Hi my name is Ann Zellers and I am a researcher for Algalita Marine Research Foundation.  Our mission is to monitor and report on the amounts of plastic marine debris that exist in the ocean, as a means to reduce and/or stop its proliferation.  So far we have reported on only 6 trips worth of sampling in the North Pacific Gyre, we have studied the San Gabriel and Los Angeles rivers through a state grant(Prop13), we have studied Laysan albatross boluses for plastic debris content, and are currently studying various fish species for such content.  I am learning GIS through ESRI to make maps for educating the public as well as for shared research.  Since I am still just a beginner in GIS I will hopefully learn more about GIS from blog sessions, atleast more than I am already learning from my online ESRI courses.  I look forward to this…………………….