March 10, 1995 Contact: Robert Irion (408/459-2495)

"MONTEREY BAY REGIONAL STUDIES" ACTIVITIES BEGIN AT UC SANTA CRUZ

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SANTA CRUZ, CA--The well-being of the Monterey Bay environment, from the mountaintops to the ocean floor, is the focus of a broad new program based at UC Santa Cruz known as Monterey Bay Regional Studies (MBRS).

Researchers at UCSC created the program, pronounced "embers," to help draw dividends from the region's remarkable wealth of natural and social scientists. Under the auspices of MBRS, teams of students and faculty will cross disciplinary lines to study scientific issues and their consequences--such as the restoration of Fort Ord, the effects of farming on Elkhorn Slough, and the history and future of the bay's fisheries.

The program's early stages at UCSC will feature a new course, a daylong symposium, and "demonstration projects" to test the multidisciplinary approach. Ultimately, MBRS planners envision a baywide network of researchers working together on studies that scientists from any one discipline would find daunting.

"It's logical that MBRS start at UCSC--we have strong and diverse programs in both marine and terrestrial research, as well as in the social sciences," says professor of biology Laurel Fox, director of MBRS. "We've been saying for years that the strength of UCSC is its location, in this unique and rich coastal zone. This is one way to take advantage of that strength."

Chancellor Karl S. Pister of UCSC has recognized the potential of MBRS by committing funds to some of its programs. Faculty members associated with MBRS are seeking grants from other agencies, both regionally and nationally, to bolster their efforts.

At a workshop last year, participants from about twenty area institutions agreed that MBRS was a worthy pursuit. Their chosen theme, "bidirectional interactions in coastal environments," reflects the complex interplay of land, sea, and air in the region. It also acknowledges the influence that humans have upon the bay's natural systems--none of which remain pristine.

"Our region is undergoing massive transformations," says Fox. "The growing number of people affects land use, habitats, the sea-- virtually everything in the environment. The coastline represents a filter to these natural and social processes, rather than a barrier."

The workshop served as a starting point for researchers at various agencies to talk more with each other about their work. To get MBRS fired up in a formal way, participants advised that UCSC take the lead in creating its initial programs. In response, Fox and her colleagues have planned the following:

-- A spring-quarter seminar for graduate students and advanced undergraduates at UCSC on marine and environmental issues, such as fisheries, the effects of ecotourism on the bay, and the impacts of agriculture on the region. Professor of marine sciences Mary Silver and associate professor of environmental studies Margaret FitzSimmons will teach the course.

-- A one-day symposium in the spring focusing on Monterey Bay's fisheries. Invited speakers will explore how global climate changes may affect coastal fisheries, including their history in the region and their regulation. The symposium will be free and open to the public; a date and time will be announced later this month.

-- Three demonstration projects to begin in July. Funding from Chancellor Pister will provide seed money for the projects and financial support for graduate student researchers. One possible topic is the dynamics and management of maritime chaparral habitats, including hundreds of acres of relatively unspoiled land at Fort Ord. Researchers also plan to increase their involvement at Elkhorn Slough, where investigators from many agencies are exploring the effects of farming practices on the slough's delicate marshes and wildlife.

MBRS faculty and students at UCSC also have started a monthly series of informal gatherings to discuss topics of mutual interest. For instance, speakers at a March 7 meeting on "perceptions of nature" included wildlife biologist James Estes, geographer Margaret FitzSimmons, and politics expert Ronnie Lipschutz.

"We now have a critical mass of faculty committed to multidisciplinary research," says Fox. "MBRS will be a focus for our interactions, and it will help us to meet our responsibilities to the Monterey Bay region."

Editor's note: Laurel Fox is at (408) 459-2533 or .

This release is also available on UC NewWire, the University of California's electronic news service. To access by modem, dial (209) 244-6971.

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