Marine Biology and Ecology
SAIC has been conducting biological and ecological programs in marine and wetland environments since the mid 1970's, specializing in an extensive range of multidisciplinary studies that include statistically based sampling designs, field surveys, wetland and habitat delineation, laboratory and statistical analysis, risk assessment, database management, reporting, agency coordination, and permitting. Programs are conducted for federal, state, local, and commercial clients from strategic office locations along the East, West, and Gulf Coasts of the U.S.
Field studies involve the use of a full range of standard and innovative sampling equipment and methods, including corers and grabs, trawls and seines, SCUBA, remotely operated vehicles, manned submersibles, sediment profiling imagery, and GPS/GIS. Species and community studies are performed on benthic bottom communities (infauna and epifauna), fishes and fisheries species, marine mammals, birds, algae/kelp and plants including seagrass and eelgrass, and threatened and endangered species. Habitats range from wetlands and estuaries, coastal and nearshore habitats, to offshore and deepwater environments. Study products often focus on Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), Environmental Impact Report (EIR), Environmental Impact Analysis (EIA), and Environmental Assessment (EA), permits/compliance, risk assessment, and baseline and monitoring reports.
Experience and Capability Highlights
- Extensive experience with the full range of potential equipment and methods/analyses allows project-specific solutions to be tailored for individual project and client needs;
- Multidisciplinary expertise includes physical and chemical effects and risk assessment, enabling strong integration with biology/ecology studies;
- More than 20 years experience conducting ocean outfall studies and impact assessments;
- Extensive biological baseline studies in bays, harbors, wetlands, and offshore environments;
- Beach nourishment studies and permit support;
- Numerous environmental assessments and EIS/EIR documents for port development, offshore fiber optic cable routes, and military construction projects.
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