NOAA Teacher at Sea
Jacqueline Omania
Aboard NOAA Ship Reuben Lasker
July 14- July 24, 2025
Mission: Oceanographic and Biological Monitoring of Davidson Seamount
Geographic Area: Davidson Seamount/Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary
Date: July 20, 2025
Weather Data from the Bridge
Latitude: 35° 36.65’ N
Longitude: 122° 47.97’ W
Wind Speed: 13 knots
Wave Height: 4-5’
Air Temperature: 15.3C/59F
Sky: Overcast
Science and Technology Log:
We have finished five transects with two left to go. Today (Saturday 7/19) we had the deepest drop to 2000 meters and collected eDNA samples for future processing by the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI). The work with eDNA (DNA shed from animals that have been in the area in the last 24-48 hours) compliments the first hand observations that the scientists on the deck are making. These samples are sent to MBARI and will be processed in 1-2 years. The time does seem long, yet the greatest challenge is getting the samples in the first place. So we are doing the essential work towards developing a deeper understanding of species distribution and how seamounts may be influencing the ocean’s biodiversity.
Once the CTD measurements and water sample collection is done at a station location, the ship moves again to the next CTD location on the transect. While the ship is moving along the transect, the seabird and mammal scientists are at work on the flying bridge (top deck of the ship) counting species seen within the observation zone (as detailed in previous post). So far, in five days of research, we have the following results.
- Tuesday: 331 observations- 284 seabirds, 47 mammals
- Wednesday: 303 observations- 274 seabirds (107 Red-necked Phalaropes), 29 mammals (19 fur seals, 6 whales)
- Thursday: 173 observations- 120 seabirds (mostly Red-necked Phalaropes, storm petrels and Ashy Storm Petrels), 53 mammals (mostly fur seals, whales and dolphins)
- Friday: 136 observations- 92 seabirds (mostly Leach’s Storm Petrels), 44 mammals
- Saturday: 74 observations- 40 seabirds, 34 mammals (mostly whales)
Our effort is adding up and we now have 994 observations! The team is happy as we have been having good weather and calm seas to allow for good observational data collection.
Alongside the research that we are working on, we are also having some fun with ‘ocean shrinky dinks’. As you descend in the ocean, the pressure changes, increasing one atmosphere (14.7 pounds/ sq. inch) for every 10 meters below sea level. Animals adapt in many ways to this changing pressure; whales collapse their lungs when they dive deep and rely on the oxygen in their blood and muscles during this time. We can see the results of this change if we send a material like styrofoam down; the pressure squeezes the air out and the item shrinks. The deeper the object goes, the more the air is squeezed out and the smaller it gets.
We decorated styrofoam that are in the shape of cones, bears and birds – thanks to marine ecologist Erica Burton who brought all the materials and decorating pens. We then attached these items in laundry bags to the CTD rosette on deeper drops of 1620m, 1710m and 2000m (the blue dots on the transect map shared in the last post). Once we pulled up the CTD rosette–voila! our ‘shrinky dinks’ were ready, at a fraction of the original size! I am very excited to share these tangible projects with my students as they learn about the ocean.
Meet the Science Team!
I would like to introduce the team behind all this amazing science. Our chief scientist is Chad King, a research ecologist from Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary (MBNMS), also known for being the chief scientist on the 2018-2020 EV Nautilus expeditions with Ocean Exploration Trust that discovered the octopus garden along the flanks of Davidson Seamount at 3200 meters deep. A fun fact is that back in 2019, my class scored a virtual interaction with the Nautilus as it explored the deep ocean, with Chad as our ship-to-shore connection. Chad answered many of my students’ questions about studying the deep sea while actually on board the Nautilus. I never imagined that one day I would be able to join him on a research mission!
Assisting Chad with the CTD and eDNA work in the wet lab is Erica Burton, also a research ecologist from MBNMS. Erica specializes in ichthyology (study of fish), but has co-authored many research papers and the Davidson Seamount Taxonomic Guide, so she is known as a species expert. I am grateful to both of them for taking the time to explain the details of their work with me and for teaching me how to do eDNA sampling.
Interview with Chad King:
Chad is a research ecologist with MBNMS who has a background in kelp forest ecology, GIS and he is an expedition diver and diver trainer with NOAA. He has been working with NOAA since 2008 and has been involved in various projects with the sanctuary including microplastic monitoring. He lives in Gilroy with his wife and two children Maya and Noah. Maya is studying at UC Berkeley and Noah is in high school.
Why is your work important?
Regular research, with our partners, is important for the sanctuary because we study priority or new issues such as kelp loss and microplastics, but we are also working on the ongoing characterization and exploration of the sanctuary. Exploration is so valuable because you don’t know what you will find.
