Marine Biology

STRI's marine scientists study the ecology and evolution of organisms in complex marine environments — from mangrove forests, seagrasses, and coral reefs to deeper ocean ecosystems only reachable via submersibles. One ever-present theme of Smithsonian marine research is the impact of human disturbance: climate change, sea-level rise, invasive organisms and nutrient enrichment. Researchers seek historical perspective, examining the fossil record to determine how past marine communities changed as a result of environmental and climate change.