Kamille Hammerstrom

Research Assistant

  I joined the Benthic Ecology lab at MLML in January 2004.  I currently participate in SIMoN-funded projects examining the ecological effect of the Moss Landing power plant thermal discharge on beach infauna and characterization of benthic infaunal communities in Elkhorn Slough.  I am also analyzing data from the ASPIRE project.  To see images from an Antarctic seastar feeding experiment, click here.  (Link Coming Soon) 

Prior to my move to California, I worked at NOAA’s Center for Coastal Fisheries and Habitat Research CCFHR  in Beaufort, North Carolina.  My work focused on seagrass disturbance and recovery dynamics and reproductive ecology.  The goal of one project was to develop and test methods for seagrass restoration.  In particular, our work focused on restoration techniques for boat hull and propeller damage in seagrass beds in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.  The climax species in these seagrass beds, Thalassia testudinum, grows so slowly that it often cannot overcome the erosion that is triggered when the below-ground biomass is disrupted and excavated by motor vessel injuries.  We studied the effect of excavation depth on seagrass recovery as well as the use of several different types of fill materials to “plug” injuries, thereby preventing erosion.

 I am currently collaborating with Courtney Richmond at Rowan University and Jud Kenworthy at CCFHR to create a matrix population model for the federally threatened seagrass Halophila johnsonii (Johnson’s seagrass).

Why is Halophila johnsonii federally listed?

∙• limited geographical distribution

∙• a presumed lack of sexual reproduction

∙• occupation of habitat threatened by boat propellers, dock construction, and water quality degradation. 

 Our approach is to create a population model for a closely related congener, Halophila decipiens, a species for which we have much more information on life history parameters.  Accurate models of the population structure of H. decipiens and H. johnsonii would allow interesting comparisons of sexual and asexual life history strategies of the two species.  In addition, resource managers would have a valuable tool to enable management of H. johnsonii for eventual recovery and delisting.

 M.S. Marine Science, 1996.  University of South Carolina.  Thesis title:  Induction and relaxation of polyphenolics in five species of Washington kelps.

B.S. Marine Biology, 1994.  Texas A & M University at Galveston.  Thesis title:  Potential for seagrass restoration in Galveston Bay, Texas.