Daily Journal

September 21, 2004:
Barry and Ev Sherr

Meet Ev, Barry, and their son, Jared

The Sherrs have been working as biological oceanographers at OSU for 15 years. The have been enchanted by the sea their entire lives and have been working in this field for thirty-five years. They have two sons, Jared, who is also on this cruise, and Aaron. They tell us they have a home in Corvallis, but we think their true home is out here on the ocean. They delight in watching the sunsets at sea, and Ev is an expert at seeing the green flash as the sun sets.

Ev was greatly influenced to go into this field when she saw a National Science Foundation film on oceanography. She grew up in Daytona Beach, Florida, and has always felt at home near the sea. Barry spent happy childhood summers at Coney Island, New York, and loved to read books by Jaques Cousteau.

Ev said she feels fortunate to have a career they both really enjoy. She said they love their work, and find it to be fascinating and exciting. Their enthusiasm is contagious. She and Barry job share at OSU. Their son Jared is here for his first cruise. He came along to see what his folks were up to and probably is eating better out here than if he and his brother stayed home alone. He said that he probably will not become an oceanographer and that he is interested in the study of physics. With parents like his, we are certain he'll be terrific at whatever he chooses.

Ev and Barry are the two PIs (Principal Investigators) on this cruise. Their research objectives deal with the activity of bacteria and their role in the ocean, as well as the effects of trace metals on microplankton. Even though they cannot be seen by the naked eye, bacteria make up the largest biomass of living organisms on the planet. They have a very high metabolic rate, so they grow quickly and they process (or eat) a great deal of material in the sea.

The great cycle of life begins with bacteria that most of us will never see. Their health, well being, and survival have a huge impact on the ecosystem of the planet.

Bacterial activity is closely tied to temperature. As temperature increases metabolic activity rises. The little guys (bacteria) then respire (breathe) in oxygen and give off carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide and oxygen balance in the ocean and the atmosphere is very important.

Bacteria are vital to the food web because they are a food source for other microorganisms, called protists. These protists (single celled organisms) eat bacteria. The scientists are interested in what the bacteria eat, at what rate they are eaten by protists, and what effect all this has on the food web.

Protists are the second most important biomass in the ocean. The relationship between the bacteria and the protists is of great importance because who is grazing whom affects diversity in the food chain. Change can occur quickly. The global changes occuring worldwide may change the ocean's food web.

You may have heard about "dead zones" in the news. They are areas of coastal waters where the oxygen level is too low to support life. Dead zones occur periodically off the Oregon coast when changes in the ocean currents bring in extra nutrients, allowing phytoplankton to grow to a high density. These organisms form a huge biomass, and then sink to the bottom of the ocean. Our friends, the bacteria, consume the phytoplankton. The bacteria feast and gorge themselves and as they do they take in the oxygen needed by other life forms in the ocean and give off carbon dioxide which creates the dead zone. Some other dead zones are caused by human activity. One of the worst is in the Gulf of Mexico where the Mississippi River flows into the sea, which is caused by agricultural runoff. The nutrients washed down the river promote the growth of phytoplanktonm, causing a bloom similar to the situation above.

Top: Ev's sunset, watching for the "green flash"
Middle: Ev and Barry's bathtub for preserving water samples
Bottom: Water, water everywhere

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