Photo Gallery: Orange County Coastkeeper and university researchers study beds of eelgrass at Back Bay Science Center
Orange County Coastkeeper Marine Restoration director Katie Nichols, right, and volunteer Brianna Bambic, a master’s student at University of Akureyri in Iceland, return to their boat after collecting samples of eelgrass during a dive near Back Bay Science Center in Newport Beach. Orange County Coastkeeper and university researchers are studying natural and restored beds of eelgrass to understand how they may buffer against ocean acidification.
(Kevin Chang/ Staff Photographer)
UC Davis Bodega Ocean Acidification Research Group members Melissa Ward, center, and Priya Shukla set up water chemistry sensor devices at Back Bay Science Center in Newport Beach. The devices record levels of acidification, oxygen, temperature and salinity.
(Kevin Chang/ Staff Photographer)
Orange County Coastkeeper Marine Restoration director Katie Nichols, center, volunteer Brianna Bambic, left, and intern Chase Woollett, right, search to collect samples of eelgrass near Back Bay Science Center in Newport Beach.
(Kevin Chang/ Staff Photographer)
Orange County Coastkeeper Marine Restoration director Katie Nichols, right, volunteer Brianna Bambic, far left, and intern Chase Woollett head out to collect samples near Back Bay Science Center in Newport Beach.
(Kevin Chang/ Staff Photographer)
Orange County Coastkeeper Marine Restoration director Katie Nichols, second from left, talks with UC Davis Bodega Ocean Acidification Research Group members, from left, Lena Capece, Priya Shukla and Melissa Ward as they set up water chemistry sensor devices at Back Bay Science Center in Newport Beach.
(Kevin Chang/ Staff Photographer)