AMRF research samples processed at
SEA Lab
Story and photographs by Bill Macdonald

Located in Redondo Beach and administered by the Los Angeles Conservation Corps, the SEA Lab is an active marine awareness facility where research and public education merge. It is here that the Algalita Marine Research Foundation has set up a laboratory to process and evaluate samples from research expeditions to the north central pacific gyre. In addition, coastal sampling from the mouths of Ballona Creek and the San Gabriel River are scientifically evaluated here.

Since marine awareness involves environmental issues, the AMRF research staff biologists Gwen Lattin and Ann Zellers often find themselves included in the public facility tours at SEA Lab. These everyday education programs involve an eclectic mix of the general public. On any given day one can find school districts, senior centers, religious groups, service clubs, and others getting marine awareness education. Environmental issues eventually bring tours to the AMRF lab where Lattin and Zellers explain the unfortunate effects of plastic debris in the ocean.

Sea Lab is also known for its Environmental Charter High School (ECHS) program under the tutelage of 9th grade teacher Chris Fox. Fox has set up a student research project where various sections of the coast are selected for beach sand sampling to determine the amount of plastic particles within the sand, called the “plastic load”. ECHS students are additionally involved in plankton studies. The AMRF Sea Lab biologists are frequent guest lecturers and active advisors to the Environmental Charter High School. Ann and Gwen assist with quality control processing of ECHS student samples. Sand collected, needs to be cleaned, sorted, and quantified by the 9th grade class. Some sophomore students, who were enrolled in Fox’s ECHS class last year, have qualified as volunteers to help process AMRF collected beach sand from selected littoral sites. The samples were taken from the mouth of the San Gabriel River, then 50 meters south, 100 meters south, etc. all the way to the Huntington Beach pier. The findings will be cited in an upcoming scientific publication that will examine “plastic load” issues in California’s coastal sand.

The main thrust of the AMRF facility at SEA Lab is to process the research samples gathered by ORV Alguita during AMRF scientific expeditions. Many of the 1999 north central pacific gyre samples were processed at SEA Lab. The “gyre” expedition from 2000 is still being processed, and the current 2002 “gyre” expedition samples are now coming into the SEA Lab facility. The first sample processed from the current “gyre” voyage indicated an increase in pelagic plastic particles.

Samples from the San Gabriel River taken by in 2001 by manta trawl have been finalized. These results are now in the Marine Pollution Bulletin publication process. The Ballona Creek outfall is another coastal near shore site where AMRF samples have been drawn. Ballona Creek samples are taken where the water flow enters the Santa Monica Bay. Here, AMRF employed a surface manta trawl, the mid-depth bongo trawl, and an epibenthic sled drawn across the bottom (on slightly raised skids). These full water column Ballona Creek samples are nearing completion at the time of this report.

The Kelp Bass Study is another AMRF / SEA Lab project. Kelp bass are being maintained in a large holding tank while funding is pending. The concept of the AMRF Kelp Bass Study is to evaluate “endocrine” disruption as the result of plastic ingestion. In other words, researchers will be looking for chemical (hormonal) change in the fish after consuming plastic debris, as opposed to a control group of fish with a standard diet. Male fish will be monitored for production of vitellogenin, the female egg yoke hormone, which should be absent, but is known to be produced when male fish ingest estrogen mimics. Kelp bass were chosen as subjects due to their popularity with sport fishermen. Changes may include transformations in the fish’s reproductive capability, and even changes in gender development. Many things can happen when fish consume plastic, and these will be monitored when the study becomes funded. Some $ 40,000 is needed to finance the kelp bass project.

From education to research data, the AMRF SEA Lab team of Gwen Lattin and Ann Zellers are helping to further marine awareness. As these biologists proceed with processing the steady stream of trawl samples, AMRF remains the leader in evaluating the extent and effects of pelagic plastic debris. As samples are processed, it expands the envelope of knowledge. However, each sample takes over 50 hours to completely process and report, at a cost that exceeds $ 1000.00 per sample collected, making fundraising another important form of collection. These groundbreaking studies provide a wealth of scientific data and merge with “cutting edge” marine awareness education.

Posted: 10/10/02