PhD Students

Michael Navarro

Undergraduate Degree: B.A.

Undergraduate University: University of California, Los Angeles

Postgraduate Degree:  M.S.

Postgraduate University: Cal State Fullerton

Email:  monavarr@ucsd.edu

Website: 

Advisor:  Lisa Levin

Research interests: California Current Ecosystem (CCE), marine conservation, fisheries oceanography; climate change (e.g. shoaling of oxygen minimum zone) affects on the spawning habitat of the market squid, Doryteuthis opalescens.

As a second year student at SIO, I am developing my dissertation topics on several questions centered on the early life stages of market squid, Doryteuthis (formerly Loligo) opalescens. Market squid are an important link in the ecology of the CCE because they can transfer energy from deeper waters of the continental slope to more shallow waters of the shelf. Possible scientific questions that I am exploring include:

1.    Are physical processes the major determinants for adult market squid selection of spawning habitat? If so, what physical characteristic (e.g. oxygen, current characteristics, temperature, light) or combination of characteristics do adult squid choose for their young to develop? How does El Niño affect spawning habitat selection?
2.    Will global climate change (e.g. shoaling of oxygen minimum zone) reduce market squid spawning habitat?
3.    Are embryonic squid beds similar in spatial coverage and density among geographic regions? Do similar amounts of paralarvae hatch from beds among regions? Are hatched paralarvae equally fit among regions or do some regions produce paralarvae that have higher levels of fitness?

Michael took a leave of absence from his job as a marine biologist for the CDFG and is enthusiastic about his pursuit for a Ph.D. in Biological Oceanography at SIO. 

Publications: