Science Pub: Marine Heatwaves & Kelp Forests

Can understanding how kelp forests have changed during past marine heatwaves help us to predict how these ecosystems will respond to future warming? Join marine biologist and the Museum’s newest Curator of Invertebrate Zoology, Kristen M. Michaud, Ph.D., to learn about her dissertation work using long-term monitoring data to explore kelp forest community shifts during the “Blob” (the prolonged heatwave from 2014–2015). She’ll also provide a preview of what she’s documenting during the current El Niño: how warm-water species are expanding their ranges into local waters.

Michaud’s research path stretches from bumblebee disease in Massachusetts, to sandy beach invertebrates in California, to kelp forests in the Santa Barbara Channel. She joined the Museum staff as a Curator of Invertebrate Zoology this September. She is interested in cataloguing long-term changes in marine community composition using collections and ecological survey data. Previously, she completed her Ph.D. in marine science at UCSB working on kelp forest ecology with the Santa Barbara Coastal Long Term Ecological Research project. Prior to that, she earned her B.S. in biology and B.S. in environmental science from University of Massachusetts Amherst, where she worked on disease ecology in bumblebees.

No tickets or reservations needed, but note that Science Pub is a popular program. Early birds get good seats, order food and drink at leisure, and enjoy a raffle to support science education and win Museum swag. Arriving close to 6:30 may land you in an overflow room or without a seat.

This event is part of the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History’s ongoing Science Pub series of free science talks held on the second Monday of every month.

Kelp forest photo by SBC LTER