Welcome to the MI_LOCO Website:

Although Eastern Boundary Current Ecosystems (EBCE) represent less than 5% of the ocean’s surface, they support regions of high biological activity that contribute significantly to global elemental cycles. Of particular interest in these regions is the strong role that microbial assemblages play in the production and transport of organic matter from the well lit surface layers into the deeper ocean environment where it is remineralized.

Naturally occurring regions of hypoxia found along the EBCE support microbial communities that strongly affect marine and global biogeochemical cycles. Some of these largest regions, also known as Oxygen Minimum Zones (OMZs), are found in the upwelling areas of these EBCE along the North and South Pacific Ocean where their intensity, thickness, and temporal stability varies as a function of latitude.

The above figure shows the temporal variability in the vertical distribution of oxygen concentration on the continental shelf of A) Concepción (data since August 2002 to July 2007) and B) Oregon (data since May 2006), highlighting the low presence of minimum oxygen concentrations, especially in deep waters.

With the support of the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation (GBMF, Palo Alto, California), a study has been proposed to study the OMZ along the coast of Oregon-USA and Concepción-Chile.

With this study we will understand the spatial and temporal variability of the OMZ along both the Oregon and Concepci≤n regions, and their associated mechanisms, by integrating Physical, Biogeochemical, Microbial, and Paleo-oceanography. The outcome of the proposed effort will allow us to identify similarities and distinctions between the microbial assemblages inhabiting both regions, characterize physical and biogeochemical seasonal patterns in the development and maintenance of hypoxic zones over both shelves, and determine the long term changes in the seasonal fluctuation of oxygen concentration over the shelves with the use of paleo proxies.

Our study is aimed at developing databases to:

- compare the marine microbial assemblages associated with the seasonal hypoxia observed on the continental shelf off Concepción, Chile, and Oregon, USA, and

- assess potential use of paleoceanographic approaches to characterize the interannual and long-term variability in local oceanographic physical, chemical, and biological conditions driving the development of these hypoxic coastal environments.

This project will be developed as an integrated effort between researchers at Oregon State University (OSU), Universidad de Concepción (UdeC), Aarhus University (AU), Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and the University of Pennsylvania (Penn). Results from this proposed effort will significantly complement ongoing marine microbial and biogeochemical studies supported by the Agouron Institute in the permanent OMZ off northern Chile and Peru (see http://omz.udec.cl ).

This website will summarize the development of the project in both regions; comparing their similar and dissimilar mechanisms and responses, and all the data associated with sampling in each region.

Latest MI_LOCO news:

May 27, 2009: To clarify the top banner used in our MI_LOCO web site. "All Web pages that are hosted on an Oregon State domain space (oregonstate.edu) are required to use either the orange or black Web banner at the top of the page (http://oregonstate.edu/ua/webcomm/webidentity/requirements.php)." .

May 25, 2009: Congratulations to Laura's group for their manuscript titled: "Chemolithoautotrophic production mediating the cycling of the greenhouses gases N2O and CH4 in an upwelling ecosystem", where MI_LOCO data is presented. This ms manuscript was accepted for publication as a discussion paper in Biogeoscience.

May 12, 2009: Our second MI_LOCO all hand teleconference will occurs on May 29 at 9am (Oregon time). The main point is to have a general discussion of MI_LOCO cruises sampling and some results from previous cruises in both regions.

May 11, 2009: Niels Peter will visit Oregon (May 18-24) to collaborate with the water column group to install and test the STOX sensor.

April 6, 2009: MI_LOCO April cruises: Oregon cruise dates are April 14, 15 and 16, while Concepción cruise dates are April 14, 15, 16 and 17.

April 3, 2009: Oregon local meeting to discuss the last details for our first MI_LOCO cruise (April 3, 2009, at 9:00am, room 152).

March 4, 2009: Our second MI_LOCO teleconference (March 5, 2009, at 10:00am) has been canceled.

February 11, 2009: Our next regular Oregon MI_LOCO meeting will be on March 4, 2009, at 9:00am in room 152.

February 11, 2009: Oregon MI_LOCO meeting. A summary will be post soon.

February 5, 2009: The Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation has been relocated. The new Address is 1661 Page Mill Road, Palo Alto, CA 94304 GBMF.

February 5, 2009: First MI_LOCO Teleconference, February 5, 2009. Summary.

February 3, 2009: OSU receives grant to study small life in dead zones. $5 million grant comes from Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation for study.

January 23, 2009: MI_LOCO project article appears in the Corvallis Gazette Times: "Big grant to help OSU study tiny life".

January 22, 2009: The research funded by the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation (GBMF) MI_LOCO project was recently featured in several news articles.

January 7, 2009: The first MI_LOCO cruise along the Concepción region took place on January. A cruise activity summary will be post soon.

December 19, 2008: Nuevas investigaciones sobre zonas deficientes en oxígeno. MI_LOCO news in Chile.

December 5, 2008: The MI_LOCO kick-off meeting took place on December 3-5, 2008 at Concepcion, Chile. MI_LOCO kick-off meeting summary.pdf. The objectives of this meeting were: I. Strengthen inter-institutional and interdisciplinary collaborative ties. II. Develop sampling, analytical and inter-comparison protocols. III. Review project objectives, experimental approaches and potential weaknesses. The following links are provided to find: a) The meeting logistic information Meeting Logistic, b) the Meeting agenda Kick-off meeting agenda, c) the participant list Participant List, and d) meeting presentations.

September 18, 2008: The Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation has approved the proposal "Microbial diversity and activity in the seasonal hypoxic coastal waters off Central Chile and Oregon: A comparative study". Congratulations!