Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute
Encyclopedia
The Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) is a not-for-profit oceanographic research center in Moss Landing, California
affiliated with the Monterey Bay Aquarium
. It was founded in 1987 by David Packard
of Hewlett-Packard
fame. Scientists, engineers, and institute staff conduct a large variety of research projects ranging from studies on the molecular biology, bioluminescence, canyon processes, benthic biology, and global climate change. Moss Landing was chosen as the location for MBARI because it is located in the center of Monterey Bay
, at the head of the Monterey Canyon
, and is one of the most diverse marine-life areas on earth.
The institute is not open to the general public, but it has an open house once a year for same. Approximately 220 people work at MBARI—the operating budget is about $30,000,000 per year.
s on a routine basis for both resident and visiting scientists and engineers. The R/V Western Flyer is a twin hull ship deploying a remotely operated vehicle
, the ROV Doc Ricketts, through a moon pool in the center of the ship and is generally used for multi-day expeditions. The Doc Ricketts is a 4 km depth rated vehicle, named after the pioneer marine ecologist Ed Ricketts
. ROV Tiburon, which had been deployed from the R/V Western Flyer since 1997, was officially retired in 2009. Tiburon, meaning "shark" in Spanish, was named by engineer Daniel Davis after he noted the shark-like power and violent turbulence Tiburon expelled from her thrusters. The R/V Point Lobos operates daily with its ROV, Ventana. The ROV Ventana is a 1.8 km depth rated vehicle. The R/V Zephyr also operates frequently and is used to deploy MBARI's AUVs as well as a support vessel for mooring (buoy) operations.
in 2006 to study the lifeforms inhabiting the hydrothermal vents in the sea floor. Using the submersible Alvin
, the team brought back a living Kiwa hirsuta
- a furry crustacean from a biological family
previously unknown to science.
MBARI is also a partner with the Monterey Bay Aquarium and Stanford University in supporting the Center for Ocean Solutions, a nonpartisan organization that brings together marine science and policy to develop solutions to the challenges facing the oceans.
Moss Landing, California
Moss Landing is a census-designated place in Monterey County, California, United States. Moss Landing is located on the Pajaro Valley Consolidated Railroad north-northeast of Monterey, at an elevation of 10 feet . As of the 2010 census, the CDP population was 204, down from 300 at the 2000...
affiliated with the Monterey Bay Aquarium
Monterey Bay Aquarium
The Monterey Bay Aquarium is located on the former site of a sardine cannery on Cannery Row of the Pacific Ocean shoreline in Monterey, California. It has an annual attendance of 1.8 million visitors. It holds thousands of plants and animals, representing 623 separate named species on display...
. It was founded in 1987 by David Packard
David Packard
David Packard was a co-founder of Hewlett-Packard , serving as president , CEO , and Chairman of the Board . He served as U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense from 1969–1971 during the Nixon administration...
of Hewlett-Packard
Hewlett-Packard
Hewlett-Packard Company or HP is an American multinational information technology corporation headquartered in Palo Alto, California, USA that provides products, technologies, softwares, solutions and services to consumers, small- and medium-sized businesses and large enterprises, including...
fame. Scientists, engineers, and institute staff conduct a large variety of research projects ranging from studies on the molecular biology, bioluminescence, canyon processes, benthic biology, and global climate change. Moss Landing was chosen as the location for MBARI because it is located in the center of Monterey Bay
Monterey Bay
Monterey Bay is a bay of the Pacific Ocean, along the central coast of California. The bay is south of San Francisco and San Jose, between the cities of Santa Cruz and Monterey....
, at the head of the Monterey Canyon
Monterey Canyon
Monterey Canyon, or Monterey Submarine Canyon, is a submarine canyon in Monterey Bay, California. It is the subject of ongoing study by the scientists at the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, the Moss Landing Marine Laboratories, and other oceanographic institutions.Monterey Canyon begins...
, and is one of the most diverse marine-life areas on earth.
The institute is not open to the general public, but it has an open house once a year for same. Approximately 220 people work at MBARI—the operating budget is about $30,000,000 per year.
Research vessels
MBARI operates three research vesselResearch vessel
A research vessel is a ship designed and equipped to carry out research at sea. Research vessels carry out a number of roles. Some of these roles can be combined into a single vessel, others require a dedicated vessel...
s on a routine basis for both resident and visiting scientists and engineers. The R/V Western Flyer is a twin hull ship deploying a remotely operated vehicle
Remotely operated vehicle
A remotely operated vehicle is a tethered underwater vehicle. They are common in deepwater industries such as offshore hydrocarbon extraction. An ROV may sometimes be called a remotely operated underwater vehicle to distinguish it from remote control vehicles operating on land or in the air. ROVs...
, the ROV Doc Ricketts, through a moon pool in the center of the ship and is generally used for multi-day expeditions. The Doc Ricketts is a 4 km depth rated vehicle, named after the pioneer marine ecologist Ed Ricketts
Ed Ricketts
Edward Flanders Robb Ricketts commonly known as Ed Ricketts, was an American marine biologist, ecologist, and philosopher...
. ROV Tiburon, which had been deployed from the R/V Western Flyer since 1997, was officially retired in 2009. Tiburon, meaning "shark" in Spanish, was named by engineer Daniel Davis after he noted the shark-like power and violent turbulence Tiburon expelled from her thrusters. The R/V Point Lobos operates daily with its ROV, Ventana. The ROV Ventana is a 1.8 km depth rated vehicle. The R/V Zephyr also operates frequently and is used to deploy MBARI's AUVs as well as a support vessel for mooring (buoy) operations.
Projects
One of the Institute's resident geneticists, Robert Vrijenhoek, led a team of researchers to the South PacificPacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
in 2006 to study the lifeforms inhabiting the hydrothermal vents in the sea floor. Using the submersible Alvin
DSV Alvin
Alvin is a manned deep-ocean research submersible owned by the United States Navy and operated by the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in Woods Hole, Massachusetts. The vehicle was built by General Mills' Electronics Group in the same factory used to manufacture breakfast cereal-producing...
, the team brought back a living Kiwa hirsuta
Kiwa hirsuta
Kiwa hirsuta is a crustacean discovered in 2005 in the South Pacific Ocean. This decapod, which is approximately long, is notable for the quantity of silky blond setae covering its pereiopods . Its discoverers dubbed it the "yeti lobster" or "yeti crab."-Identification:K...
- a furry crustacean from a biological family
Family (biology)
In biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus. As for the other well-known ranks, there is the option of an immediately lower rank, indicated by the...
previously unknown to science.
MBARI is also a partner with the Monterey Bay Aquarium and Stanford University in supporting the Center for Ocean Solutions, a nonpartisan organization that brings together marine science and policy to develop solutions to the challenges facing the oceans.