Marc Los Huertos

Stephen M. Pauley M.D. '62 Associate Professor of Environmental Analysis; Coordinator of Environmental Analysis
  • Expertise

    Expertise

    Marc Los Huertos holds the Stephen M. Pauley Chair for Environmental Analysis and coordinates the Environmental Analysis Program for Pomona College.

    A biogeochemist interested in soil, water and air nitrogen cycling, he has an active research program in which he works with students to evaluate agricultural practices on greenhouse gas emissions from organic and conventional farms and to evaluate habitat quality in streams and rivers. Through his research activities, he trains several students each year with skills in soil and water nitrogen biogeochemistry, aquatic ecology and bioassessment.

    Los Huertos teaches a wide range of classes at Pomona, including Ecology of Inland Waters; Environmental Science and Statistics; and Food, Land, and the Environment. He is currently writing a textbook for his Ecology of Inland Waters course. 

    He also works with farmers in several regions to develop techniques to reduce negative impacts of farming on soil, air and water quality.

    Research Interests

    • Ecology of streams, lakes and wetlands
    • Nitrogen biogeochemistry
    • Sustainable agriculture
    • Climate change

    Areas of Expertise

    • Nitrogen cycle
    • Aquatic ecology
    • Fire policy and ecology
    • Environmental science
  • Work

    Work

    Books and Articles

    Los Huertos, M. 2020. Ecology and Management of Inland Waters. Elsevier - Academic Press Books.

    Honga, AH, KE Hargan, B Williams, B Nuangsaeng, S Siriwongb, P Tassawad, C Chaiharn, M Los Huertos. 2020. Examining mollusks as bioindicators of shrimp aquaculture effluent contamination in a southeast Asian mangrove. Ecological Indicators, 115:106365.

    Hargan, KE, B Williams, B Nuangsaeng, S Siriwong, P Tassawad, C Chaiharn, B McAdoo, M Los Huertos. 2020. Understanding the fate of shrimp aquaculture effluent in a mangrove ecosystem: Aiding management for coastal conservation. Journal of Applied Ecology, 57: 754-765.

    Evans Z, M Los Huertos, H Van Ryswyk, T Srebotnjak. 2019. Robust Spatial Analysis of Sequestered Metals in a Southern California Bioswale. Science of the Total Environment, 650:152-162.

    Lindholm J, M Gleason, D Kline, L Clary, S Rienecke, A Cramer, and M Los Huertos. 2015. Ecological effects of bottom trawling on the structural attributes of fish habitat in unconsolidated sediments along the central California outer continental shelf. Fishery Bulletin, 113(1): 82-96.

    Daniels M, JN Hogan, WA Smith, SC Oates, MA Miller, D Hardin, K Shapiro, M Los Huertos, PA Conrad, C Dominik, FG Watson. 2014. Estimating Environmental Conditions Affecting Protozoal Pathogen Removal in Surface Water Wetland Systems Using a Multi-Scale, Model-Based Approach. Science of the Total Environment, 493:1036-1046.

    Rosevelt C, M Los Huertos, C Garza, H Nevins. 2013. Marine debris in central California: Quantifying type and abundance of beach litter in Monterey Bay, CA. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 71:299-306.

    Krone-Davis P, FG Watson, M Los Huertos, K Starner. 2013. Assessing pesticide reduction in constructed wetlands using a tanks-in-series model within a Bayesian framework. Ecological Engineering, 57:342-352.

    Racz A, AT Fisher, CS Schmidt, BS Lockwood, M Los Huertos. 2012. Spatial and Temporal Infiltration Dynamics during Managed Aquifer Recharge. Groundwater, 50(4):562-570.

    Schmidt CS, AT Fisher, A Racz ∗ , BS Lockwood, M Los Huertos. 2012. Linking Denitrification and Infiltration Rates during Managed Groundwater Recharge. Environmental Science and Technology, 45(22): 9634-9640.

    Schmidt CS, AT Fisher, A Racz, C Wheat, M Los Huertos, BS Lockwood. 2012. Rapid nutrient load reduction during infiltration of managed aquifer recharge in an agricultural groundwater basin: Pajaro Valley, California. Hydrological Processes, 26(15):2235-2247.

    Dowd B, D Press, M Los Huertos. 2008. Policy tools, monitoring, and funding to reduce nutrient pollutants: A case study of nitrate in the Pajaro River, California. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment, 128(3):151-161.

    Lemos RT, B Sanso, M Los Huertos. 2007. Spatially varying temperature trends in a northern California estuarine reserve. Journal of Agricultural, Biological, and Environmental Statistics, 12(3):379-396.

    Rein FA, M Los Huertos, KD Holl, JH Langenheim. 2007. Restoring native grasses as vegetative buffers in a coastal California agricultural landscape. Madroño, 54(3):249-257.

    Ruehl C, AT Fisher, M Los Huertos, S Wankel, CG Wheat, C Kendall, C Hatch, C Shennan. 2007. Nitrate dynamics within the Pajaro River, a nutrient-rich, losing stream. North American Benthological Society Journal, 26:191-216.

    Ruehl C, AT Fisher, CE Hatch, M Los Huertos, G Stemler, C Shennan. 2006. Differential gauging and tracer tests resolves seepage fluxes in a strongly-losing stream. Journal of Hydrology, 330:235-248.

    Wilcox C, M Los Huertos. 2005. A simple, rapid method for mapping bathymetry of small wetland basins. Journal of Hydrology, 301:29-36.

    Los Huertos M, LE Gentry, C Shennan. 2001. Land use and stream nitrogen concentrations in agricultural watersheds along the central coast of California. Optimizing Nitrogen Management in Food and Energy Production and Environmental Protection: Proceedings of the 2nd International Nitrogen Conference on Science and Policy. Scientific World 1.

    Grants

    Leafy Green Research Board, "Characterizing Biogeochemistry in Woodchip Bioreactors," $17,404 grant, Aug. 2012-Dec. 2013

    U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (via State Water Bard), $130,000 grant, "Evaluating Watershed and in-lake Controls of Cyanobacteria Harmful Algae Blooms," 2010-2013

    U.S. Department of Agriculture-Organic Agricultural Research and Extension Initiative, $174,199 grant, "Global Warming Potential of Row Crop Agroecosystems," 2011-2015

    California Air Resources Board, $80,000 grant, "Greenhouse Gas Mitigation Study," 2012-13

  • Education

    Education

    Ph.D.
    UC Santa Cruz

    Master of Arts
    San Francisco State University

    Bachelor of Arts
    UC Santa Cruz

    Recent Courses Taught

    • Critical Inquiry Seminar
    • Science and the Environment Lab