Infrastructure upgrade for DoD-relevant research on long-lived marine vertebrates
Abstract
Agency Program Officer: Dr. Michael WeiseDirectorate: Office of Naval Research, Marine Mammals and Biology program (ONR MMB)SummaryMarine megafauna in general and marine mammals in particular are challenging to study. However, a few systems including the northernelephant seal (Mirounga angustirostris) are particularly amenable to research. The elephant seal colony at Año Nuevo Reserve has been studied for over four decades with support from many agencies, including the NOPP, NOAA, NSF, the Office of Naval Research and SERDP. Innovations in research methodologies and the long-term monitoring of elephant seals have played a critical role in facilitating scientific investigations of other marine mammal species, including threatened, endangered, and at-risk species that are of deep concern to the DoD operations. Additionally, the proximity of Año Nuevo Reserve to the UC Santa Cruz campus enables undergraduate andgraduate students to participate in the world-class northern elephant seal research program. We are requesting a facilities upgradethat will significantly increase the capabilities of this unique research program. Specifically, we are asking to purchase an electric pickup truck, a refrigerated centrifuge, and an Argos receiver system. We currently transport students and researchers in an aging gasoline-powered pickup truck purchased with ONR funds in 2005. It is not only expensive to operate, but gasoline used releases 13.08 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions each year, equating to 9 years of carbon dioxide emissions budget for a single person. We propose to purchase a 2022 Ford all-electric truck to enable the resighting of tagged animals, censuses, instrument deployments, and translocations of elephant seals across Monterey Bay, in addition to the purchase of a Wildlife Computers Argos Mote. Currently,all Argos data are received via Argos satellites that are overhead for only 20 minutes 6-8 times per day. A Wildlife Computers Motewould allow real-time data from any Argos transmitter within 90 km of its location. While we propose the acquisition of a single Mote receiver, this unit will be used to determine the efficacy and feasibility of developing a larger integrated Argos receiver arrayaround Monterey Bay, which would provide 24-7 real-time data acquisition for any Argos tag deployed on any species in the region. Finally, a refrigerated centrifuge is necessary to support the increasingly complex physiological studies that are now being carried out with elephant seals at the Año Nuevo colony. The proposed infrastructure investment will enable critical DoD-relevant basic research, facilitate student engagement, and increase UCSC#s ability to train the next generation of under-represented students that will join the STEM and/or DoD workforce. Approved for public release
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Jul 24, 2023
- Source ID
- N000142312511
Entities
People
- Roxanne S Beltran
Organizations
- Office of Naval Research
- United States Navy
- University of California, Santa Cruz