This proposal seeks support for the enhancement of research and research training facilities at the Flax Pond Marine Laboratory (FPL) of the University of Stony Brook (USB), including substantial improvements to the seawater supply/distribution system. Specific improvements include: replacement of intake lines/pumps; enhancement of incoming seawater treatment/filtering capabilities; improvement in ability to control temperature of seawater; and rehab of wetlabs to improve drainage of seawater system and floor drain system. In addition, these funds will enable development of an area of the Lab for microalgal culture to support the maintenance requirements of experimental cultures of finish and shellfish and for use in research ont he feeding, dietary and nutritional physiology of these organisms. Research at FPL has emphasized the biology of coastal marine organisms, particularly shellfish and finish. Predominant have been studies of the physiological ecology and aquaculture of benthic macrofauna, particularly commercially exploited bivalve molluscs, and examinations of the interactions between reproductive, behavioral, and physiological biology int eh evolution of fishes. Additional research has dealt with the ecology/physiology of macroalgae, the chemical behavior of stabilized combustion wastes in the marine environment, the extent and rate of degradation of biodegradable plastics int eh marine environment, and the effect of chlorinated hydrocarbon pollutants on marine phytoplankton communities. These will remain important in research/research training conducted at FPL. The proposed will benefit such studies and will also make the facility more attractive to workers in other fields, such as biogeochemists at USB's Marine Sciences Research Center (MSRC).
