Senior Oceanographer

Theresa Venello is a Biological Oceanographer specializing in pelagic marine ecosystem responses to climate change. Her work prior to joining Applied Marine Sciences (AMS) included investigating planktonic crustacean physiological responses to ocean acidification in Polar regions as well as zooplankton community responses to the 2015 Marine Heatwave event in the NE Pacific known as “The Blob”. Theresa also used a functional assessment approach to examine changes in ecological roles of zooplankton species over a 30-year time frame. She has extensive fieldwork experience, logging 120+ days at sea from 2015-2018 working closely with Fisheries and Oceans Canada on their North Pacific Oceanographic and Zooplankton Monitoring Programs. Additionally, Theresa has worked on coastal survey projects looking at predator-prey dynamics between gray whales and plankton prey as well as Atlantic Harbor seals and seasonal fish species. Theresa is proficient in R, as well as time series and multivariate statistical analysis. She has 4 publications in respected marine science journals and has presented her research at international scientific conferences. Theresa earned a Ph.D. in Biological Oceanography from the University of Victoria, a M.Res. in Marine Biology from the University of Plymouth and a B.S. in Marine Science from Stockton University.

Certifications

• Boating Safety Course (Delaware, 2021)
• Protected Species Observer/Passive Acoustic Monitor -PAMGUARD (2014)
• PADI Advanced Open Water Diver (2013)
• PADI Drysuit Diver (2013)
• PADI Open Water Diver (2009)

Publications

• Stevens, C.J., Sahota, R., Galbraith, M.D., Venello, T.A., Bazinet, A., Hennekes, M., Yongblah, K., Juniper, S.K. (2022). Lipid composition of mesozooplankton functional group members in the NE Pacific over a range of productivity regimes. Marine Ecology Progress Series. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps14004.
• Venello, T.A., A.R. Sastri, K.D. Suchy, M.D. Galbraith, and J.F. Dower. (2021). Drivers of variation in crustacean zooplankton production rates differ across regions off the west coast of Vancouver Island and in the subarctic NE Pacific. ICES Journal of Marine Science. https://doi.org/10.1093/icesjms/fsab236.
• Venello, T.A., Sastri, A.R., Galbraith, M.D., Dower, J.F. (2021). Zooplankton Functional Group Responses to Environmental Drivers off the West Coast of Vancouver Island, Canada. Progress in Oceanography. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pocean.2020.102482.
• Venello, T.A., Calosi, P., Turner, L.M., Findlay, H.S. (2018). Overwintering individuals of the Arctic krill Thysanoessa inermis appear tolerant to short-term exposure to low pH conditions. Polar Biology, 41: 341. doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-017-2194-0.

Senior Administrative Assistant

At AMS, Diane Stafford specializes in the set-up and creation of detailed invoices tailored to meet client needs and performs monthly invoicing and accounts receivables. Diane is proficient in MS Excel and Word, and uses such to prepare monthly, quarterly, and annual reporting. She also handles insurance and compliance, expense reimbursements, business licensing and permits, logistics for field planning, equipment procurement and management. Diane has a B.S. in Business administration Finance and Economics from Heald College.

Senior Scientist, Principal

Bob Spies has 35 years experience in applied marine ecology and its application to management. He has investigated the fate and effects of radionuclides, petroleum hydrocarbons, and chlorinated hydrocarbons in marine ecosystems. Specific research projects conducted over his career have included investigations into the effects of organic contaminants on endocrinology and reproduction of starry flounder in San Francisco Bay and kelp bass in southern California, alterations of benthic communities by petroleum seepage, and benthic-pelagic transfer of contaminants in marine foodwebs, to name just a few. Bob has also coordinated or assisted in the management of large restoration and conservation programs for agencies at all levels. Major tasks undertaken included serving as Chief Science Advisor to governments on the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Restoration Program, advisor to the Calfed Program to restore aquatic ecosystem functions in the Central Valley of California, and Director of the Alaska SeaLife Center, which is dedicated to studying the causes of decline in North Pacific marine mammal and bird populations.

Publications

• Spies RB, Burns, KA. and Mukhtasor M, 2017, The Montara Oil Spill: A 2009 well blowout in the Timor Sea. Archiv. Environ. Contam. Toxicol. 73(1):55-62
• Spies RB, Senner S, and Robbins CS, 2016, An overview of the northern Gulf of Mexico ecosystem. Gulf of Mexico Science. 33: 98-121.
• Spies RB, Peterson, C, and 20 other co-authors. 2012, A tale of two spills: Novel science and policy implications of an emerging new oil spill model, Bioscience 62: 461-469.
• Kondolf GM, Angermeier PL, Cummins K, Dunne T, Healey M, Kimmerer W, Moyle PB, Murphy D, Patten D, Railsback S, Reed DJ, Spies RB, Twiss R, 2008, Projecting cumulative benefits of multiple river restoration projects: An example from the Sacramento-San Joaquin river system in California, Environ. Manag. 42: 933-945.
• Oros, DR, Ross JRM, Spies RB and Mumley T, 2007, Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) contamination in San Francisco Bay: A 10-year retrospective of monitoring in an urbanized estuary. Environ. Res. 105: 101-118.

