biodegradable materials) project that needs to be visited underwater at least twice a year to remove the algae growth on the sampling gear.