In this project Lisa and Dawson will analyze existing laser scans of California bay laurel trees with basal resprouts across two study sites in Northern California to examine their size post-fire and the relationship of size to fire severity. These results will be crucial to help predict the effects of future wildfire on the surface and ladder fuel loads of areas with California bay laurel trees.

The objective of this proposed effort is to determine the metabolic and immune system costs to chronic stress in the bottlenose dolphin. To this end, metabolic hormones and immune function markers are to be measured in concert with experimental manipulations of circulating cortisol and metabolic rate measurements. Dr. Daniel Crocker will provide the laboratory facilities to be used for most hormone and immune system marker. Dr. Crocker will also oversee the laboratory analyses and participate in data analyses and manuscript preparation.

The decline in northern California kelp forests has triggered scientists and ecosystem managers to address the decline by better understanding the causes of kelp forest die-off. This unprecedented event has presented an opportunity to study the decline and work towards solutions for restoring kelp forests. With funding from The Nature Conservancy, the Hughes Lab at Sonoma State University will be conducting surveys across a gradient of kelp forest decline, as there are still a few resilient patches left to learn and study from.

The Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA) was established by the California Legislature in 1999, and it's main purpose was to establish a network of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) that would serve as "ocean parks" to protect marine life and habitat. We are now about 15 year into the process and to date we still have very little understanding of estuaries within the MLPA network, and if they are meeting their goals of enhancing fisheries and protecting biodiversity.

There is a growing understanding that adipose tissue releases hormones (adipokines) that help regulate metabolism, immune function and reproduction. This study examines changes in blubber gene expression and blood concentrations of adipokines in naturally fasting elephant seals, examines their relationship to immune markers and reproductive hormones, and will provide novel information on how body condition influences health and reproduction in wildlife.

The goal of this project is to uncover how human cells regulate their chromosome organization during cell division throughout normal, and disease states. Chromosomes are packaged DNA structures that consist of an individual’s genetic information. During cell division, chromosomes will duplicate, and divide equally among two daughter cells. Abnormalities that occur during cell division in humans can lead to detrimental consequences, and disease.