by Kristen Goodhue

This is the second of two In Memoriam tributes, honoring two long-time staff members who passed away while still employed at our center over the last decade. As the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center enters its 60th year, we recognize that many of our achievements would not have been possible without their hard work and passion. (Read the first In Memoriam to SERC’s former executive officer, Bob Gallagher, here.)

Over 500 aquatic species have entered the U.S. from abroad—and Paul Fofonoff could name almost all of them. He could also name nearly every tree, flower, animal or shrub on one of his hikes or paddling trips. During his three decades at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC), he earned a reputation as a walking encyclopedia for wildlife.

Fofonoff devoted his career to marine biology. He worked as a staff scientist for SERC’s Marine Invasions Research Lab for 30 years, before his unexpected death in May 2024. But unlike many marine scientists, Fofonoff knew almost as much about life on land as life in the ocean.

by Erin Minor

As plastic pollution spreads to every corner of the world, concerns are rising about microplastics, smaller pieces of plastic even more difficult to see and track. Scientists estimate that microplastics (particles smaller than 5 millimeters) make up 92% of the plastic particles on the ocean surface. But what about below the surface?

Until recently, understanding microplastics below the ocean surface has been a glaring gap in marine pollution research. Most sampling happens at the ocean surface. However, complex ocean currents mean that a surface-level sample doesn’t necessarily represent the ocean as a whole.

In a new study coauthored by the Smithsonian, an international team compiled data from deep-water samples around the world to start filling in the blanks. Here are four things we know better now about microplastics underwater.

by Taylor Wev

Seagrass meadows play a vital role in protecting the health and integrity of coastal communities around the world. However, some coastal seagrass meadows can be prone to collapse due to seagrass wasting disease. A study in the journal Ecology looked at the disease in meadows of eelgrass (Zostera marina) along the Pacific Coast of North America. It revealed that a key driver may be one of the grasses’ closest animal companions.

“Eelgrass is a very widespread and important habitat all over the Northern hemisphere,” said Emmett Duffy, marine biologist at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC). Duffy coauthored the study as part of his work leading the Marine Global Earth Observatory network.

by Erin Minor

Worldwide, an estimated 600 million people at least partially depend on fisheries and aquaculture for their livelihoods. This makes marine conservation important not only to protect vulnerable species and ecosystems, but to ensure these communities have sustainable food and income. However, when creating marine protection plans, local women are often left out of the conversation, causing valuable information to go unheard.

by Kristen Goodhue

Rising temperatures could tip the scale in an underground battle that has raged for millennia. In the soils of Earth’s wetlands, microbes are fighting to both produce and consume the powerful greenhouse gas methane. But if the Earth gets too hot, a key way wetlands clamp down on methane could be at risk, according to a Smithsonian study published April 23.

Methane is responsible for roughly 19% of global warming, according to the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration. And while wetlands are champions at removing carbon dioxide (CO₂)—the more abundant greenhouse gas—they are also the world’s largest natural source of methane. As nations set targets to bring down methane emitted from human activity, it is crucial to understand how much methane wetlands emit naturally—and how much more they could emit in the future.

by Kristen Goodhue

This is the first of two In Memoriam tributes, honoring two long-time staff members who passed away while still employed at our center over the last decade. As the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center enters its 60th year, we recognize that many of our achievements would not have been possible without their hard work and passion. (Read the second In Memoriam to SERC marine biologist Paul Fofonoff here.)

The invisible handprints of Bob Gallagher cover more than half the buildings at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center. They’re also present in the center’s most popular volunteer program, and some buildings that have yet to be constructed. From 2004 until his death in 2020, Gallagher served as the center’s executive officer. And the campus as it is today would not exist without his efforts.