Nathan B. Spindel, PhD

I am an Assistant Professor of Marine Science at California State University Monterey Bay, where I lead the Subtidal Systems Ecology Lab. My research spans basic and applied marine ecology, with an emphasis on physiological ecology, fisheries, trophic interactions, and the consequences of global change for nearshore ecosystems. I maintain close research and graduate-training ties with Moss Landing Marine Laboratories and also serve as a Research Scientist with Sunflower Star Laboratory, where I contribute to the development and evaluation of science-based strategies for kelp forest recovery.

My work integrates field experiments, controlled laboratory studies, long-term ecological monitoring, and mechanistic modeling to understand how environmental conditions and species interactions shape organismal performance, population dynamics, and ecosystem resilience. Current research focuses particularly on kelp forest ecosystems and the interacting roles of sea urchins, their predators, and changing ocean conditions. This includes studies of how temperature, acidification, deoxygenation, nutritional state, and predator effects influence sea urchin physiology and grazing, as well as collaborative research evaluating the ecological consequences and management potential of restoring the sunflower sea star, Pycnopodia helianthoides, as a recovering keystone predator.

More broadly, I am interested in linking processes across biological scales to improve our ability to anticipate ecological change and inform marine conservation and restoration. My work combines experimental ecology with energetic and demographic modeling, trait-based approaches, and spatially explicit field studies to develop mechanistic understanding that can translate into practical decision-support for coastal management.