Alessandra Quigley

Alessandra Quigley

she/her

Oceanography PhD student

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media

GO-SHIP I09N

Published:

I wrote a blog post while working as a CTD operator on a GO-SHIP cruise about how we kept ourselves entertained at sea.

publications

A spatially-explicit South Pacific epipelagic ecosystem characterization to advance conservation policy

In preparation, 2026

Biogeochemical regions (BGCRs) are spatiotemporal zones with relatively uniform characteristics and features, and understanding their extent and location can facilitate effective resource management. Several studies have attempted to classify BGCRs in the South Pacific Ocean, but there is poor agreement, attributable to different data types used in different studies and an overall paucity of observational data. We incorporate several novel environmental variables; including sea level anomalies, eddy kinetic energy, an upwelling index, and nutrient ratios; to create the most complete partitioning to date in this region. We identify eight ecosystems at annual scale, as well as seasonal variations.

Recommended citation: Yañez et al.

How Does Dust Modify Marine Heatwave-Low Chlorophyll Compound Extremes?

In preparation, 2026

Marine heatwaves (MHW) and low-chlorophyll (LChl) extremes have been increasing in frequency and intensity over the satellite record. Ecosystem damage can be amplified when multiple extreme events overlap, creating a compound event. Since compound MHW-LChl extremes can be driven by changes in the availability of light and nutrients, adding dust to the system may impact the formation or progression of MHW-LChl events. Dust fertilizes the sea surface with iron, nitrogen, and phosphorus and has been linked to phytoplankton blooms. However, at very high AOD values, the light-blocking effects of dust may inhibit phytoplankton growth and cool SST. We assess when and where dust is associated with MHW-LChl compound extremes, how those effects differ with the effects on single MHW and LChl extremes, and whether those effects are caused by dust or controlled by other dynamics. In a changing climate, where dust distributions may change and MHW-LChl events are expected to become more frequent, understanding these phenomena could have implications for fisheries and other resource management during, and in the recovery after, compound extreme events.

Recommended citation: Quigley et al.

Species distribution modelling for predicting spatial patterns of plankton diversity in the Southeastern Pacific Ocean

In preparation, 2026

Plankton play a central role in marine food webs and carbon sequestration, serving as vital bioindicators. Understanding the drivers of their spatial patterns is a fundamental challenge for marine research, particularly in the Southeast Pacific Ocean (SPO). While various ocean-biogeographic units have been proposed for the SPO, the interactions between ecological components and environmental variables remains poorly characterized. We integrate databases with ecological and biogeochemical datasets, applying probabilistic analyses based on niche theory and using Bayesian species distribution models to assess the relationship between environmental variability and plankton diversity in the SPO.

Recommended citation: Yañez et al.

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teaching