The marine environment is under increasing pressure from human activities worldwide, particularly in coastal waters, creating a need to better understand fine-scale distributions of highly mobile species that occur in the area, as they are frequently most threatened. Harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) occur frequently in Oregon’s nearshore habitat, but due...
The overall objective of this research project was to evaluate
the metabolism of benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) by the European flat oyster
(Ostrea edulis)-bacteria system. Individual oysters exist in nature
as "systems" with commensal microorganisms and should be recognized
as such when the metabolism of a specific environmental contaminant
is being studied....
This research examines women's magazine editors' perspectives of the relationship between editorial and advertising content in women's magazines. It specifically investigates how this relationship affects both general editorial content and more specifically, social topic stories. Mainstream women's beauty/fashion magazine editors—including editors-in-chief—were queried as to the nature of these relationships. Interviews...
To determine the best poly-ion layers to be used in encapsulation of pyrrolizidine alkaloid degrading anaerobic microbes, a study was carried out to test three layers on coating ability and ability of the bacteria to grow after being coated. Two positive layers, poly(allylamine hydrochloride) (PAH) and poly-L-lysine, and one negative...
The settlement patterns of European immigrants arriving around the turn of the 20th
Century have been described using the theory of spatial assimilation. Recent academic
literature has called into question whether this theory is still relevant in describing the
settlement patterns of recent non-European immigrant groups, but has not been...
Sea otters (Enhydra lutris) used to exist along coastlines throughout much of the North Pacific Ocean. During the Maritime Fur Trade, sea otters were extirpated from much of their historic range, including Oregon. There is renewed interest in reintroducing sea otters to Oregon. Managers seek improved understanding of the potential...
Understanding prey quality and prey selection by predators is critical for management efforts aimed at identification and protection of essential habitats and prey. Marine predators must make daily foraging choices in a heterogenous and dynamic environment in order to meet the high energetic demands of migration, reproduction and foraging. With...
Species conservation depends on robust population assessment. Data on population abundance, distribution, and connectivity are critical for effective management, especially as baseline information for newly documented populations. I describe a pygmy blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus brevicauda) population in New Zealand waters with year-round presence that overlaps with industrial activities. This...
Anthropogenic activities have posed many threats to the oceans and marine life. Understanding how individuals are affected and physiologically respond to these threats is crucial and allows for management and conservation applications. I evaluated the overall health condition of a subpopulation of gray whales (Eschrichtius robustus) along the Oregon coast,...
The distribution of mobile marine predators often reflects underlying dynamic ecological processes. The geographical focus of this PhD is the South Taranaki Bight (STB) of New Zealand, where wind-driven coastal upwelling generates productivity and prey to support a blue whale foraging ground. The STB is also New Zealand’s most industrial...