Intertidal field work at Hopkins Marine Station, Pacific Grove, CA. CSUMB undergrads Alex Blackwell and Patrick Carilli learning how to deploy robomussel temperature loggers with Dr. Luke Miller. Photo: A. Verga-Lagier


Ocean Acidification and Hypoxia Effects on Rockfish

The California Current Ecosystem already experiences substantial fluctuations in pH and hypoxia levels due to springtime upwelling events that cause cold, nutrient-rich, oxygen-poor, and acidic waters to shoal into the nearshore environment. Organisms that reside in these environments may already possess pre-adapted or acclimated traits that enable them to survive in these temporally and spatially variable habitats. Conversely, these species may be at higher risk if they are already living close to their upper limits of physiological tolerance. As climate change intensifies, these coastal upwelling event may increase in frequency and duration. With funding from the CA SeaGrant and the Ocean Protection Council we are investigating the effects of ocean acidification and hypoxia on rockfish reproduction and their capacity for rapid adaptation. Rockfish serve as an excellent comparative group due to their >65 closely related congeners with distinct life history traits. Additionally, rockfish species hold considerable ecological and economic importance, making them a crucial group of organisms to examine.


Relevant Publications

*Mattiasen EG, Kashef NS, Stafford DM, Logan CA, Sogard SM, Bjorkstedt EP, Hamilton SL. 2020. Effects of hypoxia on the behavior and physiology of kelp forest fishes. Global Change Biology. https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.15076 ​

*Cline AJ, Hamilton SL, Logan CA. 2020. Effects of multiple climate change stressors on gene expression in blue rockfish (Sebastes mystinus). Journal of Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology, Part A. 239: 110580. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cbpa.2019.110580

Hamilton SL, Kashef N, Stafford D, Mattiasen EG*, Kapphahn L*, Logan CA, Bjorkstedt E, Sogard S. 2019. Ocean acidification and hypoxia can have opposite effects on rockfish otolith growth. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology. 521: 151245. 
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jembe.2019.151245

Hamilton SL, Logan CA, *Fennie HW, Sogard SM, Barry JP, *Makukhov A, *Tobosa L, *Boyer K, Lovera C, Bernardi G. 2017. Species-specific responses of juvenile rockfish to ocean acidification. PLoS ONE 12(1): e0169670. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0169670 link


Climate Change Effects on Coral Reefs

Climate warming poses a significant threat to coral reef ecosystems by increasing the frequency of mass coral bleaching events. Prior estimates suggest that coral reefs may encounter biannual bleaching by mid-century, unless they are capable of adapting or acclimatizing at a rate of approximately 0.2-1.0°C per decade. However, numerous predictive models that emphasize the adverse outcomes of climate change neglect to account for corals' potential for acclimatization or genetic adaptation to elevated sea surface temperatures. Our research focuses on examining the effects of climate stressors on corals and their ability to acclimate and adapt. Such insights can inform and improve predictive models that forecast the impacts of future warming and acidification on coral reef ecosystems.

Relevant Publications

Cornwall CE, Comeau S, Donner, SD, Perry C, Dunne J, van Hooidonk R, *Ryan S, Logan CA. 2023. Coral adaptive capacity insufficient to halt global transition of coral reefs into net erosion under climate change. Global Change Biology. 00:1–9. doi.org/10.1111/gcb.16647

Donovan MK, Alves C, Burns J, Drury C, Meier OW, Ritson-Williams R, Cunning R, Dunn RP, Goodbody-Gringley G, Henderson LM, Knapp ISS, Levy J, Logan CA, Mudge L, Sullivan C, Gates R, Asner, G. 2022. From polyps to pixels: understanding coral reef resilience to local and global change across scales. Landscape Ecology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10980-022-01463-3
​
McClanahan TR, Darling ES, Oddenyo R, Surya G, Beger M, Fox F, Jupiter SD, McLeod L, McManus L, van Woesik R, Grantham, H, Logan CA, Maina, J Patankar V,  Wenger A, Zinke J. 2022. Forecasting Climate Sanctuaries for Securing the Future of Coral Reefs. https://wcs.org/coral-science-whitepaper 
​
*Naugle MS, Oliver TA, Barshis DJ, Gates RD, Logan CA. 2021. Variation in coral thermotolerance across a pollution gradient erodes as coral symbionts shift to more heat-tolerant genera. Frontiers in Marine Science. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2021.760891​
​
Logan CA, Dunne JP, Ryan JS, Baskett ML, Donner SD. 2021. Quantifying global potential for coral evolutionary response to climate change. Nature Climate Change. 11: 537–542 https://doi.org/10.1038/s41558-021-01037-2
​
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2019. A Decision Framework for Interventions to Increase the Persistence and Resilience of Coral Reefs. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. https://doi.org/10.17226/25424
 
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2019. A Research Review of Interventions to Increase the Persistence and Resilience of Coral Reefs. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. https://doi.org/10.17226/25279

Bay RA, Rose NH, Logan CA, Palumbi SR. 2017. Genomic models predict successful adaptation if future ocean warming rates are reduced. Science Advances. 3(11), e1701413. link

Logan CA, Dunne JP, Eakin CM, Donner SD. 2014. Incorporating adaptive responses into future projections of coral bleaching. Global Change Biology. 20(1): 125-139. doi: 10.1111/gcb12390 link 

Pinsky ML, Kroeker KJ, Logan CA, Barshis DJ. 2013. Marine conservation and climate change. Encyclopedia of Biodiversity. Elsevier Inc. 

