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About the Lab

The Marine Biogeochemistry Laboratory is headed by Dr. Maria Lourdes San Diego-McGlone, a Full Professor at the UP Marine Science Institute.  The research interest of the lab is to examine environmental stressors and their impact on coastal systems.  Among these stressors are increased nutrients, ocean warming, and low pH. 

Research Overview

The diagram on the left describes how environmental stressors are linked and their attendant impacts. Increased nutrients from anthropogenic activities (e.g. mariculture, domestic inputs) bring about eutrophication that can lead to blooms of algae that are either toxic or non-toxic, and fish kills.  Decomposition of dead blooms and other organic matter will utilize/deplete dissolved oxygen resulting in anoxia or hypoxia and release carbon dioxide.  Elevated carbon dioxide will decrease seawater pH and create acidic conditions that are detrimental to corals.  Ocean warming will increase respiration rates, cause coral bleaching resulting in poor coral health. 

Activities and Events

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