Marine Metabonics Lab

The laboratory uses advanced analytical techniques to study the complex patterns of metabolism of species and groups of species as they interact with their environments.  A primary focus is the study of the kinetics and dynamics of changes in lipid products of metabolism and how those profiles can be used to evaluate the health of marine animals for early detection of health compromises.

Our major goal is to be able to use the profiles to identify when organisms are getting into metabolic trouble BEFORE there are clinical signs so management options can be deployed before things reach the crises point of a fish or coral die off.

The gas chromatography, HPLC and other equipment in the laboratory can also be used to identify the toxins directly and quantify them.  Most recently the laboratory has been looking at the ecological kinetics of malathion at the terrestrial/aquatic interface.