Over 130 UC Santa Cruz scientists, researchers, visiting scientists, graduate students and undergraduate students use the facilities at the campus's Long Marine Laboratory each year. The lab is known throughout the world for innovative marine mammal research in areas such as diving physiology, physiological ecology, bioacoustics, and cognition. Researchers at the lab are also active in the areas of environmental toxicology, nearshore ecology, and invertebrate marine biology. The population of marine mammals living at the laboratory in recent years has included two Atlantic bottlenose dolphins, four California sea lions (including the one pictured above), an elephant seal, and a harbor seal. In addition there are occasional short-term residents, such as young elephant seals involved in research projects or stranded animals who are taken care of at the lab for short periods of time before being relocated to other facilities. (Photo: Don Kenny) Back to UC Santa Cruz page