Amy Hirons research interests include studying the zooplankton community structure in the Gulf Stream off the southeast Florida coast and determining how the different taxonomic groups are influenced by the dynamic western boundary current throughout the year. Fluctuations in year-class strength of multiple salmon species vary from year-to-year in the Gulf of Alaska and Bering Sea. Many apex predators, such as Steller sea lions, northern fur seals, harbor seals and sea otters, have undergone drastically declining populations in similar locations. Stable isotopes are utilized to study the seasonal, interannual and interdecadal variability of pelagic and benthic food webs and these data are evaluated in context of environmental forcing (PDO, ENSO) to help assess what impact various biological and physical forces have on these ecosystems. Marine archaeofaunal material is analyzed to provide information on ancient trophic dynamics and record changes or fluctuations in ocean productivity through millennia.