Photo credit: Carin Bailey.
Research at the Seward Marine Center
The research possibilities at the Seward Marine Center are numerous. The seawater system in the large laboratory can be adapted to accommodate a wide range of experimental manipulations under controlled conditions. The close proximity of Resurrection Bay and the waters around the Gulf of Alaska provide collection opportunities of live specimens for quick transport and culture in the laboratory.
Past research topics include:
- Studies of "Red Tide" poison, Saxitoxin, and chemical methods of detection
- Studies on using nutrient rich water from deep in Resurrection Bay for aquaculture
- A study of the potential, techniques and problems relative to production of Pink Salmon fry
- A study on utilizing fish meal and oil as a feed base for Pink Salmon fry
- Studies on the long and short term effects of potential pollutants on marine plants and animals
- Studies on the respiration rates of shrimp larvae
- Studies on the reproductive biology of various species of crabs
- Studies on the growth rates of Alaskan clams
- A study to examine the effect of variations in sea water temperature on pink shrimp behavior and physiology
- Studies on the effect of the discharge of mine railings on the marine environment
- Studies on artificial spawning of Walleye Pollock and survival of the larvae
- Studies on the bioenergetics of Pacific Halibut, yellow fin sole and flathead sole
- Studies on bioenergetics and basic life history of many marine organisms of commercial importance in Alaska
- Larval fish feeding studies to examine the kinds of food sources which can be used and the concentrations needed
- Studies related to the evolutionary development of sensory neural pathways in vertebrates
- Studies on hormone and brain changes during smoltification of salmon
- Studies of the effects of adsorption on amino acid composition in marine sediments
- Research on the biodegradation of hydrocarbons by marine bacteria
More recent research topics include:
- Studies on various aspects of the development, growth rates and reproduction of euphausiids in the northern Gulf of Alaska
- Studies of changes in abundance of euphausiids in the northern Gulf of Alaska
- Studies on the diet of walleye pollock around the Chiswell Islands
- Studies on techniques for mass culture of king crab for the Alaska King Crab Research and Rehabilitation Program. Specifically how larval diet and juvenile substrate effect survival and growth rate of larval and juvenile red king crab.