James Willard Nybakken 1936-2009

MLML lost a giant when Dr. James W. Nybakken passed away on Saturday, June 20. Dr. Nybakken received his doctorate at the University of Wisconsin in 1965 in Marine Invertebrate Zoology and Marine Ecology.  His early work was on intertidal invertebrates in Alaska, the Indian Ocean, and the Gulf of California.  He was first hired to be on the faculty at California State University, Hayward campus.  Early in his career at CSU Hayward  (now CSU East Bay), Dr. Nybakken and his family moved to Monterey Bay in 1966, where he continued to serve as a CSUH  Professor and one of the founding faculty members at Moss Landing Marine Laboratories (MLML)  Throughout his tenure at MLML he witnessed the transformation of a small field station cobbled together in an old cannery building to a modern marine institution with an international reputation for excellence in marine science. 

During his career, Dr. Nybakken was extremely productive, publishing dozens of scientific papers, mainly on the feeding ecology of marine invertebrates, and writing all or part of five books in marine ecology and zoology, several of which had several editions published.  His most popular book was Marine Biology, An Ecological Approach, now in its sixth edition (2004) with co-author Mark Bertness. Dr. Nybakken’s contributions to the labs were also significant having mentored hundreds of students in invertebrate zoology and marine ecology,and serving twice as Acting Director.  Dr. Nybakken and his graduate students studied all over the planet, from pole to pole, but his most notable contributions were in the study of the benthic invertebrate communities of Monterey Bay. He was an authority on the marine intertidal, subtidal, and deep-sea invertebrates of California and maintained an active interest in their systematics and ecology, especially organisms in the phylum Mollusca.

Dr. Nybakken retired from MLML after 32 years in 1998 but remained active as an Emeritus Professor, a member and Chair of the Friends of Moss Landing Marine Laboratories, and accomplished cultivator of orchids, winemaker and enthusiast of Norwegian heritage and cuisine.  His honors were many, but notably included being an active member and elected officer in several scientific societies, including the American Malacological Union, California Academy of Sciences (Fellow, 1978), Northern California Malacozoological Society, Western Society of Malacologists, and Western Society of  Naturalists (Secretariat and President).  His continued active role in these societies and research on marine invertebrates made him internationally recognized in his field. Thus, Dr. Nybakken has left a legacy of excellence in marine science, both for his research and educational productivity. He and his family established the Nybakken Scholarship for students of invertebrate zoology at MLML.  He is survived by his wife Bette, sons Kent and Scott and their families and hundreds of fortunate friends, students and colleagues.

The family has requested that, in memory of Dr. Nybakken, contributions will be accepted by the Friends of Moss Landing Marine Laboratories in support of the James W. Nybakken Scholarship Fund, supporting MLML students.

Nybakken Collage Posters