ECOSYSTEM ECOLOGY
AND RESTORATION STUDIES:
Welcome to the homepage of the Gonzo Lab! We are interested in a diverse range of topics under the general scope of ecosystem ecology. Our research focuses specifically on sediment biogeochemistry and the exchanges of dissolved materials between water and sediments; nutrient budgets and systems ecology, where we work towards developing nitrogen and phosphorus budgets for the Chesapeake Bay; seagrass ecology, which investigates the relationship between the loss of seagrass and eutrophication; and water quality, where we analyze how algal blooms, runoff, and hypoxia affect the quality of estuaries. Please click on the menu to the left for more information.
HOW WE GOT OUR NAME:
We've been calling ourselves The Gonzo Group for many years, mainly because it brings a smile to our sometimes stressed faces. It began in 1986 when several of us were reading Hunter S.Thompson's books and were highly amused by the characters and events portrayed. The notion we took away from these books was the idea of involvement in the action: Gonzo Journalism in the case of Thompson; and, in our case, involvment in many aspects of estuarine ecology including research, teaching, advisory services, and mainly enjoying what we do. Our general policy is to avoid the rasher aspects of Gonzo style, but moments do occur in small boats in bad weather with equipment that does not work where the notion of Gonzo helps get the job done.
Dr. Walter Boynton :
Admiral of the Chesapeake! Awarded by exiting Maryland governor O'Malley to Walter for his commitment to conservation and restoration of the Chesapeake Bay and all that lives in and around it. Click here to read about the Admiral!