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Research projects within the sanctuary system allow scientists to address other information needs that are not recognized through site characterization and monitoring. Process studies, modeling, and prediction are research activities conducted at sanctuary locations. Scientists conduct process studies to better understand the ecosystem and how it functions within a sanctuary. Process studies also allow scientists to better understand the resources within a sanctuary and how their condition is affected and changed. Scientists will also create models to represent ecosystems. Managers can then use these models to predict future changes and make appropriate preventative actions or purposeful restoration efforts.

Click here to find out more about Research within the National Marine Sanctuary Program

Starting in August 2004, Oikonos-Ecosystem Knowledge in collaboration with National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, Moss Landing Marine Lab, Duke University, and Claremont College,launched a multi-disciplinary research program to assess the habitats and the conservation status of marine birds in the California Current System. Within this larger ecosystem-level context, this project addresses two complimentary priorities: (i) to provide needed information on the conservation status of the Black-footed Albatross (Phoebastria nigripes) off the West Coast of North America, and (ii) to enhance the understanding of the foraging grounds and movements of this threatened species across the northeast Pacific Ocean. With support of the Sanctuary's research vessels C. Magister and Phocoena, a total of 28 birds were tagged in the summers of 2004 - 2007. To learn more about this study, download papers and articles, and track the newly tagged birds in 2007, visit www.oikonos.org/albatross.htm. Stay tuned to www.signalsofspring.net/ACES for educational materials developed in partnership with NOAA

PRBO Conservation Science, in partnership with Cordell Bank and Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuaries, have been investigating the spatial and temporal relationships between krill, krill predators, and oceanographic processes in the Gulf of the Farallones and Cordell Bank. This project aims to test the hypothesis that timing, intensity, and duration of upwelling influences the distribution, abundance, growth and reproductive dynamics of euphausiids (better known as krill) thus affecting the distribution and abundance of krill predators in the region.

The CSCAPE 2005 cruise was a collaboration between the National Marine Fisheries Service and the National Marine Sanctuary Program to assess the abundance and distribution of marine mammals and to characterize the pelagic ecosystem off the U.S. West Coast. The primary objective was to conduct a marine mammal assessment survey out to a distance of approximately 300 nautical miles, with additional fine-scale surveys within the NMS boundaries. A secondary objective was to characterize thepelagic ecosystem within the study area, through the collection of underway and station-based biological and oceanographic data, seabird studies, and acoustic sampling. A final objective was to conduct biopsy sampling and photo-identification studies of marine mammal species of special interest. The next CSACPE cruise is scheduled for 2008.