 There
are four main unifying disciplinary themes to Smithsonian marine
research: 1. Systematics - description of patterns
of biodiversity in the sea
2. Evolutionary Biology - determination of the patterns
and mechanisms of the origin, maintenance and loss of species,
and the phylogeny of marine organisms
3. Ecology - discovery of the mechanisms that structure
and process matter, energy and biodiversity at varying scales
of ecological organization in the sea
4. Geology - determination of the biogeochemical processes
in the formation of ocean features
Biogeography - is a key research element linking
systematics, ecology and evolutionary biology. Mechanisms
of biogeographic isolation are central elements in evolutionary
theory, population dynamics, conservation biology, and patterns
of biodiversity. Biogeographic patterns are crucial
data in the determination of introduced and native species. Site-specific,
long-term measurements of environmental variables allow for
analysis of change over multiple time scales, which is necessary
to detect patterns in typically noisy ecological data.
Smithsonian Marine Science includes the
Smithsonian Marine Science Network which is uniquely
positioned to monitor long-term change at its component sites.
It has an extensive array of programs involving scientific
diving that address many of the most pressing environmental
issues in marine ecosystems, including: biological invasions,
eutrophication, harmful species and parasites, plankton blooms
and red tides, linkages among coastal ecosystems, global warming
including sea-level rise, El Niño/La Niña, UV radiation impacts,
habitat destruction, fisheries impacts, ecology of key habitats
(estuaries, coral reefs, mangroves, sea grasses, wetlands)
and biodiversity inventories.
The Smithsonian’s marine education programs consist of public
outreach and professional training. A series of these
activities are aimed at promoting awareness and conservation
of marine environments, and communicating the Smithsonian’s
research findings to the general public. By integrating research
with education, the Smithsonian produces tomorrow’s discoverers
while pursuing today’s discoveries. The public is engaged
with interactive exhibits, symposia, popular books, lectures,
and films about the marine environment. The Smithsonian
Marine Science contributes to the public interest by disseminating
novel environmental information around the globe. Its
research helps build a solid foundation for informed decisions
about environmental policy, natural resource management, and
conservation.
Smithsonian Institution
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