Birch Aquarium at Scripps Announces Fall Lecture Series
Aug 22, 2008 - La Jolla Light
A sheephead, one of 20 exploited La Jolla kelp forest species - the habits of which were factored into a formula devised by Scripps marine ecologist Ed Parnell in creating a scientifically based method of marine reserve design.
Photo by: Courtesy
The Jeffrey B. Graham Perspectives on Ocean Science Lecture Series provides presentations on research conducted worldwide by scientists from Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego. Scripps scientists are exploring Earth's mysteries in hundreds of research projects under way on every continent. The fall 2008 series of presentations explores marine protected areas and near-shore research in Southern California.
Monday, Sept. 8 A Place of Their Own: Protecting Sea Life in California Edward Parnell The global catch of wild fish has recently plateaued, and many of the world's fisheries are presently fished at or over capacity. Marine protected areas (MPAs) in the ocean are afforded some level of protection from fishing and pollution. Join Scripps marine ecologist Edward Parnell as he describes the science behind MPAs, the process of establishing an MPA network off California and preliminary results from large MPAs around the Channel Islands. Parnell also will discuss his own research in waters off San Diego.
Monday, Oct. 13 Essential Connections: Natural History, Collections and Marine Conservation Phillip Hastings Natural history collections are the basis of our knowledge of biodiversity patterns. Together with life history studies of individual species, they play a critical role in identifying habitats and regions of special concern to conservation biology. Join Phillip Hastings, curator of the Marine Vertebrate Collection at Scripps, as he describes his research on fishes of the Gulf of California and Southern California. Learn how this type of research is essential for guiding conservation efforts aimed at protecting marine fisheries and ecosystems.
Monday, Nov. 10 Marine Protected Areas: Coming Soon to a Coast Near You Russell Moll The development of marine protected areas is a complex mixture of science and politics that engages numerous stakeholders. While it is easy to recognize the importance and benefit of creating these networks, it is often challenging to agree on where to place them. Join Russell Moll, director of California Sea Grant, as he explains the intricate processes involved at state, national and international levels and the steps taken to see if these networks are achieving desired outcomes. The California Sea Grant funds marine research at public and private universities throughout the state.
Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA) This fall's Perspectives lectures are aligned with the MLPA Southern California Aquarium Partnership, a grant-funded collaboration among Birch Aquarium at Scripps, Aquarium of the Pacific, Cabrillo Marine Aquarium and the Ocean Institute to present programs for southern Californians about the provisions of the Marine Life Protection Act. The MLPA, passed by California legislators in 1999, directs the state to design and manage a network of marine protected areas in order to protect marine life and habitats, marine ecosystems and marine natural heritage, as well as improve recreational, educational and study opportunities provided by marine ecosystems.
Through lectures, activities and family-friendly events, each institution will engage local audiences in the important process of designating Marine Protected Areas in Southern California.
For more information on the 18-month MPA process for the South Coast Study Region, please visit California Department of Fish and Game's Web site at dfg.ca.gov/mlpa.
Perspectives lectures are intended for a lay audience. Birch Aquarium admission and parking are included. Light refreshments will be served.
Past lectures air on UCSD-TV and broadcast to more than 16 million viewers via satellite and cable television. Past lectures also can be found on YouTube. For more information, visit: http://ucsd.tv/oceanscience.
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