Logan CA, Dunne J, Eakin CM, Donner SD. 2012. A framework for comparing coral bleaching thresholds. Proceedings of the 12th International Coral Reef Symposium, Cairns, Australia. 

Teneva L, Karnauskas M, Logan CA, Bianucci L, Currie J, Kleypas JA.  2011. Predicting coral bleaching events: considerations of adaptation rates, natural variability and ocean acidification. Coral Reefs. 30(1): 1-12. doi: 10.1007/s00338-011-0812-9 PDF 


Temperature Stress

The intertidal zone is a challenging habitat, existing at the interface between terrestrial and marine ecosystems. The fluctuation of the tides forces inhabitants to adapt to a constant flow of environmental stressors, including desiccation, extreme temperatures, and UV radiation. Ectothermic organisms, whose body temperatures fluctuate with their surrounding environment, have evolved mechanisms to survive in this extreme environment. My research interests focus on the biochemical and physiological adaptations that invertebrates and fish have evolved to inhabit this dynamic environment. 

Relevant Publications

Logan CA, Buckley, BA. 2015. Transcriptomic responses to environmental temperature in eurythermal and stenothermal fishes. Journal of Experimental Biology. doi: 10.1242/jeb.114397

Logan CA, Kost LE, Somero GN. 2012. Latitudinal differences in Mytilus californianus thermal physiology. Marine Ecological Progress Series. 450: 93-105. doi: 10.335/meps09491

Logan CA and Somero GN. 2011. Effects of thermal acclimation on transcriptional responses to acute heat stress in the eurythermal fish Gillichthys mirabilis (Cooper). American Journal Physiology Regulatory Integrative and Comparative Physiology. 300(6): R1373-83 PDF

Logan CA and Somero GN. 2010. Transcriptional responses to thermal acclimation in the eurythermal fish Gillichthys mirabilis (Cooper 1864). American Journal Physiology Regulatory Integrative and Comparative Physiology. 299(4): R1132 PDF


Climate Change and Marine Policy

Facilitating public and policy maker access to climate change science is essential for effecting meaningful change. The following policy-relevant publications are intended to aid conservation managers and individuals without a scientific background in comprehending the subject matter.

Relevant Publications

Cooley S, Schoeman D, Bopp L, Boyd P, Donner S, Ito SI, Kiessling W, Martinetto P, Ojea E, Racault MF, Rost B, Skern-Mauritzen M, Ghebrehiwet DY, Bell JD, Blanchard J, Bolin J, Cheung WW, Cisneros-Montemayor A, Dupont S, Dutkiewicz S, Frölicher T, Gaitán-Espitia JD, Molinos JG, Gurney-Smith H, Henson S, Hidalgo M, Holland E, Kopp R, Kordas R, Kwiatkowski L, Le Bris N, Lluch-Cota SE, Logan CA, Mark FC, Mgaya Y, Moloney C, Muñoz Sevilla NP, Randin G, Raja NB, Rajkaran A, Richardson A, Roe S, Ruiz Diaz R, Salili D, Sallée JB, Scales K, Scobie M, Simmons CT, Torres O, Yool A. (2022): Chapter 3: Oceans and Coastal Ecosystems and their Services, In: Climate Change 2022: Impacts, adaptation and vulnerability. Contribution of the WGII to the 6th assessment report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, IPCC AR6 WGII, www.ipcc.ch/report/ar6/wg2/, Cambridge University Press.

National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2019. A Decision Framework for Interventions to Increase the Persistence and Resilience of Coral Reefs. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. https://doi.org/10.17226/25424
 
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2019. A Research Review of Interventions to Increase the Persistence and Resilience of Coral Reefs. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. https://doi.org/10.17226/25279

Heenan A, Pomeroy R, Bell J, Munday P, Cheung W, Logan CA, Brainard R, Amrih AY, Alinoi P, Armadaj N, David L, Guieb R,  Green S, Jompa J, Leonardo T, Mamauag S, Parker B, Shackeroff J, Yasin Z. 2015. A climate-informed, ecosystem approach to fisheries management. Marine Policy. doi:10.1016/j.marpol.2015.03.018

Pinsky ML, Kroeker KJ, Logan CA, Barshis DJ. 2013. Marine conservation and climate change. Encyclopedia of Biodiversity. Elsevier Inc.

Logan CA. 2010. A review of ocean acidification and America’s response.  BioScience. 60: 819–828 PDF

Logan CA. 2009. The role of ocean acidification in America’s climate choices. White Paper. National Academy of Sciences, Washington D.C.