What do you enjoy about your work? What is a challenge?
I enjoy the variety of work- I get to be a “jack of all trades”- and do different work week to week. It is fresh and engaging and I am exposed to more subjects related to the sanctuary. A challenge is having enough time to analyze the data since I am moving from project to project.
When did you know you wanted an ocean focused career?
As a child I feared the ocean, and over the years I learned that the best way to overcome fear was with knowledge. I watched a lot of ocean documentaries by Jacques Cousteau and visited the Monterey Bay Aquarium. By middle school, I knew I wanted to be a marine biologist. After high school, I went to UC Santa Cruz and majored in marine biology. After trying out working in real estate for 4 years, I returned to marine biology for a master’s degree from Moss Landing Marine Lab.
What book/activity do you recommend to a young person interested in an ocean focused career?
Bully for Brontosaurus: Reflections in Natural History is an engaging book that focuses on science and critical thinking skills. Reading it turned me on to science. I also recommend trying snorkeling as early as you can. Also, if it is possible, become a certified SCUBA diver. You can do so as early as age 10.
The Bird and Mammal Team
While Erica and Chad work in the wet lab, on the flying bridge are the bird and mammal specialists from Point Blue Conservation Science. Point Blue is a group of “160 scientists who work to reduce the impacts of climate change, habitat loss, and other environmental threats while developing nature-based solutions to benefit both wildlife and people.”
On our mission we have biologists Jim Tietz, Rudy Wallen, Julie Howar and Mike Johns from Point Blue. We also have Holly Lohuis, a marine life naturalist from Island Packers; Melissa Ashley, a CA Sea Grant Fellow; and NOAA Hollings Scholar Kylie Marozsan.
Point Blue Marine Scientist
Point Blue Marine Scientist
Point Blue Marine Scientist
Interview with Marine Ecologist Mike Johns
Mike Johns is a senior marine ecologist on our team. He works for Point Blue Conservation Science which is based in Petaluma. His focus is seabird studies and the Farallon Islands. He lives in Tacoma, Washington with his husband and his dog Noosa.
Why is your work important?
My work brings an understanding of how seabirds and the ecosystem depend on one another and respond to changes in our planet. I’m documenting how our actions impact the organisms we share our planet with.
What do you enjoy about your work?
I enjoy collecting data in the field through hands-on studies of birds, and once back at the office, revealing hidden patterns with long term data sets and creating engaging graphics – like animations of plots – that the general public can learn from.
What is a challenge?
Navigating the politics of work and staying funded are challenges. Working remotely is hard because you have no friends to bounce ideas off of.
When did you know you wanted an ocean focused career?
I’ve always loved camping in the Sierra Nevada as a kid, and surfing – once I discovered the ocean. Right after high school, at the age of 18, I worked as a deck hand on a whale watching boat in Monterey. The whales were cool, but I was captivated by the sea birds and how they can be the tiny size of a sparrow and spend their whole life at sea.
What was your path to becoming a marine ecologist ?
I attended CSU Monterey Bay and majored in environmental science. After graduating, in the summer of 2012- from March to August- I did the Farallon Seabird Internship. I lived in an 1850’s lighthouse keeper’s house with 4-8 others and was immersed in wildlife and the ocean. Whenever you went outside the Western Gulls were attacking us! On the Farallones, I learned about observation, banding and other elements of field research. This experience gave me the background to get other projects. I have worked on various sea bird projects in the Bering Sea (Alaska), Hawaii and Tasmania.
What books and activities do you recommend to someone who is interested in an ocean focused career?
Carl Safina has written many books on the ocean. I recommend Song for the Blue Ocean and Eye of the Albatross. For activities, I recommend tidepooling, bird and whale watching and …. looking at a droplet of water under a microscope.
Interview with Naturalist Holly Lohuis
Holly is a naturalist with Island Packers, the boat concession to Channel Islands National Park and marine educator with the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum. She also is the co-director of the newly designated Santa Barbara Channel Whale Heritage Area and has been an expedition diver and marine biologist with Jean-Michel Cousteau (son of Jacques Cousteau) and his marine conservation organization, Ocean Futures Society since 2002. She lives in Carpinteria with her partner Chuck and son, Gavin.
Why is your work important?
The ocean covers over 70% of our planet and contains over 90% of the living space. Yet, there are many unknowns about the ocean, especially in the deep sea and the rich diversity of marine life around seamounts. That’s why long-term monitoring by the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary (MBNMS) is vital for informing decisions about preserving these unique ecosystems.
What do you enjoy about your work here at Davidson Seamount?
I love being part of a team where the crew and scientists all share a deep passion for ocean conservation. Every day, I’m learning something new—especially about seabird species—thanks to the expertise of our seabird biologists.
