We used a combination of seabird data (both fishery-dependent and fishery-independent) and fishing-effort data to evaluate the relative fisheries risk of five west coast groundfish fisheries and oneshrimp fishery to black-footed (Phoebastria nigripes), short-tailed (P. albatrus) and Laysan albatrosses(P. immutabilis). To assess risk, an overlap index was derived as the...
Previous research has shown a gap between chemistry students' conceptual
and computational understandings of chemistry topics such as gas laws,
equilibrium, and reactions. This qualitative study examined the conceptual and
computational understandings of stoichiometry of college students enrolled in a
large lecture Introductory Chemistry course. Factors that might influence students'...
Bird scaring lines (BSLs) protect longline fishing gear from seabird attacks, save bait, reduce incidental seabird mortality and are the most commonly prescribed seabird bycatch mitigation measure worldwide. We collaborated with fishermen to assess the efficacy of applying BSL regulations from the demersal longline sablefish fishery in Alaska to a...
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...
The absence of a direct, long-term measure of individual Steller sea lion survival led to the development of implanted, delayed transmission satellite tags specifically for this species (Life History Transmitter, LHX). To assess possible effects of implant procedures and LHX tags, we undertook a two-stage approach to monitor: 1) immediate...
The Aleutian tern (Onychoprion aleuticus) is a species of high conservation concern in Alaska due to large declines at known breeding locations since the 1960s. Due to the small population size and ephemeral behavior of this species on the nesting grounds, there is little basic biological information available and data...
California and Steller sea lions (Zalophus californianus, Eumetopias jubatus, respectively) are considered sentinel species because they have long life spans, are long-term coastal residents, feed at high trophic levels, and have large blubber stores that serve as depots for anthropogenic toxicants. There are few studies on sea lion health and...
Several large-scale marine heatwave events occurred during the last 10 years in the North Pacific. A particular extreme marine heatwave in the North Pacific called the blob created an unprecedented high peak of sea surface temperature (SST) during 2013/14. MHW events had significant impacts on downstream weather and precipitation patterns...
Marine heatwaves (“MHWs”) are discrete periods of anomalously warm ocean conditions that can lead to shifts in the distribution and abundance of marine organisms. Low-trophic level, pelagic forage species are frequently among those affected by MHWs, often resulting in considerable impacts upon their predators. In the North Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic...
The commercial groundfish fishing industry and groundfish research have a long concurrent history of activity on the Oregon continental margin. Within the non-whiting groundfish fishery, the target species are primarily flatfishes, sablefish, lingcod, and rockfishes, though landings of each have fluctuated over time. Recent work shows that over the past...