Marine/Aquatic Scientist

Erika Senyk is a Marine/Aquatic Scientist at Applied Marine Sciences (AMS) assisting in projects including water quality assessments and quantifying the impacts of marine plastics in local marine environments. She has over seven years of experience managing and performing field studies in both marine and freshwater ecosystems. She measured nutrient levels and performed water and soil quality assessments in urban and rural lakes, streams, rivers, and wetlands in Minnesota, as well as in coastal areas of the Monterey Bay region. Prior to her employment with AMS, Erika conducted a two-year study as a research technician for California State Parks, measuring the impact of a growing visitor population on marine birds and mammals at Point Lobos State Natural Reserve. She has extensively researched the environmental impacts of marine plastics, as well as current technological advances being used to mitigate the issue. Erika has experience in managing large databases for both local and remote projects, and she developed educational programs to inspire environmental stewardship in underserved communities in St. Paul, Minnesota, as well as in Monterey and Santa Cruz counties. Erika received a B.S. in Fisheries and Wildlife from the University of Minnesota Twin Cities and a M.S. in Applied Marine and Watershed Science from California State University Monterey Bay.

Certifications

• Qualified Industrial Stormwater Practitioner (California, 2022)
• Reef Check EcoDiver (Caribbean, 2017)
• BoatU.S. Foundation’s Boating Safety Course (California, 2015)
• PADI Open Water Diver (2014)

Senior Scientist, Principal

Paul Salop has over 15 years of experience working for consulting firms and state and Federal agencies. Paul is currently serving as Project Manager for AMS in its role supporting the Alameda Countywide Clean Water Program’s (ACCWP) stormwater monitoring and watershed management efforts, managing all field collection efforts and field quality control for the Status and Trends Component of the Regional Monitoring Program for Water Quality in the San Francisco Estuary, investigating TMDL pollutant reduction implementation options for an EPA Grant Project, and receiving water monitoring for the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission to inform modeling efforts and infrastructure upgrades. Paul manages quality assurance for AMS and has served as Quality Assurance Officer on multiple projects, including ones conducted for both federal (e.g., EPA) and State agencies (e.g., California State Prop 13 and Prop 50 grant projects). Paul has an MS in Marine Resource Management from Oregon State University and a BS in Industrial Engineering from North Carolina State University.

Certifications

• American Academy of Underwater Scientists (2021)
• NAUI Diver First Aid (2021)
• PADI Drysuit Diver (2004)
• PADI Advanced Open Water Diver (1993)
• PADI Open Water Diver (1991)
• Engineer in Training (North Carolina, 1989)

Senior Scientist, Principal

Aroon Melwani is a senior marine scientist specializing in experimental design, sample collection, and quantitative analysis of environmental data. He has over 16 years experience supporting local, regional and state agencies on sediment and water quality, contaminant bioaccumulation, and biological assessments. His technical expertise includes data management, statistical analysis, data integration, empirical modeling, and R programming.

Aroon has collaborated with scientists, policy makers, and environmental managers on the design and optimization of several major environmental programs, including regional and statewide bioaccumulation monitoring surveys, the San Francisco Bay and Delta RMPs, and sediment quality studies at the regional and state level. Aroon is also highly experienced in sampling designs based on EPA’s Generalized Random Tessellation Stratified (GRTS) method for ambient condition assessments. Aroon has both implemented the GRTS method, as well assisted in the interpretation of probabilistic data for water quality and habitat evaluations at the regional scale. Aroon received a Ph.D. in Biological Sciences from Macquarie University, an M.S. in Marine Science from California State University at Monterey Bay, and a B.S. in Oceanography and Marine Biology from the University of Southampton.

Certifications

• PADI Open Water Diver (1997)

Publications

• Melwani. A.R., Negrey, J., Heim, W.A., Coale, K.H., Stephenson, M.D., and Davis, J.A. 2019. Factors influencing methylmercury contamination of black bass from California reservoirs, Environmental Pollution 251: 850-861
• Goncalves, P., Anderson, K., Thompson, E.L., Melwani, A.R., Parker, L., Ross, P.M., Raftos, D.A. 2016. Rapid transcriptional acclimation following transgenerational exposure of oysters to ocean acidification, Molecular Ecology 25(19): 4836-49.
• Raftos, D.A., Melwani, A.R., Haynes, P.A., Muralidharan, S., Birch, G.F., Amaral, V., Thompson, E.L., Taylor, D. 2016. The Biology of Environmental Stress: Molecular biomarkers in Sydney rock oysters (Saccostrea glomerata), Environmental Science: Processes and Impacts 18: 1129-1139.
• Melwani, A.R., Thompson, E.L., Raftos, D.A. 2016. Differential proteomic response of Sydney rock oysters (Saccostrea glomerata) to prolonged environmental stress, Aquatic Toxicology 173: 53-62.
• Green, T. J., Chataway, T., Melwani, A. R., Raftos, D. A. 2016. Proteomic analysis of hemolymph from poly (I:C)-stimulated Crassostrea gigas. Fish & Shellfish Immunology 48: 39-42.