What is a challenge?
It is a challenge to be away from home but my work for decades has taken me away from home, traveling around the world with Jean-Michel Cousteau and his expedition team. But I still miss Chuck, Gavin, my friends, family and my cat Avalon.
When did you know you wanted an ocean focused career?
In 5th grade, my teacher Ms. Brown asked us to do a report on who we wanted to be when we grew up. I chose Sylvia Earle because I was fascinated by her deep-sea dives and ocean exploration. I also loved watching the Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau and like many people, I dreamed of being a silver suited diver on Cousteau’s team. Growing up landlocked in Sacramento, I knew I’d eventually want to live by the ocean.
What was your path to becoming a naturalist?
I went to UC Santa Barbara and majored in aquatic biology. In my last year of college, I interned at the Marine Mammal Rescue Center in Santa Barbara. After graduating, I worked at a local dive center in Santa Barbara and then with Island Packers. I also connected with Jean-Michel Cousteau and was hired as a diver and marine biologist at his small eco-resort in Fiji. My experiences both aboard Island Packers’ boats and while working in Fiji deepened my passion for educating others about the incredible diversity and delicate nature of both kelp forests and coral reefs, and how each of us can make a meaningful difference in protecting our ocean.
What books and activities and advice do you have to someone who is interested in an ocean focused career?
I recommend any books by Dr. Sylvia Earle like The World is Blue and Sea Change. I also love books by Carl Safina, Susan Casey and Cullum Roberts.
Take advantage of internship opportunities. Volunteer for local marine or coastal organizations and meet like-minded people who can be mentors and help with job opportunities.
Getting scuba certified can open up many opportunities in marine science and conservation work.
Go whale watching! Follow your curiosity. Learn the science. Spend time in, on, and near the ocean. And most of all—share what you love with others. Ocean careers need storytellers, scientists, educators, and advocates working together.
Personal Log:
I am getting into my routine of waking up and joining the observation crew on the flying bridge. It is such a beautiful gift to be out on the Pacific learning to do bird and mammal observations. I am gaining observation skills and have been seeing so many more animals. I know now how to spot groups of whales far out on the horizon. I have observed minke and blue whales and marveled as Laysan Albatross and Black-footed Albatrosses gently glide over the surface of the water. I am so happy to learn about these types of albatrosses in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. My students and I have been studying albatrosses in the context of Antarctic animals and now I have the knowledge to teach about these local species.
The animal observations on the flying bridge last approximately 45 minutes to one hour and then there is a break during CTD rosette deployment stops. Some scientists go for coffee and snacks; others -like Holly- go to the gym and run a mile on the treadmill. Holly has been an inspiration and I am also going down to the gym to work out once a day (Holly goes 3 times a day to run over 3 miles!). I am quite proud of myself for being able to do cycling and the elliptical machine with all the rocking of the boat. The waves are getting a bit stronger these days and I am adapting.
I have also been getting to know many of the people on board that are supporting the work of the scientists- both NOAA Corps and the crew. I have been interviewing some of them to prepare for future posts. Our meals continue to be amazing; tonight for Sunday dinner we had steak and lobster as an option. On every cruise, there is a special meal night and tonight was that night. There’s always a vegetarian option as well as a large salad bar at every meal. Tonight’s special desert was the ice cream sundae which is appropriate since it was World Ice Cream Day!
We are also building community aboard the ship as time passes. It is a bit like being in a dorm in college; however, we are even more tightly together since the ship is our only place to go. Yet, it is wonderful to share a space so closely with people that have a passion for science, the ocean and its conservation. With shipboard life, they also have the time and interest to share their knowledge. I am learning so much from every person I meet. I am also amazed that so many people – especially on the crew- have worked in Antarctica.
We are also having fun. On Saturday, we had a barbeque with a cooking challenge. The crew set up a cornhole game on the lower deck. In the evenings, after dinner and after our 8 o’clock science meeting, we play card games. Amity, my roommate, leads these with a treasure chest of games she has brought on board. I have learned several new and wonderful card games – like Skyjo and Exploding Kittens- to share with my class.
Did you know?
Black-footed Albatross nest in the Hawaiian Islands and 98% of the species lives there. They mate for life, lay one egg per clutch and are very long lived; the oldest recorded was a male at nearly 61 years old. They have a keen sense of smell and can detect their favorite food as they glide over the vast ocean. Their wingspan averages 6’9”. Like other seabirds, the albatross can drink saltwater because it has special glands above the eyes that excrete the salt out of their tubenose bill. Black-footed Albatross are on the threatened species list and are threatened by plastic pollution, oil spills and long line fishing.
Photo Credit: Jim Tietz
