Invertebrates
Physical habitat attribute mediates biotic resistance to non-indigenous species invasion.
Recovering gray whales could help recovery of declining marine birds
SeaDoc-funded research suggests that the recovering gray whale population might be important for providing food for marine birds that are in decline.
Gray whales, listed as sensitive species by Washington State and threatened by British Columbia, make an annual 10,000 mile migration between calving grounds in Baja California and summer feeding grounds in the Arctic. Every year some of them break-off their northern migration to come into shallow waters of Puget Sound to feed for extended periods.
Feeding Habitat for Western Sandpipers
You may have seen – and smelled! – a big marine mud flat when the tide is out, and been less than favorably impressed. It may not be readily apparent, but those mucky expanses provide critical habitat to migratory birds. Recently completed work studying the fattening rates of Western Sandpipers (Calidris mauri) is now helping improve our ability to identify and conserve important habitat for migratory shorebirds.
Species of Concern
How do we judge the health of our marine environment?
Fish and wildlife populations are the ultimate indicators for the health of the entire Puget Sound Georgia Basin marine ecosystem. The recent biennial SeaDoc Society Species of Concern report shows that the number of species listed as threatened or endangered is increasing and unless efforts are stepped up, the “silent slow motion crisis” will continue to out pace the ability to stabilize and restore populations.
When One Endangered Species Eats Another
What do you do when one endangered species eats another?
Sea otters, once extirpated in Washington, are now recovering thanks to several transplantations from Alaska. They eat up to 25% of their body weight a day in abalone, clams, crabs, sea urchins, and other invertebrates. This is a concern, because the northern (pinto) abalone also has declined precipitously in Washington and efforts are underway to bring back this culturally and ecologically important mollusk. Complicating the issue, young abalone might hide under sea urchins for protection and Washington has a sizeable state and tribal commercial urchin harvest.