The Deep Sea
The deep sea is the largest environment on the planet, and provides many services to society, and yet much of its function remains largely unknown. As part of this lab’s research, we aim to understand the mechanisms by which this vast ecosystem functions, often connecting what happens on micron scales to the globe as a whole.
Much of our current work focus on the greenhouse gas methane. Methane exists in massive seafloor resevoirs. Where these reservoirs leak, microbes eat the methane as an energy source. This both creates an entire food web built on chemicals rather than sunlight, while at the same time keeping that methane out of the atmosphere.
A Global Perspective
While research often takes place on small scales, even trying to understand what is going on at a sub-micron scale, the implications can be vast. This is especially true for the deep sea, where vast areas have processes that, over centuries, create an incredibly important environment. Sinking particles are broken down by microbes and release nutrients that eventually fuel vast fisheries. And so in addition to mechanistic studies at all ocean depths, a focus of the lab is synthesizing research from around the world and facilitating collaboration to gain a holistic understanding of the deep sea and its role to society.
Ecosystem Services
We have recently embarked upon aiming to better understand the potential futures that methane seeps may offer for society. Read more about it, and our recent cruise here: Blue Economy of Seeps
Communicating importance
Our lives are tied to the processes of the deep sea, and yet our biggest hurdle is that most don't know this. We collaborate with artists, educators, and producers to translate the amazing importance of the depths to our global society.